Hi
I am a happy surround sound Axiom owner but looking to advise a friend of limited means on a new system - I am hoping to tempt them to 150-200 range for speakers and 120 for receiver. Any view on whether Polk or JBL offerings are significantly better at this level? Any other ideas appreciated also
thanks
peter

a little clarification may help.

are they interested in a 2 channel setup?

are you talking 150-200 dollars per speaker or for both?

sorry for poor spec!

2-channel is fine.

150-200 for a pair of speakers

maybe he/she just needs a good boombox?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5984215

you should tempt them into ordering M3s from the factory outlet for $276 CAD...

I replaced my boom box JVC speakers with M3s once, and they sounded soooo much better. Its worth the little extra money for better speakers.

The last sub $300 Polk I listened to (R30 tower at $299) did not impress me at all, although they were better than my old $80 boombox. I preferred the sound from the bookshelf M3.

The M3 is a speaker they wouldn't need to upgrade from unless a future budget allowed them to. They even sound good with my crappy RCA HTiB Rx, so, depending on what they have now, a new receiver may not even be required.

Clearance sale of x-series at AV123 ends sunday.

http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=26299

XLS WSM - Rectangle Grill - 1 pair - White Shadow Maple - $149
XLS WSM - Snowman Grill - 2 pairs - White Shadow Maple - $149
XLS MNS - Snowman Grill - 1 pair - Mascarey Natural Satin -$149
XLS MRS - Snowman Grill - 6 pairs - Mascarey Rosa Satin -$149

CS PRS - Rectangle Grill - 4 units - Palisander Rosa Satin - $99
CS PRS - Snowman Grill - 1 unit - Palisander Rosa Satin - $99
CS WSM- Snowman Grill - 3 units - White Shadow Maple - $99

XSUB WSM - 1 unit - White Shadow Maple - $159
XSUB PNS - 1 unit - Palisander Natural Satin - $159

XLS is 6.5 woofer and 1 inch tweeter

I bought an XLS pair and a CS for my daughter. Couldn't help myself.

Ratshack sells a Sherwood 4509 (?) for $100.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....rentPage=search

Let's not forget to add shipping to all those Rockets or are they footing the bill for that to further move the stock?

eD

the shipping on XLS s/b apx $45

45 + 149 = 194 still meets the criteria

Wow, that's expensive shipping. Where do you find that data without entering all your info in checkout?

I second Robb's idea, tempt him with the F.O. M3's only a few bucks more and well worth it.

As for Receivers I would be thinking refurb I found these at ecost, I know they have some onkyos around that price point as well.

Max shipping plus ins coast to coast.

Just guessing.

My shipping was $41

Now I have M3s and an MMC, but he asked for cheap. I'm just trying to help. They are not bad speakers and not a bad little receiver either for the dollars spent. But they are not M3s either!

Peter, although even the outlet M3s are a little beyond the specified budget, if it can be stretched a bit, that would be the highly-recommended buy. If not, a nice buy is available now(about $190 with free shipping)on the Infinity Beta 10 .

A nice HT receiver which would allow for future expansion into surround is the Onkyo 304 factory refurb from shoponkyo.com. With a $10 credit for registering with "Club Onkyo" and an additional 10% off sale the next two weeks the net price would be about $97, with free shipping.

Hi Peter,

Based on the pricing criteria established in your post, I'd like to echo bugbitten's x-series recommendations. I've heard the x-ls speakers and was quite impressed by them. It is a relief to find some "budget" speakers which are good enough to be considered a real value. Although, my opinion is no guarantee your friend would see things the same, I feel confident in recommending them.

Regrettably, I have no experience with the Polk or JBL speakers so am unable to comment on them.

Were it me, I would tend to trust JohnK's receiver suggestions.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

I had forgotten about those Hsu speakers, have you had a chance to hear them Rick?

No I haven't but these are what I plan on getting for a bedroom system. I will most likely in the beginning of the New Year. I do have the Hsu Ventriloquist system along with two of their subs. I expect the quality to be at least on par with the other products.

Ok, care to elaborate on the Ventriloquists? Their subs are a good bargain, so it would stand to reason the same about the rest of the speaker line, but as we all know just because a company makes one good product sometimes they miss on another.

Yeah, Rick and Jason, I briefly thought about the Hsu in making my suggestion, but it runs nearly the same as the outlet M3s, so I mentioned them, but picked the Infinities for the under $200 delivered target.

The Vents are a great little set up. They play far better than their size would have you to believe is possible. They seem to be just a tad rolled off on the very high end but that's the only criticism I can't think to mention. I think they are a hell of a bargain. For the size and price they are a very hard set up to beat. I use them for H/T purposes only and I am quite happy with them.

I have yet to have anyone over that has not been amazed at the performance of these little gems.

Sounds like I might have to consider them if I ever get around to a system to go with the 40" LCD in the bedroom, but first thing on my list is a sub for the main HT, unfortunately the first thing on my wifes list ia a kitchen reno in the new year.