Help me with a fun cheap system

[MidnightSensi2]

My friend and I are taking a trailer down to sell clothing in Key West for an event. We want to bring some tunes, of course, but the trailer is small, and theft is always an issue. Bringing anything from my rig is too big, plus I don't want to leave anything expensive.

The source will be an iPod (which we already have), the music will be electronic mostly. House, progressive house, maybe some drum and bass.

Sound quality isn't important, it is what it is for the money. It's basically about getting something cheap, that works, and we can have some fun with for a weekend. Sensitivity/volume/efficiency is a plus, per the size.

If it makes it through the weekend, I might use it in my garage!

Budget....the kicker: Around 100 bucks.

I was thinking these because of the ease of it all being in one package, although I know the bass won't be too chunky if its designed as a studio monitor:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-6300

These look better in the bass department, but I'd need to find a cheap amp....
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-019

I'm going to look at my workshop tomorrow, I might have an old 35w 2 channel amp there...can't remember now.

Any takers on some cheap shopping?! I'm kinda having fun searching around at workable junk.

 

[majorloser]

Why don't you go hit a pawn shop or Salvation Army Store? Might find some old stereo setup for cheap. Goodwill thrift store or Faith Farm in your area?

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Yeah, I used to have these garbage sounding home speakers from like the 70s that would have been perfect for this, but when I moved they cost more to move than they were worth so I gave them away. Man did they sound bad, but, they were chunky sounding and efficient, would have been perfect for this.

I think there probably is something like that around here, but, who knows what they have. Could waste a whole day and find nothing.... good idea though, I'll look as see if a few spots are lined up.

 

[jostenmeat]

Hey Midnight, nice to see you back again!

For the better part of my life, I used a pair of Radio Shack bookshelves that I picked up in college for what was probably $80 new. They will leave you jonesing for better bass, but they were decent for the money, with a midrange hump I'm sure. They were very rugged/robust, metal with metal grilles. I can't remember for sure if there were keyholes for facilitated mounting. Maybe you can scour the local ads to see if there's a pair around.

In all honesty though, I'm afraid whatever you will buy will leave you disappointed, with your tastes.

These blow your budget by 50% as new, and I even wonder how you will feel about these . . .

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Each?sku=482825

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Hey Midnight, nice to see you back again!

For the better part of my life, I used a pair of Radio Shack bookshelves that I picked up in college for what was probably $80 new. They will leave you jonesing for better bass, but they were decent for the money, with a midrange hump I'm sure. They were very rugged/robust, metal with metal grilles. I can't remember for sure if there were keyholes for facilitated mounting. Maybe you can scour the local ads to see if there's a pair around.

In all honesty though, I'm afraid whatever you will buy will leave you disappointed, with your tastes.

These blow your budget by 50% as new, and I even wonder how you will feel about these . . .

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2-Powered-Studio-Monitor-Each?sku=482825

Cheers man.

My tastes are out the window here, I'm not looking to compare it with my real gear. This is just some fun stuff where if it gets ganked or crushed it won't crush me.

That KRK actually looks like a really nice option, but that price is each...so...it would be like 300 bucks. :/

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Some cheap Daytons:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-652

 

[majorloser]

Some cheap Daytons:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-652

Now you just need a cheap receiver.

 

[Alex2507]

Look at the eBay listings with the Nearest First filter. Ask the sellers of what ever interests you if local pick up is okay so you won't have shipping fees. I bought 2 rec'rs for $38 recently for a friend. Shipping would have been $50.

 

[KEW]

Why don't you go hit a pawn shop or Salvation Army Store? Might find some old stereo setup for cheap. Goodwill thrift store or Faith Farm in your area?

Given the OP's lack of concern over quality, I think this is the way to go. If your stores are like the ones around me, they always have plenty of working crap. Who knows, you might even score a vintage Soundesign system!

 

[SJTrance]

What city are you located in? If I were in this situation, I would scour craigslist. At least here in NYC, I find cool things on CL all the time.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

I found a Sony STR-DE197 here at the workshop tucked under some old parts. Must have been using it for testing a long time ago. Still turns on, I'm going to take it home tonight and test it with some speakers to see if it will work...but, hopefully it will, then I can just buy some speakers!

This is the one:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11035325

So, since now I have 100 bucks for speakers, what should I get:

These MTX's that would maybe be better in the bass department:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-019

Or spring for some Cerwin Vega's for some extra old school:
http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-VE-VE-5M-channel-speakers/dp/B000LSG09Q

haha.

Sorry, I'm having fun with this. Whatever I end up with, I promise a review. Haha

 

[MidnightSensi2]

What city are you located in? If I were in this situation, I would scour craigslist. At least here in NYC, I find cool things on CL all the time.

If I was really looking for the ultimate deal I probably would, but the headache of talking to some weirdo from Craigslist down here.... along with chances of it being a staged robbery...j/k. Seriously though, mostly a time thing. I'd rather just buy something on the 'net and have it delivered.

This weekend I am going to go look for some goodwill stores and stuff just for fun and see what I can find. I won't buy anything till next week so I can get a chance to look around. There is also a guitar center locally, they sometimes have some scratch and dent/used or demo stuff they are just begging to get rid of.

**edit: I'm still chuckling about buying some Cerwin-Vega speakers...I bet those things would have the bloated base and piercing highs to make this work haha.

 

[SJTrance]

Well, it looks like the Dayton goes down to 48Hz and the CV's go down to 60Hz but who knows if these figures are true or not.

PS: Common, you should still do the CL search. Who knows, it could be like a little swashbuckling adventure.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

The daytons go only down to 70Hz, the MTX goes to 48Hz with a 88db/W sensitivity, the Cerwins go down to 60Hz with 89db/W sensitivity. To the Daytons credit, they are half the money of MTX. The Cerwins are almost 100 bucks, eh...

I think the MTX's are in the front running right now. With pretty good sensitivity and the ported enclosure (probably with bad port noise to boot haha).

Obviously all this 'data' is BS, but, MTX and Cerwins were pretty common in college... I have a pretty good idea of how they sound. Terrible audiophile speakers, great party speakers....and cheap.

MTX in the lead!

Again, I'll take your guys advice and do some searching this weekend. Cheers for all the help... it's fun looking for cheap ****, no?

 

[GranteedEV]

This! er sorry i meant this or a pair of these but i couldn't resist

 

[Seth=L]

What city are you located in? If I were in this situation, I would scour craigslist. At least here in NYC, I find cool things on CL all the time.

Oh yes, big cities full of people with more money than sense, a perfect environment for great deals!

Pioneer just released a new line of speakers that are available at Best Buy, might be worth a look. One of the members here bought a pair of Pioneer bookshelf speakers and was very impressed with their performance given the size and cost, which I think was $79.