JBL S312 II 3-Way Floorstanding Speaker with 12" Woofer (Black Maple) Review

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(More customer reviews)Many people, unfortunately, make the mistake -- often encouraged by a sales person -- of spending more money for electronic components than for speakers. But the most important components for determining the sound of an audio system are the speakers. And in the world of superb-sounding speakers JBL currently is the king. The S312 II is a great speaker with clean, sweet highs, natural-sounding midrange and clean, deep bass. There is no speaker at this price which sounds as good. If you feel that you must have a lower price, I recommend the JBL S310 II which drops the woofer size from 12" to 10" But either way, if you want great sound, get JBL speakers -- preferable the S series.

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JBL's Studio Series S312 II is a three-way, full-range floorstanding loudspeaker capable of delivering clear, dynamic sound for both music and movies. It's sold as a single speaker. Buy two for stereo uses or pick up five or merely three for use in surround-sound applications--only three if you'll be using two other speakers to serve as the left/right front or surrounds. If your TV is on a high shelf or mounted on the wall, as would a flat-panel set, you can simply position the "center channel" speaker beneath it.Be aware that you don't need a television to enjoy multichannel surround sound: the SACD, DVD-Audio, and DTS-CD formats all make ample use of full-range center-channel speakers, providing you have the space and the inclination to set up speakers for 5- or 5.1-channel music listening. Use a powered subwoofer for the .1 low-frequency effects channel, or configure your surround receiver to fold the .1 signal into the audio feeding the other speakers--with the S312 II's 35 Hz bass rating, you'll have plenty of bass even without a subwoofer.The speaker's Elliptical Oblate Spheroidal (EOS) waveguide imbues sound with unparalleled spaciousness and definition. The pure-titanium tweeter and the midrange transducer are mounted on a Linear Field Proximity (LFP) bezel that ensures a seamless transition between the middle and high frequencies. The PolyPlas (polymer-coated cellulose fiber) cone woofer features traditional JBL engineering--the same technologies used in JBL's Professional equipment, which is found in stadiums, music halls, and movie theaters around the world.Shielded components allow speaker placement near video monitors. A high-temperature-capable, oversize Kapton voice coil and a HeatScape motor structure allow this speaker to play all types of movies and music with ease, no matter how dynamic the content. The unit's woofers are built on cast-aluminum frames, which reduce distortion and increase its power-handling ability. A low-diffraction IsoPower baffle directs the sound power into the room, reducing distortion from cabinet vibration.The speaker's lock-mitred, computer-designed enclosure requires no internal bracing. Its flared, FreeFlow port increases bass response without adding unwanted port noise (sometimes heard as "chuffing" when you really crank your tunes). JBL's custom-designed drivers allow the use of simple, Straight-Line Signal Path (SSP) crossover networks with high-quality electrical components that minimize processing that could degrade the signal. Finally, JBL has outfitted the S312 II with all-metal, gold-plated, five-way binding-post speaker terminals for secure and flexible hookups, from bare wire to banana-plug jacks. What's in the Box One speaker, a speaker grille, and a user's manual.

