Cheap stuff that sounds remarkably good ?
Discussion
Most of my kit fits this, mainly because there's some absolute bargains out there for second hand kit, especially for slightly out of date AV gear like my Denon 2808 or Arcam AVR350, both were around 100 quid 2nd hand and sound awesome, the Denon will even do HD sound formats but only has 2 HDMI inputs, the Arcam won't do HD audio but still sounds better than a lot of newer amps that do.
For new stuff I'll nominate my ADX BT speaker I use in my campervan. For the cash it sounds way better than other speakers I've tried at Least double the price.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y2P3R9U/ref=cm_sw_r...
For new stuff I'll nominate my ADX BT speaker I use in my campervan. For the cash it sounds way better than other speakers I've tried at Least double the price.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y2P3R9U/ref=cm_sw_r...
Bought a pair of these many years ago, 100 squid's worth of British pound notes. Can't beat 'em for that sort of money and you can still pick them up for similar on ebay & suchlike.
The only speakers I'd swap them for would be a pair of these beauties...
Enough bass to pin you to the wall, I've got a tenner burning a hole in my pocket if anyone's got a pair they're fed up with.
Denon DM40 http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hi-fi/den...
Temple Audio Bantam Gold http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/bantam_gold_e.html
Alesis 320 active speakers http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/alesis-m1-ac...
Behringer USB Audio interface / DAC / Headphone amp http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/...
Temple Audio Bantam Gold http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/bantam_gold_e.html
Alesis 320 active speakers http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/alesis-m1-ac...
Behringer USB Audio interface / DAC / Headphone amp http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/...
Edited by Crackie on Sunday 13th November 15:33
swiveleyedgit said:
Bought a pair of these many years ago, 100 squid's worth of British pound notes. Can't beat 'em for that sort of money and you can still pick them up for similar on ebay & suchlike.
The only speakers I'd swap them for would be a pair of these beauties...
No need for a sub!
I've got a very old Klegg surround sound system that mostly gets used in 2.1 mode for watching TV. Sounds amazing - and cost £75 from a Richer Sounds sale about 10 years ago. Someone's recently bought up a load of new old stock and is now trying to sell them on eBay for twice that price which is ridiculous.
I think Klegg was a going concern for all of a year or so before going bust - their kit got reasonably good reviews, but customers obviously weren't prepared to take a risk on an unknown brand.
I think Klegg was a going concern for all of a year or so before going bust - their kit got reasonably good reviews, but customers obviously weren't prepared to take a risk on an unknown brand.
I got an Fiio E11 headphone amp for peanuts to run my P5's through my iPhone and couldn't believe how good it was for the price. Also got some Creative headphones for £30 to use for running and when I didn't want to ruin my more expensive stuff. They sounded more dynamic, louder and better quality than an pricey set of Sennheiser's I had. I only used the Sehn's a few times and shoved them in a cupboard. I kept the Creatives for my work draw and sold the Sehn's on eBay. OK, so they don't sound as good as my B&W's but a that price point, they're ace.
Mordaunt Short MS25i Pearl's (and probably the MS20i's too).
You can definitely pick these up for less than £50, probably normally £10-£30. It's been a while since I've listened but I'm pretty confident they hold their own against the Quad L's, Mission 78 series etc. In fact they were definitely better than a pair of Mission 780's I used to own.
You can definitely pick these up for less than £50, probably normally £10-£30. It's been a while since I've listened but I'm pretty confident they hold their own against the Quad L's, Mission 78 series etc. In fact they were definitely better than a pair of Mission 780's I used to own.
J4CKO said:
My nomination, a set of creative labs computer speakers I bought some years ago for about 30/40 quid, 2 small speakers and a small cheap subwoofer, I have a fairly nice set up int he same room but end up quite happy listening to that.
Any others ?
Amazing, I saw the thread title and thought this being PH there would be a suggestion that some £500 speakers are cheap and perfect for putting in the 3rd reception room as an emergency back up;)Any others ?
However, I am pleasantly surprised and completely agree with your nomination.
