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Topic: Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150 (Read 9868 times) previous topic - next topic
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Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

hi everybody... i'm building a new PC. my 1st one. a little background about me.

About audio shop in my city::
i need some major help choosing PC speaker that'd fit my needs, as this speaker will be used for at least 2 years to 3 years, so i'd like to make an informed decision before buying. Rarely there is an audio shop that lets me "audition" here, so here i am kindly asking for help.

The audio hardware i'm currently using::
i used to use a Grado sr60, until i retired that and changed to Grado SR80i. I plug that in to my low-end notebook. When i don't use the Grado headphones... i use this portable X-mini II speaker . It's a singapore brand AFAIK so for those who aren't familiar with this portable speakers, for a portable speaker, i'd like to state that for a portable speaker, t's really good (i've tried a couple other brands and X-mini II blow it out of the water).

Building condition I live in::
The walls where i live is quite thin, so when i use the X-mini II portable speaker, i rarely put the notebook audio to more than 20%. The X-mini sound controller itself, i turned maybe 40-50%. Using Grado heaphones, free for all.

Satisfaction level::
Considering where i live, the walls are somewhat thin so i put the sound on low. So basing on that factor alone I'm very satisfied with my headphone and portable speaker choice I like grado characters open-air headphone and if i'm ever going to upgrade i'll probably upgrade to Grado SR125i. I am also aware that songs can sound leaps and bound better than my portable speaker but i can only put the sound on low.

My Musical Knowledge::
A gigantic zero. I know jack, squat, diddly and all their other idiot friends regarding sound. Idk what forward / bright / warm / mid / low / high and even treble means. but i am very satisfied with Grado characteristis, the SR80i.

For speaker.... i have budget of $70~$80 maximum budget initially. But... I could stretch it to $140 maximum if it will be amazingly better.

the list of speakers that are available in my city are as follows...

Within my budget
Creative Inspire T10 2.0 Speaker $56
Thonet & Vander .vertag - 2.0 $75
Swans Hivi 3W Mini Desktop 2.0 Speaker $80

Can spare a little
Creative Gigaworks T20 Series II $105
Swans Hivi M10 2.1 Multimedia Speaker $121 (cons : too big for my small 120x60cm table)
Thonet & Vander .kurbis - 2.0 $120

willing to spend if its amazingly better
Creative Gigaworks T40 $147
Swans Hivi D1010-IV $160
JBL Spot $153

and the music i listen to are genres of West Indie Folk / Indie Pop / Indie Rock and Japanese Club Jazz.
I'd like a speaker that could bring the best out of these kinds of songs...

Quote
Frightened Rabbit Representative song
[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTXA_q12hKg[/VIDEO]

Slow Club Rep Song
[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac6mXE7UT4E[/VIDEO]

JP Clubjazz Rep Song
[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr-a3u4spmc[/VIDEO]

Another fairly different style frightened rabbit song
[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwP_186BdYM[/VIDEO]


which speakers would you guys recommend i should get for the songs genre i regularly listen to?

===

feel free to recommend any Sony / JBL speaker on that price range. no altec lansing though

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #1 –
i couldn't find the edit button next to quote and reply, so i'll put it here.

i forgot to put edifier R1280T ($92)
and edifier exclaim e10 ($99)

from the above option thats available on my island...

so please feel free to recommend any of the above... im leanign towards edifier r1280t / edifier exclaim e10 / swans d1010-iv myself by reviews, but anything that can bring out the best sound possible of the songs i listened to... im good...

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #2 –
If you are happy/like the sound of sr60 (which does lack bass), then perhaps focus your search into 2.0 configuration, instead of 2.1 (I still have sr60 and I do use them from time to time < cheap and nice they are imho).
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NOTICE - cpu 0 didn't dump TLB, may be hung

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #3 –
okay...

