Speaker question.

[Demon-Xanth]

He's looking for a complete setup for the $500 range. Not just the speakers.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
He's looking for a complete setup for the $500 range. Not just the speakers.

In that case, he'd better be looking at one of those BB or CC "home theatre in a box" systems. Either that or catch a receiver on sale here, speakers on sale there, etc.

 

[EvilYoda]

I would say to browse around eBay or some HT forums and look for a receiver that's old or used, maybe 2 years, like a Harman Kardon 320/325, Denon 1804 and the such. Speaker-wise, same thing, used will save him a lot of money...always a good way to start out.

edit: I should've known better than to try helping when there are so many other experts in here...Demon-Xanth, if your friend needs further advice, feel free to PM or email me...at least I can back up my statements, feel free to ask.

 

[MichaelD]

*sigh*

I always find it amusing and frustrating and infuriating when people ask me for HT/speaker advice and they say"

I want to upgrade/get better stuff...but I can only spend $430.12 or else the wife will kill me.

WTF do you THINK you're going to get for that much money? My front L/R speakers cost $400 for the pair...and that's still CHEAP for "real speakers!"

I have an all-Axiom setup.

Axiom.

M22Ti L/R
VP150 Center
QS-8 surrounds

It wasn't cheap, but do they sound good! Or more accurately, they don't sound like anything at all. All I hear is music and movies the way the artist or producer intended them to sound.

For $500, your friend will get a cheapass, mass produced HTIB and not a lick better. You want "good?" You have to PAY for GOOD. :roll:

He probably wouldn't hear the diff b/t Bose and a 5.1 setup with AM radios for the speakers. :roll:

 

[element]

edit: I should've known better than to try helping when there are so many other experts in here...Demon-Xanth, if your friend needs further advice, feel free to PM or email me...at least I can back up my statements, feel free to ask

I'm by no means an expert. I'm in fact the exact opposite. I asked because you seemed knowledgable on the topic and I for one appreciate all the inputs given in this thread and wouldn't mind if you discussed it here rather than in pm so everyone can learn fom each other.

 

[glen]

PSB
Legacy

 

[Demon-Xanth]

MichaelD: to some people you can't get a "good" car for under $50k, others a $20k car is pleanty good. Just like not everyone needs a $500 videocard, not everyone needs a $2k speaker setup. He's not an audiophile, just a guy trying to get the most from his money.

 

[cucumber]

Originally posted by: element
What's wrong with Cerwin Vegas? They've been the choice for concerts, stadiums and other pro setups for decades.

They're not as good as others. They're not the worst you can get (Bose takes the cake when considering price...expensive and crappy. Cheap and crappy is excusable.) But being that they're also not as expensive as other brands I can't put them down. For their prices they're not bad.

As for pro gear the CW stuff is also not as good as others from what I've seen. The likes of JBL, Klipsch, EV, EAW......among others tend to be used in high end stadium, arenas and movie theaters.

 

[bleeb]

Kicker Comp

 

[cucumber]

As for the main post, Yeah. Most anything from a good brand is the better choice. (NHT, Athena, Infinity ......and ones others here mentioned. ) If size is a big factor, Gallow makes some great tiny speakers. Also check out M&K (miller & kreisle....spelling?....) M&K makes a great set of tiny speakers with a good sub. I forget the model though.

 

[cucumber]

Originally posted by: cucumber

Originally posted by: element
What's wrong with Cerwin Vegas? They've been the choice for concerts, stadiums and other pro setups for decades.

They're not as good as others. They're not the worst you can get (Bose takes the cake when considering price...expensive and crappy. Cheap and crappy is excusable.) But being that they're also not as expensive as other brands I can't put them down. For their prices they're not bad.

As for pro gear the CW stuff is also not as good as others from what I've seen. The likes of JBL, Klipsch, EV, EAW......among others tend to be used in high end stadium, arenas and movie theaters.

There's nothing wrong with Cerwin Vega, it's just that there are better choices. CVs make good party speakers though.

 

[Kadarin]

I'm extremely happy with my Klipsch 5.1 setup (coupled with the Yamaha RX-V995), but it's more than a bit out of the stated price range.

 

[cucumber]

Oh hell, I quoted myself instead of editing......whoops!

 

[NokiaDude]

Kickass stereo receiver -$200
Killer speakers w/ 8" woofers - $200.

Total - $400 and your hearing.

