A total of 5 reviews of this product on Reddit.
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>I’m a poor med student on financial aid haha.
Other easier to drive options for under $200. Though yeah, Elac Uni-Fi UB5 refurbished for $280 is a good deal since the lowest on sale at Amazon is often $350 and rarely $300.
- 5.25″ Infinity Reference 152 $139 manufacturer refurbished, originally $349 MSRP.
- 5″ DIY kit, C-Notes $100, add around $50+ for tools and supplies. Kits includes pre-cut cabinets. Glue, solder, paint, assemble. Comparable to built speakers costing twice as much.
- 5.25″ Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, and order on sale at Ascend $80 each + shipping, budget Ascends. Front ported. Neutral sound with a linear frequency response. Great mids which many speakers lack. To me, comparable to KEF Q100s. As with most bookshelf speakers, best with a subwoofer.
- 5″ Wharfedale – Diamond 10.1 $199.
- 6.5″ Wharfedale – Diamond 10.2 $225.
Or look at 6.5″ or towers if not ever adding a subwoofer.
Subwoofer: 12″ Infinity Reference SUB R12 $199.99, was $499.95 MSRP.
Home Audio Guides: Intro to home stereo systems • Zeos Tutorials, Diagrams and Videos • Guide to Home Audio • AverageJoeAudiophile’s Guides
Speaker Positioning: Speaker Placement for Home Theater • Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening • How to position your speakers for great sound
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Receiver: Look used first, vintage 70s or modern stereo or AV receiver.
Listed below have a phono input. Or upgrade the phono stage now or later to a Schiit Mani $129. All below are factory refurbished with a one year manufacturer warranty:
Stereo:
- ONKYO TX-8220 2 x 45 Watts Stereo Receiver ~~$299.99~~ $129.99
- ONKYO TX-8140 2 x 80 Watts Network Stereo Receiver ~~$399.99~~ $199.99.
- PIONEER Elite SX-N30 2-Ch x 85 Watts ~~$599.99~~ $279.99
AV receiver if ever also using the setup with a TV for the 4K HDMI switching, even starting with just 2 speakers.
- DENON AVR-S740H ~~$479.99~~ $229.00. Adds Auydessy Multi EQ room correction automatic speaker setup and HEOS smartphone app for remote and streaming music. Adds a high pass crossover for the speakers when adding a subwoofer. Option to later add a center speaker for better dialog and side speakers for surround sound.
Speakers: Look for used first for the best value.
On sale:
- 5.25″: Infinity Reference 152 $139. Polk S15 $160. Boston A25 $150 bogo. Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 $175.
- 6.5″: Infinity Reference 162 $199. JBL Studio 230 $199. Boston A26 $195 bogo. Polk S20 $209. Wharfedale Diamond 10.2 $225. Klipsch RP-160M $340.
Towers on sale: Jamo S 805 5" $129, Boston A250 Dual 5.25" $225 pair bogo. Jamo S 809 triple 5" $299.
Internet Manufacturer Direct Speakers can be a good bang for the buck with 30 day in home trials so you can try 2 or 3 pairs in your home.
- 6.5″ Ascend CBM-170 $300 + shipping. Neutral sound with a linear frequency response. Great mids which many speakers lack. My speaker of choice for music.
- 6.5″ HSU HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speaker $320 + shipping.
- 5.25″ Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, and order on sale at Ascend $80 each + shipping, “budget/baby Ascends“. Front ported. To me, comparable to KEF Q100s. As with most all bookshelf speakers, best with a subwoofer.
Speaker Wire: Pure Copper Oxygen Free 16 Gauge Speaker Wire 50 ft, with self adjusting wire strippers or 4 Ways to Strip Wire – wikiHow, then optionally add banana plugs. Or already with banana plugs, Micca 6 or 12ft. Custom DFWCableConnection and Blue Jeans Cable.
Speaker Stands: Sturdy Monolith by Monoprice or lower budget Dayton Audio SSMB24 and Monoprice Glass Also Audio Advisor where most are also available at Amazon. Size to get speaker center or tweeter at ear height from your seated listening position.
Subwoofers on sale:
- 12″ Infinity Reference R12 $199 ~~$499~~ good for a living room.
- 10″ MartinLogan Dynamo 500 $155 ~~$349~~, for a smaller room or den.
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If not getting a used receiver, factory refurbished with a one year manufacturer warranty, ONKYO TX-8220 2 x 45 Watts Stereo Receiver with a phono input, internal phono stage preamp, $129.99 ~~$299.99~~.
Will you be using the system with a TV? If so, consider a used HD 1080 HDMI 1.4 AV receiver. A new 4K with a phono input starts at $229.
If not getting a used turntable, best value new is the Fluance RT82 with Ortofon OM 10 $299 with optical sensor speed controlled motor for lower wow and flutter and speed variation specs than many other new turntables for under $500 new. It also has auto stop and an external belt drive and a later optional upgrade to an acrylic platter for $99 when Fluance starts selling it.
For lowest budget, Teac TN-300SE is on sale for $149. No speed sensor so it is best to check the speed and adjust from underneath with a screwdriver if needed after a 12 hour belt break in period then annually.
Speakers: Best to first look used for the best value.
Low budget and on sale:
- Lowest budget $51 Dayton Audio B652-AIR 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker with AMT Tweeter Pair
- DIY Kit: 5″ C-Notes $100, add around $50+ for tools and supplies. Kit includes pre-cut cabinets. Glue, solder, paint, assemble. Comparable to built speakers costing twice as much.
- 5.25″: Infinity Reference 152 $139, originally $349 MSRP. Polk Audio Signature S15 $160. Boston A25 $150 bogo. Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 $175.
- 5.25″ Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, and order on sale at Ascend $80 each + shipping, budget Ascends. Front ported. Neutral sound with a linear frequency response. Great mids which many speakers lack. To me, comparable to KEF Q100s. As with most bookshelf speakers, best with a subwoofer.
- 6.5″: Infinity Reference 162 $175. Big JBL Studio 230 $199. Boston A26 $195 bogo. Polk Audio Signature S20 $209.
- Towers: Jamo S 805 Single 5" $129, Boston A250 Dual 5.25" $225 pair bogo.
Speaker Wire: Pure Copper Oxygen Free 16 Gauge Speaker Wire 50 ft, with self adjusting wire strippers or 4 Ways to Strip Wire – wikiHow, then optionally add banana plugs. Or already with banana plugs, Micca 6 or 12ft.
Speaker Stands: Dayton Audio SSMB24 and Monoprice Glass. Sturdy Monolith by Monoprice. Also Audio Advisor where most are also available at Amazon. Size to get speaker center or tweeter at ear height from your seated listening position.
Home Audio Guides: Intro to home stereo systems • Zeos Tutorials, Diagrams and Videos • Guide to Home Audio • AverageJoeAudiophile’s Guides • r/BudgetAudiophile
Speaker Positioning: How to position your speakers for great sound • Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening
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These maybe
https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-DIA101-BLK-Diamond-10-1-Black/dp/B003B8U9TU
Recommendations?
