Speaker opinions, no flames please.

mdwalsh · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I appreciate high fidelity as much as anyone else, but I simply don't
have the money for some good speakers right now. Please keep this in
mind before making recommendations I just can't afford.

I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure. Costco also has a KLH 10"
powered sub-woofer for under $100. They don't have a center channel
speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
sub.

So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
get started? It seems like it would be better than a similarly priced
set-up in plastic enclosures. Please give me some honest opinions,
keeping in mind I'm not looking for the best. Just something decent
for cheap.

Thanks.

Mark

Archived from group: alt>home-theater>misc

Dan Baw · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

mdwalsh@concentric.net at mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote on 7/14/03 8:03 PM:

>
> I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
> for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
> whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
> a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure. Costco also has a KLH 10"
> powered sub-woofer for under $100. They don't have a center channel
> speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
> sub.
>
> So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
> get started?

At this price range, it's all up to your ears. If you can, take them home,
try them out and if you are happy, listen to your heart's content instead of
us old geezers.

DB

Michael Stern · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

they really are that bad, but for the money, its ok.
Is that what you wanted to hear? !

"Dan Baw" wrote in message%danbaw@swbell.net...
> mdwalsh@concentric.net at mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote on 7/14/03 8:03 PM:
>
> >
> > I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
> > for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
> > whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
> > a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure. Costco also has a KLH 10"
> > powered sub-woofer for under $100. They don't have a center channel
> > speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
> > sub.
> >
> > So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
> > get started?
>
> At this price range, it's all up to your ears. If you can, take them home,
> try them out and if you are happy, listen to your heart's content instead
of
> us old geezers.
>
> DB
>

Neil · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 23

Dan Baw wrote in message news:...
> mdwalsh@concentric.net at mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote on 7/14/03 8:03 PM:
>
> >
> > I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
> > for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
> > whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
> > a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure. Costco also has a KLH 10"
> > powered sub-woofer for under $100. They don't have a center channel
> > speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
> > sub.
> >
> > So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
> > get started?
>
> At this price range, it's all up to your ears. If you can, take them home,
> try them out and if you are happy, listen to your heart's content instead of
> us old geezers.

Agree.

BTW, I was at Circuit City recently and heard some Dual brand speakers
($25/each). I didn't listen for long and didn't have any of my own CDs
to test the sound better, but for then price I was impressed. The Dual
speakers had a 5" (or maybe slightly bigger) woofer and a (dome?)
tweeter.

Speaking of old geezers, I msut be one, if I can remember the old Dual
brand name. Wonder who owns the Dual name now?

mdwalsh · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

All I want are honest opinions, good or bad. I've been reading this
newsgroup long enough to know what people would recommend. I just
don't have the money right now and I can't see buying one of those
HT-in-a-box with plastic speakers. My only choices right now are
something cheap or nothing at all.

Mark

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:42:54 +1000, "Michael Stern"
wrote:

>they really are that bad, but for the money, its ok.
>Is that what you wanted to hear? !
>
>
>"Dan Baw" wrote in message
>%danbaw@swbell.net...
>> mdwalsh@concentric.net at mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote on 7/14/03 8:03 PM:
>>
>> >
>> > I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
>> > for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
>> > whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
>> > a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure. Costco also has a KLH 10"
>> > powered sub-woofer for under $100. They don't have a center channel
>> > speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
>> > sub.
>> >
>> > So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
>> > get started?
>>
>> At this price range, it's all up to your ears. If you can, take them home,
>> try them out and if you are happy, listen to your heart's content instead
>of
>> us old geezers.
>>
>> DB
>>
>

Hugh Candlin · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

wrote in message@4ax.com...
> All I want are honest opinions, good or bad. I've been reading this
> newsgroup long enough to know what people would recommend. I just
> don't have the money right now and I can't see buying one of those
> HT-in-a-box with plastic speakers. My only choices right now are
> something cheap or nothing at all.

Shipping charges, and avoiding them, comes into play here,
so an indication of where in the world you are would help.

Hugh Candlin · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

Neil wrote in message@posting.google.com...
>
> Speaking of old geezers, I msut be one, if I can remember the old Dual
> brand name. Wonder who owns the Dual name now?

Namsung America, a subsidiary of Korea-based Namsung Corp.,
a publicly traded $220 million company that manufactures autosound head
units
on an OEM basis for multiple U.S. aftermarket suppliers,
including Recoton's Jensen brand.

Rob Vonderhaar · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Why not just buy them and try them at home? Costco is the best retailer in
the world when it comes to returns -- if you don't like something, they'll
take it back with no questions whatsoever even if you've had it for quite
awhile (some time windows were added only recently on computers). I had a
TV/VCR combo that was at least a year old and started acting up - they
happily exchanged it for a brand-new one. Don't expect that kind of
treatment from BB or CC...!

wrote in message@4ax.com...
> All I want are honest opinions, good or bad. I've been reading this
> newsgroup long enough to know what people would recommend. I just
> don't have the money right now and I can't see buying one of those
> HT-in-a-box with plastic speakers. My only choices right now are
> something cheap or nothing at all.
>
> Mark
> >> mdwalsh@concentric.net at mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote on 7/14/03 8:03
PM:
> >> > I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
> >> > for $40 a pair.

Robert L. Bass · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 49

> Why not just buy them and try them at home? Costco is the best retailer
in
> the world when it comes to returns -- if you don't like something, they'll
> take it back with no questions whatsoever even if you've had it for quite
> awhile...

Worst Buy also has a "no questions" return policy.

(1) The sales drones don't answer questions;
(2) They won't accept the return.