 

[element]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Kickass stereo receiver -$200
Killer speakers w/ 8" woofers - $200.

Total - $400 and your hearing.

What brand/model would you consider kick ass at those prices?

 

[nsafreak]

You know there seems to be one thing that everybody is ignoring. He mentioned using the audio outputs from the TV and the TV is the ONLY hardware he has right now. I seriously doubt that those are powered audio outputs. More likely than not theyre meant to go into a receiver/amplifier to then push the sound to speakers. So this person is going to need to purchase a receiver. If he wants anything that's halfway decent even if it is only stereo sound he's looking at a minimum of $200 for the receiver. So that leaves $200-$400 for the speakers. If he's concerned about room I would take a look at the speakers from Norh although the Paradigms as well as the B&Ws folks have mentioned would be good ideas as well.

 

[cucumber]

Originally posted by: nsafreak
You know there seems to be one thing that everybody is ignoring. He mentioned using the audio outputs from the TV and the TV is the ONLY hardware he has right now. I seriously doubt that those are powered audio outputs. More likely than not theyre meant to go into a receiver/amplifier to then push the sound to speakers. So this person is going to need to purchase a receiver. If he wants anything that's halfway decent even if it is only stereo sound he's looking at a minimum of $200 for the receiver. So that leaves $200-$400 for the speakers. If he's concerned about room I would take a look at the speakers from Norh although the Paradigms as well as the B&Ws folks have mentioned would be good ideas as well.

you make a good point.
I think everyone's assuming he knows to get some kind of receiver or amp to power the speakers. Most here are just focusing on the speakers. The original post doesn't specify whether the guy is considering the little powered cube + shoe box sub, or Bose's stand alone speakers. I am also guilty of assuming he meant the whole bose sub-sat + amp system.

 

[cucumber]

Originally posted by: element

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Kickass stereo receiver -$200
Killer speakers w/ 8" woofers - $200.

Total - $400 and your hearing.

What brand/model would you consider kick ass at those prices?

Yamah HTR-5730 or Sony STRDE197 $199.00

Athena Technologies AS-B2 (bookshelf, 6.5 " + 1" dome tweeter) pair $259.00


These were from Bestbuy.com. (look around for better prices. I just wanted to show it can be done easily from a local store)

The stores should have the same prices. This will trash a Bose system. The bass from these small speakers are suprisingly good, and they will put those little Bose subs to shame. (not to mention overall good sound quality.) The Bose subs are really just plain crappy little mid-bass drivers pumped through a tube to make them sound deeper. All you're really getting is muddy trash without any real deep bass.

If home theater surround sound is wanted, your friend should start off with a good stereo (something like this) then add rears +center + sub later. A good stereo system will always sound better than a sh!tty suround set up. Even without the cool surround effects, good sound is good sound. Crap is crap. The surround effects are nothing if they sound crappy.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It sounds like he's interested in going for a stereo setup. The size isn't overly critical, just not a "wall of speakers" size. Standing speakers would probably be okay.

 

[Lazy8s]

my friend installs car and home audio systems, basically it's going to be Klipsch then JBL audio. Klipsch will definately be the best but you can probably get JBL for significantly less and unless you're serious sound buffs you won't really notice the difference. I personaly just have a 500watt Klipsch set-up and it never goes above 50% audio during the day or my pictures come off the wall....Klipsch makes the audio systems you hear in all the major theatres, with them you really can't go wrong.

 

[Doggiedog]

Radio Shack Optimus

 

[bozack]

I always love these threads, especially since I will most likley be buying a Bose system in a few months time....

 

[Lurien]

Axioms. Look at their bookshelf line, excellent speakers.


Axiom Audio

 

[Doggiedog]

On a serious note, I've got B&W speakers and a Definitive sub in one room and CWs in another. Although not a fair comparison, the BWs are clearly better but not as good as the Celestions I had before I blew them out.

Check out

Audiogon

They might have some interesting stuff if you know what to look for.

 

[EvilYoda]

If your friend is interested in getting a pair of Klipsch Quintets (small, decent, inexpensive) and a cheap surround sound receiver, I have an extra one laying around somewhere that I'll sell to him for $25. That'll give him L, C and R separation, which will be a great start...for movies at least. With regular 2-channel audio, he'll still just be with the L&R.

If he's interested, I can take a picture, assuming I can find the damn ah heck.