AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Speakers › Sub $100 bookshelves for parents
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Sub $100 bookshelves for parents

post #1 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
My parents just got a new plasma for their rec room. They want to get a pair of bookshelf speakers to use in place of the tinny built ins. I try to push them to spend a bit more but they are firm at $100. I am totally out of the loop in speakers right now and haven't even looked at anything since I bought my B&W 602s about 8 years ago so I thought I would try to get some opinions on here where to start. Thanks.
Reply
Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #2 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:21pm
Do they have a receiver?

RBH speakers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RBH-MODEL-AC...item3a72ee2700

http://www.rbhsound.com/ac51.php

Bookshelf Speaker

Frequency Response:
60Hz-20kHz (±3dB)

Sensitivity:
86dB (2.83V @ 1 Meter)

Recommended Power:
100 Watts

Drive Units
(1) 5-1/4" (133mm) Polypropylene Woofer
(1) 1" (25mm) Fabric Dome Tweeter
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:25pm
Do they have some way to power the speakers?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:26pm
I know you did not mention a sub. But I put together a 2.1 system for 100 bucks. It sounds really good. It is Dayton Audio 6.5" bookshelf with their 8" sub. I got the bookshelfs for 30 bucks. They were on sale. Last I checked they were 40 bucks. Hard to beat for that price.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:30pm
Those Daytons arent bad for the money at all. Another choice are the Pioneers:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882117405


They are currently on sale for $49 shipped!
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 39
4/7/12 at 12:39pm
The Dayton and Pioneer suggestions sound good. Depending what your parents expect for ther $100...and like has been asked, do they have a receiver/amp to power them? Do they want self powered speakers?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:02pm
Thread Starter 
Yes they have an older 2 channel receiver to power them. I was looking at the pioneers but they would have to set them on their side to fit on their shelf.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:17pm
you can use this little lepai amp with those pioneer speakers above

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A2PCCTD0H7OEMJ

are your parents insistant on using that stereo? if not, the pioneers and amp would be $75 total and also this way the speakers would fit on the shelf
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 
They are not set on the receiver. Only criteria is they need to be able to control it with their Dish Network remote. They would probably prefer that little thing over the big old receiver if the remote would work.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:32pm
I've heard awesome things about those Daytons. They're cheap as heck but people say they sound like speakers selling for much more. I'm thinking of buying a pair just to hear them.

Dayton Audio B652
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...ource=googleps

Above isn't necessarily the best deal but it's the speakers I was talking about, and a deal with them and an amp wouldn't be bad at all.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
Oh never mind on the receiver. They do want to use what they have. They need the tuner and the phono input that it has.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:39pm
Instead of bookshelves, why not go with a decent soundbar? They range anywhere from $98 for something like the Vizio VSB2xx series to more than $1,000.00 for higher end ones.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 39
4/7/12 at 1:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregzoll View Post

Instead of bookshelves, why not go with a decent soundbar? They range anywhere from $98 for something like the Vizio VSB2xx series to more than $1,000.00 for higher end ones.

I thought of a soundbar but they want the fm tuner and phono input. Not sure if that's easily doable without the receiver.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 39
4/7/12 at 2:10pm
There are small amps, but for $100 you are really looking at sub-par equipment that is not going to last real long, along with sounding like two tin cans. If it was me, I would keep it separate. A system for them to listen to FM radio & their turntable, and the soundbar for the tv only. That is how I have my living room set up. A 2 channel receiver with bookshelves on stands, and the soundbar for watching tv and bd playback.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 39
4/7/12 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregzoll View Post

There are small amps, but for $100 you are really looking at sub-par equipment that is not going to last real long, along with sounding like two tin cans. If it was me, I would keep it separate. A system for them to listen to FM radio & their turntable, and the soundbar for the tv only. That is how I have my living room set up. A 2 channel receiver with bookshelves on stands, and the soundbar for watching tv and bd playback.

Thing is they have the receiver and the turntable already just minus speakers. I had thought a pair of 100$ speakers using their existing receiver would be as good or better than a $100 sound bar for TV and movies plus be able to use the FM or turntable. They are not looking for audiophile stuff. I just want to make sure whatever they do is an upgrade from the built in speakers. Plus I think they want a path to upgrade to a 5.1 setup in the future.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 39
4/7/12 at 2:48pm
The problem with using the bookshelf speakers, that unless they are near the tv, when you are watching tv, the sound is going to be off, and actually make it sound worst. You can still go with both options, and it would not be high end, but they would probably appreciate the sound quality better.

As for going back to your original question, and moving up to 5.1, you are going to find that speakers sound differently to everyone, and getting decent bookshelves for under a $100.00 can be done, but I would have the parents make the final decision, than getting something that they do not like.

As for the current equipment and using a soundbar for the output, you would use a rca to rca from the Tape out to the sound bar input, and they would be able to use the sound bar for listening to the fm radio or turntable. But keep in mind, that you parents are going to have the last say, and what ever you like, you always know that they will not like, or just don't care in the end.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 39
4/7/12 at 3:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lbhskier37 View Post

Thing is they have the receiver and the turntable already just minus speakers. I had thought a pair of 100$ speakers using their existing receiver would be as good or better than a $100 sound bar for TV and movies plus be able to use the FM or turntable. They are not looking for audiophile stuff.