I have had a set of these Creative labs speakers since 2001 and for £30 they are outstanding, I ought to be on commission as I recommended them to so many people who now have them or variants of.
aka_kerrly said:
J4CKO said:
My nomination, a set of creative labs computer speakers I bought some years ago for about 30/40 quid, 2 small speakers and a small cheap subwoofer, I have a fairly nice set up int he same room but end up quite happy listening to that.
Any others ?
Amazing, I saw the thread title and thought this being PH there would be a suggestion that some £500 speakers are cheap and perfect for putting in the 3rd reception room as an emergency back up;)Any others ?
However, I am pleasantly surprised and completely agree with your nomination.
I have had a set of these Creative labs speakers since 2001 and for £30 they are outstanding, I ought to be on commission as I recommended them to so many people who now have them or variants of.
My musician mate who has 2 grands worth of amplification and monitors even remarked on them, he was less impressed with my actual system though
They have a very fluid and natural sound and a fairly potent amount of bass for what they are.
I think bought these around the same time, been in different rooms, abused and just keep on going.
Love it when you buy something that doesnt cost much, promises little but delivers so much pleasure.
My old, slightly greasy Pure DAB radio in the kitchen is another thing I like, the Sonos was meant to replace it but I find I am using the pure still as I dont have my phone or tablet to hand, £70 like 12 years ago.
My Tannoy 607s, as per my thread the other week, they died at the hands of the kids I believe, replacements for £70 off Gumtree, 609s, fantastic value for money.
The 607s will live again.
I too have a pair of Creative speakers that are excellent, I think they are called T40s.
My best budget buys are definitely the couple of t-amps I have, and the very cheap DACs they are used with. My Topping amp, cheap DAC and i.us I700s cost me about £100 new and I'm still impressed by that set up 3 years later.
My best budget buys are definitely the couple of t-amps I have, and the very cheap DACs they are used with. My Topping amp, cheap DAC and i.us I700s cost me about £100 new and I'm still impressed by that set up 3 years later.
Roundm said:
swiveleyedgit said:
Bought a pair of these many years ago, 100 squid's worth of British pound notes. Can't beat 'em for that sort of money and you can still pick them up for similar on ebay & suchlike.
The only speakers I'd swap them for would be a pair of these beauties...
No need for a sub!
aka_kerrly said:
Amazing, I saw the thread title and thought this being PH there would be a suggestion that some £500 speakers are cheap and perfect for putting in the 3rd reception room as an emergency back up;)
However, I am pleasantly surprised and completely agree with your nomination.
I have had a set of these Creative labs speakers since 2001 and for £30 they are outstanding, I ought to be on commission as I recommended them to so many people who now have them or variants of.
i had a 5.1 set like that and I thought the quality wasn't up to much - not worthy of a mention in this thread to my ears.However, I am pleasantly surprised and completely agree with your nomination.
I have had a set of these Creative labs speakers since 2001 and for £30 they are outstanding, I ought to be on commission as I recommended them to so many people who now have them or variants of.
I haven't smashed open the back of my latest house yet so I had to put the main audio system in one room (Monitor Audio Golds, Tannoy sub, NAD amp) and find something cheap and cheerful for the other room.
I had Denon micro system lying around from a few years ago (DM35 IIRC) and old Genie sub. I popped round to Richer Sounds and bought some £99 Mordaunt Short bookshelves, wired it up and fired it up and I was astonished how good the combo sounds (to my ears, anyway).
All for £99 and 20 minutes of cabling. Very happy with the result.
I had Denon micro system lying around from a few years ago (DM35 IIRC) and old Genie sub. I popped round to Richer Sounds and bought some £99 Mordaunt Short bookshelves, wired it up and fired it up and I was astonished how good the combo sounds (to my ears, anyway).
All for £99 and 20 minutes of cabling. Very happy with the result.
Edited by AC43 on Tuesday 15th November 10:22
I have a pair of Tannoy R2 floor standers which I bought for £100 few weeks ago to pair with my old 1990s Sony S2 system which was pretty high end when I bought it. Sounds really great. Whole lot's just got a new lease of life in our newly acquired holiday home. Feels good to find a new home for old equipment and whilst tech moves on, my ears haven't improved!
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