Favorite Inexpensive Speaker

jtwrace · « **Reply #40 on:** 21 Apr 2011, 11:53 pm »

I have a few.

My Audio Engine A2's.

My PSB Alfa bookshelve's

and last my first set of speaker when I was 7. B&O C70 (I think)

timind · « **Reply #41 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 01:31 am »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 21 Apr 2011, 03:41 pm

I don't see any rule against buying used so here goes. I think the best bang for the buck right now is Meadowlark Audio. Their used value plummeted since their demise and you can get absolutely incredible sound for around $800 with a pair of Shearwater Hot Rods. Need more "Oooomph!"? The Heron i's are selling for around $1,750. Don't need lots of bass? The Swifts and Kestrels are under $500. I currently own two models of Meadowlark and am pretty sure I can't do better for what I'd get for them...which is near nothing!

Absolute bargains at the used prices. I have a pair of Shearwater Hot Rods as well as a pair of Kestrels. If I had a bigger room I'd be listening to the Heron i right now. I'm ashamed to say what I paid for my Kestrels.
Since we're talkin used now I'll add Vandersteen 1Cs. At around $400 they are fantastic.

fredgarvin · « **Reply #42 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 01:33 am »

I'm not sure the VMPS 626 jr can be beaten at $950. That's a lot of speaker for that price.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #43 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 02:54 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 21 Apr 2011, 11:53 pm

I have a few.

My Audio Engine A2's.

My PSB Alfa bookshelve's

and last my first set of speaker when I was 7. B&O C70 (I think)

Great selections Jason. And sorry, I didn't mean to suggest you couldn't post as much as you want to on the thread, just maybe that your wonderful Abbeys are not particularly suited to the topic. The AE's are one of those classics that I never got 'round to hearing despite how popular and well distributed they were. Stereophile went gaga over them back in the day. Of course the PSBs I'm very familiar with.

jtwrace · « **Reply #44 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 02:56 am »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 22 Apr 2011, 02:54 am

Great selections Jason. And sorry, I didn't mean to suggest you couldn't post as much as you want to on the thread, just maybe that your wonderful Abbeys are not particularly suited to the topic. The AE's are one of those classics that I never got 'round to hearing despite how popular and well distributed they were. Stereophile went gaga over them back in the day. Of course the PSBs I'm very familiar with.

Thanks!

Yes, the AE's are just super good and fun. I remember hearing them at RMAF when they came out and the buzz around them was insane.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #45 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 03:07 am »

Great selections all, keep 'em coming. However Ericus Rex really struck a chord with me suggesting several of the Meadowlark Audio speakers. I nearly pulled the trigger on a pair of the smallest floorstanders (Swift?) on eBay recently, but thought maybe I should wait for a bargain on a larger model, or be happy with what I have, or something.

When the posting slows down I'll post a list of all the suggestions, so feel free to second a speaker already mentioned, Meadowlark and PSB have two votes already.

mclsound · « **Reply #46 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 08:50 am »

The Paradigm Studio 40 series 2 in real rosenut.Series 2 seemed less bright and was the cats ass for both 2ch and HT....$500

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #47 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 11:58 am »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 22 Apr 2011, 03:07 am

Great selections all, keep 'em coming. However Ericus Rex really struck a chord with me suggesting several of the Meadowlark Audio speakers. I nearly pulled the trigger on a pair of the smallest floorstanders (Swift?) on eBay recently, but thought maybe I should wait for a bargain on a larger model, or be happy with what I have, or something.

There is a pair of Heron-i's on Audiogon right now for $1,650

That was a $5,500 speaker new.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #48 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 11:58 am »

Quote from: stereocilia on 21 Apr 2011, 11:28 pm

The Kestrels were great even at MSRP. BTW, I wonder how much this thread has increased their price?

eclein · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 12:10 pm »

I can't believe I didn't think of these sooner but Danny's (GR Research) N2X are pretty darn sweet. You can find them as low as $600ish on here and other spots....If I were starting over they would be my first choice, easy, next component..LOL.

Bill O'Connell · « **Reply #50 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 01:07 pm »

I remember the first time I heard the Omega Super 3's, I know Louis has made a lot more different models after those but they were very special.
When they come up on the used market I always have the urge to write potential customers if I knew who they would be and say "somebody snatch these up"

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #51 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 01:58 pm »

I think this thread would be easier to contribute to if you set a maximum price for "inexpensive."

