Interesting - New Insignia speaker

[zieglj01]

So... the bass is the weakest point. Stop!

I am beginng to like these speakers - they are made to be used with a subwoofer

One thing for sure - will make nice surrounds

I have to spend some more time with them - however, looks like a recommendation will
be coming at least, from me.

Now except for the bass - the Klipsch Icon bookshelf at Best Buy, can stand aside also.

They need to be auditioned at home - do not listen to the radio or MP3 at Best Buy. If
going to Best Buy - take a CD

 

[fuzz092888]

So... the bass is the weakest point. Stop!

Hmm I happen to love building subwoofers..........

 

[afterlife2]

Can't wait for the full assessments! Hey those Icons were better than those Infinities 162's. Fuzz I meant that the tweeter is more important to me. The BASS1000 is already here.

 

[zieglj01]

Can't wait for the full assessments! Hey those Icons were better than those Infinities 162's. Fuzz I meant that the tweeter is more important to me. The BASS1000 is already here.

Still playing with them, and still like them - however they can use a mod.
They are some-what forward and aggressive, slightly shouty, slightly sharp
and slightly nasal sounding - that spells budget speaker > however, I still
will take them over those more expensive budget speakers at Best Buy.

Jackie Evancho does sound nice on these speakers. As does Chris Botti and
Lucia Micarelli with here Violin.

I still have the BS22 speakers, and they are being thrown against them, the
Pioneer's still have the edge - however except for the bass, these Insignia's
hold up pretty good - not bad for $69 regular price. For the fun of it, I hooked
one Pioneer on the left and one Insignia on the right - and they sounded close
except for the bass - I think they were voiced more for close-wall placement.
However, the bass in the Insignias is tight.

I added some more poly-batten in the middle, and they sound a little
better - the wooofer rings a little - so, I think that I am going to put
some rope caulk on the woofer frame, and see if that helps some.

They put some thought into making these speakers - the front baffle is
molded plastic, glued onto the box - the tweeter is installed from the
inside - they have corner blocks to help with the wood flexing. >> the
crossover is screwed on to the terminal plate.

Need to go get the rope caulk - and see if does work better

 

[j_garcia]

Sounds like a little additional brace to firm up the cabinet on the side panels might help too. Since they're square, might be able to get away with just some well placed dowels.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Still playing with them, and still like them - however they can use a mod.
T

I still have the BS22 speakers, and they are being thrown against them, the
Pioneer's still have the edge - however except for the bass, these Insignia's
hold up pretty good - not bad for $69 regular price. For the fun of it, I hooked
one Pioneer on the left and one Insignia on the right - and they sounded close
except for the bass - I think they were voiced more for close-wall placement.
However, the bass in the Insignias is tight.

I added some more poly-batten in the middle, and they sound a little
better - the wooofer rings a little - so, I think that I am going to put
some rope caulk on the woofer frame, and see if that helps some.

They put some thought into making these speakers - the front baffle is
molded plastic, glued onto the box - the tweeter is installed from the
inside - they have corner blocks to help with the wood flexing. >> the
crossover is screwed on to the terminal plate.

Need to go get the rope caulk - and see if does work better

But the woofer is installed from the outside, right? No way to do a mod if you can't get the woofer out, unless it has a really large terminal cup on the back.

 

[zieglj01]

But the woofer is installed from the outside, right? No way to do a mod if you can't get the woofer out, unless it has a really large terminal cup on the back.

Yes, woofer is installed on the outside - you will be able to do a mod.

 

[zieglj01]

Sounds like a little additional brace to firm up the cabinet on the side panels might help too. Since they're square, might be able to get away with just some well placed dowels.

Sounding a little better, since I dampen the woofer frame with some caulk - all in all the speaker is nice.
It for sure will make good surrounds. I like it better than the older BS21.

I may or may not, do anymore with it - people who want more bass will not like it.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Sounding a little better, since I dampen the woofer frame with some caulk - all in all the speaker is nice.
It for sure will make good surrounds. I like it better than the older BS21.

I may or may not, do anymore with it - people who want more bass will not like it.

