Best $100 or under bookshelf speaker in 2019?

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Jan 23, 2019
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So we have the best speaker thread with $12,000 bookshelf speakers, how about a best sub $100 thread.

I currently have a pair of Dayton Audio B652's driven by a lepai lp-2020a+ and a Fiio E7 paired with a Fiio E9. I also have a Polk powered 10" sub. The internal battery in the E7 is dying and giving me issues, so I am planning on upgrading speakers, amp and DAC. I'm just curious if there is any new speakers out there in the price range. I mostly game, listen to music etc and I'm not an audiophile but I would like some decent sound quality.
 

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I have some Q Acoustics that I am VERY happy with but a lil more than your budget.(Liked them so much I bought floor standing models for my living room) I know someone who has the Edifier's and likes them.. They are under $100 easy.
 
I've heard plenty of good things about these, and they're on sale for $73/pair:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8YLMVA/

I have heard good things about these speakers as well but haven't personally listened to them so I can't really personally comment on the sound quality.

I think you'll get better responses if you up the limit to $200.

Tough to go wrong with the Fluance Ai40

I have a pair of Fluance bookshelves from a system theater package on my desk at work powered by a small cheap-o amp from Amazon, nothing special there. The speakers do sound pretty good in near-field listening.

As for my pick, I'd go used. Plenty of used speakers out there on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or what have you that will trounce most new $100/pair bookshelves. Stuff from Polk, Klipsch, Definitive, etc can be found for good prices if you look around the used market. As a reference, I have a pair of Polk LSi15's as my mains in my home theater. Years ago, these were Polk's top series speakers and had a price to match. I paid $400 for the pair in near mint shape. Nothing I could buy new today would touch these for $400.
 
I have been very happy with the Monoprice (2.0) Pro Audio Series, model 605500, freq rspnse 56hz-22Khz. Use for casual music listening and PC gaming...

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as will likely be the case in any year.. if you have the patience / luck / ..etc the best $100 speakers are used

These are my vintage Yamaha NS-344 10" 3ways.. I paid $50 for these a few years ago.. next to them a $40~ (I think) 7yr or a bit more ago buy of JBL L1 bookshelf speakers.

tan77es_ns344_2.jpg
 
The problem with vintage speakers is that there's a high probability that components have blown either from age or abuse. Tweeters burned, caps leaked, woofer borders rot from UV exposure... And you may not necessary even know this has happened with the exception of the woofer surround rot which is very visible.
 
I am using Sony SS-CS5 powered using a very old Yamaha receiver.

These speakers run on sales couple times per year. Typical sales price are between $70 and $80 for the pair.


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