What of the 2 kit speakers you absolutely raved about...where would they fall on this list? Wondering why you didn't include them? "Best midrange you had ever heard in any speaker"...if I remember correctly. You're thoughts Randy. They, no longer your Favorite?
Asked and partially answered later in the comments...In what position might they fall on your list...The Top, middle or bottom of this list, would be my question. I'm also a bang for the buck guy (when it comes to audio) jsyk I landed a pair of EPOS epic 2s...new in the box pair called music direct a few years ago and offered them 350.00 for a pair...to my surprise he said, "I think we can do that"...then found a Wadia 151 Power DAC Mini for 350 also. Hi Fi shark. 700.00+ Wiring. Let's just say I haven't heard anything better yet and am excited to try one of the kits you reviewed...probably the CSS, as I'm a Dj here in Tampa and lean towards music with impact.
Cheap audio man I feel betrayed you left out the kef Q350's that you raved about to no end just last year- what up with that?! Change of heart? I wanna know cause they werent even mentioned!!😒
The chip reference doesn’t make any sense. If you’re gonna go for funny… Anyway, Randy is indeed busting his hump, and his audio chops are like a souped up sleeper. You don’t know what he’s got until he punches it.
Your $300 speaker shootout pushed me into the Emotiva B1+ and I'm super glad you did. It is such an amazing sounding speaker for $250. Thanks for the reviews. The audiophile journey can get pretty expensive, and I'm glad there is someone that leans towards the high value side of this hobby.
Chock full of nuts...all the way. Its 8 o'clock brand sold as Chock full of nuts...did blind taste test...unable to distinguish between. 60 to 70% what 8 o'clock costs. My 2 cents.
I was originally intending to hold out for a good deal on the uni-fi 2.0 but decided to grab the c933ii while they were on sale recently based mostly on your glowing reviews and I am very impressed with how they sound. Thanks for putting a spotlight on them because I didn't want to deal with burning in the elacs
Proud owner of the Elac UB52’s. I’m so glad I came across your channel and purchased them per your recommendation. My friends and I enjoyed them very much! Great review as always.
It's nice to hear Polk is getting noticed again. I haven't heard any of the Legend or Reserve series, but they seem to get good reviews. Keep up the good work.
Just got some Polk S20s as secondary speakers...running a vintage Marantz amp with some Cerwin Vegas 15"..the Polks are a perfect fit for the back of the room..
Where is Fluance? Wow! Your review quite a few months ago on speakers had Flance beating out some you mentioned today. I then ordered some and fell in love with them. Thanks for that review!
Moved from the B&W 606 S2 to the Elac Debut Reference mostly based on your reviews and could have not been happier. The sound and soundstage of these speakers, my goodness. It will be my end speaker until I’ll go into the area of 2k+ speakers, and not sure if I ever will do that.
I guess I'm what one could call a "NO budget" audiophile, because even though I definitely have an ear for, and the utmost appreciation for/of extremely high-end equipment and speakers, with my extremely limited income, (which is just barely enough to cover my rent and utility bills each month, much less have any money left over to spend on anything else), I actually have to shop for audio equipment and speakers at thriftstores and yard sales, etc., or else I simply cannot afford it... Anything over $1/inch of woofer diameter is too expensive for me!... However, even at that price point, and always only in the used/second hand market, I have found a few extremely good sounding speakers over the years, with probably one of the best deals I've found being a still perfect condition pair of Polk Audio Monitor 10 speakers from the 80's for $20/pair! I still use those in my main LR system today and they sound great! Polk Audio has always made very good sounding, very good value speakers, with higher than average build, driver, and parts quality, so it's not surprising that at least one Polk model made it onto this list here in this video.
I've bought several pair of JBL and Polk bookshelf speakers at Goodwill, I have a pair of Klipsch R-41M's I found mint-in-box for $70 in a thrift store. Word of mouth and the occasional estate sale have yielded surprises: my 2nd McIntosh system was $200 (albeit needing repair) at a yard sale.
The Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and 100 are on sale for $440 and $540, and the Silver 50 and 100 are $675 (normally $975) and $775 (normally $1150), and the KEF R3 are down to $1700, normally $2200
I have a pair of the Wharfdale Diamond 12.2 that I listen to when I don’t want to listen to my JBL 4312Gs. Best of both worlds. Good speakers for casual listening, and great speakers for serious listening.
I have the Emotiva T1+, on some music with lots of acoustic instruments and vocals they are ideal, Jazz piano like Thelonious Monk is so good you can hear him touch the keys, Symphonic Metal such as Within Temptation sounds great, with poorly mixed/produced rock they seem to show and perhaps enhance noise and distortion. Am very pleased with them for the price. Kick drums and bass are right as they should be, I don't need a sub with these. If I had a larger listening area I probably would have gone for the T2+.
All that matters is what Your ears are happy with. Been using Mission m74i's for the last 20 years. Still makes me smile! I upgraded my avr to a Yamaha Aventage rx a2a last week and the speakers came to life again from what i was using before.
Answers to Famous Quotes Quiz #1. Posted yesterday. These are to entertain and provide interest. 1. The dialog ""Somebody's Gotta Go Back and get a sh*tload of dimes" is from the movie Blazing Saddles. It was a scene in the desert with hinders of miles on either side of them. The scene is less than a minute long. To see it just punch in Toll Booth scene from Blazing Saddles. 2. The audio quote was from an interview with famous amplifier designer Bob Carver.
I know this is an old thread, but it's great for someone like me who is just getting back into this again. Thanks to you, Cheapaudioman, I am currently auditioning the ES-15 (and the ES-35), SSCS5, Uni-Fi 2.0 UB5.2, and the SVS satellites (because why not). I am still waiting on the B1+ to arrive. I got everything on sale. Thanks for what you do and all your help! So far, I am the most impressed by the SSCS5's. I get it now. GREAT value! These are keepers. I'll find somewhere to use them . So far the ES-15's are at the bottom of the list and are most likely going back. I experienced some odd bass resonances (chuffing?). I wanted these to work because I am sticking with the ES-35 center channel because of space restrictions and cost. Now I will not have matching fronts and center. I'm wondering if I should try the ES-20's...decisions, decisions. The ELAC's are nice (really good imaging and staging), but I'm still breaking them in. Can't wait to A/B them with the Sony's and Emotiva's. Thanks again!
