Best Bookshelf Speakers
These speakers have a retro wood case look and grey speaker grills and are an ideal setup for any device that has an AUX or RCA connection. By looking at the back panel you can easily tell one of these is a passive speaker and one is an active speaker. The active speaker has two inputs located on the back. You can adjust the volume and set the speakers to mute when needed without having to reach the speakers. CLASSIC WOOD FINISH - High quality MDF wood build finished with wood effect vinyl serves as a great compliment to any home decor.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Let me start by saying that I purchased these as a hold over until I could justify tube amps and quality passive bookshelf speakers (Okay, I really mean wives approval) but these make me question even going down that road. Yes it may reproduce lows better at lower volumes but I assure you that at 50-100% power it's hardly a noticeable difference and I prefer the warmer natural tweeter in the R1280T over it's more expensive big brother. The R1700BT does have bluetooth and that alone can justify the additional cost, but you are also getting a larger amp as well making it a solid purchase. The R1700BT was basically the same height and width but with a sloped front that brings the base out a bit further."
"I am by no means an audiophile but I also didn't want cheapo junk speakers and I also wouldn't benefit from anything more expensive. I gave myself a budget of $100 as I wanted better quality sound then cheap PC speakers and felt anything more than $100 for me and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway. Also the 1280T's have the controls on the side which I like, a elegant aesthetic to them that I think would fit in with more than the green of the CR3's, and they include a simple but useful remote. One of my problems prior with a cheap bullet speaker was that dialog was hard to hear. Not being an audiophile the best I can do to describe the sound is to say its much more lifelike than any other speakers I have in my house or have heard when I'm out shopping. Mediabridge 3.5mm Male to 2-Male RCA Adapter (12 Feet) - Step Down Design - (Part# MPC-35-2XRCA-12 ). I dont think you can go wrong with these."
"I have a small apartment so I don't need a giant sound system."
A compact sized remote control is included so you can adjust the volume and select input source from across the room. BLUETOOTH CONNECTION - Pair your phone, tablet or computer for a true hassle free wireless experience, perfect for any iOS, Android, MacOS or Windows device.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I wanted a pair of bookshelf speakers for a clean setup and I wanted the speakers to be powered so she didn't need to mess with an amp. That ruled out the Klipsch bookshelf speakers at this price point and unfortunately I couldn't use the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system (best bang for my buck of all time, have had them for over 10 years now) as it has a separate sub and too many cables for it to be attractive with her setup. I do not know how many this will help but as I am typing this review I have the speakers sitting directly beside my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system. It has been a gold standard for me for over a decade in terms of price vs. performance and while this is not exactly apples to apples (2.0 to 2.1) it may provide some relative insight for similarly priced often computer speaker systems. Obviously, the Klipsch wipes the floor in terms of bass performance because of the sub and with the horns in the speakers it does often sound a bit brighter."
"10 audiophile tears out of 10, I love these speakers so much. Love, Matt."
"The majority of music and other content out there relies on the presence of bass, so when i couldn't feel or hear the bass, its like empty and lacking the soul if you know what i mean. If you prefer more treble or more bass, you can do so. Also, make sure to use isolation pads to prevent or contain the vibrations the bass causes."
"The speakers were packaged very well and survived shipping in excellent condition. Put on Clapton Unplugged to hear his live performance with his excellent guitar work."
"Stop right now and buy these speakers."
"These speakers are really, really good if you use them with a wired connection."
While the Micca speakers work just fine with most amplifiers and receivers rated for speakers designed to handle 6ohm or 8ohm speakers, the 4-8ohm rating is a reminder to users that these speakers do have impedance that go down to as low as 4ohms and care should be taken with the listening volume so as not to damage the amplifier or speakers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought these speakers to replace another set of bookshelf speakers that I use in my workshop; one of those speakers fell off its wall perch and was damaged (blown out), so I needed a replacement. Between the written reviews and one review that posted a video (aka audio) of these speakers in use (this was very helpful to me and totally sold me on the speakers), I bought them after only a few minutes' research."
"Only the Dayton B652's had ever given more then the expected BUT required a high volume to sound good and didn't work in a desktop environment because they are still BIG speakers. These on the other hand with their 4" drivers and smaller, ported boxes not only fit on a desk and look nicer but with an actual crossover network inside provide WAY better response then anything I have heard in this size speaker even up to four times the price! Desktop use, commercial sound (hang in a restaurant or garage), use them for dedicated rear channel speakers in a home theater or if size is a concern confidently use them for ALL your home theater channels instead of looking at Bose or other boutique mini-speaker brands."
