Speaker recommendation 2-channel, for paycheck to paycheck music lovers

default -- Tue, 01/27/2009 - 22:42

I can't purchase any high end auio equipment due to the potential for layoff
My current set up consist of a pair of AR 28's speakers, Yamaha 10 in sub, Denon AVR-1505-485
I would like to puchase another pair of speakers $130-$200 per speaker
I will purchase used speakers for upgrading my set up
What about "Emotivas"?
I appreciate your time and consideration

Harvey C-rollover6 [at] hotmail [dot] com (Houston, Texas)

Tom F (not verified) -- Thu, 07/30/2009 - 07:50

Hi Harvey,
I can understand the need to keep the outgoing funds to a minimum, especially with a pending or possible layof / loss of income. While I admittedly cannot think of any speakers to suggest offhand, you may find something very nice within your price range at www.audioadvisor.com. They carry PSB, Warfdale, Cambridge, Energy, Epos, Boston Acoustics, etc. $130 to $200 per speaker gives you $260 to $400 per pair, which is not bad actually. Oh yeah, www.crutchfield.com may be a good resource for you to check over. They carry Polk, Klipsch, and several others. Crutchfield is very reputable and well established with fantastic customer service, as is Audio Advisor. I hope this helps. As for your lay off that may happen, I sincerely wish you (and possible family of yours) the best that God can provide. I have been unemployed since Sep. 23, 2008, and my wife had been unemployed since August 2, 2008 and just got a job 2 1/2 weeks ago, so I know what you are concerned about ... somewhat at least. Again, I wish you the best that God can provide you with.
Sincerely,
Tom

darren_s -- Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:12

Well I hope they accept checks because I could use a pair of these too. I always try not to make compromises when it comes to music devices, the quality is a prime factor for me. Thanks for providing the websites, I'll have the time to review them completely this weekend!

Chris Heinonen (not verified) -- Thu, 07/30/2009 - 13:07

For $200 per speaker, you could also get something like the Usher S-520, which is a very highly regarded speaker, and if you were to look into used speakers on Audiogon, you could stretch that even further.

nascar03 -- Thu, 07/30/2009 - 14:23

Hi Harvey.....
Have you looked into DIY speaker kits/packages...?
These provide a great return-on-investment. GR Research & Selah Audio are two that I have recent success with. My experince has been 2-3 times the $$ value. If you can build the enclosures that's even better, or purchase enclosures from Parts Express, custom builders, etc. These kits are available in every price range.
eg: GR Research N3's($369) + MDF + Veneer + Time = good sounds!!
nascar03 graham

Tom F (not verified) -- Thu, 07/30/2009 - 14:12

I agree. Good idea. Just be careful as to the seller's feedback (recently especially) and methods of payment, terms, expectations, etc. EBay can do the same thing, but you may likely get outbid by some idiot with nothing better to do than sit and watch an auction and bid one penny higher than your highest bid at the last second.
Do you want bookshelf or floorstander speakers ?
Tom

Tom F (not verified) -- Fri, 07/31/2009 - 08:04

Good idea on the DIY kits. Parts Express (as he mentioned) has several nice ones as does www.madisound.com. The ones from Madisound tend to offer a generally higher sensitivity which is usually a good thing. Oh yeah, possibly www.e-speakers.com (offers kits, etc.) would be good to check into. madisound and PE have terrific customer service and are very technically competent and thoroughly familiar with their products. I just don't have any customer experience with e-speakers to comment.
Tom

Chris Martens -- Fri, 07/31/2009 - 09:33

Hi Harvey,

I've seen a number of good suggestions above, but thought I would try to add one more. You might consider becoming a TAS Golden Ear Club member and checking out some of the offers manufacturers have posted. In some instances, manufacturers offer club members special prices on B-stock or "open box" units that are near new units and in good physical shape. As I see it, this approach sort of splits the difference between buying new and buying used, and it honors your budget constraints, too.

Products to consider: I feel good mini-monitor speakers often offer terrific value for money (though only you can say whether they'll fit your tastes, system, etc.). Two appealing (and very high quality) mini-monitor type speakers that might fit your price range (provided you can find clean used, B-stock, or "open box" samples) are the Gini Systems LS3/5A replicas and the Usher S-520s.

Best,

Chris Martens

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision

rarifin -- Fri, 07/31/2009 - 11:19

I am a succer for Vandersteens. This a company that builds pretty much the same speakers since the 80's. The model 1C was recently reviewed in Home Theater Review:
http://hometheaterreview.com/vandersteen-1c-loudspeaker-reviewed/
I found a pair of used 1Cs on eBay for $150. They sound fantastic. Good Luck.

Waiting For The Bus All Day (not verified) -- Fri, 11/20/2009 - 18:05

Don't listen to the "old school" hi-fi industry shills. Emotiva is blacklisted because they don't subscribe to the propoganda these Stereo-file dinosaurs have spewed for years. Emotiva offers great speakers for the price. The Emotivs amps are better, and the ERC-1 CD player the best. Matter of fact, can't think of a better value out there.

With Emotiva, you can purchase direct, bypass the middleman, forget about the "salon snobbery", save some bucks and get great equipment. No brainer for a guy in your shoes.

Robert Harley -- Thu, 11/25/2010 - 21:23

Based on what we saw and heard at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I've given the go-ahead for a review of the Emotiva DAC.

Steven Stone -- Sat, 11/21/2009 - 15:39

Waiting for the bus - EH? Who's spewing what?

I've reviewed Emotiva - good value, but certainly not a slam-dunk best in their product category.

Several companies now offer direct sales. Emotiva is not unique in this.

AV123.com, Emotiva's ex-online seller has a deal on their ELT 525 speakers right now for under $200 a pair. I reviewed these for EnjoytheMusic.com and liked them quite a bit. Aperion is another good on-line speaker source.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

s08.mbower -- Wed, 12/01/2010 - 20:35

Is there any chance the TAS staff might review some of Emotiva's newer amps? The designs they have now seem to be a step up from the MPS-1 (multi mono HT). I think it'd be great to here what the professionals thought about a head-to-head budget amp shoot out with the likes of Odyssey and others. Especially when paired with the budget Maggies or floor standers. I own the XPA-2 and love it but my system as a whole is probably not capable enough to discern all of its characteristics. Eager to hear your thoughts on the DAC too, I plan on getting one for christmas for my Sonos and TV.
Harvey

Steven Stone -- Wed, 12/01/2010 - 22:04

I, too am looking forward to hearing the new Emotiva DAC.

It's on my "Must Review" list.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

SundayNiagara -- Thu, 12/02/2010 - 08:02

AV123 is out of business!

Steven Stone -- Thu, 12/02/2010 - 10:19

Yes, AV 123 is out of business, but their products live on, both on Audiogon, where they regularly come up for sale, and through Danny Ritchie, original designer of many of their speakers, who has contracted with the factory in Columbia to purchase their remaining parts inventory.

He has kits available for the X-Statik speaker. I still own and love my heavily modded pair from Skiing Ninja.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications