Help me buy a pair of stereo speakers.

[techs]

I gave my sister my old pair of Jensen 3-way 10inch woofer speakers. Believe it or not over 25 years ago!!! And she still uses them!!!
She has a 10 year old Onkyo stereo receiver of about 80-100 watts per channel.
I want to get her a new pair of speakers. They will go on top of her wall unit, so towers are out. So are three piece systems. Something maybe 20-30 inches high would work. She plays music at moderate levels. I was hoping for at least an 8" woofer.
Looking to spend between 200 to 400 dollars, with 300 the optimum price.
So what can you recommend?

 

[wedi42]

check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: johngute
check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

I personally like Boston Acoustics, but at 149 for the pair it looks like a good deal, but these mini speakers are just not going to provide the bass with its 5.25 inch woofer in my sisters living room. I will check to see if there is a model or two higher from Boston Acoustics that meets needs.
Thanks, and does anyone else have any recommendatinons

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: johngute
check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

I read the comments on those to entertain myself last night, pretty funny :laugh:

 

[UncleWai]

A pair of used B&W DM601 S3 or DM602 S3.
I bought a pair of 602 s3 once for $300.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: johngute
check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

I personally like Boston Acoustics, but at 149 for the pair it looks like a good deal, but these mini speakers are just not going to provide the bass with its 5.25 inch woofer in my sisters living room. I will check to see if there is a model or two higher from Boston Acoustics that meets needs.
Thanks, and does anyone else have any recommendatinons

It's generally going to be tough to get good bass from a pair of speakers the size you're talking about now.

So by three piece systems, you mean a subwoofer is out?

I would think that getting a couple decent bookshelf speakers like the X-LS from AV123 and then a small sub would be a good way to go for that budget.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: johngute
check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

I personally like Boston Acoustics, but at 149 for the pair it looks like a good deal, but these mini speakers are just not going to provide the bass with its 5.25 inch woofer in my sisters living room. I will check to see if there is a model or two higher from Boston Acoustics that meets needs.
Thanks, and does anyone else have any recommendatinons

It's generally going to be tough to get good bass from a pair of speakers the size you're talking about now.

So by three piece systems, you mean a subwoofer is out?

I would think that getting a couple decent bookshelf speakers like the X-LS from AV123 and then a small sub would be a good way to go for that budget.

Yeah, a subwoofer is definitely out. It seems that no one except the crappy Japanese manufacturers makes a bookshelf speaker with the good old 8 or 10 inch woofers that will provide adequate bass for most listening anymore. I wonder if AR still makes speakers?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: johngute
check out woot.com for a nice pair of bookshelf speakers

I personally like Boston Acoustics, but at 149 for the pair it looks like a good deal, but these mini speakers are just not going to provide the bass with its 5.25 inch woofer in my sisters living room. I will check to see if there is a model or two higher from Boston Acoustics that meets needs.
Thanks, and does anyone else have any recommendatinons

It's generally going to be tough to get good bass from a pair of speakers the size you're talking about now.

So by three piece systems, you mean a subwoofer is out?

I would think that getting a couple decent bookshelf speakers like the X-LS from AV123 and then a small sub would be a good way to go for that budget.

Yeah, a subwoofer is definitely out. It seems that no one except the crappy Japanese manufacturers makes a bookshelf speaker with the good old 8 or 10 inch woofers that will provide adequate bass for most listening anymore. I wonder if AR still makes speakers?

Yeah, a thread about it recently too
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2028738&enterthread=y

Most of the good options are not to be found anymore for what you're looking for.

There are some options out there that are mentioned in that thread, but in general most of the better retail options are going to be for 2.1 systems at that pricepoint.

May I ask why a system with a sub wouldn't work?

