BillyDef 4 Posted May 2, 2015 Posted May 2, 2015 What other speakers are out there that are good values on Craiglist and E-Bay? As seen on my other post in loudspeakers, I picked up some used Polk SDA SRS 2's from craigslist and am really impressed with their performance for a 30 year old speaker but they are huge. My wife thinks she can bury me in one after she kills me for messing up the living room. I'm looking for some smaller speakers under $500/pair or close to that but have big rich sound. I have been looking at used B&W speakers but am not sure their 6.5" bookshelves are enough. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks! 1
PMAT 2,042 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 I Have some really nice Infinity rs-6 Kappas in near mint condition for $450 on CL but I'm in N Cal above SF. I am so impressed with them. $400 but 500 miles away. Come with matching stands, oak color on both. 2
Ar9Jim 6,514 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Billy, Sounds like a sub woofer system may give you the "big rich sound" you describe and keep peace with the wife.The sound that you find impressive with those"huge "Polks have to do with their ability to go down to low around 20 hz with close to flat response.I have had the luxury of hearing only a few full range speakers that have had this ability including the Polks that you own,Infinity Kappa 9 and Acoustic Research AR9.These 3 that I have listened to when they were basically new are all big,heavy, multi-way speakers.It may be possible that the latest tech that I am unaware of has produced bookshelf speakers that can compete with these legendary speakers but I doubt it,and certainly not for $500.A sub/sat system could give you the rich low end response without the huge size that your wife has issue with.If you need to get those Polk's out of your way please let the guys around here know first.It won't take long to find someone with cash to give those speakers a good home.You must have a good wife,many guys would choose the Polks.LOl. 1
Ar9Jim 6,514 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Billy, Don't get me wrong though, you can get fine performing full range speakers that are smaller and sound great.My reply and comments are considering that the high end Polk speakers that you enjoy have set the bar at a very high level already and once you have enjoyed that level of performance it may be difficult to find a much smaller full range speaker that won't disappoint you. 1
UncleMeat 1,173 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 I vote for the carverfest bookshelves, with a sub of course. If those are above your budget look for some Energy or NHT bookshelves and an Energy sub, I like my 5.1 set and they were dirt cheap. 1
BillyDef 4 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Posted May 3, 2015 I Have some really nice Infinity rs-6 Kappas in near mint condition for $450 on CL but I'm in N Cal above SF. I am so impressed with them. $400 but 500 miles away. Come with matching stands, oak color on both. Thanks but I need to pass. My truck only gets 16 mpg so thats another $200-250 just to get there. Cool speakers though! 1
BillyDef 4 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Posted May 3, 2015 Thanks for all the ideas. I like the Energy speakers too. Super efficient and pretty loud. Not sure if I will dump off my RTI12's. I bought them brand new and thought they were better than they are. I almost bought the EmpTek towers for the same price. They didn't have as deep of bass extension as the RTi12's. I read that the ribbons get off-axis sound degradation, so I'm not sure if i'm sold on them. For bass, I think I'll look into stereo subs soon as I figure out what I'm keeping for the Front right/left speakers. 1
kve777 6,889 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Klipsch Heresy is my vote. Second is Polk Monitor 10. Third is Dahlquist DQ-10 or DQ-20. 1
CT-Seven 764 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 I will second Kevin on the Monitor 10's (nice polk sound) My wife is cracking up with the coffin SDA-SRS 2 as that is the speaker that I have. I love it alot and thou the WAF was at 0% as soon as she heard her songs she said these are here to stay!! Let your wife listen to some of her favorites and then decide
CT-Seven 764 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 http://thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&m=225443#post225443 Show her this
BillyDef 4 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Posted May 3, 2015 http://thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&m=225443#post225443 Show her this I suspected they can multiply when nurtured properly.
BillyDef 4 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Posted May 3, 2015 I will second Kevin on the Monitor 10's (nice polk sound) My wife is cracking up with the coffin SDA-SRS 2 as that is the speaker that I have. I love it alot and thou the WAF was at 0% as soon as she heard her songs she said these are here to stay!! Let your wife listen to some of her favorites and then decide I think i found some monitor 10's down the street with a 350 center channel. Forgot the letters but it has 4 mid woofers.Also thinking of checking out the Tekton Design speakers. The guy is an artist about the way they sound and are hand built...by himself.