"Most of my music listening is done on my computer, and it is important to me that whatever speakers I purchased sounded good and worked well with my sub (from an old Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 system). A bit larger than my old speakers, the ebony laminated wood grain cabinets really complement my computer system nonetheless. The silk dome tweeter and carbon fiber woofer of these speakers give them a classic, yet sexy high-tech appearance that says "expensive", even though they cost less than a dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant! I have no doubt that these would make for excellent use as front and rear surround speakers on a 5.1 or better home theater system. The speakers are wrapped in plastic bags, and place between two foam (not styrofoam, btw) cushions that protect the corners; the Micca cardboard box is made of fairly thick material. My speakers use the amp in my subwoofer, and are a scant few feet distant, so I use fairly small gauge solid-core wire - nothing fancy (and certainly not "oxygen free" as far as I know!). If perfection is your need, then go with "brand new" - but if you don't mind possible imperfections and/or missing parts, then refurbished will save you even more money on an already low-priced speaker system."
Best Studio Audio Monitors
KRK's Rokit 5 G3 (Generation 3) powered studio monitors offer professional performance and accuracy for recording, mixing, mastering and playback. This Bundle contains 2 items: Pair of KRK RP5G3-NA Rokit 5 Generation 3 Powered Studio Monitor.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The only thing I didn't like was they didn't come with cables to plug into your interface, but that was only an extra 20 bucks, and a trip to Guitar Center."
"I finally got around to buying mixing monitors for my home studio and it has made all the difference. I can't say for certain that they are "accurate" but what I can say is that after mixing my song with these, it finally played back on every device, including car stereos, without and harshness or muddiness. I know that if I remove the muddiness and harshness I hear on these monitors, it will be removed on others too without changing the overall sound."
"I have these speakers as my computer speakers, along with the S10 subwoofer, completely worth it."
"I am not a professional, but the sound quality, craftsmanship and price was worth every penny."
"Super happy with this choice , fast delivery , product new in the box with no damages."
"Love the sound quality."
"The bass punches at high volumes, but is accurate to pitch rather than artificially amplified."
Best Ceiling & In-Wall Speakers
Constructed of durable, moisture resistant materials, the RC85i is safe for use in bathrooms, kitchens, saunas, or even under outdoor eaves, and features a wide-dispersion design for even sound-coverage throughout even large rooms. The RC85i also features infinite baffle tuning which uses the virtual enclosure of in-wall space for superior bass response, and is timbre-matched to the Polk Audio Monitor Series for seamless, enveloping imaging when used in a home theater system. The RC85i also features infinite baffle tuning which uses the virtual enclosure of in-wall space for superior bass response, and is timbre-matched to the Polk Audio Monitor Series for seamless, enveloping imaging when used in a home theater system. Dimensions - Cut-Out Height 12 3/4 (32.38cm) ",Dimensions - Cut-Out Width 8 5/8 (21.91cm) ",Dimensions - Height 14 1/8 (35.88cm) ",Dimensions - Mounting Depth (includes 1/2 drywall)" 2 15/16 (7.46cm) ",Dimensions - Overall Depth 3 7/16 (8.73cm) ",Dimensions - Width 10 1/16 (25.56cm) ".
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very easy to install, although a bit nerve-racking to cut such a big hole in the wall!"
"I called C________d and asked for a list of the best speakers for a ceiling application and got these."
"Mids and highs are fine."
"Great set of speakers."
"Also installed the 6" round version in my kitchen and master bathroom ceilings as well and they are also 5 star."
"I had to place insulation and the bass output is still strong to the listenning room but less aggresive to the other side of the wall."
"These speakers are great for a number of reasons: first of all they provide a great sound quality for an affordable price."
"The Florida heat took its toll on the rubber seals that the speakers float on - they dried out and cracked."
Best Sound Modules
Loud voice for outdoors: boosts clear, powerful Audio when camping, picnicking, at pool parties, and all your outdoor activities; emits clear, crisp Audio for hands-free calls.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The fit and finish of the combined materials give this speaker a really premium feel. There is an indicator that pops up on my phone that shows the remaining battery life of the device. I got somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 hours of music playback before I heard the low battery chime. The only negative I see is that the carabiner clip can be noisy if you leave it attached to the Bluetooth speaker."
"The one thing stands out during the usage is how much I appreciate how big and spaced out the control buttons are, which usually is a deterrent for good aesthetic design. But perhaps because they matched the shock and splash proof rugged design, it does not stand out awkwardly and it was very easy to make control adjustments. In contrast, the Pulse X has a wider range, focusing on the mids and has more extension to the lows (the bass is much more pronounced), while the vocal stays behind and slightly muddy (especially compare to VOOM 23), the overall result is a fuller and more balanced sound. In summary, for shorter listening where the focus is needed on vocal and acoustic instruments, VAVA VOOM 23 would provide that crisp and very clear sound. It is definitely designed mainly for outdoor use under more extreme condition because of the rugged enclosure, hanging clip, and a much longer battery life."