If you think the Polk R100 is good, just wait until you hear the R200. They make the 100s sound seriously flawed in comparison. They're that good. The best speaker under $2k that I've heard
WOW! I’m in Australia and new to your channel. I’ve kinda been binge watching a bit in the last few days. Some bloody good old honest down to earth advice Randy. Cheers mate! Gary
You're absolutely right about the Elac Unifi 2.0; listening to them near field I kept asking out loud, "How!? How the hell did Andrew Jones make this sound so damn good!?". Now they're in my living room on top of Emotiva SE8 Flex subs. The whole setup is worth every penny. Thank you for leading me in the right direction!
@@iakobkv271 , I find that a sub is needed with these. However, the bass is good for casual listening. It’s not going to energize a large room, and near field in a small space is the same result. I’m still breaking them in, but I don’t think I’m going to get much more bass output. Using Crown xls 1002 and Behringer a 800.
My buddy got RP-6000Fs, and I got T1+s, so I've listened to both a lot. I think, subjectively, Klipsch wins on looks by a solid margin, but Emotiva wins on sonic performance by a modest but not negligible margin, which is something considering the T1s are several hundred less. I like both a lot, but I also don't regret my choice.
Thank you for the video. I ended up picking up a pair of the SSCS5's after watching one of your videos for $75 last year during one of Best Buy's sales.. loved them so much, I went and picked up another pair. I spent a few hours sitting in front of them and my jaw dropped. The sound that comes out of these things for the price is ridiculous. I'm about ready to take the next step and venture into some KEF's or Missions, or go all out and pick up a pair of Martin Logan ESL's.. but these Sony's are a perfect speaker to dip your toe in for some seriously good quality sound!
I picked up the Elac UniFi 5.2 and love them. I see people in forums bashing them based on computer programs showing less than perfect results. I don’t know, they sound great me!
Randy I have 2 of the Sony SSCS plus a Sony Sub in a near field set up...I can lean forward from my couch and touch them....and they sound awesome. And this is my first hifi system.
Loving the content. Could you do a video about best small room (10x10-15x15 ft) speakers? I have a small bedroom in an NYC apartment and I’d love to get a vinyl setup going.
I just bought the Sony SSCS5 for $88 on sale. They don't have any right to sound that good. I've been modding a pare of cheap Pioneer speakers (CS-G403 with new mids, horn tweeters and reworked crossovers) from the early 90s and these little Sonys blow them away in every aspect but LOW bass. I ran my favorite bass test (Techmaster PEB Bassgasm) and was seriously impressed at what the Sony speakers are capable of for their size. There are some low notes in that song they just flat out can't do but I also wouldn't expect them to go that low. They are less fatiguing and more balanced than my Klipsh R-820F towers as well. I know there is better stuff out there, but for $88 I'm freakin blown away.
@@joeljimenez3521 I don't run them with a sub, and it is fine for what I use them for. They are literally on a bookshelf, with their receiver, and provide a nice small system for my home office. If they were in a bigger room, they'd probably need a sub more. In my small room, they are fine.
The best speaker I have is an 80 years old Gaumont British cinema double horn assembly. This is similar to the cinema Altec Lansing "Voice of the Theater" A2 model. That's the very big one, standing 9 foot tall and weighing around half a ton. Nothing beats these old cinema horns, and makes everything else sound very 3rd rate, whatever that is. A one watt amplifier is more than enough with these horns
Glad to see that the Debut Refs are still a favorite of yours. The list price has gone up $100 but they're on sale a lot more than they were before the price increase. My only personal gripe about the Elacs is that they like to play loud a lot better than they like to play at low volumes.
It seems like just Andrew Robinson and I got pair of DBR62 that are boring and not detailed. 🤷 They can definitely sound nice at higher volumes with some powerful amp. But at lower volumes and with cheap amps they are just some dead rocks that produce sounds. I've compared them in my room with Klipsch RP-600M and difference it really night and day. On klipsch you can really hear all the dialogue in movies and all the details in the songs, which are just missing with DBR62.
This was in my recommendations, so I decided to watch. My favorites have long been Paradigm. Bought a pair of 3Se back in ‘91. Still listening to them today. Sound just as beautiful as new. Also have the 9Se with 300CC in a different room. Have never been compelled to replace. Well, thought about some new ones, but why? My 30 year old speakers still sound amazing. I highly recommend Paradigm.
I'm confused on your comments on the Elac Debut Reference. You made a previous video comparing Uni-fi Reference and Debut Reference and you said at the end if you were doing it again you'd choose the Uni-fi Reference. Yet you choose the Debut Reference here. Have you changed your mind on this?
I own a stereo in a near-field setup that sounds magnificent. I regularly watch Paul McGowen's PS Audio videos, which are excellent and highly edifying. I also watch everything Steve Guttenberg produces and appreciate his insights and common sense perspectives on things. Andrew Robinson is also very credible, though a tad limited in the topics he covers. "Thomas & Stereo" is also very well-researched and useful. All that said, Randy, the cheapaudioman has been the most helpful in selecting my components. This includes my Elac Uni-fi UB5s, my SMSL DA-9 integrated amp, my SMSL M500 II DAC/headphone amp and my very affordable, but adequate Yamaha NS-SW200 sub. Randy may not be as broadly edifying as Paul McGowen, but in the matter of identifying suberb value in audio equipment he is "best-in-class".
Paul McGowan is honest but Steve Guttenberg and Andrew Robinson shamelessly pander to certain players the industry. It's bandwagon reviewing endorsing the latest trendy and aggressively marketed products for reasons not hard to imagine... ahem. Steve is known for endorsing products from companies who's designer or owner is familiar to him. Funny that.
I am the cheapest audiophile and love this channel. I have gone from a $12k system to a $1.5K system and it sounds better. Always looking for bargains and love me some vintage receivers from the 70s!
I know, right, I met a fellow once who had a whole wall full of McIntosh equipment, with its own power supply and all. I believe it took him like 10 mins just to turn everything on. Overkill, if you just want to enjoy the music.
@@krisztianpinter115 currently, I am using a Decware Zen Select Tube amp that I bought used. I am using a Lii Audio 8” full range driver in a transmission line box (DIY). The Zen has a volume control so I don’t need a preamp. Using XiangSheng Tube DAC-05BII which also has BT…using DIY power cords and DIY silver RCA cables. The Zen amp was $500 used. The DAC was about $500 with shipping. The speakers drivers were $250 with shipping. Cost of MDF for the speakers and the wood veneer was about $250. Oh… and I am using an old Sony 9000ES SACD player as transport. I got the Sony used for $100. 😉😉
My selections: Benesch Precision: Fantastic musical towers, but position is critical to get money's worth Watt/Puppy: Perhaps the best sounding--very musical and best simulated sound stage K-Horn: I love these. If you have the right room, they'll fill it up with music without taxing your amp. Some complain about horn honk, but I have no idea what they mean. Quad ESL: fantastic electrostatic. Don't know how loud you can play the new ones, but they were always loud enough for me. Exceptional musicality, if that's a word. You can sit back and listen for hours). Heresy: These are still the very best "book shelf" speakers I've ever heard. Add a high-end sub-woofer for decades of enjoyment Boise 901: These should be complete crap, yet I loved them when I first heard them. Two issues are that you need a really clean and powerful amp (at least 150w/ch or more) and the sound stage, when you get one is huge (a solo singer can sound like their head is 7 feet in diameter.
