Insane Budget Speakers Shocked Me! Who Won this Battle?

Comparing the new JBL Stage 250B vs the Elac Debut 3.0 vs the Emotiva XB2's was way harder than I thought it would be!

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Test Track Playlist:
Satanic Panic Playlist:
Leg Warmers Playlist

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Subs

[blinkingmanchannel]

At 18:41 you do what you do best and you may be the only one who does this. I'm not sure I should put it into words. But you're good man. Very good. Also earlier, when you describe the way speakers "hang back" is very helpful.

[petergeldrich]

Yes! A speaker shootout! I miss these from the early days of the channel - more of this please! 😊

[mattkalis]

A speaker shootout with affordable speakers and specific song comparisons. These videos will always be my favorites! I really don’t care who the final “winner” is. That is up to each person’s taste. I just love hearing the differences in the specific areas or speaker performance during certain song passages. I like hearing what Randy’s preference is but it doesn’t mean he is right or wrong.

More, please!

[robinkleinsteuber]

Being an audiophile of many years, and a speaker modifier/designer with a strong background in EE, I can tell you that the folded ribbon operates by the same principle as an amt tweeter, so yes, it IS an amt tweeter. All the rest is marketing hype.

[bjrichardson]

Nice work - I understand the differences between them. I also appreciate the list of recommended products in the description. Keep it up!

[Mr.Buckett]

So Amazon messed up and had marked down the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53-BK to $259.98 for 10hrs. They were supposed to mark down the Debut 2 to that price. I am still waiting on them, but cannot believe I got them for such a steal. Cannot wait to hear these things. Hope the 5" are almost as good as the 6".

[bobtowncarguy]

At the price they are sitting at, those details that separate them really matter. Good review Randy.

[robduncan]

"the crystal method - high roller" was always one of my test songs. that song will tell you some things about a set of speakers

[cunawarit]

People who pointed out the importance of the music you listen to definitely had a valid point! Out of curiosity, I gave that "Why So Serious?" track a listen, and WOW! My subwoofer responded to that song in ways I’ve never experienced before.

[joshstaub]

Great video. Appreciate the description of sound profiles as something easily understood. MoP is an all time record that still blows my mind! Kill Em All is also in regular rotation. You should listen to Phantom Lord next time you feel a need to get fired up! Cheers

[ginom]

Thanks Randy for an awesome Speaker Shootout! These are now on my list! 👍👍👍

[ramondelgado]

Speaker Vs. Wharfedale Denton 80th or Diamond 12.2???? I need your thoughts. Thank you!

[Ylm-rg]

The only thing I do not care for is the rear ports. I mostly prefer the sound bass signature of a passive radiator over a port on speakers. Can place them closer to a wall as well.

[eschaub]

Another great video. I really like the comparisons. Watching the individual videos about each speaker gives the viewer a lot of information, but without being able to personally listen them all side by side, a video like this really makes a difference.

A comparison to the Q Acoustics 5020 and Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, some of your other favorite speakers, would be a great follow up. What are you gaining (or maybe losing) by spending double and triple? That would show what a great value the JBL, Emotiva, and Elacs are, but also Q Acoustics and Sonus Faber may be something worth saving for or an aspiring for a future upgrade. You may realize these speakers are all you really need and want to invest in other gear instead.

[tonymolina]

@cheapaudioman Thursday Speaker Shootout! Where's the monkey and the shaky table? Very very very good vid. One thing I figured out listening to your channel. I would have sworn that I like more treble ... come to figure out I lean toward a warmer sound. I may be considering the Elac ... yummy! I know you don't always keep more speakers to compare, but this is super reminiscent of your early days of fun. Thanks Mr. Randy. 🙃

[Chrs]

Thank you for honoring my request for going back to thumping the driver.

[jefflock]

Hey Randy. Thanks again for the reviews!

[DannyStrickland-gk]

A Folded Ribbon Tweeter is an AMT ( Air Motion Transformer ) tweeter. It's just easier to market "Folded Ribbon Tweeter" than the latter techie sounding name. It's simply a pleated material as opposed to a dome shaped tweeter. Imagine a tweeter that looks like a tiny version of a pleated air filter. Because of this feature, this is one of the reasons why you heard all that clarity of the cracks of the drumsticks, cymbal sizzle and transients of hands sliding over guitar strings of "Master of Puppets". It's a way of getting mass into a small space but at the same time keeping the material density small for very quick micro-movements which is what is needed for reproducing high frequencies.

[Mike.Macmyazka]

I would really like to hear where you place the Q150 compared to these newer speakers? I just picked up an open box excellent condition set that look brand new for $300 from BB. I know you’re a fan of them. Also looking forward to you getting the new Q line in at some point. My first set of Kef’s and I’m pretty happy with them. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I really like them. I was planning on returning them if I didn’t like them. I think I’m going to have to try to sell some of my other speakers though. Got my RP-600M ii for $300 brand new a month ago. Might be time to offload the JBL Studio 530 and old Polk Monitor 5’s.

My other speakers I own and have compared are RP-600M ii, Studio 530, old B&W DM602 S2 and B&W M1 ii, old Polk Monitor 5’s and T15’s, Jamo S801/S803, old DCM CX-17 (these are garage duty with a Pioneer SX-440 that I’ll be recapping soon), and a few others that I don’t remember right off the top of my head.

The Kef meet almost all of my criteria for the sound I like. I’m just wondering if I should try some Elac speakers. I get the sense that you and I might have similarities in what it is we like.

[AudioFileZ]

I've been a big fan of the Heil AMT tweeter since as a 17-year old I purchased a pair of ESS AMT 1B speakers. I assume Oskar Heil had a patent on them and an exclusive agreement with ESS back in those days as you really didn't see this type of tweeter in other brands. They got good reviews as I especially remember the late & great Julian Hirsch's in the '77 August (I think) Stereo Review. FFW to today, with no patent restraining the use of the AMT design they are definitely more than validated as to their greatness. It is almost impossible to count how many makers of speakers use AMT tweeters in their lines as they offer so much detail, clarity, and wide band-response related to size. They do need to be implemented wisely as they are dipolar radiators which, as used here, have to be damped well from their rear 180º phase radiation. Emotive has been using these for now well over a decade successfully. I'm not surprised in your findings here. The beauty of the ESS AMT 1B speakers (currently still available in much the original form often by special order) is this speaker uses the largest currently available AMT driver in an open baffle dipolar design which seems to let them "breathe" a wider soundstage when positioned with care. Some audiophiles over the years have often designed their own home-brewed speakers using the large Heil AMT made by ESS in attempts to improve the integration of this driver as the AMT 1B's mated it to a 12-inch woofer that would handle the lower mid-range. Personally, I have no reservations of still in 2024 the ESS AMT 1B's do much more on a very high level than they get wrong. I think the low cross-over point blended with a, relatively, fast and light 12-inch woofer works fine. Based on your review, and my personal experience with AMT tweeters, I would have to give the Emotive speakers a big nod over these very respectable contenders. As in many things, it is often those last few dollars (yes, the Emotiva speakers cost a little more) that really deliver the best in long-term satisfaction.