Heh, heh, heh... :^)

Neil · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 23

"Hugh Candlin" wrote in message news:...
> Neil wrote in message
> @posting.google.com...
> >
> > Speaking of old geezers, I msut be one, if I can remember the old Dual
> > brand name. Wonder who owns the Dual name now?
>
> Namsung America, a subsidiary of Korea-based Namsung Corp.,
> a publicly traded $220 million company that manufactures autosound head
> units
> on an OEM basis for multiple U.S. aftermarket suppliers,
> including Recoton's Jensen brand.

Thanks!

Neil · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 23

neilkoomen@hotmail.com (Neil) wrote in message news:...
> "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message news:...
> > Neil wrote in message
> > @posting.google.com...
> > >
> > > Speaking of old geezers, I msut be one, if I can remember the old Dual
> > > brand name. Wonder who owns the Dual name now?
> >
> > Namsung America, a subsidiary of Korea-based Namsung Corp.,
> > a publicly traded $220 million company that manufactures autosound head
> > units
> > on an OEM basis for multiple U.S. aftermarket suppliers,
> > including Recoton's Jensen brand.

BTW, I was in Circuit City this week and the Dual bookshelf
loudpeakers that I mentioned previously (which have a 5.25" woofer)
are now $15/each. I've only listened to them briefly, and that was a
few weeks ago, but I liked them then. I think that for an ultra-cheap,
budget audio or video system, the Duals are definitely worth checking
out.

Hugh Candlin · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

Neil wrote in message@posting.google.com...
> neilkoomen@hotmail.com (Neil) wrote in message
news:...
> > "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message
news:...
> > > Neil wrote in message
> > > @posting.google.com...
> > > >
> > > > Speaking of old geezers, I msut be one, if I can remember the old
Dual
> > > > brand name. Wonder who owns the Dual name now?
> > >
> > > Namsung America, a subsidiary of Korea-based Namsung Corp.,
> > > a publicly traded $220 million company that manufactures autosound
head
> > > units
> > > on an OEM basis for multiple U.S. aftermarket suppliers,
> > > including Recoton's Jensen brand.
>
> BTW, I was in Circuit City this week and the Dual bookshelf
> loudpeakers that I mentioned previously (which have a 5.25" woofer)
> are now $15/each. I've only listened to them briefly, and that was a
> few weeks ago, but I liked them then. I think that for an ultra-cheap,
> budget audio or video system, the Duals are definitely worth checking
> out.

5.25" is a decent size for a mid-range in a 3-piece system.

The bass from a 5.25" in a 2-piece system will be sadly deficient,
and what there is of it will probably be highly distorted.

As a replacement for the junk that passes for TV speakers,
they may have their place (I have not heard them to comment on),
but do not delude yourself that you are getting
a quality product for 15 bucks a pop, or that they have
a justifiable place in an AUDIO system.

Neil · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 23

"Hugh Candlin" wrote in message news:...
> Neil wrote in message
> @posting.google.com...
> > neilkoomen@hotmail.com (Neil) wrote in message
> news:...
> > > "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message
> news:...
> > > > Neil wrote in message
> > > > @posting.google.com...

(snip)

> > BTW, I was in Circuit City this week and the Dual bookshelf
> > loudpeakers that I mentioned previously (which have a 5.25" woofer)
> > are now $15/each. I've only listened to them briefly, and that was a
> > few weeks ago, but I liked them then. I think that for an ultra-cheap,
> > budget audio or video system, the Duals are definitely worth checking
> > out.
>
> 5.25" is a decent size for a mid-range in a 3-piece system.
>
> The bass from a 5.25" in a 2-piece system will be sadly deficient,
> and what there is of it will probably be highly distorted.

There are bigger and better speakers for more $$$, but the OP is
looking for inexpensive speakers.

> As a replacement for the junk that passes for TV speakers,
> they may have their place (I have not heard them to comment on),

I've heard them, but only briefly.

> but do not delude yourself that you are getting
> a quality product for 15 bucks a pop, or that they have
> a justifiable place in an AUDIO system.

I agree that bigger and better speakers will sound bigger and better,
but the OP is looking for inexpensive speakers.

Sathyan Sundaram · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

mdwalsh@concentric.net wrote in message news:...
> I appreciate high fidelity as much as anyone else, but I simply don't
> have the money for some good speakers right now. Please keep this in
> mind before making recommendations I just can't afford.
>
> I was down at Costco the other day and saw they had some KLH speakers
> for $40 a pair. Yes, I realize this is dirt cheap and I don't expect a
> whole lot for this kind of money. But, they have 5 1/4" mid-range with
> a 3/4" tweeter in a wooden enclosure.

I use KLH for my main speakers with similar specs. It should be able
to get down into the mid-50s. I could list a number of problems with
them but at the $40pr price they would be good enough. I got mine as a
hand-down. My surround speakers are HTD which were $40pr. The KLH's
sound quite a bit better especially on music. IMO you would need to go
used to do better in that price range.

I'm considering upgrading my fl/c/fr to Energy AC-300's and moving the
KLH's back for the surround channels.

Costco also has a KLH 10"
> powered sub-woofer for under $100.

yes, you will need a sub but it does not have to match brand-wise as
fronts and center do. Sony had a nice one the WM40 which you may want
to consider http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3036774484&category=3275
(review http://cheaphometheater.com/sony-sawm40.htm )

They don't have a center channel
> speaker, but it would be less than $200 for the four corners and the
> sub.

you can do phantom center for now. when you buy a center, be sure to
timbre match (for movies especially)

>
> So my question is, is KLH really that bad, or would this be OK just to
> get started? It seems like it would be better than a similarly priced
> set-up in plastic enclosures. Please give me some honest opinions,
> keeping in mind I'm not looking for the best. Just something decent
> for cheap.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Mark