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I think a budget bookshelf speaker shootout would be fun keeping the cost per pair to $100 or less.Here are the speakers I would choose for the current shootout
Pioneer Andrew Jones design SP BS22 LR $102 per pair or BS21 for less
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409836487&sr=8-1&keywords=andrew+jones+bookshelfParts Express Dayton really low buckers B652 $39.80 per pair
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-B652-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B002RMPHMU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1409836703&sr=8-4&keywords=parts+express+bookshelf+speakerSony SSB1000 $68 a pair
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-B1000-4-Inch-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B000OG88KY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409836829&sr=8-1&keywords=Sony+bookshelf+speakerCerwin Vega VE5M $94 the pair
http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-VE5M-Watts-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B000KULLM6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1409836902&sr=8-13&keywords=bookshelf+speakerBest Buy/ Insignia 5 1/4 inchers $70 the pair
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-5-1-4-2-way-bookshelf-speakers-pair/8959098.p?id=1218957873370&skuId=8959098&st=insignia%20speaker&cp=1&lp=3Micca Carbon Fiber MB42 speakers $50 the pair
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=sr_1_173?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-173&keywords=bookshelf+speakerMonoprice 108250 speakers with 6 1/2 inch woofer ($50 the pair)
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-108250-2-Way-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B005E2YFT6/ref=sr_1_182?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1409837539&sr=1-182&keywords=bookshelf+speakerTechnical Pro SPH8 with 8" woofer ($50 the pair)
http://www.amazon.com/Technical-Pro-SPH8-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B004OTNSAM/ref=sr_1_183?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1409837539&sr=1-183&keywords=bookshelf+speakerTheater solutions B1 ($53 the pair)
http://www.amazon.com/Theater-Solutions-B1-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002C4O91S/ref=sr_1_192?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1409837539&sr=1-192&keywords=bookshelf+speakerInfinity Primus 4 incher ($59 the pair whoops each)
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B0044D3R7M/ref=sr_1_205?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1409837938&sr=1-205&keywords=bookshelf+speakerThere are probably a few others, and I have not included the obviously discontinued models or models that can be purchased used, like the earlier (famous among the DIY tweakers) Insignias I have with the 6 1/2 inch woofer and the tweeter in the center. My bet is that among these is a really nice set that if paired with a $100 sub would make a great system!
Anyone with experience with any of these?
David
Edits: 09/08/14Follow Ups:
i tried to see if radio shack still sold them. i think they used to be only $50 back in the day and were a steal. they were sealed 4 1/2" 2 ways with soft dome tweeters and a very rigid and heavy aluminum cabinet. they were very tight and punchy sounding though they didn't have much bass. they were pretty far ahead of their time seeing as how aluminum cabinets are the rage at the super high end with magico and YG acoustics at least. i preferred the sound of those over a former roomate's 5 1/2" ported infinitys that had too boomy a bass for my tastes. little sealed speakers are my favorites.
i didn't know just how "low budget" you were going with your list. i was going to suggest energy RC-10s which i picked up for about $240 on closeout. they had as much resolution as $1,000 B&W and paradigm speakers, though i didn't care for their cabinet resonance when their ports were plugged, but if you like ported speakers, they traded boom for box sound unplugged.
then there's NHT superzeros. personally, those are my pick for best entry level speakers though they're $200 a pair. they're 4 1/2" sealed 2 ways and really disappear well though they lack bass and the treble resolution of speakers with good aluminum domes. they lack the resolution to hear the difference between DACs and lack treble speed on metallic percussion, but are very forgiving on entry level gear and can sound very pleasant. i like their punch, though rolled off bass.
as to your list, the pioneers are probably "the" speakers to get. they were rated class C in stereophile's last recommended components list ahead of a couple $300 pairs of name brand speakers. for about $100, those are probably your best bet, though i haven't heard them.
if they were still made though, i'd put radio shack 2 ways up against ANY other $100 speakers as long as you're not a basshead and value freedom from all manner of distortion (port resonance, cabinet resonance, driver material resonance... especially aluminum or horn screech etc.) you could probably pick a used pair up. i gave my old pair away when i moved.
If it's ported, it's distorted.
Seems like there is a following code these with a number of persons should have reverse engineered, directed and developed mods for them. They even used them stacked as they are 8 ohms. There apparently are several generations of them based on different manufacturers, slightly different drivers and whether acoustic suspension or ported.
On the used market the prices are all over the place. Some have paid nutty prices for them but the average seems to be about $10 per speaker whether black or silver and slightly more for the wood cabinet version. I have 2 pair sitting on the shelf and never found them that exciting based on original retail price that was about half that of the ADS L300, a far superior speaker. At the average going price if bass is not something you can live without then not a bad speakers as the upper lowend up is not bad considering the alternatives. When I do use mine, I stack them and it helps the bass a bit.
Mods include redesigned crossover's and replacement better woofers that do reach deeper. Having the ADS L300s, I never dug into the 7s. If I did not have them, I likely would have pulled them down and rebuilt them as the cabinets are quite inert so a decent jumping off point and the tweeters are pretty decent soundwise but there are better. The woofer is the real week point and where RS kept the cost down. Most of the modders have bought replacement drivers from Parts Express.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada
Very interesting post. Many years back I listened to these little speakers at a Radio Shack and a similar little Lafayette speaker called the Pip. I bought the Pips and liked it a lot and thought it had even good bass. I used it for more than 20 years and my son kept it for ten years. His dorm room was very popular with an Advent receiver driving these speakers.
I was disappointed with the Consumer Reports rating of the Radio Shack mini at Number One above this Lafayette. It seems both these speakers were made in Japan by some unknown company.
Cheers
Bill
I would add Tivoli radio to the list. The speaker sounds lovely.
Cheers
Bill
FYI it was $59 each on the Infinity Primus when I clicked on the link.
I have a pair of the Dayton B652's... I haven't heard any of the others. But I did have a pair of some small Sony's that seemed very much like the SS-B1000 you list. The Dayton's are very pleasant to listen to, don't do anything offensive, don't need a ton of power and the 6 1/2 inch woofer, while not giving them deep bass, does seem to not have to work as hard as a 4 or 5 inch woofer does to give you the bass you get. Giving a nice, relaxed presentation. And they are made pretty well, as well as being very inexpensive. I was initially very hesitant about buying speakers completely made in China, but at the time I bought them I got a deal I could not pass up...
--Matt
"When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot."
--Dalai Lama
I have a Pair of the Pioneer BS21 that I am using in a medium sized room with a 10 year old receiver - Onkyo (i think, 65+ watts/Channel) and a Pair of the Dayton Audio - Parts Express cheepies - connected to a Music Reference RM-10 (35 watts/channel - EL-84) in an office set up and I am hard pressed to say which I prefer-
The Pioneers can really fill the room - they are better placed for imaging etc., and I use them for more of a variety - I have been quite pleased with them.
The Dayton units are excellent for the office set-up - You can't beat the price, No they do not resolve the last word in Bass - but I do not EXPECT them to-
Good luck deciding...
One of my friends has the Pioneer BS21 powered by a Miniwatt amp. He can't get over how good that combination sounds.
I've tried the Insignia, and the Pioneer SP-BS 21, 22, but like the 41's best. Have friends with the Dayton Audio and are very happy. I think the Monoprice are a bit better than the Dayton Audio. For really cheap speakers, I am listening to the Dancing Water speakers along with a Energy Energy ESW 8 subwoofer.
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