I worked as a machinist at a company that made magnetic seals for aviation gearbox transmissions. They would lap the ferrite magnets for days until they had a mirror finish. After that process the magnets were analyzed under a 20 power microscope for porosity. Most were scrapped. The scrapped magnets were recycled and used in loudspeakers. Most loudspeaker magnets are not very good quality.
Randy's choices and recommendations of speakers might be good ones. They are from good manufacturers. Audio Magazine back in the 1980's/19900's used to come out with (around this time of the year too) an Annual Equipment Directory. It was much much thicker than their usual monthly issue. People who used to think that there are about 50 or 60 different speaker companies were shocked when they turned to the Loudspeaker pages and realized that there were actually many many hundreds of different speaker manufacturers. Some with dozens of different models. Some makes that you heard of, some you never had. My guess is that nowadays there are still many hundreds of different companies making speakers, maybe not as many hundreds but still hundreds. Don't think that the speakers reviewed on this site or any site are the only choices. Maybe they are among the best choices; maybe they're not. I really have no idea. But anyone who thinks their choice is between speaker A or B, would be smart to realize there are many more letters of the alphabet than that. I do know it's fun seeking out stuff. Shopping for speakers is a lot more fun than shopping for a new utility company. It's a big field and there are many stadiums. Don't limit yourself to a box seat or two. It would be interesting to know just how many speaker companies are currently making loud speakers. One thing for sure; it's way more than you know and way more companies than you've heard of. Which ones come to the forefront is notnecessarily dependent on quality; there is the marketing and exposure side also. I'm sure there are some amazing speakers out there, that we've never heard of, and maybe never will. Two of the three best pairs of speakers that I've ever owned were makes that almost no one had ever heard of.
Oh man the memories. I'm from Canada and we had a magazine called Sound & Vision. This was before it ceased publication in 2000 and when Stereo Review became Sound & Vision. Anyways they had an annual buyer's guide that was just enormous. So many brands one never heard of and some that I have never seen then or now. My brother and I would each buy a copy and absolutely nerd out for hours and hours, days and days. We would put together systems at different price points and compare our picks. Man that was fun. You brought back some good memories.
Just found your channel...couldn't b more amazed when you listed the klipsh 6000 i actually have them and they knock the building down as well as handle power without distortion that graphene driver delivers and actually helps in midrange reproduction the top end is definitely there but combine very well to the heart pounding woofers....they will always wow your company
Yup! All day long....Klipsch speakers are truly concert like speakers and that's why they sound so real... just like a live concert, truly. Most people just don't understand or have ever been to one or more truly live preforming band's. They've never heard real music 🎶.... and concert use Klipsch speakers type systems even in today preforming
Can't impress upon you strongly enough the degree to which I love my Emotiva speakers. My office is set up with lots of sound deadening features and when I put my head in the sweet spot it surly is sweet.
I get the shoot out. The funniest thing to me is my dad built his Harman Karon Citation Amp and pre Amp, with Ar-XA and Harkness C-40's. That was 1963 and it was near the best, even today is top 3. Now I had Pioneer sx-750 and 1050 with B&W 640s and Linn lp12(SoundSmith), And that is Awesome and 750 has such lows it incredible,I also use this now. Well I think I am good. But if you need speakers these are some interesting choices. I am at this time having the amp upgraded to Jim MacShane kits. Great Stuff.
Thanks for the excellent video Randy. Just wondering, did you just leave out the DIY speakers because they are DIY, or that just aren't good enough to make the cut?
I just left them out because they were DIY. They’re both amazing but those projects are only for a small part of the community because of the challenges around building them.
Have you ever heard the Genesis 2 with the 8" woof - inverted dome - 10" passive rad? I had a pair when I was a kid. Lucky me. Beautiful "WTP" setup, smooth!
FYI… I watched your under $100 speaker video this morning and decided to purchase a pair of the Sony SSCS5’s based upon your recommendation. Much to my surprise, Amazon’s price today is $88 for a PAIR! Also, I’m not seeing a link for your #1 Wharfedale Diamond speaker… or am I blind? Thanks!
Hi Randy, would you happened to know anything about the Eltax Monitor III, I believe they are Danish bookshelves. Heard the finish is not that great but the sound is AMAZING. Problem is I have no ideal where to purchase them here in the US. The cost is $200+ . What is your take.
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, Wharfedale Diamond 12.2, Wharfedale EVO 4.1 and maybe the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ for the budget pick? Which would you pick for music? I hate bright, sibilant speakers, but love detail and of course bass.
@@philjagdon6774 I went with the Elac DBR62 speakers. They're ok to me, but now I hear sibilance in almost everything with vocals. It could be just me. A lot of people like these, but it can be very subjective. I still would like to try the B2+ and a few others. Reading critical reviews can give you a general idea how they sound, but like I said, it is personal.
I don’t know if you have ever done a review on the Dali Oberon 3 Bookshelf Speakers, but if you haven’t, could you please do one and provide your insight? I have had a pair since mid-October and I love them! Better than Elac, Polk and Wharfedale combined! And I like each of those speakers too, but these are on another level. My system is Marantz PM 8006, Marantz NA 6006, and Marantz MM 7025 power amp with Elac Unifi UB52’s on the integrated amp for my rear speakers when I choose to listen to them. I am really, really loving this sound. Thanks for considering this request!
Friend, you are so cool! But tell me please the speaker with the most dense and dynamic and thick sound? And tell me a speaker for male vocals, it is desirable that there be a very stretched sound, so that I would cry?
I'm pretty sure the Polk ring radiator tweeter is sourced from Vifa/Scanspeak, a Danish high end driver manufacturer, and the inventors of that tweeter style
I had a pair of POLK AUDIO SDA SIGNATURE REFERENCE speakers (excellent sound), until I went to an audition room in Upland Ca. in the early '90's. Now I only use Polks in my car (best car speakers I've found - @Crutchfield). I took my LP of Stanley Black conducting the LSO on "Three Blind Mice", and my early '60's RCA pressing of Al Hirt Honey in the Horn "I Can't Get Started". The 2 Lp's knocked the salemen on their butts and we auditiond about 25 pair of speakers (up to $23,000/pair), one CD player (I liked my LP's better), and a few mono-block amps (I really love the sound of tubes). I forget what turntable they had, but I ended up buying the Canadian PSB Stratus Gold (which I discovered got an excellent write-up in Stereophile) and were only $2,000 at that time.
