Bang for the buck


Hi all, I'm looking to get some feedback on great value/sound used speakers for a 14x11.5' room in an apartment. Are there any suggestions from audiosciencereview or your own experience that mate great sound with excellent value on the used market? I recently found a pair of Salk speakers at a good price, but their frequency response is the only measurement graph I can find. Plus, I wonder if a large part of that speaker price is due to the cost of the cabinet and its elaborate finish. I'm looking to put my money towards the music more than the cabinet jewelry finishes. (I'm on a budget <$2k). Thanks for any recommendations 

128x128labguy

In a small room a KEF LS50 Meta + a KEF KC62 sub is a killer combo. I loved this combo for the past year+. I sold the sub recently and looking to sell the LS50 Meta because my new amp does not play nice with subs. I will be getting the KEF Reference 1 meta for the same small room (no sub needed).

I am listening to the LS50 Meta right now with a CODA #16 amp and the amount of bass is the most I have ever heard (without a sub). The rush to upgrade on this sound is not that great, but I will eventually. The CODA #16 plays fine with subs, it is another amp that I am working to play nice in this room.

Only caveat is that you need power for the LS5 Meta to get the best out of them like I am. Though high quality power is not that expensive.

 

 

I’m in a similar situation to @labguy, and have been looking for a pair of speakers in the $2000 or less range. The JBL 580/590 has been on my list, but I am having a hard time hitting the buy button. I read tons of great reviews, but I wonder if they sound great because of the cost, or if they sound great period. My room is small at 12’x12’, but I’ll be moving to a larger room (12’x18’) in the next year or so, after a home renovation. I’ve read comments about the 590’s overpowering small rooms, but no mention of what a small room is. Also on my short list is the Sonus Faber Lumina 5’s. I heard these at a hifi shop and was pretty impressed, but it wasn’t in my room with my equipment, and the dealer is 3 hours away, so in home demo’s aren’t really an option. My last strong consideration is a kit speaker from CSS audio, the TD1X with the 3 way bass module add on. I’ve read glowing review after glowing review, and it sounds like these lean to the warm side of presentation, which I strongly prefer. With cross over upgrades, flat pack cabinets, and the bass modules, these come in under $2000, allowing money for veneers and finishing. My gut tells me I’m getting the most speaker for the money on the CSS kit, because I’m adding my labor for assembly and finish work, and there’s no distributer/dealer mark up, which is likely the bulk of the cost of a $2000 speaker. 

I just sold my CSS Criton 1TDX. They are a very nice speaker and definitely lean to the warm side but are still detailed enough and are dynamic. Remind me a lot of higher end Dynaudios. Also they like power. 

Damn! I didn’t know that add on bass module existed! I likely would have kept them and tried out the bass module had I known. I prefer a 3 way for more dynamic music. 

@onebean 

Get the 580's and the matching sub that is on sale too (at $179 for the sub you can get a pair if you want) look at the return policy, they pay shipping both ways, no risk:

 

Return Policy

You may return any item you purchased on JBL.com, within 30 calendar days of your package being delivered, subject to the terms & exceptions below.

We will gladly exchange your product for the same model (subject to availability) or give you a refund for the full amount of the merchandise including taxes. We will provide a free pre-paid label to return your order. Gift wrap and shipping charges are not refundable.