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Yamaha YSTSW012 8" Front-Firing Active Subwoofer, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great deal for $59 delivered. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe some hollow sounding computer type sub-woofer that pops when I turn it on and off. This sub has a 50-watt RMS amp at 5ohm. It has a decent .5 inch MFD box with an internal space of almost 10.5 X 10.5 (small!) External is about 11.4 x 11.4 x 11.5 height. It's much better built than the Sony's on this site. They even made a small attempt to support the box with 1-inch corner braces on all 6 sides. The sub sounds great at lower volume. It maxis out fast though. In a small room or apartment, you wouldn't need it any louder. It's the quality of sound that's important, and that's where this delivers. Up to it's distortion point, it sounds like a true big sub-woofer. This is the perfect sub for anybody who is not allowed to shake the foundation. This sub plays deep! It just hits its max excursion fast. Either the amp is more than 50 watts or the speaker can't handle much wattage. Speaking of the speaker, it's about 5lbs. They seemed to have glued a smaller magnet onto the larger one at the base. I've heard of some seedy speaker manufactures doing this, but this speaker seems to deliver pretty good quality. I swapped out the stock speaker with a Dayton and secured the walls with cross braces and then covered the inside walls with carpet. Foam would take up to much space and there isn't much inside already. This setup was a pleasure to work with. The grill pops right off. The speaker is held on by 4 screws in the standard speaker hole location. (making it easy to replace) The amp is held on by 8 screws. The port is held in place mostly by a tight fit and some glue that easily breaks loose. The amp is connected to the speaker with standard removable connectors. That's it. It takes about 3-5 min to take apart. As for the Dayton, it performs about the same as the stock one. It was made for a little bit bigger box, but I wanted to know if the stock speaker was unable to handle much or was it the amp that produced the power. It seems to be the amp. It can push a stronger speaker. If I had a 100 watt 8" speaker with a high SPL, built for a small-ported box, and good excursion level (that's the amount of movement on a speaker), then I would really need the extra bracing. Problem is, that would cost much more than this whole system. That, and I wouldn't use a .5-inch thick box. Where am I going with this... anyway, this sub is worth every penny of $59. If you have a set of decent bookshelf speakers and a sub-woofer out jack on your amp that you're not using, you would be a fool not to get this. To cut costs, it has no auto on/off, and no pass through signal. If you must have auto on/off, buy a remote control on/off power supply from someplace cheap. I had one left over from my X-mass lights. (or use the power connection on the back of your receiver if you have one). This sub doesn't pop at all when turned on or off and its amp is inside the box. This sub is much better looking than a Sony I have. If the person before me didn't didn't give this 4 stars, I wouldn't have tested this out. So thanks! I'm very happy I purchased this. I think its so cheap people are afraid of it! I don't know how they make money on this. (update 1-11-08) to clarify the wattage on these: output power on the spec sheet is rated at 5ohms. 50 watts to 5 ohms RMS and 100 dynamic. It has a 6ohm speaker in it. That means it's probably pushing about 45 watts RMS to the speaker. The frequency response is -4db at 40hz, -10db at 30hz, -15db at 25hz. It has a decent flat response from 45hz to 120hz at 90db. It then tapers off to -5db at 200hz. Not bad for $59 !!! Update 1-15-07 Here's a FYI given to me: The second magnet glued on the back of the driver magnet is for shielding. It is not there to deceive. The second magnet is attached in polar opposite to the functional magnet, canceling the magnetic pollution it would normally give off. (Thanks Kevin!)

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BIC AMERICA RTR-1530 15-Inch 3-Way Floor Standing Speaker (BIC AMERICA RTR1530) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had these for 4 months and they are excellent in sound reproduction, the 15 inch bass woofer, produces nice bass, and most the time i dont even have to use my subwoofer at all. Very well constructed. Be sure to uderstand that the price is for only one speaker, Amazon shows a pair, but that price is for each one, not a pair, but still its a excellant buy, compared to higher name brands. Only con is that try to find a online store that uses Fed Ex, I had one speaker shipped by UPS and the carton was tore,and the top of the speaker had lite damage. The other speaker I bought to match I had shipped by Fed EX with no damage.Trick is to find a closer vender to you with less freight handling from mulitple trucks. Happy listening. You will be very happy.

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Sony SSF-5000 Floor Standing 3-way Speaker (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)Forget all other audio companies. Sony will always have the highest quality products for the best prices. 3 foot high towers for $50 each??? They must be pretty mediocre right? Wrong. These speakers are wonderful.
They have a full, bright sound and can get as loud as you possibly want (and louder) if you have a decent receiver. There is a great distinction between the tweeter, mid and sub. These are the best speakers I have ever owned.
The only thing wrong with them is if you love extreme, rumbling bass, they might not meet your standards. But a good active sub woofer is a must for any good sound system anyway.

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Fill a large room with the deep bass and pure treble of the SS-F5000 floor-standing speakers. Built to recreate tones across the entire range, these speakers elevate your music to a new high. The precision sound reproduction provides high resolution audio that you and your guests will appreciate from song to song.