Hey Cheapaudioman! I just got a pair of Edifier R1280DBs for a record player setup and I’m not completely thrilled by their performance. With a budget of $300, what pair of active speakers would you recommend that actually has decent bass as well? I really wanted the Elac debut 5.2 but I don’t want to have to buy an amp 😢
Long ago in a misspent youthe, purched a para stompin Infinity RSa speaks. Hae you by chance heard of them? Arr they still any good, orr completely obsolete?
I'm using a analog cord from my laptop headphone jack to the back of my stereo reciever (Denon AVR S540BT) on media player mode, w/ Sony SS-CS5 bookshelf speakers. I listen to my music in here on youtube, & I need to buy a longer cord. Which type do you suggest for the best sound? Ty for your help...You Rock!
Randy love the shows and videos, watch you and Andrew constantly.... I have a pair of Tsi100s, a CS10 center, a Polk PSW10, and a pair of Polk Owm 3 for Atmos.... All brand, still in the box brand new... Would you recommend the C93ii, ES15, or Tsi 200 for Front Stage ?? I saw you also have Jamo Concert center channel and was wondering if you prefer the Jamo center or the Polk ES 35 ???
KLH, Fluance, Mission, PSB, Monitor Audio. I'd like to invite you to expand your listening experience towards a new binge listening direction off the beaten path...you may be surprised? Try the Polk r600 for review if you like the r200, or better yet the Reference r700! In my 45yrs of audio experience, I've found that all speakers are influenced by the electronics. Just some scale really well with better equipment. Doing very well Randy, best of luck.
I just ordered the Polk R100, thanks to your reviews, including the comparison with the R200. I'm super excited. I also ordered the R350 center speaker. I'd love a review on that one, as it also gets suggested as an optional low profile surround speaker, mounted to the wall.
Randy I recently bought myself a pair of B&W 606 s2. I am currently pairing them with an old pioneer vsx 517. They sounded horrible in the 1st day of playing but after a week it came to life. I am loving the sound coming from these speakers. Have you listened to them?
What speakers would be good to run a guitar amp modeler through like a fractal fm3 ? Also what would be a good way to install blue tooth speakers in every room In the house to stream radio through? Thanks for your outstanding videos..
Hi, thank you for your review. But why are there no Focals in the list? I listened to a Focal Aria 926 lately and it sounded amazing. And lots of people say it's better sounding then Klipsch.
I have both the Wharfedale diamond 11.4s and the Sony sscs5 based on your recommendations. I have the diamonds hooked up to a Marantz NR1200 in my living room and they sound great. I’m putting the sscs5 in my bedroom, but don’t have them hooked up to anything yet. Is there a dac/amp that you enjoy paired with them?
I have a PB 1000 Pro Two Polks S 60 s with a Polk center channel two SVS surround s and an Onkyo receiver. I want to change my Polk towers due my space. Do you think the SVS ultra are the way to go ?
Nice work, I am a regular viewer . Can you suggest which system I should prefer for listening classical, melody songs not hip hop . I am not a bass fan. I should buy a panasonic tower speaker scua7 or q acoustics 3020i with Cambridge or yamaha amplifier. Thank you.
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Unifi 2.0 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cfZDwzoSnay
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F
Polk R100 shop-links.co/cfZDxJezkCF
SVS Ultra bit.ly/3neJL49
Emotiva T1+ emotiva.com?aff=9
Klipsch RP6000F shop-links.co/cfZDiieBHzW
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
What of the 2 kit speakers you absolutely raved about...where would they fall on this list? Wondering why you didn't include them? "Best midrange you had ever heard in any speaker"...if I remember correctly. You're thoughts Randy. They, no longer your Favorite?
Asked and partially answered later in the comments...In what position might they fall on your list...The Top, middle or bottom of this list, would be my question. I'm also a bang for the buck guy (when it comes to audio) jsyk I landed a pair of EPOS epic 2s...new in the box pair called music direct a few years ago and offered them 350.00 for a pair...to my surprise he said, "I think we can do that"...then found a Wadia 151 Power DAC Mini for 350 also. Hi Fi shark. 700.00+ Wiring. Let's just say I haven't heard anything better yet and am excited to try one of the kits you reviewed...probably the CSS, as I'm
a Dj here in Tampa and lean towards music with impact.
What do you think of the audioengine A5+ ?
@@lexicon612 trust your ears only
Cheap audio man I feel betrayed you left out the kef Q350's that you raved about to no end just last year- what up with that?! Change of heart? I wanna know cause they werent even mentioned!!😒
Randy’s out here doing the Lord’s work. A sound enthusiast with advice for the 99%. I respect your devotion to real life budget concerns, man
But where are the Lords chips? Did he not tell them they are the Lords chips?
The chip reference doesn’t make any sense. If you’re gonna go for funny…
Anyway, Randy is indeed busting his hump, and his audio chops are like a souped up sleeper. You don’t know what he’s got until he punches it.
Thank you gentlemen
@@rc6717 I hope you are joking. Let me know if you’re not though.
@@rc6717 All hail the dark master!
Your $300 speaker shootout pushed me into the Emotiva B1+ and I'm super glad you did. It is such an amazing sounding speaker for $250. Thanks for the reviews. The audiophile journey can get pretty expensive, and I'm glad there is someone that leans towards the high value side of this hobby.
Thanks, Jimbo! Loves those B1’s!
Emotiva is great sound for the $$$.
Are they good for mains for watching movies?
Ya know speakers are like real estate...? Location.
They are 450 euro in europe🥺
I always get the urge for a cup of coffee when good old audioman releases a video. And that’s a nice thing. His videos and my coffee pair well
Watching while enjoying a good Colombian Gesha, perfect start to a good week-end.
The sponsors!!
Chock full of nuts...all the way. Its 8 o'clock brand sold as Chock full of nuts...did blind taste test...unable to distinguish between. 60 to 70% what 8 o'clock costs. My 2 cents.
I was originally intending to hold out for a good deal on the uni-fi 2.0 but decided to grab the c933ii while they were on sale recently based mostly on your glowing reviews and I am very impressed with how they sound. Thanks for putting a spotlight on them because I didn't want to deal with burning in the elacs
Proud owner of the Elac UB52’s. I’m so glad I came across your channel and purchased them per your recommendation. My friends and I enjoyed them very much! Great review as always.