I prefer the bookshelf option over a cheap $100 SoundBar. I would
still try to make something like, the RBH or Pioneer speakers work.
I have listened to the Dayton cousin speakers, they would at least
be better than the TV speakers. Good Luck!
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 39
4/7/12 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lbhskier37 View Post

Thing is they have the receiver and the turntable already just minus speakers. I had thought a pair of 100$ speakers using their existing receiver would be as good or better than a $100 sound bar for TV and movies plus be able to use the FM or turntable. They are not looking for audiophile stuff. I just want to make sure whatever they do is an upgrade from the built in speakers.

You have exactly the right idea. And the receiver is a better option than that little underpowered amp.

But rather than making people guess, maybe you could let us know what the space constraints are.

BTW, speakers on their side are fine.

$100 is enough.

Those Pioneers are probably the best bet for sound quality for the money. Or one of the many Polk sales at NewEgg.

Here's a review of the Dayton B652. It's $45 shipped at Amazon, lots of user comments at both sites.

If those are too big, these Sonys are alright.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 39
4/7/12 at 7:40pm
http://www.walmart.com/ip/iLive-2.1-...ndingMethod=rr
FM radio with 20 presets
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 39
4/7/12 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
They have 12" high by 14" wide in their shelf. They plan to put them just below and to either side of the tv. I think I am planning to suggest the Pioneers. I am trying to convince them to go with the fs51 and set them to either side of the tv stand because it's a pretty good size room. In the end I think they will probably go with the bs21s.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 39
4/7/12 at 9:21pm
Is there any way of posting a picture with their permission of the area that we are talking about, that the speakers will be placed into? That would give an idea of what you are dealing with. That along with a floor plan of how far they are going to be sitting from the tv, along with the spec's on the receiver that they are going to be using with these speakers, until they decide to upgrade.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 39
4/7/12 at 9:43pm
Any particular size woofer they are looking for in a bookshelf speaker?
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 39
4/8/12 at 6:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregzoll View Post

Is there any way of posting a picture with their permission of the area that we are talking about, that the speakers will be placed into? That would give an idea of what you are dealing with. That along with a floor plan of how far they are going to be sitting from the tv, along with the spec's on the receiver that they are going to be using with these speakers, until they decide to upgrade.



The room is about 18 x 24. That is about 10 feet on center from the right side of the long wall. On the left side if the room facing the tv is a bar. The main listening position is directly across the room from the tv, so about 15 feet. They want the speakers on the left and right shelf just below the tv. The shelf space is 12". Im still trying to lead them to the fs51s because i think the speakers will be to low and almost hidden on tgat shelf, but so far they are sticking to using the shelf. The receiver is a Pioneer VSX 305. I think it's 60w per channel.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 39
4/8/12 at 6:14am
Your picture of the room isn't working.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 39
4/8/12 at 6:34am
That Dayton speaker may not fit in the 12'' high shelf your parents have. The height measurement on the Dayton is 11-13/16''. These bookshelf speakers will fit though.http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=304-002

I own several pairs of these speakers and they're impressive speakers. They used to cost under $100 but the price has went up a little. They're still only $30 over budget. They're even rated well in this bookshelf speaker review. http://bookshelf-speakers-review.toptenreviews.com/
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 39
4/8/12 at 6:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel View Post

Your picture of the room isn't working.

Fixed
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 39
4/8/12 at 7:21am
Just get them this set up since the placing and budget are not any where near ideal. You may have to kick in a little cash if the are hard set on their 100 budget, but hey it's for mom and dad and they deserve it.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-652

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-631


Good luck!!
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 39
4/8/12 at 7:33am
The Sony SS-B1000 speakers are $49/pair on Amazon.

Those are probably the best-sounding speakers you are likely to find in your size and price range.

They should be the perfect solution. They are 10.7" tall.



Quote:
Originally Posted by lbhskier37 View Post

Thing is they have the receiver and the turntable already just minus speakers. I had thought a pair of 100$ speakers using their existing receiver would be as good or better than a $100 sound bar for TV and movies plus be able to use the FM or turntable. They are not looking for audiophile stuff. I just want to make sure whatever they do is an upgrade from the built in speakers. Plus I think they want a path to upgrade to a 5.1 setup in the future.
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 39
4/8/12 at 7:44am
imo iwould talk mom and dad on a pair of tower speakers like the pioneer sp-fs51's or a pair of sony ss-f6000 (both $129) .ijust can't see getting a good soundstage with speakers on the shelves that close together and the drivers below ear level. this way you can place towers a bit apart from tv to get better soundstage and eliminate buying stands for bookshelves and adding more bass for that size room just my 2 cents
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 39
4/8/12 at 11:00am
May be hard to convince your parents (mom particularly?) that while they may like the looks of the speakers on the shelves, they won't sound the best there, but they may not care. They still have VHS? Maybe the angle should be: Where would they put the phone? Tapes? The suggested towers do look fairly nice, maybe you need to show them...or simply buy them the good stuff as a present.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Speakers

Gear mentioned in this thread:

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Speakers › Sub $100 bookshelves for parents