Very tight budget

[jhucke]

Hi all, looking to upgrade my 24 year old floorstanding speakers. The budget is about 300 to 400 for the pair.. So I understand that my choices are limited. It is preferred that I buy floorstanding speakers. However, I will gladly take suggestions for bookshelf speakers.

I have looked in to a few towers including Pioneer FS51, and Energy Cf-30 but I am honestly not sure what I should invest my money in.

Thanks

 

[jhucke]

What are your current speakers, and what are you using to drive them? This information will help us help you.


Welcome aboard!

Thank you

The left and right speakers are floorstanding by Mitsubishi. The model numbers (not sure if you can find much of anything on them) are M-S2200. They are three way speakers which consist of a 3 inch tweeter, 4 inch midrange (yes the dust caps are pushed in like I said, 24 years old) and a 12 inch "woofer" which by the way produces almost no bass. I have recently purchased a Pioneer C21 center channel because of the great things I've heard from Andrew Jones and company. And I have a Polk PSW10 subwoofer (I regret not spending more on a subwoofer but my parents would get a little angry if I had anything that produced more bass than this) If you are wondering why I still live with my parents, I'm only 15 so I'm not some bum. Just saying.

All of those speakers are being driven by, once again, a 24 year old mitsubishi 2.0 stereo receiver. Model number M-U2200

I already know which receiver I plan on buying in the future which is a Pioneer VSX-520. Perhaps the 820 but it may be unnecessary for my bedroom.

 

[jhucke]

That being the case, I would suggest starting with a decent AVR as opposed to speakers. The reason is that with the number of speakers you are trying to push, that old Mitsubishi may not be able to handle more.

If your intent is to drop down to just two speakers total, then the receiver you currently have may just work a little longer. I guess before I delve in deeper, it would also help us to know what it is you seek to accomplish at this point with your setup.

I plan on buying the new receiver after I buy new fronts. I was not my intent to add two more speakers, but to replace the old fronts.

At this point in the setup, I just want to buy the new the new fronts. And eventually, when financially applicable, I intend to purchase a new receiver and rear bookshelves. However, rears are somewhat out of the question at the moment. The usage of the system is 75% music and 25% home theater/gaming.

 

[jhucke]

Also, for further reference, a match uniform soundstage honestly is not going to be that much of an issue. My ears are not trained enough to pick out the little things of unmatched tones and phases or what-have-you. I'm really not sure if uniform sound is a major issue (it may be to some) but it simply won't make a difference to my ears.

 

[HexOmega]

Don't spend a cent on your home audio setup if you're planning on going to college and are footing the bill. Save your pennies now and minimize your student loans. In 10 years you'll be glad you did, and whatever audio gear you buy now will be obsolete anyway.

 

[FirstReflection]

I'd recommend a good pair of bookshelf/stand-mounted speakers for that price range. You can get pretty darn good sound quality in a $400/pair bookshelf speaker. Not so much with a tower.

You do have a subwoofer. Not a great subwoofer. But certainly something that can take over for the lower frequencies. Bookshelf speakers are also much easier to place, transport and use in a future system.

I'd likely recommend the Ascend CBM-170SE bookshelf speakers most highly. They have an excellent tweeter and enough extension that even with a less than stellar sub, you can cross them over low enough that most music won't have to rely too much on the subwoofer's performance.

 

[audit13]

How about the Energy RC-30 from Vanns.com for $199.88 each?

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542220550/energy-rc30?s_c=site_search

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Infinity Primus P362 - 2x $199 w/ Free shipping in US plus it's from official dealer = official 5 year warranty.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P362BG/Infinity-Primus-P362.html?tp=185

 

[markw]

If stereo is your main intent, an older but well maintained receiver can be more than servicable. In fact, it may be better constructed than a lot of modern stuff. You gain nothing by putting money into an AVR aside from more channels and remote control.

I'm using a thirty-five old receiver in one of my systems and it gives up nothing to a more modern system, aside from remote control and video functions.

 

[caper26]

How about the Energy RC-30 from Vanns.com for $199.88 each?

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542220550/energy-rc30?s_c=site_search

+1 !!!

 

[KEW]

FirstReflection,
Don't you have (or didn't you, at one time, have) a pair of RC-30's?
They are a very good tower for $400/pair.
What are your thoughts on a how pair of RC-30's would compare to Ascend CMB-170SE's paired with his sub?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hmm, The battle of ultra budget towers...
RC30 vs P362
2008 model vs new 2010 model
Rear Ported - Front Ported
2x 5.5" Woofers vs 2x 6.5 Woofers + 4" Midrange
40Hz-23kHz (±3 db) vs 38-20,000 Hz (±3dB)

In the end it could be all these numbers are irrelevant, but porting will affect your placement. In fact if PC351BK would fit in my existing furniture I'd get P362 + PC351 instead of my tSc system...

 

[caper26]

since when did Reference Connoisseur become ULTRA budget??

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

since when did Reference Connoisseur become ULTRA budget??

since it's costs $199

 

[caper26]

so if they cost $50 would you compare them to radio shack speakers? just askin'

 

[billy p]

We have Klipsch Group to thank for that....the 30's retailed for 1299.00 here prior to that and I bought mine for ~800.00 cdn. Having heard both speakers the Energies are more refined in every way...but I do see your point. They bascially killed the entire mid and upper line of Energy speakers and rebandaged the Rc's as the new "Veritas".....pity.

since it's costs $199

 

[caper26]

the finish on the veritas is amazing though...saw them in FS when I was buying my 70s...

 

[jhucke]

So I was thinking about this quite a bit today. I thought since I'm more geared towards the music I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to stick with a stereo rather than home theater.
I was thinking I would buy a Harmon and Kardon 3390. It's still a toss up whether I should buy Behringer 2031P bookshelves or Pioneer FS51 floorstanders.
So tell me guys, which ones?

 

[KEW]

So I was thinking about this quite a bit today. I thought since I'm more geared towards the music I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to stick with a stereo rather than home theater.
I was thinking I would buy a Harmon and Kardon 3390. It's still a toss up whether I should buy Behringer 2031P bookshelves or Pioneer FS51 floorstanders.
So tell me guys, which ones?

I've never heard the Pioneers, so cannot comment on them, but I have heard the Behringers (own a pair) and feel they sound better than the Infinity P362's (also own a pair). Primarily, the bass of the P362's was comparatively muddy, which I suspect is an issue of cabinet resonance.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

We have Klipsch Group to thank for that....the 30's retailed for 1299.00 here prior to that and I bought mine for ~800.00 cdn. Having heard both speakers the Energies are more refined in every way...but I do see your point. They bascially killed the entire mid and upper line of Energy speakers and rebandaged the Rc's as the new "Veritas".....pity.

I wasn't aware of that, but I do get the feeling Energy is going to be winded down just like Jamo was.
This also means RUN AND GET THESE RC-30 BEFORE THEY GONE - SINCE $200 for $1000 speaker is A STEAL!!!!!