They're on sale for $450 right now, which is a steal of a deal!
What center do you have?
@@Pro-kesh no Center speaker, it's a stereo system.
I just picked up the Sony speakers and I have to say, they’re absolutely lovely sounding speakers. For exactly the reasons that you said.
It's nice to hear Polk is getting noticed again. I haven't heard any of the Legend or Reserve series, but they seem to get good reviews. Keep up the good work.
Just got some Polk S20s as secondary speakers...running a vintage Marantz amp with some Cerwin Vegas 15"..the Polks are a perfect fit for the back of the room..
Where is Fluance? Wow! Your review quite a few months ago on speakers had Flance beating out some you mentioned today. I then ordered some and fell in love with them. Thanks for that review!
Moved from the B&W 606 S2 to the Elac Debut Reference mostly based on your reviews and could have not been happier. The sound and soundstage of these speakers, my goodness. It will be my end speaker until I’ll go into the area of 2k+ speakers, and not sure if I ever will do that.
Ascend acoustics makes some amazing speakers under 2 grand
How are they different from the B&Ws? What is it in particular that makes you glad you switched?
Burn-in is very much a thing. My Klipsch R-41PM speakers did not sound good until I put in the time to break them in. Now, they sound incredible!
I guess I'm what one could call a "NO budget" audiophile, because even though I definitely have an ear for, and the utmost appreciation for/of extremely high-end equipment and speakers, with my extremely limited income, (which is just barely enough to cover my rent and utility bills each month, much less have any money left over to spend on anything else), I actually have to shop for audio equipment and speakers at thriftstores and yard sales, etc., or else I simply cannot afford it... Anything over $1/inch of woofer diameter is too expensive for me!... However, even at that price point, and always only in the used/second hand market, I have found a few extremely good sounding speakers over the years, with probably one of the best deals I've found being a still perfect condition pair of Polk Audio Monitor 10 speakers from the 80's for $20/pair! I still use those in my main LR system today and they sound great!
Polk Audio has always made very good sounding, very good value speakers, with higher than average build, driver, and parts quality, so it's not surprising that at least one Polk model made it onto this list here in this video.
I've bought several pair of JBL and Polk bookshelf speakers at Goodwill,
I have a pair of Klipsch R-41M's I found mint-in-box for $70 in a thrift store.
Word of mouth and the occasional estate sale have yielded surprises: my 2nd McIntosh system was $200 (albeit needing repair) at a yard sale.
Back in my solid state days I lusted after AR-1s and Carver Amazings. Now days I would just as soon DYI.
The Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and 100 are on sale for $440 and $540, and the Silver 50 and 100 are $675 (normally $975) and $775 (normally $1150), and the KEF R3 are down to $1700, normally $2200
I have a pair of the Wharfdale Diamond 12.2 that I listen to when I don’t want to listen to my JBL 4312Gs.
Best of both worlds.
Good speakers for casual listening, and great speakers for serious listening.
I have the Emotiva T1+, on some music with lots of acoustic instruments and vocals they are ideal, Jazz piano like Thelonious Monk is so good you can hear him touch the keys, Symphonic Metal such as Within Temptation sounds great, with poorly mixed/produced rock they seem to show and perhaps enhance noise and distortion. Am very pleased with them for the price. Kick drums and bass are right as they should be, I don't need a sub with these. If I had a larger listening area I probably would have gone for the T2+.
All that matters is what Your ears are happy with. Been using Mission m74i's for the last 20 years. Still makes me smile! I upgraded my avr to a Yamaha Aventage rx a2a last week and the speakers came to life again from what i was using before.
You have one choice between the focal 806, Dali 3,Revel m16,elac unify 2.0 wharfield dentin or Polk res.
Answers to Famous Quotes Quiz #1. Posted yesterday. These are to entertain and provide interest.
1. The dialog ""Somebody's Gotta Go Back and get a sh*tload of dimes" is from the movie Blazing Saddles. It was a scene in the desert with hinders of miles on either side of them. The scene is less than a minute long. To see it just punch in Toll Booth scene from Blazing Saddles.
2. The audio quote was from an interview with famous amplifier designer Bob Carver.
I know this is an old thread, but it's great for someone like me who is just getting back into this again.
Thanks to you, Cheapaudioman, I am currently auditioning the ES-15 (and the ES-35), SSCS5, Uni-Fi 2.0 UB5.2, and the SVS satellites (because why not). I am still waiting on the B1+ to arrive. I got everything on sale. Thanks for what you do and all your help!
So far, I am the most impressed by the SSCS5's. I get it now. GREAT value! These are keepers. I'll find somewhere to use them .
So far the ES-15's are at the bottom of the list and are most likely going back. I experienced some odd bass resonances (chuffing?). I wanted these to work because I am sticking with the ES-35 center channel because of space restrictions and cost. Now I will not have matching fronts and center. I'm wondering if I should try the ES-20's...decisions, decisions.
The ELAC's are nice (really good imaging and staging), but I'm still breaking them in. Can't wait to A/B them with the Sony's and Emotiva's.
Thanks again!
If you think the Polk R100 is good, just wait until you hear the R200. They make the 100s sound seriously flawed in comparison. They're that good. The best speaker under $2k that I've heard
WOW! I’m in Australia and new to your channel. I’ve kinda been binge watching a bit in the last few days. Some bloody good old honest down to earth advice Randy. Cheers mate! Gary
You're absolutely right about the Elac Unifi 2.0; listening to them near field I kept asking out loud, "How!? How the hell did Andrew Jones make this sound so damn good!?". Now they're in my living room on top of Emotiva SE8 Flex subs. The whole setup is worth every penny. Thank you for leading me in the right direction!
Did you need sub with ub52?
@@iakobkv271 , I find that a sub is needed with these. However, the bass is good for casual listening. It’s not going to energize a large room, and near field in a small space is the same result. I’m still breaking them in, but I don’t think I’m going to get much more bass output. Using Crown xls 1002 and Behringer a 800.
A lot of good speakers. In that price range the NHT C3 speakers are hard to beat. 3 way with aluminum midrange and tweeter. Great clarity.
My buddy got RP-6000Fs, and I got T1+s, so I've listened to both a lot. I think, subjectively, Klipsch wins on looks by a solid margin, but Emotiva wins on sonic performance by a modest but not negligible margin, which is something considering the T1s are several hundred less. I like both a lot, but I also don't regret my choice.
