Cheap AND Good speakers thread

[BoredSysAdmin]

The long forgotten stepchild - HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speaker
Hsu Research HB-1 MK2 Bookshelf Speaker | Sound & Vision

I know it's a bit over the budget and not what would most use for 2.1 music, but I dare to anymore to find more robust speakers for HT use at this price
Bought in 5.1 packages it's price is noticeably cheaper

I had heard these during AH GTG2012 and while I liked the laid back sound of EMP's a bit more HSU handled very loud output really effortlessly

im surprised nobody mentioned EMP teks
or maybe I missed it if they did... but here they are..
$225
EMP Tek E5Bi Bookshelf Speaker

Technically I did , but seriously EMP on these forums is go to stable due to their association to much more famous and highly adored (round here) brand - RBH
and speaking of Diamonds in the rough - whomever got their hands on these speaker is a very lucky person.

 

[afterlife2]

Man I've always wanted to try those MK2 Horn Speakers. Maybe one day.

 

[Totoro]

Now if you just go up $100 the world opens up...
Epos epic 2's EPOS EPIC 2 BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct and Carnegie csb1's to name a couple I have bought in that last year... Both audiophile build quality and sound excellent...

OK. So I decided to go with these after someone blew my Paradigm Titans that I have been using for more than a couple of decades. I currently have a Monitor Audio Radius 225 for the center channel. I checked the speakers and only one of the Paradigms is blown. So my question is whether I would get better performance out of the remaining good Paradigm as the center or whether I should leave the Radius 225 as the center.

 

[shadyJ]

For me, the king of cheap, high performance speakers were the Behringer 2031p monitors, but they have been discontinued. Neutral sound, very good bass extension, good dynamic range, and could be had for $120 each. I got mine at a particularly low price period, $130 for a pair. The Infinity Primus speakers are a crazy good deal when on sale, sometimes the p363 towers hits $100 each at Fry's. The Primus bookshelf speakers also hit absurd prices at times, $60 for a p163, $50 for a p153.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So Far the list of cheap and cheerful speakers (under $300 shipped)
Some where skipped due to lack of ether "street cred", measurements or both (no particular order)
I also did not included kits since to be fair sometimes tools required to assemble/build a kit could quickly raise over $300 budget

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-130-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00413OWO2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=01SG2JAWB947BQQK3XPF
EMP Tek E5Bi Bookshelf Speaker
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10.0 BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct
HTD Level TWO Bookshelf Speakers
HVL-1 Two-Way Loudspeaker | Wave Crest Audio
Philharmonic Audio
PSB - Alpha B1 - Bookshelf Speakers-Audio Advisor
Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 Pair Home Audio Speaker - Newegg.com
http://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperZero-2-1-Mini-Monitor-Speaker/dp/B00CKNOYWK/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Amazon.com: Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers with 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter, Black: Electronics
Amazon.com: JBL LSR305 Studio Monitor: Musical Instruments
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/cambs30oak/cambridge-audio-s30-4-2-way-bookshelf-speakers-pair-dark-oak/1.html
http://www.audioadvisor.com/Mordaunt-Short-Alumni-2-Bookshelf-Speakers/productinfo/MOALUMNI2/
http://www.audioadvisor.com/PSB-Image-B4-Compact-Monitor-_-Surround/productinfo/PBIMB4/#.U-a_EOZd2PY

Almost $300 Category:
Absolute Zero (black) | Bookshelf Speakers | Premium Audio Equipment - $325 after %15 off
HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speaker - $368/pr - [Much Cheaper in 5.1 Sets]
CBM-170 SE High Performance Bookshelf Loudspeaker - $380 and
HTM-200 SE Home Theater Monitor - $322


Did I miss anything important?

Edited per suggestions below:
Last one deal and refub are not bad, but both too short lived of deals if this post to be reference of sorts...

 

[alphaiii]

Add Cambridge S30... Still available at AC4L for $200.

Also the Mordaunt Short Alumni 2 (a few left) @ Audio Advisor for $100 per pair - for those looking for something smaller & more WAF friendly . Mordaunt makes solid speakers.

 

[alphaiii]

For the near $300... Arx A1rxc... $300 + shipping.

And keep an eye on the refurb Boston Acoustics M25 at AC4L... $340 per pair now but were $300 per pair a week or so ago - very well built and use a really nice tweeter.

 

[zieglj01]

Add Cambridge S30... Still available at AC4L for $200.

Also the Mordaunt Short Alumni 2 (a few left) @ Audio Advisor for $100 per pair - for those looking for something smaller & more WAF friendly . Mordaunt makes solid speakers.

Under $200 the AAL Monitors are my favorite - 2nd place is the Cambridge S30
I still need to motivate myself to test the Sony Core bookshelf at home.

One pair of the Mordaunt Short Aviano 2 left, new in the box on Ebay
Mordaunt Short Aviano 2 Bookshelf Speakers in Black 5033520976215 | eBay

 

[zieglj01]

And keep an eye on the refurb Boston Acoustics M25 at AC4L... $340 per pair now but were $300 per pair a week or so ago - very well built and use a really nice tweeter.

For $300 even so-called refurb, in most cases an item returned and never broken > a real good deal.

 

[zieglj01]

PSB Image B4 - $199 new in the box
PSB - Image B4 - Compact Monitor / Surround-Audio Advisor

 

[psbfan9]

Thanks PSB,
Setting aside for now Def Teks and PSB - both very respected north america brands, I have my doubts that Monorpice speakers apply to definition of "good" based on this review
Monoprice 6.5 Inch 2 way Bookshelf Review. I know it's based on a different model - 6 1/2 Inches 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Black - Monoprice.com
but how much really improvement they really done?