Ar9Jim 6,514 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 CT-seven makes a great point about letting your wife listen to her music and try to get her to buy in to the SDA SRS IIs.You mentioned buying a new pair of RTI 12s and not being impressed.This goes with my earlier comments about the bar being set high by the SDA SRSIIs.Its difficult to settle for going backward from where you are and you are in a great place.Explain the money you will save at your funeral when she can bury you in a Polk cabinet.I know if I were you I would be "spoiled"by the flagship Polks and would fight hard to keep from going backward.My 2 cents.Easy to go backward from where you are now, but hard to live with.I would keep the big Polks until you find something else that you are happy with to replace them.It may not happen without spending big $.
CT-Seven 764 Posted May 3, 2015 Posted May 3, 2015 Try to find a half way point you need to KEEP THE SDA SRS 2's
danowood 2,167 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I vote for the carverfest bookshelves, with a sub of course. If those are above your budget look for some Energy or NHT bookshelves and an Energy sub, I like my 5.1 set and they were dirt cheap. Ya beat me to it, I'll second that.
BillyDef 4 Posted May 18, 2015 Author Posted May 18, 2015 She's still not impressed or willing to keep them. Anyone in LA area looking for some SDA SRS 2's? Blade-blade interconnect. PM me if you are looking. I think I'm going to find something a little bit smaller. I figure I can build a subwoofer cabinet as the TV stand and then get some two way speakers. Looking at the Tekton Lore speakers for front mains. As an engineering design project, I'm trying to figure out how to fit six 12" woofers in a space 60" long. Picking up an ATI 1506 Friday for the amp to drive them. Also found some other amps, a Parasound HCA-2200II and HCA-806A. The 806 was damaged in shipping and I'm waiting to see what to do with it. The 2200 is a 60lb monster. One last thought is to start cutting circular holes in the walls all over the place. I have enough amps to run 18 channels if the 806 gets fixed.
PMAT 2,042 Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 Candy is dandy but liquor is ..........well, a good idea.
CT-Seven 764 Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 Draw the line! The Speakers or Take a Walk!! (Just Kidding) Bummer dude, good luck with the sale
SteveMKentucky 70 Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 I vote for the carverfest bookshelves, with a sub of course. If those are above your budget look for some Energy or NHT bookshelves and an Energy sub, I like my 5.1 set and they were dirt cheap. I tried, to no avail for weeks, to get in on the CarverFest speaker build. I posted on the other site, attempted to PM and e-mailed ToyMaker. No response to date so gave up.
UncleMeat 1,173 Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 If you go over to carveraudio.com and click on the CarverFest forum, then click the 2015 thread, look at ToyMaker's signature, if you click the banner that says pre-order you will be taken to a Paypal Checkout page to pay for them. He's only taking pre-orders right now, the speakers are still in development and I'm sure he wants to order as many components in volume as possible to get the cost down.
Ratamahatta 437 Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 Sony ES SS M7's and a good sub if you like your music low also I just got some of these and can highly recommend them with a sub as well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/381259319781?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT don't know how these sound but looks interesting http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-K-MILLER-AND-KREISEL-V-2B-SUBWOOFER-TWO-M-K-SATELLITE-2B-BOOKSHELF-SPEAKERS/141443655998?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30545%26meid%3D1140604a23094b3d9069189f259fee83%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381259319781&rt=nc Infinity QLS is another one that goes low like your SDA SRS 2 but dwarf the SRS 2's, Big rich full sound. The Sony ES SS M7's is why I got rid of those though. The M&K is big rich sound as well.
madmike46 398 Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 You can't go wrong with any of the Polk Audio Vintage speakers, from the 5B on up are all respectable sounding speakers. What is nice with Polk is they still have parts for all these vintage speakers.
CT-Seven 764 Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 I second what Mike said any from the Polk Monitor series is always a great Vintage sound especially when paired with Carver Gear
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