Cheap AND Good speakers thread

[alphaiii]

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

I keep considering getting a pair of the AAL monitors... then I find something else to put on my list ahead of them...

The Aviano's I demo'd were nice (I heard the 1's not the 2's)... Crazy that I sold a pair of Mezzo 1 for around the same price as those Aviano 2 are selling for... and based on my experience, the Mezzo is noticeably better than the Aviano. I was getting to the point that, had I been able to find the Mezzo 5 center, I would've kept the Mezzo 1 rather than selling for so damn cheap.

Just goes to show how much Mordaunt is under-appreciated in the US - there is very little market for them here.

 

[alphaiii]

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

While the M25 isn't on par with the VS 260... definitely a solid speaker and a nice deal.

An even better deal (IMO) is the M250 towers, brand new with 5 year warranty, for $500 with free shipping... although outside the price range for this thread. They were recently available from WWStereo for that price, with a coupon code that has since expired. EDIT: Apparently the code is still active.

 

[alphaiii]

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

Even if one has to buy a few things (soldering iron, wood glue, a couple clamps)... the Overnight Sensations designed by Paul Carmody can be built for relatively cheap... and are very nice little speakers... just inefficient as hell.

I got them during one of PE's deal of the day sales for $99 for the kit... well worth it. Building them has been a fun learning experience... and I'm finally taking the time to finish the cabinets...

Although I know not everyone would want to undertake a project like this, it's a good starter option for those that do.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Even if one has to buy a few things (soldering iron, wood glue, a couple clamps)... the Overnight Sensations designed by Paul Carmody can be built for relatively cheap... and are very nice little speakers... just inefficient as hell.

I got them during one of PE's deal of the day sales for $99 for the kit... well worth it. Building them has been a fun learning experience... and I'm finally taking the time to finish the cabinets...

Although I know not everyone would want to undertake a project like this, it's a good starter option for those that do.

 

[psbfan9]

I hope no offense taken, I started this thread in attempt to gather decent speakers which sold under $300.

No offense taken at all. It was a poor attempt at humor. I knew I should have used smileys.

 

[GranteedEV]

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

Pretty sure they are, even ic not widely. Try emailing german maestro USA for distributor info.

 

[zieglj01]

I keep considering getting a pair of the AAL monitors... then I find something else to put on my list ahead of them...
Just goes to show how much Mordaunt is under-appreciated in the US - there is very little market for them here.

You really should try them out - they are seriously good - the stock Pioneer BS22 is more of a shadow
compared to the AAL. They will hold their own and more, compared to speakers costing up to the $350
price range. Also note, this is a DIY speaker already complete for you.

Audio Partnership seems to be missing the mark - by pushing the Mordaunt Short back - if they want to
push their Cambridge side >> then they need to get down to the nitty gritty and design and refine them
better (bring them up to a higher standard).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Pretty sure they are, even ic not widely. Try emailing german maestro USA for distributor info.

their web site shows few dealers, none too close to me, but at least 3 in north east

 

[zieglj01]

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

Do you mean the better tweeter (preference) in a speaker, with-in the current speakers (price range),
that we are looking at?

I know where one of them are - it is in your home!

 

[GranteedEV]

their web site shows few dealers, none too close to me, but at least 3 in north east

I once emailed them to ask about distribution near me, and they said that since they have no dealers covering my region, they can ship directly to me.

 

[zieglj01]

GermanMAESTRO is basically MB Quart part 2. 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.

German Maestro 1 for mid level
Alexxa B1 (in USA)
AS-B1PB (Pair)*| MB Quart

German Maestro 2 for mid level
MS B1 (overseas) with some upgrades - new tweeter
GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

 

[Warner2Bruce]

SP-PK52FS - Andrew Jones Designed 5.1 Channel Speaker Package | Pioneer Electronics USA

 

[GIEGAR]

Are powered studio monitors in scope?

A pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 4s' are currently $358. ($322 with E-Club membership.)

https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/airmotiv-4s

With 25+25W on-board amps, DSP crossover and HF & LF shelving EQ, there's a good deal of hardware for the dollar.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

SP-PK52FS - Andrew Jones Designed 5.1 Channel Speaker Package | Pioneer Electronics USA

You didn't bothered to read any other posts in this thread?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Are powered studio monitors in scope?

A pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 4s' are currently $358. ($322 with E-Club membership.)

https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/airmotiv-4s

With 25+25W on-board amps, DSP crossover and HF & LF shelving EQ, there's a good deal of hardware for the dollar.

Imho Emotiva's Pro speakers are still pretty overpriced compared to similar models from JBL/Behringer plus active monitors are a bit harder to integrate with sub and 4" woofer bookshelf do need a sub, but not terrible way to go anyways

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

German Maestro 1 for mid level
Alexxa B1 (in USA)
AS-B1PB (Pair)*| MB Quart

German Maestro 2 for mid level
MS B1 (overseas) with some upgrades - new tweeter
GermanMAESTRO - Powered by MAESTRO Badenia

I am curious to the price of German Maestro 2 ?

 

[zieglj01]

I am curious to the price of German Maestro 2 ?

From one source - in 2010 is was 800 euro > which is around $1070 USA - about the same as
the Alexxa B-1 price when it came out.

 

[zieglj01]

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.

OK rojo - German Maestro (2) MS B1 bookshelf - the kin to the Alexxa B1

 

[alphaiii]

Sort of reminds me of measurements I've seen of the Mordaunt Mezzo 1... a little mid forward with the low-mid and mid-treble dips... although the Maestro looks a little flatter

EDIT: On second look... Maestro is pretty flat... and Mezzo has some bigger peaks and dips...
http://www.stereo.de/hifi-test/lautsprecher/kompaktboxen/mordaunt-short-mezzo-1/

 

[j_garcia]

Even if one has to buy a few things (soldering iron, wood glue, a couple clamps)... the Overnight Sensations designed by Paul Carmody can be built for relatively cheap... and are very nice little speakers... just inefficient as hell.

I got them during one of PE's deal of the day sales for $99 for the kit... well worth it. Building them has been a fun learning experience... and I'm finally taking the time to finish the cabinets...

Although I know not everyone would want to undertake a project like this, it's a good starter option for those that do.

Been thinking about doing those too and I have a credit over at PE right now. Problem is, they're listed as out of stock until November, at which time they'll likely be on sale again I'll either be picking up a a set of those or possibly some TriTrix. I just haven't had ANY time to do much of anything lately.


Here's another couple of kits that are quite good for the ridiculous kit price (you have to come up with cabinets though, PE....). Not as cheap as the overnight sensations. These are the old AV123 X-series (I'd choose the Encore over the XLS for $60 more). Yes, they have stigmata, but they're still a very good sounding speaker for the price. Danny designed them and has had them in stock for a while now. The crossovers are fully assembled already though, so that's sort of a benefit.

X-LS Classic kit

X-LS Encore kit