Within my budget
Creative Inspire T10 2.0 Speaker $56
Thonet & Vander .vertag - 2.0 $75
Swans Hivi 3W Mini Desktop 2.0 Speaker $80

Can spare a little
edifier R1280T ($92)
edifier exclaim e10 ($99)
Creative Gigaworks T20 Series II $105
Swans Hivi M10 2.1 Multimedia Speaker $121 (cons : too big for my small 120x60cm table)
Thonet & Vander .kurbis - 2.0 $120

willing to spend if its amazingly better
Creative Gigaworks T40 $147
Swans Hivi D1010-IV $160



okay which one do you think i shud go for... for the kind of music i listen to. i think almost all of those are 2.0 speakers

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #4 –
done, chose hivi d-1010

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #5 –
EDIT: wrong thread!

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #6 –
Quote from: rovopio on
hi everybody... i'm building a new PC. my 1st one. a little background about me.

About audio shop in my city::
i need some major help choosing PC speaker that'd fit my needs, as this speaker will be used for at least 2 years to 3 years, so i'd like to make an informed decision before buying. Rarely there is an audio shop that lets me "audition" here, so here i am kindly asking for help.

The audio hardware i'm currently using::
i used to use a Grado sr60, until i retired that and changed to Grado SR80i. I plug that in to my low-end notebook. When i don't use the Grado headphones... i use this portable X-mini II speaker . It's a singapore brand AFAIK so for those who aren't familiar with this portable speakers, for a portable speaker, i'd like to state that for a portable speaker, t's really good (i've tried a couple other brands and X-mini II blow it out of the water).

Building condition I live in::
The walls where i live is quite thin, so when i use the X-mini II portable speaker, i rarely put the notebook audio to more than 20%. The X-mini sound controller itself, i turned maybe 40-50%. Using Grado heaphones, free for all.

Satisfaction level::
Considering where i live, the walls are somewhat thin so i put the sound on low. So basing on that factor alone I'm very satisfied with my headphone and portable speaker choice I like grado characters open-air headphone and if i'm ever going to upgrade i'll probably upgrade to Grado SR125i. I am also aware that songs can sound leaps and bound better than my portable speaker but i can only put the sound on low.

My Musical Knowledge::
A gigantic zero. I know jack, squat, diddly and all their other idiot friends regarding sound. Idk what forward / bright / warm / mid / low / high and even treble means. but i am very satisfied with Grado characteristis, the SR80i.


Right now these speakers are looking very interesting:

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR...r/dp/B00DUKP37C





or

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR...r/dp/B00E8CEW7I





Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #7 –
Ah yes, the german magazine "Studio&Recording" testet these speakers recently.

You can find directivity plots here. The tester praised the speakers horizontal directivity as amongst the best(=constant) they measured, ever.

Decent entry-level speakers for $80~$150

Reply #8 –
OP, the difference between the Creative T20's and T40's aren't even worth the price jump. While they are both pretty decent 2.0 units for their price, you won't get very close to your headphones in terms of sound quality.

Those JBL studio monitor speakers appear to be $150 per unit - You'd need 2 of them to get stereo sound.

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-Cer...r/dp/B000062VUO

I recently purchased these to replace my (shameful) Logitech Z-4's. The switch left me gasping for air at all of the details I was missing from my music. They sound so good that I can no longer stand my car's speaker system. After a month of research on retail & audiophile websites these were the best I could find that didn't go over $150. The next best that I could find were $300, and many cost way over that amount.

The only weird thing about these speakers is that there is no dedicated power switch for the unit, so you have to unplug it if you don't want it to drain any power. I've gotten used to that oddity for the incredible sound it produces.

The amplifier is almost too powerful for the unit. I have to keep Windows' volume at about 30% so I can use the units' volume knob reasonably well, otherwise I accidentally blast myself. Speaking of the knobs, they are very stiff which is a good thing as it makes them easier to do fine adjustments on.

and the dust covers are removable for easy cleaning!