Any opinions on Klipsch Synergy S-10? Compared to other 2.0 options?

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

Does anyone know anything about Klipsch Synergy S-10?
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-S-10-Surround-Speakers/dp/B003XRD9VE

I'm sort of shopping around for a 2.0 setup. I don't really have the furniture/room/layout currently to comfortably have a subwoofer or anything beyond. I think I just want to limit myself to a 2.0 system and suck it up without having super good bass.

So, might the above Klipsch work for that? How do they compare to something like, say, the M-Audio AV40s? (I've seen those recommended around here for 2.0.) Those Klipsch can be currently gotten for $150 at egg, so that's a similar price to the av40s.

(My budget is probably up to $200 but not totally sure I want to stretch beyond 150.)

 

[counterpoint]

That Klipsch S-10 is a speaker typically used for the surround sound channels. It is also a passive speaker, meaning you would need an amplifier/receiver to power them. I would also advise shying away from Klipsch as they are, to me at least, really bright, harsh (given poor amplification) and rather fatiguing after a while. Unless you are old and have reduced or damaged hearing at higher frequencies, I generally don't recommend horn loaded tweeters. What you need to be looking at are bookshelf speakers with silk dome tweeters or something along those lines. The M-Audio AV40 are active monitors meaning that they have their own amplifier built in to them. All you have to do is hook them up to your source. The AV40 is certainly not a bad choice given your budget but we need more information. What are you connecting it to? TV? Receiver? PC?

 

[counterpoint]

Here are some recommendations though...


Speakers:

Polk Audio New Monitor 35B (black or cherry): ~$150 (often goes on sale for $120, sign up for Newegg's E-blast newsletter)

BIC Venturi DV62si: ~$115

Dayton Audio B652 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf: ~$40 + shipping


Amplifiers:

Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier: ~$159 (on sale for $129 till Thurs. 5/16)

Dayton Audio DTA-100a Class-T Digital Mini Amplifier 50 WPC: $89 + shipping

Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier: $25 + shipping

Topping T-amps: $79 - $209 + shipping

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

Awesome. Thanks for the prompt reply!

It is also a passive speaker, meaning you would need an amplifier/receiver to power them.

Ahh, I didn't really know anything about this at all. I just did a quick search and read this page:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-active-and-passive-speakers.html
Interesting. I think I get it now. Any "bookshelf" speakers will be passive, right?

...we need more information. What are you connecting it to? TV? Receiver? PC?

I'm actually planning to connect them to my desktop PC. It's still sitting in a box awaiting a monitor, but it has an HT Omega Striker sound card. So what would be the benefit of getting an amplifier + passive speakers? Instead of simply a pair of active speakers like the AV40s? Would I get better sound for the same price by going the amplifier/passive route? (I'm sure this question has been thoroughly discussed here... I'll search the forum later)

Unless you are old and have reduced or damaged hearing at higher frequencies...

Actually, funnily enough I do have a hearing loss. And it is more at higher frequencies than at low. My low frequency hearing is almost normal. I'm not old but just born with it I guess. I've had this condition as far back as I remember... Would this change your recommendation?

 

[counterpoint]

Awesome. Thanks for the prompt reply!



Ahh, I didn't really know anything about this at all. I just did a quick search and read this page:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-active-and-passive-speakers.html
Interesting. I think I get it now. Any "bookshelf" speakers will be passive, right?

Yes.

I'm actually planning to connect them to my desktop PC. It's still sitting in a box awaiting a monitor, but it has an HT Omega Striker sound card. So what would be the benefit of getting an amplifier + passive speakers? Instead of simply a pair of active speakers like the AV40s? Would I get better sound for the same price by going the amplifier/passive route? (I'm sure this question has been thoroughly discussed here... I'll search the forum later)

That's a hard question to answer but, in my opinion, you will get better sound out of amplifier + passive bookshelfs. The benefit is that you have more control over the each individual component (ie. get to choose what you want), you don't have to worry about running a power cable to each monitor, you may have DSP benefits if you choose a modern receiver, higher power/quality amplifier, etc. However, if you go with something like Emotiva's Stealth monitors, you get very high quality/power amplifiers, but you get what you pay for. Given your budget, I wouldn't worry about it that much. The M-Audio AV40 is just fine but if you can swing it you should go with the M-Audio BX5 D2.

Actually, funnily enough I do have a hearing loss. And it is more at higher frequencies than at low. My low frequency hearing is almost normal. I'm not old but just born with it I guess. I've had this condition as far back as I remember... Would this change your recommendation?

No, but Klipsch doesn't really make anything in your budget.

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

Another follow up question. I'm still kind of shopping around lol. Not really in a rush.

