Best cheap speakers you've heard.

[generic]

Let's say $300 cap per pair. Any configuration tower, bookshelf, etc. Brand names or DIY. If DIY, please account for materials, primer, paint, glue,etc....

So far, my favorite ultra cheap speakers are Monoprice in-wall speakers.

I really want to give the Andrew Jones designed Pioneers a listen.

[djkest]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Overnight Sensation MTM. $200/pair with terminals and pre-cut cabs. A little more for glue and paint.

[isaeagle4031]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

ntns, karma indignia's, os's

[Wolf]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Since I don't know commercial speakers at all....
Without being biased and stating my 'Sophomores' yet again, even though I really feel they apply to this category, I think I would have to state George Marousek's (moosespeaker's) 'Stormies'. Built with bowls, and applied with a sub, the imaging and soundstage is likely the most-immersive pair I've ever heard at their pricepoint.

Later,
Wolf

[killa]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Bose:eek: 141s I picked up for 2$. 4.in fullrangers that are going to be used as mids in a future project.

[Face]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

I really want to give the Andrew Jones designed Pioneers a listen.

I picked up a pair of BS-41's during the last Wootoff. A little thin in the bass, otherwise they sound very nice and are a steal for $100.

[tom_s]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Years ago I grabbed 5 brand new JBL HLS610's when Best Buy was closing them out at $40/ea. They are not the best by any means, but they don't do anything terribly wrong either. The horns/waveguides are kind of ugly, but I can't build anything that performs better for close to that price. Some years later, I stumbled upon (literally!) a well used pair of Spendor SP1's at a consignment store for only $42/pair!!

[flashpop]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Picked up a pair of Speakerlab DAS-7s for $20. Only had to refoam the 10s and 12s and threw a coat of danish oil on em.

[saabracer23]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

I agree the JBL HLS series aren't too bad, I have pair of the 810s. I once picked up a pair of JBL L65s "Jubals" from goodwill for $19.99. Work perfectly after the woofers had new surrounds.

Dan

[contoursvt]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

A little more than the limit but Usher S520. I have a pair and they are very very good

[ROTECH]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Cambridge soundworks Newton Series. Just nice overall. nothing to make the hair on your neck stand up, but they play everything very well. Made a great off the shelf HT setup.

M80, 3way picked up for $100pr used
M50, TM, picked up for $30pr used

[jasonb]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

Best DIY under $300 - Paul Carmody's Aethers - I have had them for a quite a few years now and still enjoy them. Budget minded drivers and a pretty simple crossover but those open baffle mids really produce a nice large soundstage and sound great with almost anything you throw at them.

Best commercial under $300 - Haven't heard much in this category but one cheap commercial design I've heard a few times and that sounded better then they should have were the Energy Pro .5 from the mid 90's

[bolland83]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

I've got some Athena speakers that are quite nice for the price. These and these. They were both under $300 a pair, the S2 was the first "nice" set of speakers I bought. I still use them from time to time.

[johnnyrichards]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

For strict performance/dollar amount spent the Driscoll I built are tops. It uses very good drivers bought at rock bottom pricing, a solid crossover design using entry level components, and the cabinet was inexpensive even considering the piano black finish.

Commercially, I really like the Primus stuff from Infinity but would like to hear those new Pioneer jobbers in a better listening room than the Best Buy.

[ROTECH]

Re: Best cheap speakers you've heard.

For strict performance/dollar amount spent the Driscoll I built are tops. It uses very good drivers bought at rock bottom pricing, a solid crossover design using entry level components, and the cabinet was inexpensive even considering the piano black finish.

Commercially, I really like the Primus stuff from Infinity but would like to hear those new Pioneer jobbers in a better listening room than the Best Buy.

Johnny,

My favorite local watering hole just installed quite a few of the new pioneer speakers you are talking about. They really do sound good. The bar owners jukebox distributor replaced all the BOSE with these. They have nice audible bass, and can play everything well. They even play Karaoke well- I call that a victory. These were all the TM bookshelf variety.