Just trying to help.

JLM · « **Reply #52 on:** 22 Apr 2011, 07:36 pm »

If you're into open baffle (or practically no baffle) and need high efficiency, the Hawthorne Silver Iris coaxial drivers are excellent value at $160 each. They don't need a baffle, just something to hold them in place. The 15 inch will go lower (amazingly low, Fs 41 Hz), the 10 inch smoothes over the transition to the tweeter better(Fs 53 Hz).

Resolution improves with the Sterling Silver Iris coaxial drivers, but they run about $700 each. All are professional grade construction and highly efficient (94 - 96 dB/w/m).

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/index.html

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #53 on:** 23 Apr 2011, 02:27 am »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 22 Apr 2011, 01:58 pm

I think this thread would be easier to contribute to if you set a maximum price for "inexpensive."

Just trying to help.

The price you decide on what is inexpensive is up to you, what do you consider inexpensive? That judgement is often independent of means. For example I have friends for whom $1,000 is a very expensive pair of speakers, yet they have hundreds of thousands in their bank account and millions in stocks. I could no more tell you what is inexpensive as tell you what car to buy or which wife to choose. I do appreciate your sentiment on wanting to help, however the answer is within you.

JLM I'm not into open baffle, but I'm curious ( sounds like a sophomore sexual confession). I'd like to learn more about the benefits and parameters, but unfortunately this is the Enclosures circle for conventional speakers so I need to wander over to the OB circle. Not that OB's and Panels can't be mentioned here, just that we can't make it a focus.

charmerci · « **Reply #54 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 04:08 pm »

The B&W DM302's are excellent. They don't do anything badly. The better the electronics, the better they sound.

rollo · « **Reply #55 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 04:26 pm »

Quote from: Bill O'Connell on 22 Apr 2011, 01:07 pm

I remember the first time I heard the Omega Super 3's, I know Louis has made a lot more different models after those but they were very special.
When they come up on the used market I always have the urge to write potential customers if I knew who they would be and say "somebody snatch these up"

Bill I'm with you on that. Still have one of his original designs. Good stuff.

charles

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #56 on:** 26 Apr 2011, 04:11 am »

Quote from: charmerci on 25 Apr 2011, 04:08 pm

The B&W DM302's are excellent. They don't do anything badly. The better the electronics, the better they sound.

I have a pair over at my GF's condo, or rather she has a pair of them, I bought them for her. She has a wonderful ear for reproduction and she is my final judge on all audio matters. At the high end salon where we went I was sold on some more expensive brand that was on demo sale, can't remember which brand, and she said no, I want these. I have learned not to veto her, so out came the checkbook, she was happy, and I saved $300.

Mark Korda · « **Reply #57 on:** 26 Apr 2011, 08:09 am »

I may be showing my age,but the Radio Shack Realistic Minimus 7 combined with a sub woofer could seal the deal.It played every thing above 80 hz.,and may be the best hardworking 100 dollars you ever spent!(Speakers 81)....Mark Korda

Rclark · « **Reply #58 on:** 15 Jun 2011, 09:57 pm »

I'll throw in a third vote for the BB Insignia, the best cheap speaker I've ever heard, it's pretty mindblowing for the money. FYI I paid $90 new so I think they caught on.

I'm running them off a Virtue Two.2 with an LS-10A 10 amp linear supply using Zmanastronomy's cryo'd copper speaker cables and I have to say they sound fantastic with just the cabinets beefed with 4lbs of water putty.

Keep an eye out for a thread in the GR forum next week, I should get my upgrade kit here on friday. No Rez, Danny Richie crossover with bypass caps, new wire, better bracing, should be a treat.

Sparky14 · « **Reply #59 on:** 22 Jun 2011, 04:42 pm »

I've just picked up some of the Hsu HB-1 bookshelves. Nice looking and nice sounding. Not going to make anybody forget their mega-kilobuck speakers, but for $300-$400 new I doubt you will find much better. Listened to them for an hour last night before I realized that my sub was turned off...pretty good compliment for the HB-1s.