5 Cheap Alternatives to Awesome Expensive Speakers and 2 Bonus Speakers

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Leg Warmers Playlist

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Recommended Streamer

Recommended Speaker List

Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back

Around $200

Around $400

Around $500

Around $600
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral

Recommended Amp List

Under $100

Around $130

Around $250

Around $400

Recommended DACs

Subs

[cheapaudioman]

Wharfedale
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman

[danielp]

I like how Randy doesn't ran out of content AND always gives solid recommendations. 🙌🏼👏🏼

[Audiorevue]

I don't always agree with you although I rarely voice my opinion to you directly but I will say that you are doing the Hi-Fi community a service and keep it up sir

[cdysthe]

Now this is in the spirit of what cheapaudioman is all about. Thanks!

[Bob.martens]

Two years ago I sold my old B&W's for Meta's: mistake. Then got RP6000f's, had a lot of fun and challenged my eardrums daily for a year. Finally settled on Lintons. It's been emotional.
I am home now.

[garystone]

I have found that KLH speakers are great sounding “cheap” speakers. I have three different models and love them all. I have a pair of indoor/outdoor minis on my patio; a pair of 900B’s on my A/V receiver and tv; I found a pair of 5002 BA that a dog had gotten his teeth on and shredded the 12” drivers. I replaced all the drivers with Goldwoods. I have those in my man cave and connected them to my Realistic STA95. No subwoofer needed!! 😄

[krautsky]

I own the Klipsch Heresy, the ones made in the 1970s or 80's. I bought them for the pair at the local second hand store for 40$ the pair....fully functional, and to my old ears different but as good sounding, with a bit more bass, as my Kefs 104/2, that I bought for 400$ used, from a lady who divorced her hubby and wanted to get rid of his studio stuff....Bargain hunting is beautiful.

[paulmayerpiano]

This is what we need! In so many of life's buying decisions, I am always trying to maximize performance/cost ratio unless I really need something extremely specific. This is perfect for the 99.9999% of music listeners who don't have an extra $30k lying around to blow on a high-end audio system. You're filling a huge void in the "audiophile" world and giving people who love music the straight goods on where the extra $ really makes a difference, and what can only be detected with laboratory equipment. THANK YOU!!

[ENGBriseB]

The Wharfedale Dimiond 12.1 are excellent bookshelf speakers. Plus they are well made.

[NigeSavage]

I have the Lintons and I LOVE THEM. This might be famous last words, but I honestly can't imagine ever wanting a further upgrade. To my ears they sound perfect for how I want to listen to music.

[vettemaniac]

I own the Wharfedale Lintons, and I totally agree. They're heritage designed and awesome. My advice? Pop for the stands. They're heavy duty battle tanks that even allow for the storage of albums.

[qwerty]

I have binge watched this channel for the last two weeks since I've found it. I believe most things the experts are saying cause I'm a newcomer to the audio world, but this pushing of Sony SSCS5 reeks of bias. (It almost feels like ... love) You keep elevating this budget speaker well above its league with less and less caveats mentioned as you keep getting more confident about it. Yet, I might still buy them because I believe it deserves a podium place in the price/value list and it is ideal for desktop usage with small available space as well as wall clearance, as you have noted in several videos. It costs $167 as of right now where I live. Perhaps I should wait til a good black friday sale. You know what's odd? There's almost nobody selling these speakers. Especially compared to its abundancy and sale history. People are holding on to them like they're endgame speakers haha. I guess many people view perfect price/value ratio to be their endgame. I'm also like this in computer parts where I feel like going above the curve bend is almost like wasting money.

[colinsmall]

I'm in England, from my experiences, the k.e.f. L.S.50 original was bought by the 000s, but, most were listened to and bought in the shop on a high quality source and amp, then used at home on a much lesser source/amp, hence why they end up on used market.

[ShikataGaNai]

I have two setups using SONY SSCS5...one hooked to a FOSI BT30D and Monoprice sub; the other hooked to my Denon Streamer and a huge Behringer sub. I love both setups. My mixing speakers are PreSonus Eris E5.

[roccobruno]

From a price point and esthetic I've been partial to the Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary. Sounds great and looks great.

[aaronwilmshurst]

THIS THIS THIS !!! Been watchin' since before 1000 subs and this channel just gets better and better. The content is so useful to so many. Great stuff. This though? This is awesome. The SVS call is "Chefs-kiss". And you can sit an Elac underneath a lot of great speakers and gape about the money. Speaking of: This channel is 'right on the money". I build much of my gear, make my own cables, etc: so this is just an engineer's opinion. Watching forever.

[Thatrandomwhiteguy]

4:30 this is y ive kept my studio lab (sl-550) i have 2 sets... i use them as my mains.. 2 boxs on the right & 2 boxs on the left with tweeters in the middle woofers on he outside... top of the line $1200 a set in the 80s.... you can still find them in Ontario.. but they are 800 - 4500 a set depending on condition... if you think you can get a broken set & fix them... good luck... parts are basically unobtainable..

[Mark-fsok]

Good job Randy! Any chance you could do a 5 Cheap Alternatives to Awesome Powered Speakers?

[Audioloon]

Great concept for $$$ vs $ value SQ comparisons. I recently purchased a pair of Klipsch RP 160-M bookshelf for 299/pr, new, with free shipping from Crutchfield. The 160's are filling my soul with happiness on the H.T. front and not too shabby on the live music. Overall, great value for the$.

[JimmyRJump]

Last year I swapped my JBL XTi 20 5.0 surround set for Klipsch speakers. 2x R50M, 2x R51M, 2x R620F plus a R-8SW sub. Not too expensive (Around 2000 Euro for all seven speakers). Usually these would be far above my budget. I'm happy with the sound for both movies and music.