Budget speaker shootout!

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cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
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As of late, the divide between the hideously expensive hi-fi monitors of B&W or Thiel and the cheap rubbish made by Sony and Onkyo has started to be bridged. For under $100 a pair, it's possible to get good sound.


A good example of budget speakers are the Radiient Europas, also known as Insignia NSB-2111s without supertweeter. For $90 a pair with free shipping from radiient.com, they're quite inexpensive. These sound great, an work well as computer speakers. Furthermore, with a bit of Bondo, some pillow stuffing, and a crossover fix, they can be made even better.

http://www.radiient.com/Europa...eakers?sc=2&category=6

Radiient also makes the Calypso 5.1 surround-sound set, which, though nothing special, is still a lot better than an average home-theater-in-a-box. While I have not heard these myself, it's hard to argue with the low pricetag, and numerous good reviews. $200 gets you a set of very slim floorstanding mains, and small surrounds and center channel. Add a small subwoofer, and you have a low-price, no-hassle home theater setup that looks decent, too!

http://www.radiient.com/Calyps...System?sc=2&category=6

Acoustic Research's new offering, the ARPX62, is the first speaker following years of rubbish that deserves the AR nameplate. Featuring a 6.5" aluminum cone woofer with phase plug and a proper dome tweeter, these speakers look good both inside and out. Sound has been found comparable to the B&W 601s, speakers costing over five times as much. I hope to demo a pair of these soon.

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp...ductId=13726&langId=-1

Anyone else have any thoughts on budget audio equipment?

 
T

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Dana 630 1
Acculine A1 2
Onix x-ls 3

Albeit, a tier higher in price than the examples you showed. Nevertheless, very good entry level speakers especially for the price.
 
C

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Dana 630 1
Acculine A1 2
Onix x-ls 3

Albeit, a tier higher in price than the examples you showed. Nevertheless, very good entry level speakers especially for the price.
Click to expand...

Those are all quite good; AV123 has kept up their reputation for making good speakers at a low enough price point to make DIY enthusiasts feel foolish.
 
E

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Dana 630 1
Acculine A1 2
Onix x-ls 3

Albeit, a tier higher in price than the examples you showed. Nevertheless, very good entry level speakers especially for the price.
Click to expand...

Those are all quite good; AV123 has kept up their reputation for making good speakers at a low enough price point to make DIY enthusiasts feel foolish.
Click to expand...

They sure try hard, but DIY enthusiasts including myself still don't feel foolish. ;)

And I have a pair of X-LS so I'd know. They are a fine speaker for the money and what I truly love about AV123 is their service/support, and level of finishes/build quality for the money. Pretty much unmatched in those two areas.

 
T

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Dana 630 1
Acculine A1 2
Onix x-ls 3

Albeit, a tier higher in price than the examples you showed. Nevertheless, very good entry level speakers especially for the price.
Click to expand...

Those are all quite good; AV123 has kept up their reputation for making good speakers at a low enough price point to make DIY enthusiasts feel foolish.
Click to expand...

They sure try hard, but DIY enthusiasts including myself still don't feel foolish. ;)

And I have a pair of X-LS so I'd know. They are a fine speaker for the money and what I truly love about AV123 is their service/support, and level of finishes/build quality for the money. Pretty much unmatched in those two areas.
Click to expand...

I would say that speakers like the X-LS tend to keep potential DIY-ers from buying the necessary tools to start the DIY train going. Getting all of the tools and clamps (and modeling software) is quite a barrier to climb esp with "decent" sounding speakers with "Decent" looks cost <$400. However, if you are into building things, nothing will stop you from doing that :)
 
E

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Dana 630 1
Acculine A1 2
Onix x-ls 3

Albeit, a tier higher in price than the examples you showed. Nevertheless, very good entry level speakers especially for the price.
Click to expand...

Those are all quite good; AV123 has kept up their reputation for making good speakers at a low enough price point to make DIY enthusiasts feel foolish.
Click to expand...

They sure try hard, but DIY enthusiasts including myself still don't feel foolish. ;)

And I have a pair of X-LS so I'd know. They are a fine speaker for the money and what I truly love about AV123 is their service/support, and level of finishes/build quality for the money. Pretty much unmatched in those two areas.
Click to expand...

I would say that speakers like the X-LS tend to keep potential DIY-ers from buying the necessary tools to start the DIY train going. Getting all of the tools and clamps (and modeling software) is quite a barrier to climb esp with "decent" sounding speakers with "Decent" looks cost <$400. However, if you are into building things, nothing will stop you from doing that :)
Click to expand...

They might, but one can buy cabinets and forgo buying all of those tools you're talking about. And they also don't need any of the modeling software if they're building an established design.

Thats where the real strength of the X-LS and other AV123 speakers is though...their cabinet. Its a very nice cabinet for the cost of the speaker.
 
C

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
Originally posted by: Excelsior
[
They sure try hard, but DIY enthusiasts including myself still don't feel foolish. ;)

And I have a pair of X-LS so I'd know. They are a fine speaker for the money and what I truly love about AV123 is their service/support, and level of finishes/build quality for the money. Pretty much unmatched in those two areas.
Click to expand...

I'll take your word for it. My Modula MTs should be done pretty soon....

Originally posted by: Tiamat

I would say that speakers like the X-LS tend to keep potential DIY-ers from buying the necessary tools to start the DIY train going. Getting all of the tools and clamps (and modeling software) is quite a barrier to climb esp with "decent" sounding speakers with "Decent" looks cost <$400. However, if you are into building things, nothing will stop you from doing that :)
Click to expand...

Speaker design does have a very steep learning curve. (I would know; I've been spending quite a bit of time on it.) However, when you move up into the range of ScanSpeak and Seas Excel drivers, building the speakers yourself can save thousands of dollars.

Plus, if you're willing to go in for an active crossover, you can do some really nifty things indeed.
 
C

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
Originally posted by: Excelsior
I'll take your word for it. My Modula MTs should be done pretty soon....
Click to expand...

Excellent. Did you choose the RS28A or the 27TDFC/27TBFCG?
Click to expand...

RS28As; I got them on sale.

I'm also working on speaker set #2 - Audax HM130C0s (same as used in the Von Schwiekart VR-6) and Neo3PDRs in sealed boxes. These will be used with stereo subs, and tri-amped with an active crossover.

Overkill much? :)
 
E

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Originally posted by: Excelsior
I'll take your word for it. My Modula MTs should be done pretty soon....
Click to expand...

Excellent. Did you choose the RS28A or the 27TDFC/27TBFCG?
Click to expand...

RS28As; I got them on sale.

I'm also working on speaker set #2 - Audax HM130C0s (same as used in the Von Schwiekart VR-6) and Neo3PDRs in sealed boxes. These will be used with stereo subs, and tri-amped with an active crossover.

Overkill much? :)
Click to expand...

What xover point you going with? And what sub driver? :)
 
R

RupTheKid

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,702
0
0
The crossover is where the magic happens. I think the single most difficult aspect of DIY is setting the crossover. Smooth off-axis horizontal response, phase angles, impedance loads...yuck! I'll leave that kind of fun to you guys.
 
E

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: RupTheKid
The crossover is where the magic happens. I think the single most difficult aspect of DIY is setting the crossover. Smooth off-axis horizontal response, phase angles, impedance loads...yuck! I'll leave that kind of fun to you guys.
Click to expand...

Absoutely...thats why I leave it to far more experienced DIYers. I don't have to bother with designing the crossover. ;)
 
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