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Sony STR-DE675 Surround Sound Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)We've had this receiver for about 18 months. From the day we got it, we were very impressed with the 5.1 sound when playing DVDs using the TOSLINK cable and the little blue light would come on. I was sure many times that the doorbell rang, or a ohone was ringing (it was the cool sound coming from the surround speakers), the subwoofer added a whole new dimension, and we just had a blast watching DVDs. Even music DVDs were amazing for a receiver that we only paid a couple hundred dolalrs for.
However, I just really lost the joy of listening to CDs. I though it was the room, my ears, the CDs, the speakers, or who knows what. I tried every programmed sound mode, whatever they call that, but nothing ever sounded as good as my old receiver. Just never thought this receiver was really at fault, since it was new, state of the art for that low price range.
After reading WRW's comments, I realize perhaps it is just the design, or maybe my personal preferences. I even asked at a pro sound shop thinking maybe it was our room layout or something, but they talked about better amplifying equipment, and mostly about speakers and their unique characteristics, not about how seriously detrimental a receiver could be to our sound quality.
I finally realize, it's the receiver, stupid!
I have read recently about the importance of listening to various receivers ebfore buying. I always thought they were about the same, and it was the speakers that made the difference. I guess I might have been wrong.
Going out tomorrow to replace this lightweight hunk of junk that really ruined the last couple years of listening to CDs. In fact, we just never did after we bought this thing.
I've always loved Sony products, but this particular item is a bit of a dog. We are looking at the DE995, but will be a lot more careful this time around.

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BIC America DV62si Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was looking to replace my Boston Acoustics a60 pair after about 20 years of use. I read as many reviews as I could find on the internet and also looked at Consumers Report. I kind of narrowed it down to the JBL S26,Venturi DV62si and Polk r15. The DV62si won the competition. I auditioned each of the speakers and found the BIC pair to have a singularly beautiful sound especially for classical and jazz (which are my mainstays). I was pleasantly surprised by the bass response since CR said they were a bit "bass shy". I recommend highly. (I have my speakers on 12 inch stands.) Bravo BIC.

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Attention, all bass lovers needing small speakers: this stately pair of Venturi DV62si bookshelf speakers from BIC America uses a patented and specially tuned rear-panel Venturi port to extend the its low-frequency response to an impressive 43 Hz, nearly a full octave below the capabilities of most bookshelf speakers--the place where kick drums kick and bass guitars growl their deepest. The 2-way speakers would suitably fill out your home theater with surround sound, enliven your dorm or apartment with music, or provide gentle background ambience in your bedroom or business.Use one pair for stereo or surround applications or pick up 2 pairs (4 speakers) for use as the front and surround elements in a multichannel listening system. The speakers are magnetically shielded for distortion-free placement near your television or computer monitor. Video programs sound more lifelike and enveloping with timbrally matched speakers all around, and plenty of newer music formats--from the DTS surround CD to DVD-Audio and SACD--offer music from your favorite artists mixed expressly for surround-sound listening. (Alternately, you could use these as surround speakers with larger, floorstanding speakers for the front left/right channels.)Standing just under 15 inches tall, the DV62si speakers each use a custom-designed .75-inch, ferrofluid-cooled dome tweeter for extended high frequencies and a 6-inch poly/graphite-blend woofer is light yet rigid for tight, accurate, and remarkably extended bass.What's in the Box Two speakers with grilles, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Pioneer TS-G1643R 6.5-Inch 2-Way Speakers (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had to replace broken factory speakers (paper or cardboard material) on my Integra '97, so I went to the shop to listen different speakers for under $100/pair. Polk DB651s were definitely #1, but surprise was this Pioneer that sounded better than Infinity or Sony (again, these are under $100/pair speakers). Polk had a clear, balanced sound from bass to mid to high. These speakers were not as clear but were well balanced.
So, I decided to put Polk speakers in front and Pioneer in the rear. Surprisingly, I could not hear much difference while driving, probably due to all the noise you get on the road. TS-G1643R speakers sound 1000x better than cheap factory speakers - I don't know if you can even buy something bad like what they put in the factory.
Pros:
- Installation was really simple. You need to get a cable adapter "harness" for your car, attach to the speaker on one side and to the car wire adapter on the other side, then put back original screws and that is it.
- Sound is great - you can hear nice bass and clear sound either for music or talk radio.
- It is so inexpensive that it is hard to imagine how they can sell it and make money.
Cons:
- Once you put speakers, the sound may not be what you expect - typically you will not get enough bass. After changing speakers, you need to use your receiver and set equilizer for the sound you like. In my case, on JVC receiver I restored default settings (everything "0") then added +4db for "bass" and -2db for "high". So, this is really not a "cons" but a note that you need to do something "extra".
If you want to get decent inexpensive speakers to replace factory junk, there is no competition in this price range to these speakers.

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Pioneer's TS-G1643R speakers are excellent, affordable choice to replace a bad set of factory 6-1/2-inch speakers. Their two-way design handles 180 watts max. power (30 watts nominal) and feature Pioneer's extremely strong and lightweight IMPP Composite Cone Woofer, for improved sensitivity and reduced distortion.

