best speakers i can get for 300 or less?

[yepimonfire]

alright, its time to get back into audio, after selling all my stuff like a tard im looking to get back into it.

what i'm looking for: either bookshelf or floorstander is fine.

need to have decent bass response for music without a sub, 60hz -3dB is a good starting point.

good imaging, and relatively flat and neutral sounding. needs to be 300 or less a pair. needs to be able to output a decent amount of loudness without distortion.

speakers i've owned before and liked were several of polk audios monitor series, i want something that will sound better then that.


suggestions?

 

[Adam]

I was just looking at these this morning - a used pair of NHT 1.5 bookshelf speakers on eBay. The spec sheet can be found at this link.

$299 including shipping on those (with "buy it now") might be just a bit high, but the rosewood finish had a premium on it. I have two pairs of those in black that I've been using for 13 years and I still love them. I loved them even more when I got a receiver with auto equalization on it (Pioneer's MCACC). The black ones were $600/pair new back in the late 90s. I think that the rosewood were $750, but I forget.

They have a nice, neutral sound to them. The bass doesn't dig deep, but it sounds very good in the frequency range that the speakers can handle.

I almost didn't want to post the link, but you might be able to save me some money by buying them first.

 

[yepimonfire]

eh.....unfortunately i dont have the money just yet, something i will have to save up. so ebay isnt gonna work.

 

[GranteedEV]

I know you're looking at 300, but if you'll just raise the budget one more hundred, I think you'd do great with a pair of these:

http://www.emptek.com/e5TiB0293.php + http://www.emptek.com/e5TiB0373.php

 

[yepimonfire]

I know you're looking at 300, but if you'll just raise the budget one more hundred, I think you'd do great with a pair of these:

http://www.emptek.com/e5TiB0293.php + http://www.emptek.com/e5TiB0373.php

yeah actually i considered those awhile back but the review on here said something about them having muddy mid bass.

 

[GranteedEV]

yeah actually i considered those awhile back but the review on here said something about them having muddy mid bass.

Hmm? They might be on the warm side, but no more than much else at the price point. You can't expect the cabinets of a $2000 speaker, can you?

I would try them out; I suspect they'll still have better bass clarity than any other tower speaker, including something like a Primus which is borderline hollow to my knock test or a Polk.

 

[yepimonfire]

Hmm? They might be on the warm side, but no more than much else at the price point. You can't expect the cabinets of a $2000 speaker, can you?

I would try them out; I suspect they'll still have better bass clarity than any other tower speaker, including something like a Primus which is borderline hollow to my knock test or a Polk.

you think a 60wpc @8ohms receiver is enough to drive them?

 

[GranteedEV]

you think a 60wpc @8ohms receiver is enough to drive them?

Not sure how loud you want them to go, but they are a pretty easy load as long as it`s not a really bad receiver.

In this review, the reviewer used about 60wpc:

http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2010-02.pdf

 

[yepimonfire]

Not sure how loud you want them to go, but they are a pretty easy load as long as it`s not a really bad receiver.

In this review, the reviewer used about 60wpc:

http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2010-02.pdf

you should know how loud i listen by now

it's an old 80s pioneer, eventually will replace it with something else but speakers come first.

 

[GranteedEV]

My best recommendation, honestly, is DIY

Maybe this

http://www.zaphaudio.com/Waveguidetmm.html

or this

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=MBOW1_3-WAY.html

 

[yepimonfire]

My best recommendation, honestly, is DIY

Maybe this

http://www.zaphaudio.com/Waveguidetmm.html

or this

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=MBOW1_3-WAY.html

i would LOVE to diy a pair of speakers. but the cost for tools would end up making it cost more then just to build the speakers.

hmmm, i might just do it anyways.

 

[GranteedEV]

i would LOVE to diy a pair of speakers. but the cost for tools would end up making it cost more then just to build the speakers.

hmmm, i might just do it anyways.

dooooo ittttt

it`s funner for us, and it`ll get you well and ready for your ULTIMATE speakers

 

[yepimonfire]

dooooo ittttt

it`s funner for us, and it`ll get you well and ready for your ULTIMATE speakers

its especially fun when i make a thread about how badly i screwed up lulz

 

[GranteedEV]

its especially fun when i make a thread about how badly i screwed up lulz

How badly could you screw up a pre-existing design?

If you're worried about mismatched corners, you can always power sand them down, and then apply edge roundovers too.

If you're worried about gaps, you can fill them with wood filler before finishing.

If you're worried about finishing, you can always use wood IE baltic Birch, instead of MDF and just stain it.

If you're worried about bracing, don't be. You know deep down that you'll way overbrace before you underbrace.

If you're worried about making the wrong cuts, don't be - that's what good tools are for!!

Doooo ittttttttttt

 

[yepimonfire]

How badly could you screw up a pre-existing design?

If you're worried about mismatched corners, you can always power sand them down, and then apply edge roundovers too.

If you're worried about gaps, you can fill them with wood filler before finishing.

If you're worried about finishing, you can always use wood IE baltic Birch, instead of MDF and just stain it.

If you're worried about bracing, don't be. You know deep down that you'll way overbrace before you underbrace.

If you're worried about making the wrong cuts, don't be - that's what good tools are for!!

Doooo ittttttttttt

made a thread in the DIY section. don't want to follow a prefab plan.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oh, come on. You need at least $400 to have decent speakers.

Get these Infinity P363s from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Three-way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0046A8R3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312052327&sr=8-1

Or if you absolutely insists on $300 limit, then get the Infinity P163 for $85 each:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B0045NCB32/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312052366&sr=1-1

http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/measurements/speakers/infinity_primus_p162/

Looks like the P163 goes down to 70Hz @ -3dB Anechoically, but in-room response may be 60Hz @ -3dB.

 

[Adam]

Oh, come on. You need at least $400 to have decent speakers.

What, no love for those NHTs?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What, no love for those NHTs?

Oh, sorry, I meant for BRAND NEW speakers.

Those NHT speakers would be a great buy as pre-owned, though.

But they won't cost $400 brand new, is what I meant.

NHT makes great sounding speakers. I know this since I used to own the NHT SuperZero for about 10 yrs. And they only cost me $90 each.

I say get a pair of bookshelf + subwoofer. Towers without true subwoofers just will not sound as good to me.

The RBH T2/P does not count since it has a true subwoofer paired to a big a$$ bookshelf.

 

[yepimonfire]

upping budget to 1000 just for the lulz.

could i get some kick a$$ bookshelves for 1000?

also, they have to be bookshelves this time no space for towers as of ten minutes ago (don't ask lol)

will have to save for a very long time but whatever.

 

[GranteedEV]

could i get some kick a$$ bookshelves for 1000?

You could get a pair of JBL LSR2328s for less than that price:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR2328P

And still have money for a pair of sub