[zieglj01]

Parts Express has these speakers for so-called buyout prices.
They do at least look interesting - and seem to be built decent.
However, no name on grill or back of the speaker. Sold each.

I am curious and can not decide whether or not to try them.
http://www.parts-express.com/new-wave-audio-bk-52b-5-1-4-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black--309-620

http://www.parts-express.com/new-wave-audio-bk-62b-6-1-2-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black--309-624

http://www.orevox.com/image/cache/data/Homeaudio/newwave/BK52-R-500x500.jpg

http://www.orevox.com/image/cache/data/Homeaudio/newwave/BK52-L-500x500.jpg

http://www.orevox.com/image/cache/data/Homeaudio/newwave/BK52-B-500x500.jpg

[Phil A]

They look nice.  At some point in the near future I will have to decide what to do with my office speakers (not quite ready yet(.  I will be moving my B&W LM-1s (currently on the desk where I don't have tons of room) into a spare system as side surrounds (using the in-ceilings in that room as overhead channels vs. surrounds) when I move to a receiver with the new formats.  I will have spare receivers (and I have a small 50W powered sub behind a filing cabinet) but I'm still tempted to go with powered speakers just to simplify things (I don't use the office speakers tons, most often using the speakers built into the monitors but I do have a decent sound card (MAudio 192) and having powered speakers may make me use them more.  I have a cheapo pair of powered speakers on a spare computer but they suck.  I'm also tempted due to the space limitations to try building my own pair of open baffle speakers (but I want them to look nice and not sure how well I could do that).

[zieglj01]

They look nice.  At some point in the near future I will have to decide what to do with my office speakers (not quite ready yet(.  I will be moving my B&W LM-1s (currently on the desk where I don't have tons of room) into a spare system as side surrounds (using the in-ceilings in that room as overhead channels vs. surrounds) when I move to a receiver with the new formats.  I will have spare receivers (and I have a small 50W powered sub behind a filing cabinet)

One thing for sure - if one is a DIY person, you will get some nice cabinets - as they do have some weight on them,
and are said to be black oak veneer.

For $96 a pair, with a 45 day return policey - it looks like a nice option for testing to me.

[Phil A]

Definitely a good buy (vs. this for example) - http://michelledeals.com/deal/new-wave-audio-bk-52-e574864cd4966de9225321064421907e.html

[zieglj01]

They are on sale at Parts Express for $25 each - I am going to test them out.
https://www.parts-express.com/new-wave-audio-bk-52b-5-1-4-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black--309-620?AID=1457483&PID=6155355&SID=ic6estnzqy00s3dy0005c

The bigger brother is $30 each
https://www.parts-express.com/new-wave-audio-bk-62b-6-1-2-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-black--309-624

[zieglj01]

Well, they have arrived - and I got them for $25 each, plus $6.95 total shipping.
The cabinet is a good solid cabinet, with an inside board in the middle to stiffen
the top, sides and bottom. This thing easily passes the door knock test with no
hollow sound. It puts many more expensive speakers to shame cabinet wise. The
boxes are a DIY dream for people who want to make their own speakers, with their
own drivers and crossover.

The finish is black oak, and is hard to tell if real or not - with a close eyed look at
the edges it looks to be laminate. They have a bright polish finish to them. A little
too bright for me.

For $50 a pair, they are 5/8 inch on all sides - and are 7-1/2 W x 11-1/2 H x 11 deep
and feel like they are around 14 lbs each. Well Dayton, Monoprice, Sound Appeal and
Pioneer, what is going on with you? The crossover is 4 parts - 1 coil with 2 poly caps
and 1 resistor. Plus, the woofer has a vented pole piece.

Now how do they sound? Well, when I hooked them up - they made some sound.
More to follow - however, the cheap Dayton and Monoprice can take a back seat,
and the Sound Appeal will follow them in line.

[srb]

The finish is black oak, and is hard to tell if real or not - with a close eyed look at the edges it looks to be laminate. They have a bright polish finish to them. A little too bright for me.

Interesting, as you know the product details say "covered with a real oak veneer".  Either way you could see if you can get a nice effect by taking some #0000 synthetic steel wool to the bottom where it wouldn't really matter if it didn't come out to your liking.  But my guess is it may give you exactly the finish you desire.

Steve

[decal]

I recommend these highly. I have four in my shop powered by an Adcom 535, they sound great.
 

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-b652-air-6-1-2-bookshelf-speaker-pair-with-amt-tweeter--300-651

[zieglj01]

Here is the reality of the New Wave speakers - they are OK for surround duty
and for non-critical garage musical listening.

They fall short in critical listening - their sound tends to lack weight,
they are thin and lacking in detail and depth. The voices are somewhat
shouty and instruments somewhat artificial sounding.

The sound is not rounded and full - with somewhat of a hole in the midrange,
and the treble is not balanced. The bass is nice/OK and better than some of
those cheapy speakers. The speaker overall tends to lack definition.

I will have to retrack one statement - the Sound Appeal no longer needs to
take a back seat.

The box is still seriously over-built for these speakers

[decal]

Here is the reality of the New Wave speakers - they are OK for surround duty
and for non-critical garage musical listening.

They fall short in critical listening - their sound tends to lack weight,
they are thin and lacking in detail and depth. The voices are somewhat
shouty and instruments somewhat artificial sounding.

The sound is not rounded and full - with somewhat of a hole in the midrange,
and the treble is not balanced. The bass is nice/OK and better than some of
those cheapy speakers. The speaker overall tends to lack definition.

I will have to retrack one statement - the Sound Appeal no longer needs to
take a back seat.

The box is still seriously over-built for these speakers

I hope you weren't  expecting much from $30.00 dollar speakers.

[zieglj01]

I hope you weren't  expecting much from $30.00 dollar speakers.

For $50 a pair - I was expecting more than I got from the old famous Insignia speakers.
You even get a cast medal frame woofer.

However, they put most of the money into the cabinets, which make the old Insignia
cabinets look really sick.

[Rocket_Ronny]

Are they even broken in? How many hours do they have?

Rocket_Ronny

[zieglj01]

Are they even broken in? How many hours do they have?

Rocket_Ronny

It doesn't matter now, because they went surfing and ended up at Goodwill.

[charmerci]

For $50 a pair - I was expecting more than I got from the old famous Insignia speakers.
You even get a cast medal frame woofer.

However, they put most of the money into the cabinets, which make the old Insignia
cabinets look really sick.

Too bad you couldn't put the Insignia drivers into those cabinets....

[zieglj01]

Too bad you couldn't put the Insignia drivers into those cabinets....

I could find a woofer replacement - however, maybe sometime in the future.
The hobby is still fun, it is part of the game.