TS-G1643R Specs


Pioneer Car Audio SystemsPioneer's Mobile Business Group is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, seamless connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.
What's in the Box Pioneer TS-G1643R Two-Way Speaker (Pair), Mounting Hardware, Installation Guide

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Yamaha YST-SW315 10-Inch Digital Pro Series Subwoofer (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up the Sony 8" (SA-WM250 100-Watt) Active Subwoofer recently, and it's quite nice (especially the price at under $100.00). But this smaller system can't hold a candle to the Yahama. This 10" system pumps out clean, crisp base and its cut-off option allows the user to limit the higher frequency response of the sub-woofer (and let your mid-range speakers do the job). The result - a pretty massive, well defined bottom that can be as subtle or as "in your face" as you like it and which will nicely compliment just about any existing audio/visual system.
Because I use a pair of smaller AAD speakers, I keep the volume level for the subwoofer at below 50%, but the frequency cut-off a bit higher (110 hz out of max 140hz) for a nicely balanced, very full sound. Another nice feature is a bass button selection for either (i) music, or (ii) movies. The latter provides maximum bass response - suitable for achieving something similar to what you get in movie theatres - the rumbling bass that lodges in your stomach. The former, music option, is ideal and very complimentary to my existing stereo arrangement.
If you're unhappy with the response of your shelf speakers (want more oomph?), you'll love this Yamaha subwoofer. It'll add depth to your existing system, and add real luster to your audio-video setup. I recently re-watched "The Two Towers" on DVD using the Yahama - the experience was truly like a return to the theatre.


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Yamaha's YST-SW315 offers 250 high-efficiency watts--enough power to deliver shattering, movie-theater-like bass effects. Full enjoyment of Dolby Digital and DTS surround sources requires deep, clear bass. This is especially true with 5.1- and 6.1-channel sound, because the ".1" channel is dedicated to the bass frequencies. That means you not only need a subwoofer, but a high-power subwoofer capable of handling extremely low frequencies. The YST-SW315's down-firing 10-inch driver translates power into clean bass sound, and the YST-SW315 boasts a frequency response of 20 to 160 Hz (-10 dB at the extremes of the range).The YST-SW315 delivers high power at deep bass frequencies, with excellent stability and low power consumption. This is made possible by the sub's highly efficient PWM (pulse-wave modulation) digital-drive power amplifier. The amplifier achieves superior conversion efficiency by minimizing power loss from the power transistors. It delivers stable audio power while minimizing AC power consumption and heat production. As it requires no output filter coil, it's extremely quiet with low distortion.Yamaha's patented Advanced Active Servo Technology (Advanced YST) generates incredible bass from small speaker enclosures. This system uses negative-impedance feedback in the amp and a Helmholtz resonator in the speaker to provide strong and accurate bass.QD-Bass (Quatre Dispersion Bass) technology uses a down-firing driver with square, pyramid-shaped reflective plates to radiate sound efficiently in four horizontal directions. The reflective plates (not used in other brands' down-firing subwoofers) negate any effects caused by the floor surface and reduce resonance between sound waves reflected from the floor and the unit. Most other systems use circular cones, but the YST-SW315 avoids firing sound into the legs of the cabinet by radiating in four directions. Changing the height of the pyramid varies the acoustic load, permitting relatively simple high-cut adjustment and improving bandpass properties. QD-Bass also grants greater freedom of placement, since the sound radiates with equal effectiveness in all directions.The user-adjustable, continuously variable high-cut filter sets the highest frequency the subwoofer will deliver. It can be set anywhere from 40 to 140 Hz. For instance, if the filter is set at 75 Hz, only frequencies 75 Hz or below will be delivered by the subwoofer. This allows the sub's output to be matched to the lowest reproducible frequency of other speakers in the system and the room's acoustics for a seamless presentation.The rotary volume control permits the perfect matching of the sub's output to the overall volume of the system. The YST-SW315 has a signal-sensing circuit. When the subwoofer detects an audio signal, it turns its power on. When it senses no signal for several minutes, it shuts itself off.Yamaha's BASS (Bass Action Selector Switch) tailors the sub's output for video or music at the touch of a switch. Two sets of inputs let the sub accept either line- or speaker-level inputs, while a handy phase normal/reverse switch makes it easy to phase the subwoofer with the other speakers in your system.Three-way speaker terminals accept banana plug and a variety of other connectors, as well as speaker wire, and the YST-SW315's thick, rigid MDF cabinet reduces vibrations and resonance. The speaker's handsome black-ash finish blends in with room decor and complements many furnishing styles, and it's magnetically shielded so you can place it near a TV or computer monitor without degrading the picture.What's in the Box Subwoofer, user's manual, and warranty information.

