Insignia NS-B2111

[Buckeyefan 1]

Has anyone seen all the buzz regarding these bookshelves at Best Buy? I may have to go take a listen this weekend (on sale). I like the cabinet and driver. Some have said they use the KEF UNI Q driver and are manufactured for Best Buy's Insignia brand name by a company called Radiient.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705307&type=product&id=1138085354138

Here are some threads from other sites talking about these little guys.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=690556

http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=speakers&m=226343

This site did a review on a surround set of Radiient speakers a little while back:

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/RadiientElarap1.php

http://www.radiient.com/s.nl/it.A/id.5/.f?sc=2&category=32

Here's a review from ecoustics.com on the bookshelves:
http://www.ecoustics.com/secrets/volume_13_2/radiient-technologies-europa-speakers-5-2006.html

 

[patnshan]

I have heard. I actually e-mailed radiient to get the scoop. They returned the e-mail, but skirted the issue of whether they make it or not. They said they are "not the exact model" and didn't answer the question about whether they made them and how are they different. I know Danny at GR Research is trying to come up with a mod for them to make them better for cheap. They look strikingly similar to the ones radiient sells for $199/pair on their site. I wonder if somebody could look at them side by side? Gene, Clint?


Pat

 

[Tex-amp]

BestBuy is selling the surround speaker from the Radiient HT systems. It appears that Radiient is the main USA importer of these Chinese speakers as they are sold in Europe under the Fidek brand name for considerly less. http://www.htforum.nl/yabbse/index.php?topic=42380.0

I've had a pair for a week now. Cabinet resonance is the only negative for them. With the $35 BB sale price I think I'm going to grab a couple more pairs, some Sonic T-amps and $40 DVD players for the kids' rooms to replace their boom boxes.

 

[Tom Andry]

Boy, those sure look like Radiients to me. At $35, not a bad deal. Those are definitely not the same as the Radiient $200 speakers. Those have a second tweeter on top. These (at least the ones that Buckeye linked) look the same as the surrounds used in the 5.0 system.

 

[Tizeye]

Here is Danny's "lets see what they are made of" evaluation and modifications.

http://www.gr-research.com/insignia.htm

 

[Pianoman84d]

I bought these for my brother's birthday. They do a good job for $50. Aren't up to the level of more expensive speakers, but then again they are $50.

 

[Deathwish238]

I was browsing for info about the Insignia speakers. I opened the links on the first post and the eCoustics link has a Trojan according to NOD32. Just a heads up.

 

[KinPoon]

i got me 2 pairs for the back surround for my 7.1

its great!

 

[haulin79]

Does anybody know if putting a felt ring around the tweeters will help smooth the tweeters' response?

I would try it but I don't have any measurement equipment.

 

[WmAx]

Does anybody know if putting a felt ring around the tweeters will help smooth the tweeters' response?

I would try it but I don't have any measurement equipment.

This has been tried, already, I believe by one of the DIYers. No appreciable effect occured from that alone. However, very positive results are reported by adding in effective acoustic damping and by making modifications to the crossover circuit.

-Chris