Best bookshelf speakers for around $100 pair

[crypticph]

Obviously I'm not looking for anything of audiophile quality. I'm a college student looking to build my first sound system, primarily for my computer & video game systems. I plan to start out with two bookshelf speakers and a receiver and add more speakers later. So far I've looked at the Polk R15, JBL Venue series, Athena AS-B1.2, and the Infinity Primus series. The Athenas and Infinitys are closer to $150, but if they're worth it I'd consider buying them. I was also looking into speakers by Cerwin Vega and KLH, but they don't seem to be very available online. As for the receiver, I'm probably going with an Onkyo, but I'm open to suggestions for another good sub-$200 receiver. I'm expecting the total system to cost around $300.

 

[markw]

If you've got a little wiggle room...

Audio Advisor, a long standing and well respected mail-order company, has the AS-B1'2's on sale for $120.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATASB1.2

If you can squeeze out a few more shekels and can fit in a pair of medium floor-standers, Saturday Audio (http://saturdayaudio.com/) has a pair of used AS-F1's (http://www.athenaspeakers.com/modelASF1.htm) on sale for $129.

Click on "Used Gear", then click on "Speakers". I've dealt with these guys several times n the past and can only say good things about them.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Dang it Mark; I was about to say the same thing. Now I wasted time surfing for nothing!

 

[j_garcia]

LOL. Let me just 3rd those AS-B1.2s. At $100, they are going to be hard to beat. AA had them for $99 a few weeks back too.

 

[Seth=L]

I had the previous version the the 1.2, very nice sounding speaker for the money. They sound larger than they really are. Given that, the Floorstanders will serve you better if you can afford the extra bit for them.

 

[crypticph]

Thanks guys. I just checked on amazon and one of their merchants is selling the AS-B1.2s new for $111. Now I'm just curious what everyone thinks of my choice of receiver, the Onkyo TX-SR504. I'm not concerned with video inputs, just pure sound quality. 7.1 surround with all 192khz/24bit DACs for $170 sounds pretty nice.

 

[Pianoman84d]

I have the Onkyo 502. I found that moving to the Panasonic XR-55S was better for me, but the Onkyo is good. I can only imagine that the 504 is also better than my 502 as well. I found the Onkyo to offer a significantly easier setup (the Panasonic's UI seems to have been designed by someone who never had to try to use it). So, the short version is I think the Onkyo is a good choice.

 

[Seth=L]

The AS-F1s will kill the AS-B1.2s, they are larger and have a deeper low frequency responce. Unless you don't have room for them I would strongly recommend those over the AS-B1.2s

 

[crypticph]

The AS-F1s will kill the AS-B1.2s, they are larger and have a deeper low frequency responce. Unless you don't have room for them I would strongly recommend those over the AS-B1.2s

Maybe if I had a stationary living situation I would consider them, but how practical would it be to lug them in a small sedan to and from my dorm every semester? The AS-B1.2s are going to be a huge upgrade from a $50 pair of Logitech speakers.

 

[Seth=L]

Maybe if I had a stationary living situation I would consider them, but how practical would it be to lug them in a small sedan to and from my dorm every semester? The AS-B1.2s are going to be a huge upgrade from a $50 pair of Logitech speakers.

The AS-B1.2s should serve your purpose well. "Lugging" the larger speakers in a small car would not be practical.

 

[auujay]

BIC America DV62si

The Athena's others have mentioned will probably serve you nicely, I thought I would through another option into the ring. The BIC America DV62si is a great speaker that can be found for about 125 /pair very easily. Audioholics did a review of it as part of one of the bookshelf speaker shootouts, go read the review and keep in mind they are only $125 not $275 like most of the speakers it is compared to in the review.