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AudioSource Amp 200 High-Current Stereo Amplifier (80 Watts x 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)My first impression on unpacking the AMP200 was its weight for an amplifier of this size, 11 kgs (just over 24 pounds) !
The front panel is black brushed metal, and has three sets of push buttons on the left hand side (power on/off, speakers A on/off, and speakers B on/off). On the right hand side there are two controls, one for adjusting the left/right balance, and one for adjusting the volume trim (-12 dB/+6 dB). Each of these controls clicks into the center (unadjusted) position. In the center of the front panel is an indicator light which glows a bright blue when the amplifier is operational or red when the amplifier is in standby mode.
On the back of the amplifier are various connectors, switches, and small adjustment knobs, as well as the connector for the detachable power cord. The speaker binding posts accept either bare wire cable or banana plugs (not spades).
I would highly recommend reading the five page Owner's Manual before setting up the unit, as the controls on the back of the amplifier are not readily accessible once it has been installed into a rack !
For my purposes, I'm using a single stereo source into RCA inputs (when using only one signal source you need to use the Line 2 inputs rather than Line 1). The power mode of the unit is also configurable via a three position switch for either normal power operation using the front panel on/off button, to be remotely controlled by a DC trigger, or by means of automatically sensing the input signal. I opted for the latter, and the amplifier comes out of standby mode within a few seconds of sensing a signal and goes back into standby mode if no signal is received for approximately three and a half minutes.
At less than $ 250, I'd rate this as a nice quality amplifier with good sound.

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A terrific choice for a remarkably affordable system upgrade or building block, the AudioSource Amp 200 high-current stereo power amplifier offers 80 watts RMS per channel x 2 or, in bridged mono mode, up to 250 watts x 1 (into 8-ohm speakers in both cases). Now you can scale your listening to match your budget: use either 1 amplifier or 2 for stereo sound or 5 or more in concert for full-blown home-theater excitement--perfect for your DVDs, multichannel DTV broadcasts, or high-resolution audio formats like DVD-Audio and SACD.Keep in mind that this is an amplifier only, with no volume control or onboard surround processing (though it does offer independent adjustable output controls for each channel). It's designed for use with a stereo preamplifier or a surround receiver offering preamplifier outputs.Making the move from 5.1- to 6.1- or 7.1-channel surround sound? If your receiver has preamp outputs for all channels, there's no need to replace your 5.1 surround receiver. Just feed the additional center or surround signals to a strategically positioned Amp 200.Connections consist of a choice of RCA (line-level) or clip-type (speaker-level) inputs and banana-plug-friendly binding-post speaker terminals for outputs. There's also set of stereo (left/right) RCA passthrough jacks for use in a daisy-chain setup.The amp works with 12-volt power-on/-off circuitry and also features a signal-sensing circuit for automatic power-on/-off, making it as ideal for custom installers as for end users. Its A and B speaker outputs let you power speakers in your main room, a second room, or both rooms simultaneously. The amplifier's toroidal power supply keeps distortion extremely low (less than 0.04 percent).

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Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers with 8-Inch Woofer (Pair, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm in the unfortunate position of having audiophile ears but a small budget. So I shop carefully for audio equipment. I purchased a pair of Sony B3000s here recently ($84), and while I auditioned them I was also testing a pair of Klipsch B-3 bookshelf speakers ($329). I only use my system for audio, by the way, in combination with a 100w Sony subwoofer, and I listen mostly to classical music.
I noticed a big difference in sound right away- the Sonys seemed to be accurate up and down the frequency range while producing a very even, smooth ensemble sound in full orchestral passages. To my ears the Klipsches did none of these things well. I'm an orchestral musician and I know what different instruments sound like- the Sonys reproduce all the instruments very accurately. The Klipsches, on the other hand, were so bright and lively that I found them harsh and difficult to listen to. They're more efficient, so they produce louder sounds at the same volume setting, but that's not a consideration for me. All that I want is accurate reproduction.
I compared both pairs side-by-side with a wide range of recordings, for about 50 to 60 hours each, and ultimately, for my tastes, the Sonys far outperformed the Klipsches. And at 1/3 the price of the Klipsches they were a heck of a bargain. They're not high-end speakers so they're not going to blow your doors off, but for the money they're a great value.