Thank you for the video. I ended up picking up a pair of the SSCS5's after watching one of your videos for $75 last year during one of Best Buy's sales.. loved them so much, I went and picked up another pair. I spent a few hours sitting in front of them and my jaw dropped. The sound that comes out of these things for the price is ridiculous. I'm about ready to take the next step and venture into some KEF's or Missions, or go all out and pick up a pair of Martin Logan ESL's.. but these Sony's are a perfect speaker to dip your toe in for some seriously good quality sound!
I picked up the Elac UniFi 5.2 and love them. I see people in forums bashing them based on computer programs showing less than perfect results. I don’t know, they sound great me!
Randy I have 2 of the Sony SSCS plus a Sony Sub in a near field set up...I can lean forward from my couch and touch them....and they sound awesome. And this is my first hifi system.
Loving the content. Could you do a video about best small room (10x10-15x15 ft) speakers? I have a small bedroom in an NYC apartment and I’d love to get a vinyl setup going.
I just bought the Sony SSCS5 for $88 on sale. They don't have any right to sound that good. I've been modding a pare of cheap Pioneer speakers (CS-G403 with new mids, horn tweeters and reworked crossovers) from the early 90s and these little Sonys blow them away in every aspect but LOW bass. I ran my favorite bass test (Techmaster PEB Bassgasm) and was seriously impressed at what the Sony speakers are capable of for their size. There are some low notes in that song they just flat out can't do but I also wouldn't expect them to go that low. They are less fatiguing and more balanced than my Klipsh R-820F towers as well. I know there is better stuff out there, but for $88 I'm freakin blown away.
Hey did u buy a sub to go with them or are they good on their own
@@joeljimenez3521 I don't run them with a sub, and it is fine for what I use them for. They are literally on a bookshelf, with their receiver, and provide a nice small system for my home office. If they were in a bigger room, they'd probably need a sub more. In my small room, they are fine.
What about Jamo 628? Are they still good?
The best speaker I have is an 80 years old Gaumont British cinema double horn assembly. This is similar to the cinema Altec Lansing "Voice of the Theater" A2 model. That's the very big one, standing 9 foot tall and weighing around half a ton. Nothing beats these old cinema horns, and makes everything else sound very 3rd rate, whatever that is. A one watt amplifier is more than enough with these horns
Your lucky...
Glad to see that the Debut Refs are still a favorite of yours. The list price has gone up $100 but they're on sale a lot more than they were before the price increase. My only personal gripe about the Elacs is that they like to play loud a lot better than they like to play at low volumes.
i own the towers. they play well at low volumes but yes they like to play loud
It seems like just Andrew Robinson and I got pair of DBR62 that are boring and not detailed. 🤷
They can definitely sound nice at higher volumes with some powerful amp. But at lower volumes and with cheap amps they are just some dead rocks that produce sounds.
I've compared them in my room with Klipsch RP-600M and difference it really night and day. On klipsch you can really hear all the dialogue in movies and all the details in the songs, which are just missing with DBR62.
I have a nice old pair of Teledyne Acoustic Research AR28s.
Nice blend of sound from the early 80s.
I thought you said the Wharfedale 12.2 was better than 11.2? So shouldn’t that have been here instead?
This was in my recommendations, so I decided to watch. My favorites have long been Paradigm. Bought a pair of 3Se back in ‘91. Still listening to them today. Sound just as beautiful as new. Also have the 9Se with 300CC in a different room. Have never been compelled to replace. Well, thought about some new ones, but why? My 30 year old speakers still sound amazing. I highly recommend Paradigm.
How would you rate the Polk ES50/55/60 compared to the Emotiva T1/2+?
I'm confused on your comments on the Elac Debut Reference. You made a previous video comparing Uni-fi Reference and Debut Reference and you said at the end if you were doing it again you'd choose the Uni-fi Reference. Yet you choose the Debut Reference here. Have you changed your mind on this?
I own a stereo in a near-field setup that sounds magnificent. I regularly watch Paul McGowen's PS Audio videos, which are excellent and highly edifying. I also watch everything Steve Guttenberg produces and appreciate his insights and common sense perspectives on things. Andrew Robinson is also very credible, though a tad limited in the topics he covers. "Thomas & Stereo" is also very well-researched and useful. All that said, Randy, the cheapaudioman has been the most helpful in selecting my components. This includes my Elac Uni-fi UB5s, my SMSL DA-9 integrated amp, my SMSL M500 II DAC/headphone amp and my very affordable, but adequate Yamaha NS-SW200 sub. Randy may not be as broadly edifying as Paul McGowen, but in the matter of identifying suberb value in audio equipment he is "best-in-class".
Paul McGowan is honest but Steve Guttenberg and Andrew Robinson shamelessly pander to certain players the industry. It's bandwagon reviewing endorsing the latest trendy and aggressively marketed products for reasons not hard to imagine... ahem. Steve is known for endorsing products from companies who's designer or owner is familiar to him. Funny that.
Spot on. Between my son and myself, we have all of these but the Polk and the Jamo. Really good stuff.
I am the cheapest audiophile and love this channel. I have gone from a $12k system to a $1.5K system and it sounds better. Always looking for bargains and love me some vintage receivers from the 70s!
I know, right, I met a fellow once who had a whole wall full of McIntosh equipment, with its own power supply and all. I believe it took him like 10 mins just to turn everything on. Overkill, if you just want to enjoy the music.
Can you please name the components of your gear?
was it the harman curve?
@@krisztianpinter115 currently, I am using a Decware Zen Select Tube amp that I bought used. I am using a Lii Audio 8” full range driver in a transmission line box (DIY). The Zen has a volume control so I don’t need a preamp. Using XiangSheng Tube DAC-05BII which also has BT…using DIY power cords and DIY silver RCA cables. The Zen amp was $500 used. The DAC was about $500 with shipping. The speakers drivers were $250 with shipping. Cost of MDF for the speakers and the wood veneer was about $250. Oh… and I am using an old Sony 9000ES SACD player as transport. I got the Sony used for $100. 😉😉
Is the SVS Ultra tower The best performance for the money currently? 60% movies 40% music
My selections:
Benesch Precision: Fantastic musical towers, but position is critical to get money's worth
Watt/Puppy: Perhaps the best sounding--very musical and best simulated sound stage
K-Horn: I love these. If you have the right room, they'll fill it up with music without taxing your amp. Some complain about horn honk, but I have no idea what they mean.
Quad ESL: fantastic electrostatic. Don't know how loud you can play the new ones, but they were always loud enough for me. Exceptional musicality, if that's a word. You can sit back and listen for hours).
Heresy: These are still the very best "book shelf" speakers I've ever heard. Add a high-end sub-woofer for decades of enjoyment
Boise 901: These should be complete crap, yet I loved them when I first heard them. Two issues are that you need a really clean and powerful amp (at least 150w/ch or more) and the sound stage, when you get one is huge (a solo singer can sound like their head is 7 feet in diameter.