 

[Subbaculcha]

NHT SB3, used for $300. obo. plus shipping (offer $300 shipped).
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1180895088

Great speaker, well reviewed. 39Hz - 22KHz. Great bass for a smaller package (13"H x 8"W x 10"D)

 

[Dr. Detroit]

JBL Northridge lineup

JBL E50
JBL E80
JBL E60

JBL Venue Stage 6

 

[yuppiejr]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
JBL Northridge lineup

JBL E50
JBL E80
JBL E60

JBL Venue Stage 6

I second this suggestion, however to get into a big-sounding bookshelf he should look at the E50 (8" 3-way, front ported design) which is actually an ideal match based on his criteria and price range. The other two E-series listed are floor standers and I didn't see anything in the Venue system that matched the E50 for driver configuration.

This is an evolution of the old JBL Studio S38 model that was wildly popular a few years ago. I have numerous friends who are still running 3 across the front soundstage in their HT systems and I have yet to find a bookshelf speaker at the price that will match the musicality and frequency response range of these JBL's.

I see they are in-stock at http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm for $309.99 + freight. (use the search box on the site, JBL E50)

E50 = Black
E50 EB = Birch (light wood color)
E50 CH = Cherry

Here's a link to a review of the Northridge speakers over at "Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity" including the E50's: Link

My favorite quote of the review:

" I think that the E50 is the surprise of the group. They have good bass response, and engulf the room with sound that belies their small size. (I did experiment with a 5.1 setup using just the four E50?s with the EC35 and the two subs, and it sounded great.)"

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

AV123's X-LS for a 2.0 setup, not much question about it. Polk has some good offerings too though.

 

[Compton]

If you don't mind secondhand speakers, start looking in pawn shops and classified ads. I got a pair of Pioneer floorstanding stereo speakers last year that have 12" woofers. They might be 15 years old, but they sound great (to me anyway). The best part about them, is that they were extremely cheap. I don't know why they don't seem to make speakers like this much anymore.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Compton
If you don't mind secondhand speakers, start looking in pawn shops and classified ads. I got a pair of Pioneer floorstanding stereo speakers last year that have 12" woofers. They might be 15 years old, but they sound great (to me anyway). The best part about them, is that they were extremely cheap. I don't know why they don't seem to make speakers like this much anymore.

Vintage speakers definitely have a special sound and there's a lot to be said for them. They're probably where you get the best bang for your buck, plus they're a bit cooler than just picking up some random pair online or in a store.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Compton
If you don't mind secondhand speakers, start looking in pawn shops and classified ads. I got a pair of Pioneer floorstanding stereo speakers last year that have 12" woofers. They might be 15 years old, but they sound great (to me anyway). The best part about them, is that they were extremely cheap. I don't know why they don't seem to make speakers like this much anymore.

Vintage speakers definitely have a special sound and there's a lot to be said for them. They're probably where you get the best bang for your buck, plus they're a bit cooler than just picking up some random pair online or in a store.

My Advent 25th Anniversary 10" 2 way floor units are warm and full of bass. It will be very difficult to replace them. I paid $250 in 1990. 1/2 price!

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
JBL Northridge lineup

JBL E50
JBL E80
JBL E60

JBL Venue Stage 6

I second this suggestion, however to get into a big-sounding bookshelf he should look at the E50 (8" 3-way, front ported design) which is actually an ideal match based on his criteria and price range. The other two E-series listed are floor standers and I didn't see anything in the Venue system that matched the E50 for driver configuration.

This is an evolution of the old JBL Studio S38 model that was wildly popular a few years ago. I have numerous friends who are still running 3 across the front soundstage in their HT systems and I have yet to find a bookshelf speaker at the price that will match the musicality and frequency response range of these JBL's.

I see they are in-stock at http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm for $309.99 + freight. (use the search box on the site, JBL E50)

E50 = Black
E50 EB = Birch (light wood color)
E50 CH = Cherry

Here's a link to a review of the Northridge speakers over at "Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity" including the E50's: Link

My favorite quote of the review:

" I think that the E50 is the surprise of the group. They have good bass response, and engulf the room with sound that belies their small size. (I did experiment with a 5.1 setup using just the four E50?s with the EC35 and the two subs, and it sounded great.)"

I'm running E50's, an EC35, E10's, and a Mirage S12 in an apartment living room.

Everything sounds great and all was bought on sale.