I actually dropped by my local Best Buy. It took them longer to figure out that they didn't have them in stock than it would have taken me to do a mod. I think I'll let this one pass. I'm really happy with the modded Pioneer 22. I may even offer it as a Philharmonic surround--mini monitor.

 

[afterlife2]

You've convinced me I may pick these up In Dec. I'm not a big bass guy as long as it's tight like you said Z I'll consider them. Are you gonna pick them up guys?

 

[zieglj01]

I actually dropped by my local Best Buy. It took them longer to figure out that they didn't have them in stock than it would have taken me to do a mod. I think I'll let this one pass. I'm really happy with the modded Pioneer 22. I may even offer it as a Philharmonic surround--mini monitor.

I am getting ready for your BS22 - I want to play them against the modded Cambridge.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

I am getting ready for your BS22 - I want to play them against the modded Cambridge.

I really don't remember. Does the Cambridge go lower than the 22?

 

[zieglj01]

You've convinced me I may pick these up In Dec. I'm not a big bass guy as long as it's tight like you said Z I'll consider them. Are you gonna pick them up guys?

The Insignia is nice for what it is - however, I can see where some people will not like it.
All in all, more suited for surround duty - no real mod needed for that - not a lot of watts
needed to drive them.

However, for a real tight budget - a better option than them Daytons at Parts Express.

 

[zieglj01]

I really don't remember. Does the Cambridge go lower than the 22?

Just a little bit lower and the bass is a little more tight and controlled, than the Pioneer.

 

[j_garcia]

Since they are new and $60, I'd hold off on the Insignias because they will likely go on sale for a good price after a while like the previous models did. Those old Insignias really became a big hit when the price dropped to under $40/pr.

My next question for Dennis then is, Modded S30 or Modded BS22? I know you mentioned in your thread on the other forum that you felt the modded BS22 was a little better than the S30.

 

[zieglj01]

Since they are new and $60, I'd hold off on the Insignias because they will likely go on sale for a good price after a while like the previous models did. Those old Insignias really became a big hit when the price dropped to under $40/pr.

Keep an eye out for Black Friday - maybe there will be a better deal on the Insignia speaker.

 

[afterlife2]

Since they are new and $60, I'd hold off on the Insignias because they will likely go on sale for a good price after a while like the previous models did. Those old Insignias really became a big hit when the price dropped to under $40/pr.

My next question for Dennis then is, Modded S30 or Modded BS22? I know you mentioned in your thread on the other forum that you felt the modded BS22 was a little better than the S30.

Yeah that's what I was thinking price will come down to $40-45. I wanna know that answer too. Those dang S30's always had me intrigued If they ever went down to $100 I'm there, although I doubt it..

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Since they are new and $60, I'd hold off on the Insignias because they will likely go on sale for a good price after a while like the previous models did. Those old Insignias really became a big hit when the price dropped to under $40/pr.

My next question for Dennis then is, Modded S30 or Modded BS22? I know you mentioned in your thread on the other forum that you felt the modded BS22 was a little better than the S30.

I don't recall saying they were better than the S30's. I really don't know--I don't have those around anymore. I just think the 22's have the best Performance/Price ratio. I really have no problems with the woofer at all. Male announcers sound absolutely natural, with no hint of boominess. And the overall presentation seems dead neutral with the new tweet and Xover mod. But obviously they're not going to have the upper octave openness of a ribbon tweeter or premium dome, and there's nothing going on below about 75 Hz. I've lost interest in the super cheap models--the last one I tried from Parts Express wasn't really merchantable. Worst sound I've ever heard, and as soon as you start throwing components at them, they're not super cheap anymore. I think the sweet spot is a final price of $100 - $150/pr, starting with something that is basically competent, like the 22.

 

[afterlife2]

Dennis do you have pictures of the 22's mod?

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Dennis do you have pictures of the 22's mod?

Hi. There's nothing to show outside--the new tweet looks the same, but with less horn loading. I'll take a pic of the old and revised Xover board when I put Zieg's together on Monday or Tuesday.