I own SVS Ultra Bookshelf paired with a SVS SB-3000 subwoofer - perfecto!! 😁
Hi Randy! I wonder what sort of music you listen to on your favorite speakers and which pair from this video is best suitable for hard rock and metal?
Always nice seeing your speakers mentioned in someone’s recommendations
I worked as a machinist at a company that made magnetic seals for aviation gearbox transmissions. They would lap the ferrite magnets for days until they had a mirror finish. After that process the magnets were analyzed under a 20 power microscope for porosity. Most were scrapped. The scrapped magnets were recycled and used in loudspeakers. Most loudspeaker magnets are not very good quality.
Randy's choices and recommendations of speakers might be good ones. They are from good manufacturers. Audio Magazine back in the 1980's/19900's used to come out with (around this time of the year too) an Annual Equipment Directory. It was much much thicker than their usual monthly issue. People who used to think that there are about 50 or 60 different speaker companies were shocked when they turned to the Loudspeaker pages and realized that there were actually many many hundreds of different speaker manufacturers. Some with dozens of different models. Some makes that you heard of, some you never had. My guess is that nowadays there are still many hundreds of different companies making speakers, maybe not as many hundreds but still hundreds. Don't think that the speakers reviewed on this site or any site are the only choices. Maybe they are among the best choices; maybe they're not. I really have no idea. But anyone who thinks their choice is between speaker A or B, would be smart to realize there are many more letters of the alphabet than that. I do know it's fun seeking out stuff. Shopping for speakers is a lot more fun than shopping for a new utility company. It's a big field and there are many stadiums. Don't limit yourself to a box seat or two. It would be interesting to know just how many speaker companies are currently making loud speakers. One thing for sure; it's way more than you know and way more companies than you've heard of. Which ones come to the forefront is notnecessarily dependent on quality; there is the marketing and exposure side also. I'm sure there are some amazing speakers out there, that we've never heard of, and maybe never will. Two of the three best pairs of speakers that I've ever owned were makes that almost no one had ever heard of.
Oh man the memories. I'm from Canada and we had a magazine called Sound & Vision. This was before it ceased publication in 2000 and when Stereo Review became Sound & Vision. Anyways they had an annual buyer's guide that was just enormous. So many brands one never heard of and some that I have never seen then or now. My brother and I would each buy a copy and absolutely nerd out for hours and hours, days and days. We would put together systems at different price points and compare our picks. Man that was fun. You brought back some good memories.
Whats the best speaker under 500$ for heavy metal?? I like them fast, punchy and not to bright?
Just found your channel...couldn't b more amazed when you listed the klipsh 6000 i actually have them and they knock the building down as well as handle power without distortion that graphene driver delivers and actually helps in midrange reproduction the top end is definitely there but combine very well to the heart pounding woofers....they will always wow your company
Yup! All day long....Klipsch speakers are truly concert like speakers and that's why they sound so real... just like a live concert, truly. Most people just don't understand or have ever been to one or more truly live preforming band's. They've never heard real music 🎶.... and concert use Klipsch speakers type systems even in today preforming
You can change the way a speaker sounds by tuning and adjusting the signal. I have Klipsch heritage and I enjoy them very much. Very happy.
Have following you for a while! Your contents and channel name really have a perfect match! I do enjoy all your videos! Thanks for for contents.
I was just at the Emotiva website. The B1+ is now $299. Is it still good value at that price or can it be beat by similar priced speakers?
It’s an incredible value
Can't impress upon you strongly enough the degree to which I love my Emotiva speakers. My office is set up with lots of sound deadening features and when I put my head in the sweet spot it surly is sweet.
Thanks so much, this video could have not come at a better time for me. Looking to upgrade in time for Black Friday
Randy, fully upgraded xls encore or css 1td base? Price about same. Haven't heard either. Thx
So, no place for the DIY ones like the X-LS encore or the Criton?
See my comment, big miss for cheapaudio man,
Was thinking the same
I get the shoot out. The funniest thing to me is my dad built his Harman Karon Citation Amp and pre Amp, with Ar-XA and Harkness C-40's. That was 1963 and it was near the best, even today is top 3. Now I had Pioneer sx-750 and 1050 with B&W 640s and Linn lp12(SoundSmith), And that is Awesome and 750 has such lows it incredible,I also use this now. Well I think I am good. But if you need speakers these are some interesting choices. I am at this time having the amp upgraded to Jim MacShane kits. Great Stuff.
Great call on the Warfdale Diamonds. I run a pair with my Rega and Creek 4140 amp.
Thanks for the excellent video Randy. Just wondering, did you just leave out the DIY speakers because they are DIY, or that just aren't good enough to make the cut?
I just left them out because they were DIY. They’re both amazing but those projects are only for a small part of the community because of the challenges around building them.
This is probably a stupid question but do you have to buy a sub woofer as well or is it built in. I’m specifically asking about Emotiva B1+
Have you ever heard the Genesis 2 with the 8" woof - inverted dome - 10" passive rad? I had a pair when I was a kid. Lucky me. Beautiful "WTP" setup, smooth!
FYI… I watched your under $100 speaker video this morning and decided to purchase a pair of the Sony SSCS5’s based upon your recommendation. Much to my surprise, Amazon’s price today is $88 for a PAIR! Also, I’m not seeing a link for your #1 Wharfedale Diamond speaker… or am I blind? Thanks!
Hi Randy, would you happened to know anything about the Eltax Monitor III, I believe they are Danish bookshelves. Heard the finish is not that great but the sound is AMAZING. Problem is I have no ideal where to purchase them here in the US. The cost is $200+ . What is your take.
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, Wharfedale Diamond 12.2, Wharfedale EVO 4.1 and maybe the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ for the budget pick? Which would you pick for music? I hate bright, sibilant speakers, but love detail and of course bass.
Hi, just want to know which one you end up buying? And were you happy with it? Thanks
@@philjagdon6774 I went with the Elac DBR62 speakers. They're ok to me, but now I hear sibilance in almost everything with vocals. It could be just me. A lot of people like these, but it can be very subjective. I still would like to try the B2+ and a few others. Reading critical reviews can give you a general idea how they sound, but like I said, it is personal.
I don’t know if you have ever done a review on the Dali Oberon 3 Bookshelf Speakers, but if you haven’t, could you please do one and provide your insight? I have had a pair since mid-October and I love them! Better than Elac, Polk and Wharfedale combined! And I like each of those speakers too, but these are on another level. My system is Marantz PM 8006, Marantz NA 6006, and Marantz MM 7025 power amp with Elac Unifi UB52’s on the integrated amp for my rear speakers when I choose to listen to them. I am really, really loving this sound. Thanks for considering this request!
