What is a good deal on speakers, and where do I find them?

[Chopper Greg]

I have been looking on e-bay, trying to find some Polk Monitor series to build a surround system on, but from what I'm seeing, I just don't know what a good price is - for that matter from what I'm seeing, I admit to being more than just a little intimidated by the prices I'm seeing even on e-bay.

What are good prices for speakers ( especially sets for a surround system ), and where am I going to find them ?

 

[selkec]

Frys.com has polk r50's in cherry for 69 a piece. Normally 199 a piece. You could use these for fronts if your going to use a sub or use them in the rear for surrounds.

 

[j_garcia]

Frys.com has polk r50's in cherry for 69 a piece. Normally 199 a piece. You could use these for fronts if your going to use a sub or use them in the rear for surrounds.

While that is a good price for them, the R50s aren't from the Monitor line and they are pretty average speakers at best. Good for the price for sure, but not top of the line speakers.

Chopper, what's your approximate budget and maybe we can help you that way?

 

[Chopper Greg]

I'll be honest - I know next to nothing about speakers - so trying to piece together a set, and trying to get every thing to match, is extremely intimidating, more so since locally, my only choice is either a big box store or pure custom shops - so being able to listen and get an idea of what sounds good is nigh imposable, as the box stores are poor places to listen and the custom shops are not interested in you unless you have $2K ready to spend.

I don't even know if I need Polk as I am not demanding "high" quality - simple "good " is sufficient for what I can afford at this time - for that matter, I'm not sure that I would know high quality if I heard it, because of ringing in the ears. Does that make sense?

 

[jamie2112]

What have you budgeted for your audio system? That is where I would start.......

 

[j_garcia]

I don't even know if I need Polk as I am not demanding "high" quality - simple "good " is sufficient for what I can afford at this time - for that matter, I'm not sure that I would know high quality if I heard it, because of ringing in the ears. Does that make sense?

In that case, you might just give those Polks a look. For that price, they will definitely get you sound and won't break the bank. If you find that you desire something better than that, you could most likely sell them off at little or no loss in cost. Watch out for shipping on those guys though, could be pricey if you don't have a local Frys.

 

[jostenmeat]

In that case, you might just give those Polks a look. For that price, they will definitely get you sound and won't break the bank. If you find that you desire something better than that, you could most likely sell them off at little or no loss in cost. Watch out for shipping on those guys though, could be pricey if you don't have a local Frys.

This is just my opinion, but this line of speakers is among the very worst I've ever heard. Maybe straight up The Worst. I honestly, truly believe that even Onkyo HTIB speakers are significantly superior. That bad.

I'd say some studio monitors, for bang for buck, so long as the OP is ok with not having grilles.

 

[Chopper Greg]

Out of curosity what about these speakers by Sony?

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665089273
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665191300

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665191299

Funny enough, one of the local custom shops like some of Sony's speakers.

I know a place to pick refurbished units up for 20% off.

 

[j_garcia]

I've never been a fan of Sony's speakers, but a buddy of mine has some "higher end" Sony towers that he got somewhere and they actually sound pretty decent. They aren't like the ones you've listed though, the are tall and slender and look like DefTechs.

I'd actually take a look at the Yamaha NS line of speakers, as they got good reviews in the bookshelf shootout here.

 

[Chopper Greg]

What have you budgeted for your audio system? That is where I would start.......

I have $600 for speakers.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

600 bucks for speakers? This is an easy one...
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

Done...

I have $600 for speakers.

 

[Chopper Greg]

600 bucks for speakers? This is an easy one...
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

Done...

My bad - $600 to fill an entire surround system - not just one pair.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I would really consider slowly building up a system. Start with the most speaker you can afford, use some cheap, crap speakers for surrounds, add a good sub when you can, then add the proper center.

You could also save up 300 more bucks and go with SVS or slowly build out one of their systems.
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

 

[j_garcia]

You could also save up 300 more bucks and go with SVS or slowly build out one of their systems.
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

The SVS system would be a good place to start. You could also get the 5.0 set for $569 and add your own budget sub for under $200 when time permits.

You could also consider these and also add your own sub.

 

[Chopper Greg]

A definite thought - although it looks like I may have to go with in-ceiling speakers to effectively deal with side surround issues - I have a feeling that is going to limit my choices a bit.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That's even better, go with a 3.1 and use some $159 inceilings for surrounds.

I mean better in the sense that it fits your budget a tad bit better...

A definite thought - although it looks like I may have to go with in-ceiling speakers to effectively deal with side surround issues - I have a feeling that is going to limit my choices a bit.

 

[fredk]

Even with ringing in the ears, you will appreciate better quality sound.

Go and listen to some speakers, even if it is in the big box store. Listen to the cheapest and most expensive they have to offer to see if you hear and vaiue the difference in sound.

Listening to a few different speakers will give you a sense of what you like and don't like. Then come back here and post. Once we have a reference, it will be a lot easier to make suggestions that fit your needs/wants.

 

[Chopper Greg]

If you get good mains you'll find yourself suddenly listening to a lot more music. I would get two good mains and a decent sub. Imo surrounds don't improve the movie experience very much. A decent sub does.

Even in the theater, I find my self paying attention to the details I can hear.

TCA has some very reasonably priced bookshelf speakers that are getting decent reviews (229 shipped I think) add to that the most sub you can afford from Hsu or ED and you should be a happy camper. Av123's elt525's a very nice for the price(I have some) if the company issues don't bother you...

Ok, that splash you just heard was my falling off the deep end.

I'm not yet up on all the language, could you please clarify:

TCA, Hsu, ED as well as what I think may be particular models ?

Company issues? Sorry I'm not following.

 

[JerryLove]

I've never been a fan of Sony's speakers, but a buddy of mine has some "higher end" Sony towers that he got somewhere and they actually sound pretty decent. They aren't like the ones you've listed though, the are tall and slender and look like DefTechs.

Back in 1995 I actually built my HT out of Sony bookshelves that you could get at Best-Buy at the time ($25 a piece). Paired with a sub they weren't really all that bad. I still have the setup in a smaller room at my parents house.

Other Sony speakers, even at that moment, I did not like as much.

$600 is a tight budget. I'm sorry I don't have a specific recommendation in tha range right now. I would definately focus on the front-center portion as that's where your listening is.

 

[Chopper Greg]

Even with ringing in the ears, you will appreciate better quality sound.

Go and listen to some speakers, even if it is in the big box store. Listen to the cheapest and most expensive they have to offer to see if you hear and vaiue the difference in sound.

Listening to a few different speakers will give you a sense of what you like and don't like. Then come back here and post. Once we have a reference, it will be a lot easier to make suggestions that fit your needs/wants.

My biggest problem with the big box stores is that I have a very difficult time trying to separate what I'm trying to listen to, from the background noise, ( and it doesn't help that all the speakers are different distances apart ).

- today I thought I heard some Sony's that sounded better than the Polk's sitting next to them, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why I thought they sounded better - it didn't help that 2 other guys were trying to listen to stuff on the other side of the isle and they were trying to compete with each other for volume in order to hear what they each were listening to.

That fairly well describes 9 out of 10 of my trips to the big box stores. How does one compare sound quality in that type of situation, in order to learn what one likes ( or at least appears to sound good )?

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