The goal of this thread is to find diamonds in the rough, not just bunch of cheap speakers. While AJ's speakers do come very close, but the issues with twitter as Dennis had found out and even has a fix for that, some speakers are just hopeless like ones from Monoprice

Ah, got it. I misread the thread title as Good N' Cheap, not Cheap and Good. In my defense, for $78.00 you have to expect a bit of suckiness.

I was wanting to stay with speakers I've heard, but these being on sale and having good pro re views fit in here.

MartinLogan Motion 2 bookshelf

http://hometheaterreview.com/martinlogan-motion-speaker-system-reviewed/

http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Motion-Bookshelf-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0035FZ11K/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1407636892&sr=1-22&keywords=martinlogan+speakers

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Ah, got it. I misread the thread title as Good N' Cheap, not Cheap and Good. In my defense, for $78.00 you have to expect a bit of suckiness.

I was wanting to stay with speakers I've heard, but these being on sale and having good pro re views fit in here.

MartinLogan Motion 2 bookshelf

MartinLogan Motion Speaker System Reviewed

Amazon.com: MartinLogan Motion 2 Bookshelf Speaker (Piano Black, each) (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Electronics

I hope no offense taken, I started this thread in attempt to gather decent speakers which sold under $300. Micca's probably one of more daring examples on how to make not too sucky speakers for $100 or so. I have not heard them but reviewer and measurements especially speak volumes

If you have heard these new monoprice speakers and able to compare them to well known ones, say CA's S30 - I would definitely add these to the list.

Thanks for mention of ML's - I will surely add them to next revision of the list

 

[alphaiii]

PSB Image B4 - $199 new in the box
PSB - Image B4 - Compact Monitor / Surround-Audio Advisor

$179 @ Crutchfield

 

[zieglj01]

$179 @ Crutchfield

That is good for Crutchfield - rare for them to be the cheapest - must want to move them.

 

[zieglj01]

Ah, got it. I misread the thread title as Good N' Cheap, not Cheap and Good. In my defense, for $78.00 you have to expect a bit of suckiness.

I was wanting to stay with speakers I've heard, but these being on sale and having good pro re views fit in here.

MartinLogan Motion 2 bookshelf

With prices that tend to be in the budget-friendly cell group - there are compromises for sure.
Not all will measure, or sound so-called great >> one would hope and desire for their sound
signature to be musical (less artificial) and some-what dynamic for movies/games (that is to
have a chance to wake some sleeping ants) For ones on a tight starter budget, or desire a
set of second room or desk top speakers - there are some decent ones for sure.

Your Martin Logan is a decent option - they can do some nice things. I use to own their Encore
TF speakers for a l/c/r system, and they were good for the money I paid. They did have a nice
midrange that some of the speakers in this thread could not touch - even the bass was decent
for their driver size.
MartinLogan | Encore TF

 

[GranteedEV]

I haven't heard this specifically, but if it sounds anywhere half as amazing as my headphones from the same company, this is hella worth buying:

GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

I'm pretty sure we're talking under $300, but you'll have to ask a dealer.

I also did not included kits since to be fair sometimes tools required to assemble/build a kit could quickly raise over $300 budget

While that's fair... you could still list these two kits on the off chance someone has what they need by chance sitting around:

Sopranos (Pair)
Stance (Pair)

Tannoy Mercury-VR
Tannoy Mercury VR Surround Bookshelf Speakers Dark Walnut Pair | eBay

How about:

Tannoy Mercury V4 Tower Speaker - V4 Walnut - London Drugs

?

 

[zieglj01]

How about:

Tannoy Mercury V4 Tower Speaker - V4 Walnut - London Drugs
?

That is cool - then use the Mercury VR for surrounds

 

[rojo]

I haven't heard this specifically, but if it sounds anywhere half as amazing as my headphones from the same company, this is hella worth buying:

GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

I'm pretty sure we're talking under $300, but you'll have to ask a dealer.

I'd love to find some GermanMAESTRO speakers, but alas, I don't think they're sold in the U.S.

GermanMAESTRO is basically MB Quart part 2. When Fosgate bought MB Quart then left them for bankruptcy, Maxxsonics bought the company and moved manufacturing to China. German operations were abandoned, as was their home audio. All that's left of MB Quart home audio now is what Maxxsonics acquired from the fire sale -- new old stock, I guess you'd call it. Meanwhile, the German engineers of MB Quart who so unpleasantly found themselves without a company, created GermanMAESTRO.

As a matter of interest, I almost suggested the German-made MB Quart Alexxas for this list, but they don't quite meet the $300 limit. Having been designed by the same people, the Alexxas very much resemble some of the GermanMAESTRO speakers.

 

[GIEGAR]

PSB Image B4 - $199 new in the box
PSB - Image B4 - Compact Monitor / Surround-Audio Advisor

They’re great little speakers zieglj01!

@BoredSysAdmin: In the "almost $300" category, Saturday Audio have demo pairs of the big bro' Image B6's for $329. Subjectively... these are excellent bookshelf speakers that punched above their weight at $550 MSRP. At the sale price they'd be very tough to beat. Objectively... see below.

PSB Image B6 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

That is good for Crutchfield - rare for them to be the cheapest - must want to move them.

Yep, they're all moving 'em because PSB have discontinued the Image line. Replaced (in part) by the Imagine X line.

 

[afterlife2]

Although I know everybody hears differently, I'd like to hear suggestions on Bookshelf best Tweeters on a budget? Maybe a Bored list.