Which speaker is best for music?

Question

I am wanting a good stereo system for my college room next year and I can't decide what speakers to go with that will be loud, produce good bass, and wont get damaged easily. I was looking at a pair of the MTX TP112 12" loudspeakers for around $250/pair. Then I saw some Klipsch RB-51BLA bookshelf speakers for $300/pair. Then after looking some more I found some good Sony and Yamaha bookshelf speakers for even cheaper. I just want a set that won't blow or get hurt and will produce some good bass, thats why I am intrested in the MTX, but i want to know if im overlooking something. I will probably be using an Insignia or Sony 200W 2.0 channel reciever if that helps at all. Thanks.

Answer 1

Bose are very good speakers for music or just surround sound in general. If not Bose, because they are a lil pricy i would go with Sony.

Answer 2

your question is misleading and you will get people recommending $40,000 speakers.

of the speakers listed the MTX are going to be the most durable and will produce better bass than the klipsch. That being said they are probably the better dorm room speaker. The insignia or sony receiver will probably go into protection mode and shut down when you try to turn the volume way up and you might want to look at other receivers. maybe something like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/49...

more power? the HK receiver has at least twice the power of the sony or insignia. the HK is 120 watts per 20-20khz the others are 100 watts per 40-20khz that equals about 50-60watts 20-20khz

Answer 3

Within that price range (or any price range for that matter) it is of personal option.

Listen to each speaker before you purchase, even though they will sound different at home (or in your dorm room) than in the store).

MTX are good drivers for car audio, but they are relatively new to the home market.

Sonys aren't very good IMHO, nice gear but not so nice speakers.

Yamaha makes some good speakers and some poor speakers.

Klipsch only makes loudspeakers, and of those listed the best of the group.

Size doesn't mean as much as people think. A good set of bookshelf speakers (2 way - tweeter/woofer) can perform quite well in smallish spaces since the room will increase the bass output, especially if you place them in the corners of the room.

Loudspeakers with 12" woofers (3 ways - tweeter/midrange/woofer) will have too much bass for a dorm room (boomy uncontrolled bass).

Take advantage of the store's return policy a try out the Klipsch.

stay away from Bose - too expensive, over marketed hype (trust me on this one at the very least)

Answer 4

Out of what you've been considering, the Klipsch are probably the best to meet your criteria.  My choice for you on the new market would be a pair of Hsu Research HB-1 which sounds better than the Klipsch for about the same or less.  For the used market, eBay has tons of deals on some nice used speakers.

Answer 5

Actually I would recommend the Harman/Kardon for the amp and Klipsch for the speakers.  Or, try out the Yamaha speakers (if you are considering any Sony audio gear, consider ONLY audio equipment from the Sony Elevated Standard [ES] line).

Avoid Bose.  They may be okay if you are willing to compromise sound quality for the sake of decor with equipment that blends in with the surroundings, but that's not hi-fi.  Typical sound of Bose: too much emphasis of the midrange, inadequate high frequency response, pitiful low frequency response (double-whammy with the Acoustimass since audible bass is predominantly from the subwoofer module, INCLUDING bass that you can localize coming from the sub monaurally and not the satellites with stereo separation: BAD!).  If you're going to blow money on Bose, you should buy Bang & Olufsen instead; at least they sound halfway decent and they have superior style to boot; they are far more unique than Bose.

Don't rely on the rated wattage numbers as many manufacturers tend to exaggerate them; Harman/Kardon are one of a few that tend to rate their amplifier power conservatively (in other words, it's actual power may be higher than they advertise).

Also, another important factor is speaker efficiency, which means less power is required to achieve desired sound pressure levels.

I would recommend Klipsch over MTX; you don't want more bass or overemphasis of any frequency in the audible range.  For music, you should insist on a loudspeaker capable of a flat, neutral response, or as much of that characteristic as possible.  You can get away with a speaker that can sound "clinical" or "warm"; what you desire depends on your tastes.  But, you also have to understand that high fidelity is, more or less, the entire audible spectrum rendered with as much accuracy as is possible, hence the necessity of as flat a response as possible.  With a true hi-fi setup, the only limitations are the listener and the source materials (CD, LP, tape, MP3, et al).

If you want affordable alternatives for bookshelf speakers, you should also check out stuff by JBL (John B. Lansing, in case you wondered what that stood for), Cerwin-Vega!, Polk Audio, Infinity, and Boston Acoustics.

Plus, if you are on a budget, entertain the possibility of buying your gear used.  If all you want is a simple stereo setup to listen to music, you should be able to find quality equipment for pennies on the dollar from used sources.  You just have to be more vigilant in your choices to avoid buying lemons.

And, above all, audition, audition, AUDITION!  You must try out your possible choices and choose whatever appeals to your tastes and desires.  After all, this is something YOU will be spending YOUR money on, so buy what YOU feel is the best deal for YOU.

Answer 6

The speakers that sound best to your ears in your price range are the speakers to buy.This is the only way to buy speakers. You have to live with them. Do not go by other peoples opinions, because what they like may not be your "cup of tea"

If you like the sound of Bose or any speaker for that matter then buy them. If other people disagree and tell you not to buy them, it is none of their business.

Answer 7

Monitor Audio

Answer 8

Bose.