I have the Oberon wireless and they’re very impressive. I’d love to hear the passive. I asked for them and I haven’t gotten a hold of any yet
Still have a pair of Rogers I bought in 1986…they still do the job.
Friend, you are so cool! But tell me please the speaker with the most dense and dynamic and thick sound? And tell me a speaker for male vocals, it is desirable that there be a very stretched sound, so that I would cry?
I'm pretty sure the Polk ring radiator tweeter is sourced from Vifa/Scanspeak, a Danish high end driver manufacturer, and the inventors of that tweeter style
I had a pair of POLK AUDIO SDA SIGNATURE REFERENCE speakers (excellent sound), until I went to an audition room in Upland Ca. in the early '90's. Now I only use Polks in my car (best car speakers I've found - @Crutchfield). I took my LP of Stanley Black conducting the LSO on "Three Blind Mice", and my early '60's RCA pressing of Al Hirt Honey in the Horn "I Can't Get Started". The 2 Lp's knocked the salemen on their butts and we auditiond about 25 pair of speakers (up to $23,000/pair), one CD player (I liked my LP's better), and a few mono-block amps (I really love the sound of tubes). I forget what turntable they had, but I ended up buying the Canadian PSB Stratus Gold (which I discovered got an excellent write-up in Stereophile) and were only $2,000 at that time.
Hey Cheapaudioman! I just got a pair of Edifier R1280DBs for a record player setup and I’m not completely thrilled by their performance. With a budget of $300, what pair of active speakers would you recommend that actually has decent bass as well? I really wanted the Elac debut 5.2 but I don’t want to have to buy an amp 😢
What happened to the JBL A130s?
Last year, you said to buy the Sonys. I did. I'm happy for that. Thank you.
Long ago in a misspent youthe, purched a para stompin Infinity RSa speaks. Hae you by chance heard of them? Arr they still any good, orr completely obsolete?
Usher S-520 is still making me smile 10 years later and for $500 Australian dollars at the time were I think decent value given how lovely they are.
I'm using a analog cord from my laptop headphone jack to the back of my stereo reciever (Denon AVR S540BT) on media player mode, w/ Sony SS-CS5 bookshelf speakers. I listen to my music in here on youtube, & I need to buy a longer cord. Which type do you suggest for the best sound? Ty for your help...You Rock!
What would you recommend for desktop office speakers, nothing too big and nothing crazy expensive?
Sony SSCS5 or the Micca line
I have 4 Elac B6.2 I'm lusting after a pair of Tekton Double Impacts.
Randy love the shows and videos, watch you and Andrew constantly.... I have a pair of Tsi100s, a CS10 center, a Polk PSW10, and a pair of Polk Owm 3 for Atmos.... All brand, still in the box brand new... Would you recommend the C93ii, ES15, or Tsi 200 for Front Stage ?? I saw you also have Jamo Concert center channel and was wondering if you prefer the Jamo center or the Polk ES 35 ???
Buying today, or just as soon as I get your opinion
Do you not like epos M5? I bought mine at £700 years ago but you can get them at real bargain prices now.
KLH, Fluance, Mission, PSB, Monitor Audio. I'd like to invite you to expand your listening experience towards a new binge listening direction off the beaten path...you may be surprised?
Try the Polk r600 for review if you like the r200, or better yet the Reference r700! In my 45yrs of audio experience, I've found that all speakers are influenced by the electronics. Just some scale really well with better equipment.
Doing very well Randy, best of luck.
Tannoy monitor gold. Single point source. A great oldie but soooo good.
I'm always interested in your reviews and arguments, so i would really like to know your reason for not picking some KEF (q150/q350). Thank you.
This is an excellent idea. From time to time a list like this helps us sort it out. You are the chief and the cheap audio man
I just ordered the Polk R100, thanks to your reviews, including the comparison with the R200. I'm super excited. I also ordered the R350 center speaker. I'd love a review on that one, as it also gets suggested as an optional low profile surround speaker, mounted to the wall.
Randy I recently bought myself a pair of B&W 606 s2. I am currently pairing them with an old pioneer vsx 517. They sounded horrible in the 1st day of playing but after a week it came to life. I am loving the sound coming from these speakers. Have you listened to them?
I appreciate these videos because there's lots of sensible real world advice. Man knows what he's talking about...
Randy, what would you suggest for a budget atmos setup. I have a med sized room but don't want to use floorstanding speakers.
Before watching the video, I had picked several speakers myself and surprisingly picked many that you did...great video!
What speakers would be good to run a guitar amp modeler through like a fractal fm3 ? Also what would be a good way to install blue tooth speakers in every room In the house to stream radio through? Thanks for your outstanding videos..
Hi, thank you for your review. But why are there no Focals in the list? I listened to a Focal Aria 926 lately and it sounded amazing. And lots of people say it's better sounding then Klipsch.
Focal has never sent me any speakers to listen to
@@cheapaudioman Fair enough. If you ever have a chance... I wonder what you might think of those 926s.
I have both the Wharfedale diamond 11.4s and the Sony sscs5 based on your recommendations. I have the diamonds hooked up to a Marantz NR1200 in my living room and they sound great. I’m putting the sscs5 in my bedroom, but don’t have them hooked up to anything yet. Is there a dac/amp that you enjoy paired with them?
On the SSCS5 i have seen the Sony sub matched up with them What do you think about that ?
quick question where I live the Dali Spektor 2 is for 450$ and the Emotiva is for 600$. Which one is better at these prices?
I have a PB 1000 Pro Two Polks S 60 s with a Polk center channel two SVS surround s and an Onkyo receiver. I want to change my Polk towers due my space. Do you think the SVS ultra are the way to go ?
Im goin to say the gr xls encores should be on that list randy, come on, u know they should be, my favorite bookshelf ive ever heard actually.
Yes as should the CSS Critons need to be there. I'd say better than more of these. Own both and the Elac unifi 2.0 so know a little bit.
I was wondering JBL 530 bookshelf will be above or below which speakers for the sound will appreciate your time.
Great info but how are bowers and Wilkins 700 series not on the list? They are great for my home theater and music.
Hi Randy.. have you tried arendals..? Just wanted to know..
Nice work, I am a regular viewer . Can you suggest which system I should prefer for listening classical, melody songs not hip hop . I am not a bass fan. I should buy a panasonic tower speaker scua7 or q acoustics 3020i with Cambridge or yamaha amplifier. Thank you.