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Small speakers, big sound: the SS-B3000 performance bookshelf speakers may not be large, but they pack a high-resolution audio punch. With their highly-advanced 8" woofer and stellar reproduction qualities, these durably-constructed speakers will refresh your appreciation for your music collection.

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Yamaha NS-6490 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers, Black Finish ( Pair ) Review

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(More customer reviews)Made purchase of these NS-6490's on clearance from the 'shack in fall 2009 and I'm glad I did. Probably not worth current retail prices but grab them on markdown if you can. The exterior is beautiful even with the glaring white woofers. The speaker has the required heft to dampen the 8" woofer, and the range should be smooth with the choice of provided driver sizes. Unfortunately we consumers just won't know what it is capable of until it gets a decent crossover. Inside you will find no acoustic fill, which by itself isn't unexpected in a design at this pricepoint. However, there is no effective crossover. there are instead 2 capacitors acting as bass blockers for the 4" mid and the tweeter glued to the back of the terminal cup and the 8" woofer runs full range. In a larger woofer this may not be a problem as the voice coil simply wouldn't drive higher frequencies; here it is. Budget for acoustic fill and a proper crossover, or run a new terminal cup and bi-amp with eq's. I didn't take the other reviews seriously about the lack of bass, chocking it up to the sealed design. Stock levels are woeful for the woofer and box size. I'm hoping some acoustic fill will round out the bottom end a little until I can get a decent set of crossovers.

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Sony SA-W3000 Performance Line 12" 180-Watt Subwoofer (each, black) Review

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(More customer reviews)this is exactly what all the previous reviews said it was......a truly deep value for money. the bass is as deep as could be without noticeable distortion and it is clean looking enough to pass the wife's scrutiny. i am a music buff and i find the bass production to be just as good as the very, very good sony sf 6000 front speakers i use. however the big advantage with this unit is when watching movies.....5.1, 3.1 or 2.1, the bass is way deeper than you can get with the big front speakers. the difference is really dramatic, even to a new comer's ears.
it should be also noted that the unit DOES have an auto off function (not described on Amazon) which can be disabled at the back. this is great, except when actually watching a movie because it shuts of within 5 mins if it does not receive a low bass signal from the amps, so during dialogue it sleeps in low power and then has a delayed restart when the bass returns.
i use my sub in a large room and you really have to crank the power up, close to max, to be truly impressed. so i think maybe the bigger rooms need the bigger 15" sub, but i have not compared it to be sure but it is worrisome to operate so close to max, even if it is sweet to the ears. if you have a medium or smaller room you should be overwhelmed.
anyway, i am certain that you cannot find a sub with similar specs and great reviews anywhere near this price so i urge you........ENJOY!!!

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MTX Monitor 5i 5-1/4 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these to replace a pair of Jensen JS43 that worked and sounded good for their size but was not on par with the rest of my surround sound system. My Centre Channel is a Polk Audio RM6751, the Surrounds are Klipsch HS-1's, The Sub is a late 1990's Paradigm PDR-10, with a silver Yamaha HTR-5930. And I have to say I am glad I made the decision to go with these. The sound sound from these speakers as good if not a little better than my Klipsch's and I am very pleased with other than I was hoping for a little more Bass out of them given they go down to 48 Hz. But they still have a full sound for their size. I would recommend to people and I hope this review helps.

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Polk Audio R150 Two-Way Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)Perhaps I was expecting too much. I read the reviews on the R15 and expected this would be similar - perhaps the R15s would live up to their rating (currently 4.5) and the description of "superior detail". However, I found these merely OK. Pretty good bass (these have the bass port pointing back, whereas the bass port in the R15s point forward) but muddled in the mids and highs, denying good definition of guitar chords and "waterdrop" effects, for instance. For reference, I'm using an Onkyo HT-R520 receiver, 18-gauge wiring, and I'm comparing these to the original Onkyo main speakers that came in a home-theater package.