"definitely more then loud enough and the sound quality for the price and what it is, is pretty good."
"Good sound, but it won't automatically connect most of the time."
"Great sound for a small room or office, pool side, beach."
"The sound is grea and it reaches a better volume with deeper bass than most."
"Very nice and sturdy speaker, Bluetooth connection works great with iPhone."
"Connects easily to phone and simple to use."
Best Outdoor Speakers
Brilliant Bass. Bring your music to life with proprietary Anker BassUp technology. Streamlined Connectivity. Listen for up to 66ft with latest Bluetooth 4.2 technology, while an in-built microphone makes hands-free calling a breeze. Unbelievable Sound: 12W of pure audio power with enhanced bass thunders from dual neodymium drivers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When Anker’s SoundCore 2 went on sale, I immediately made the purchase so that I could compare an Anker Bluetooth speaker with those from other manufacturers. Additionally, the play button can also be used to switch a call between speaker and mobile device. Without any obstruction in between the speaker and my phone, sound didn’t cutoff until both were about 100 feet apart, producing the best Bluetooth range of all speakers I’ve tested to date. The speaker has the ability to put an existing call on hold while answering another incoming call. There is one feature that is common with most speakers I’ve tested but not present with the SoundCore 2 and that is the ability to call the last number dialed on the phone the speaker is paired with. Pros. • Durable and rugged construction. • Good sound reproduction. • Loud. • Comprehensive user guide in 9 languages. • Amazing Bluetooth range. • Advanced phone call answering features. • Ability to enable voice activated software (Siri with iOS). • Anker-branded charging cable. Cons. • Can’t go to previous track. • Can’t call the last number dialed. • No auxiliary cable. Conclusion. Despite the minor quirks mentioned in my review, the pros far outweigh the cons making the SoundCore 2 an excellent choice for a Bluetooth speaker in the $46 (price at the time of review) range. While these two speakers are more accurate in terms of sound quality reproduction, they are not as loud as the SoundCore 2. However, if sound quality reproduction is more important, take a look at the Meidong speakers."
"It seems like a lot of this speaker's power is from resonance with the surface it is sitting on, so if good bass or volume is a concern you should make sure to position it on a solid wood table as opposed to plastic...the sound at the same setting on a beach towel in the grass or sand is noticeably quieter, less clear and punchy than the same setting on a wood stool in my backyard, though still perfectly within my "outdoor background music" range of acceptability. In a "beach" context this actually works out well because this sort of self-limits the projection to only your immediate area of the beach or park, which will bother people who want everyone in the whole world to hear their music but endear the device to people like me who want decent quality sound confined to a small area of the outdoors, and as I said setting it up atop a nice firm block of wood will get you a very noteworthy volume increase."
"If you plan on doing a lot of sharing of this device at get togethers or parties, you should consider these nuisances. Second, my buddy plugged his iPod in using the 3mm adapter and that worked well but it kept skipping and stopping. It does get distorted when you turn it up to high(above 3/4) but that should be expected when you're purchasing a speaker of this caliber. I recently tested out the new one and honestly it still sounds the same when pushed past 3/4th volume."
Best Wireless Multiroom Digital Music Systems
Connects wirelessly to Sonos speakers in other rooms so you can expand your Home Sound System when you’re ready.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You can play all speakers or just some speakers, but there should be groups you can preset and choose for that event or space without having to add and subtract each time you listen."
"You can choose surround sound or put one speaker in each room and have them play different things. You can have two speakers in one room playing stereo (I think that's one speaker playing half the music and the other playing the other half), or both playing the same thing at the same volume, or the same thing at different volumes, etc.etc."
"I only wish there was an option to run full audio through them instead of just surround when watching the TV."
"This is as close to built in speakers as you can get without having them actually built into your home."
"With a move to a new location I had to leave behind my wonderful "wired" whole home audio system and have been living "in silence" for over 3 years. So I decided to buy myself a belated christmas present to fill the gap, and the PLAY 1 starter kit seemed to be a solution for me especially since I am renting and needed a non-invasive, portable product like this."
"Love that they work over wifi and can have different music if you chose out of each speaker."
"A few concerns of mine are that the SONOS environment won't play some of my FLAC files and that there's no Aux-in capability on the pair - you can get this if you spring for the PLAY:5 at some point - but you can also use your PC media library if you install their desktop application."
"These are great and powerful speakers although I'm disappointed in the Podcast integration."