entry-level bookshelf monitors

[binkgle]

i'm looking at getting a denon dcd-1500 cd player, and would like to plug some speakers into it, as well as the ms-1s i will hopefully soon get. i am only 16, and so can't spend hundreds of dollars. i would like some stereo monitors that i could put on a bookshelf with the denon and which would be self-powered.

any suggestions? is there anything good for under $100? i listen mainly to classic/progressive rock, but have a bit of everything in my collection, from kraftwerk to enya, from floyd and zeppelin to beethoven.

thanks guys

 

[jerb]

with a budget of $150 or so you can do a few things:

$25 thrift store receiver to Athena speakers
$35 T-amp to athena speakers

Audiogon might be another choice for speakers, look through there, if your lucky you might find something local

EDIT: paradigm titans might be within your budget too

 

[binkgle]

which athena speakers? tere are no prices listed on their site. same goes for the paradigm titans. how much do they cost?

i won't be getting a receiver, i'll have the speakers running straight out of my cd player. i'd want them to be self-powered (with their own power cables) for a cleaner sound and self-amped, i don't know how strong the denon dcd-1500's speakers outs are

 

[granodemostasa]

the M-Audio Studio pro 3 are 100, but i havn't heard them, if they are like the DX4 or Stuio pro 4 they should sound great (on Bach and Esa Pekka Salonen at least).

 

[jerb]

I beleive it was the Athena BS-2's that were on clearence for around $120

as far as self powered speakers go, I havent seen any self powered bookselfs. Swans makes a nice pair of self powered speakers (you can buy them on newegg.com) considered to be some of the best 2.0 computer speakers. they're pretty expensive though (around $200 I beleive)

it will probably be cheaper to buy a receiver + speakers

 

[Wodgy]

If you need self-powered speakers under $100, your only option is computer speakers. Don't worry, there are some decent computer speakers. You can find a good selection in many stores in your area. Go around, listen to some of them, and pick the ones you like best.

People will undoubtedly suggest the Sonic T-Amp. Don't bother with it. Once you add a good power supply and do the modifications to eliminate the bass rolloff, your budget is mostly spent.

 

[binkgle]

if i didn't get self-powered speakers would i need an amp? i just want to be able to plug the speakers directly into the denon cd player. i doubt i have the moeny for a speaker amp

 

[Wodgy]

You can't plug unpowered speakers directly into the CD player. You need an integrated amp or receiver.

If you want a cheap amp, hunt around local pawn shops or look at older amps on eBay. I really like the older Yamaha amps. Realistically, you're looking at around $80 for something used and semi-decent. I'm not a big fan of the Sonic T-Amp, but it's an option. You can buy it new around $30, but it needs a power supply and, if you want bass, some modifications. After all that, buying something with more power used is a better option, in my opinion.

 

[jerb]

Klipsch is pretty good, amazon carries them too.

most of their entry sets are 2.1 and start @ $150 but the Promedia 2.0 series starts @ $99

heres everyhting Amazon Has

 

[mshan]

Klipsch Promedia 2.1 satellite/subwoofer speakers.

 

[binkgle]

with computer speakers like the klipsch, how wouldi plug them into the rca ports on the cd player? i could get the promedia 2.1 used for $99 there...

 

[mshan]

http://www.cablesforless.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=1920

Just make sure you don't get them used from Consumer Depot (possibility to get a very damaged pair from them). Also, try and get all of the original molded foam padding and box that the speakers came with. These speakers will have high resale value, but you really need the original foam/boxes to ship them safely (the subwoofer will literally crush the plastic satellites if the sub shifts around in transit too much).

EDIT: they should have them on display at Best Buy, so you should be able to auditon them and make sure they suit your musical / sonic tastes.

 

[Sunshines]

With your budget, i would almost assume there aren't any decent pc speakers that could compare in value with normal speakers. As far as thrift store receivers go, they're easy to find and terribly cheap. I just picked a decent yamaha receiver for $20, where as it was probably 200-300 to begin with. Also, don't forget if you go for pcdp-->receiver or t-amp-->bookshelfs you'll need to pick up some wiring at radioshack for $10, or you could always get some $500 wires...

...or do speakers come with wire/cable?

 

[binkgle]

i've been told in the dedicated source section that receivers often take away from sound quality. seeing as i'm not connecting a radio or anything but the cd player to the speakers, i can't justify getting a receiver. anyway isn't the point of a receiver to connect all the different sources (cd, tape, radio, etc.) to one pair of speakers, functionality i don't need?

 

[cotdt]

under $100, it won't be considered good sound. at least, i've tried and tried and don't see how you can acheive it. although, if you can make the speakers yourself, you can make $100 speakers that will sound amazing. you'll still need an amp though.

yeah receivers tend to be poor sound quality in my experience. if you have the time and skills, you can make your own speakers and amp for far less money and have the best of the best. $450 DIY speaker+amp combo such as the ModulaMT and a 100W/Channel class-T Tripath amplifier will hold its own against $10,000+ commercial systems, and with capacitor upgrades will best them. i've auditioned hundreds of speakers and amplifiers at various speaker shops and i'm not really impressed with any of them. maybe the online-based speaker manufacturers are better, but i don't know. well the Ellis 1801b's are quite nice (with a sub) but that's about it in the "reasonable price" price range, as far as i have heard.

PS: Sonic Impact T-amp is only 6W/channel for 8ohm speakers and need to be modded to sound really good, so don't bother. But the Tripath chip it uses is amazing, you can make a 100W/channel version if you have the skills. Really cheap even if you use premium parts.