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Sony SS-MB150H Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)These are great soundings little speakers for the price. The frequency range sounds fairly flat through it's advertised range 80MHZ-50KHZ. The highs don't roll off at 20KHZ like some cheaper speakers due to the extended range tweeter. This is important if you listen to any piano or electronic type music that produce frequencies in that range.
The bass frequency response is good for it's size, but you will want to add a subwoofer if these are your main speakers. They do not sound good if you turn up the bass and play them too loudly. For surrounds though, these speakers are exellent. The larger diameter woofer will allow you to low pass the frequncy being fed to these speakers at a lower range, which is essential for creating a richer surround effect. Too small of a speaker necessitates crossing the bass over to the sub at too high of a frequency for my tastes, and in addition to ruining the localization effect can make male voices sound too boomy without some tweaking. I've never been a fan of those all-in-one systems like Bose with the array of tiny satellites and single bass module, besides being way over-priced, they just don't sound as good to me as larger speakers do. And while even these little Sony speakers can't go toe-to-toe with a larger bookshelf or tower, you can create a pretty nice system for a whole lot cheaper than Bose or comparable brand by adding a few of these together with a sub.

One caveat, these speakers are not pre-made to wall mount. They have no keyhole or mounting screw made into the back. If you wish to mount them on the ceiling or wall, you will have to drill into the back of the speaker with wood or metal tapping screws to attach a mount. It's not really a big deal, but some people may find that intimidating. It would be nice if Sony would have added that feature; however, you can always put them on stands.


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Sony SSCR350H Center and Rear Speaker Package Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I already had a pair of Hi-Fi speakers with excellent bass response for the front left and right as well as a pro-logic receiver. I had just not bothered to add the center and rear left and right speakers before. These Sony speakers have added a whole new world of listening/viewing pleasure to DVD's and even to CD's. They are very sturdily made a good materials and most importantly provide excellent response across the complete range of frequencies. The center speaker if fairly large and needs a secure position on top of a TV or cabinet. The rear speakers have 4" full range speakers that provide a very full sound and a very good complement (as they should) as the rear channel for movies in particular. The accompaning sets of speaker cables were sufficient to reach accross our living room around the perimeter to reach them as well. Overall an excellent value and an excellent addition to our system.

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Sony SS-CN5000 Dual 5.25" Center Channel Speaker (each, black) Review

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(More customer reviews)TV: Panasonic 58pz800u
AVR: Onkyo SR-605
Bluray: Oppo BDP-83
Sat: Dish Network ViP 211
Fronts: Sony SS-F7000
Center: Sony SS-CN5000
Surrounds: Sony SS-B1000
Subwoofer: Onkyo SKW-530
I've been using this center for the past 6 weeks now and let me say first that this center looks simple, clean, and doesn't attract very much attention. It's size is noticeable, however. It's a pretty big Center, and weighs like about 15 lbs.
BUILD
It's a nice looking fake black wood enclosure. It has some heft, heavier than most centers I'd think. It's made of MDF inside and has some foam in certain patches in certain areas. The front screen is easily removeable revealing the composite woofers, tweeter and front port. Has spring clips for the speaker wire. Overall, very good build for this price.
MATERIALS:
The tweeter is a 1" Nano Dome, good solid choice for a tweeter.
The Mid Range Woofers are slightly less than 5 inches and made of HOP. This type of material is stiffer then regular polypropylene.
Overall, the materials used is really good considering the price of the center. 10 years ago this stuff was high tech in speaker construction, esp in car speakers which run on 4ohm usually. With the prices of these materials coming down, Sony is able to use them and give us a lot of great sound and tech for not a lot of money.
SOUND:
I primarily use my system for Satellite and movies. I don't listen to too much music, but when I do it's a CD and through my Oppo. So since this center most typically will be the most used speaker of all. It will be in charge of voices, action, some background music and other directional effects. It handles all these with EASE. It is extremely accurate sounding. Audessy shows that the center is FULL RANGE and lets all bass frequencies go to the center on the center channel. This gives insane dynamic range, from deep exhaust notes and voices to high bells and screams from movies.
For music the center sounds crystal clear on everything from symbol to sax to bass guitar to electric guitar, etc. Very good, solid music reproduction. Doesn't have any punch in the lows, but, it's a center channel, it's not supposed to. Most center channel information won't ever go lower than a deep vocal.
I can definitely understand why this center is sitting pretty at #1 in the Center Speaker section for some time now. I would not have tried this Sony setup if it weren't for other reviews. For the price (I paid $83 shipped), this is a really good center speaker. The only thing about it is it's too accurate at times, and can be slightly lower in volume during whispers or low passages due to it's crazy dynamic range. Anyone with an AVR that has Dolby Volume Plus or Audessey Dynamic Volume won't know it though.

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