Real cheap speakers + sub + amp? ($350 or less)

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone have
any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish desk
(no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't spend
significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.

Thanks
Mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Check out Fluance

Michael Dombrowski wrote:

> Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone have
> any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
> for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
> used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
> Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
> kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish desk
> (no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't spend
> significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
> cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
> a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
> jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.
>
> Thanks
> Mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Mike,

You should try the logitech 680 set. Usually discounted to 250-300 range; I
payed 290 for mine. Same quality as klipsch, slightly differently voiced.
Added benefit of optical and coaxial digital in, DD and DTS decoding and a
full featured remote. The sub is a little overpowering if you don't place
it carefully. It is all very adjustable and will play loud - lots of
headroom/dynamic range, too. They make a 2 channel with sub based on the
same drivers and (I think) sub. Don't get their other 5.1 set that is much
cheaper - it is much more cheaply made and doesn't sound nearly as good. I
don't know if there is more than one 2 + sub set.

Another, slightly more expensive alternative, is the little monitor audio
sub+sats. They are about 400 a pair for the satellites and 400 or so for the
sub. OK, a lot more expensive and no amp or decoders. They sound real nice
though.


HTH,
James

"Stu R" <stu-r@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:ciqe4j021vd@news2.newsguy.com...
> Check out Fluance
>
> Michael Dombrowski wrote:
>
>> Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone have
>> any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
>> for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
>> used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
>> Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
>> kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish desk
>> (no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't spend
>> significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
>> cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
>> a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
>> jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Stu,
Thanks, they look very interesting except that they made me realize
another criterion: small size. I'm in a dorm room... but I will keep
them in mind if I ever need a full-sized setup.

Thanks
Mike

Stu R wrote:
> Check out Fluance
>
> Michael Dombrowski wrote:
>
>
>>Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone have
>>any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
>>for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
>>used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
>>Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
>>kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish desk
>>(no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't spend
>>significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
>>cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
>>a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
>>jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.
>>
>>Thanks
>>Mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

James,
> You should try the logitech 680 set. Usually discounted to 250-300 range; I
> payed 290 for mine. Same quality as klipsch, slightly differently voiced.

I've seen it for as low as $180! A friend has it close by so I might
just get the Klipsch and compare them. I don't really like the control
module though and the bass isn't that great(clarity wise). As you said,
he has the sub on the lowest volume setting. It might just be his setup
though.

I thought about the monitor route also but, like you said, that's too
expensive. I think at this point my best bet is to just try and Klipsch
and see how they work out for me.

Mike



> Added benefit of optical and coaxial digital in, DD and DTS decoding and a
> full featured remote. The sub is a little overpowering if you don't place
> it carefully. It is all very adjustable and will play loud - lots of
> headroom/dynamic range, too. They make a 2 channel with sub based on the
> same drivers and (I think) sub. Don't get their other 5.1 set that is much
> cheaper - it is much more cheaply made and doesn't sound nearly as good. I
> don't know if there is more than one 2 + sub set.
>
> Another, slightly more expensive alternative, is the little monitor audio
> sub+sats. They are about 400 a pair for the satellites and 400 or so for the
> sub. OK, a lot more expensive and no amp or decoders. They sound real nice
> though.
>
>
> HTH,
> James
>
> "Stu R" <stu-r@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:ciqe4j021vd@news2.newsguy.com...
>
>>Check out Fluance
>>
>>Michael Dombrowski wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone have
>>>any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
>>>for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
>>>used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
>>>Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
>>>kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish desk
>>>(no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't spend
>>>significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
>>>cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
>>>a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
>>>jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>Mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Don't know if this will help, but
on eBay a guy regularly sells a pair of
Athena AS-B1 for about $125 delivered.

 

[christopher]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

>From: Michael Dombrowski legodudenein@hammycorp.com

>IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100), cheap
>used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?

I listen to Paradigm Atoms -- no subwoofer -- in a small space, relatively
close to my head. They're on either side of my bed, pointed directly at my
head, and I like them fine. I listen to CDs or the radio. Not records,
though--too much surface noise with speakers that close.

There's enough bass for me, assuming it's on the recording. I live in an
apartment, and don't want to freak out my neighbors, as I listen to music
pretty late at night.

 

[jw]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

$180! That's pretty cheap. Are you sure they were the 680 (5.1) and not the
540 (4+sub)? They have launched a new line, but there is no indication on
their site that they are discontinuing the current ones...

The sub's response can be cleaned up some with judicious placement. I use
mine mostly for gaming and movies - big boom is ok ;^) In my previous abode
it was in a more open space and the bass was a lot less boomy. Now Daddy has
his own office (with doors that close!) and current placement makes it more
boomy. As I settle in I plan to experiment with placement until it sounds
good and doesn't have to sit in the middle of the floor.

Let me know how your comparison goes.
jw

"Michael Dombrowski" <legodudenein@hammycorp.com> wrote in message
news:civoug02lkd@news1.newsguy.com...
> James,
> > You should try the logitech 680 set. Usually discounted to 250-300
range; I
> > payed 290 for mine. Same quality as klipsch, slightly differently
voiced.
>
> I've seen it for as low as $180! A friend has it close by so I might
> just get the Klipsch and compare them. I don't really like the control
> module though and the bass isn't that great(clarity wise). As you said,
> he has the sub on the lowest volume setting. It might just be his setup
> though.
>
> I thought about the monitor route also but, like you said, that's too
> expensive. I think at this point my best bet is to just try and Klipsch
> and see how they work out for me.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> > Added benefit of optical and coaxial digital in, DD and DTS decoding and
a
> > full featured remote. The sub is a little overpowering if you don't
place
> > it carefully. It is all very adjustable and will play loud - lots of
> > headroom/dynamic range, too. They make a 2 channel with sub based on
the
> > same drivers and (I think) sub. Don't get their other 5.1 set that is
much
> > cheaper - it is much more cheaply made and doesn't sound nearly as good.
I
> > don't know if there is more than one 2 + sub set.
> >
> > Another, slightly more expensive alternative, is the little monitor
audio
> > sub+sats. They are about 400 a pair for the satellites and 400 or so for
the
> > sub. OK, a lot more expensive and no amp or decoders. They sound real
nice
> > though.
> >
> >
> > HTH,
> > James
> >
> > "Stu R" <stu-r@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> > news:ciqe4j021vd@news2.newsguy.com...
> >
> >>Check out Fluance
> >>
> >>Michael Dombrowski wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Before I drop $350 on the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, does anyone
have
> >>>any reccomendations for speakers that will give me better sound quality
> >>>for the same price? IE, will a pair of used Paradigm Atoms(~$100),
cheap
> >>>used amp, and a used 10" subwoofer give me significantly better sound?
> >>>Or any other combination for that matter. I don't mind used, don't mind
> >>>kits, but the speakers have to be small enough to fit on a smallish
desk
> >>>(no bigger than the Atoms), and stereo only is fine by me. I won't
spend
> >>>significantly more than $350 and won't spend money on a new source or
> >>>cabling, only the amp/preamp, speakers, and optionally sub. I listen to
> >>>a wide variety of music: lots of rock, techno, classical and a bit of
> >>>jazz so I need a system that is all around decent.
> >>>
> >>>Thanks
> >>>Mike