I definitely like to listen to hip-hop, so would the Polk 35B or the BIC DV62si be better? Let's say I were to pair either of those with the $25 Lepai amp. Or would the AV40s work better than either of those 2?

Should I look for speakers with the lowest number in the frequency response range, if that's what I'm looking for? For instance, the DV62si lists 43Hz to 20kHz, whereas Polk is 55Hz to 25kHz. Does that mean DV62si would be better for that purpose? Or are those numbers not really all that meaningful?

 

[rudy]

Those numbers are somewhat meaningful but they are often exaggerated and also many times not listed on comparable specs, for instance crappy sony subwoofers will list their low frequency at +/- 10 db which is HUGE differences in sound and high end subwoofers will list at +/- 2 or 3 db. If you like bass and hip hop you should save money for a subwoofer to go with the setup and think about how you want to wire that in IMO.


I have not heard them myself but for active monitors my brother who likes more concert like sound liked the cerwin vegas. I used to own the polk monitor 40s (similar to 35B) and was satisfied with them with a wide range of music. I have not heard the BIC so I cannot comment on them. I think polk offers a very good speaker for the money so long as you are not paying MSRP. You should also check out the pioneer SP-BS22-LR my brother in law owns the towers and they are good / neutral sound.

 

[atarione]

nearfield you can get away with a number of speakers without a sub


right now I have my not quite vintage /// more just used (but really good shape) JBL J2050 bookshelf speakers playing (got these local for $45~) being driven by a Denon DRA-545R (i highly recommend this thing .... for pc audio setup...as it is pretty compact (by receiver standards) and it has very good sound quality and bass levels so my JBL's are very satisfying near-field subless w/ the denon driving them.


Used speakers / amps can be a very attractive way to go... I have a ton of used bookshelf speakers of very high quality i have gotten for crazy good prices

best deals Klipsch KG 2.5s $50~ and JBL L1's $40 ...hmm B&W V202's $20 the aforementioned J2050 pretty solid buy at $45 and my $65 B&O RL 60.2's are far from a ripoff either.

used requires luck and patience... my area here seems to be a really excellent hunting ground for used stereo awesomeness also.

video of some of my gear in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFC1Z8JGA-Y



some other non used options

Cambridge Audio S30 $220~

Carnival 1's $100 (accessories 4 less)

ummm Polk RTI A1's $288
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Bo...&ie=UTF8&qid=1372968965&sr=1-2&keywords=RTiA1

Polk TSi100's $150~

Klipsch RB51-II $420~
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-RB-51...42&sr=1-1&keywords=klipsch+bookshelf+speakers


probably many more.

 

[Zenshi]

For Polk speakers, you can also try their factory direct outlet store on eBay if you are ok with eBay.

They currently have the TSi100 for a immediate buy for $120.00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TSi100-CHER...11?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item35c8e9a4fb
And the RTi for $220.00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RTiA1-CHERR...70?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53f8e7c236

Edit:

Another possibility that I have heard is a good value speaker (though they are a bit big) are the Behringer B2030P speakers.
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B20...id=1373025145&sr=8-1&keywords=behringer+2030p

The other may be the Infinity Primus P163.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P16...696585&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=6535433305&awdv=c

I would suggest the NHT Super Zeros as well but they may be too small to give enough dynamic range. Ditto for the Mourdant Short Carnivals. Especially for Hip Hop music.

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

For Polk speakers, you can also try their factory direct outlet store on eBay if you are ok with eBay.

They currently have the TSi100 for a immediate buy for $120.00
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TSi100-CHER...11?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item35c8e9a4fb

I am okay with eBay. 2 of you guys recommended the Polk TSi100. Between the TSi100 and the Polk 35B, which one do you think is better sounding for hip hop, without a sub?

 

[spaceman]

I am okay with eBay. 2 of you guys recommended the Polk TSi100. Between the TSi100 and the Polk 35B, which one do you think is better sounding for hip hop, without a sub?

Hip hop? If you have the space and still want Polk, the larger Polk speakers do well without a sub. I have had some Polk Monitor 10a speakers that were just fine without a sub. They have 10" woofers though and would fit on my desk but I have a desk the size of a small room.

 

[atarione]

well... sure... however if he has room for monitor 10a's he has room for a subwoofer

not that the 10a are not a delightful idea.


they are tall but the go (according to polk) down to 47Hz) so near field especially you'd probably be ok without a sub) with the monitor 45b's (or if you can find them cheaper monitor40's would be near about the same thing just the old version).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290269

however.. these monitor 30 refurbs for $65~ are pretty tempting

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T300-Monito...46?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53fac50312


I ran some monitor 30s with my pioneer intergrated amp for a bit here.... i think they lacked the low end w/out a sub sadly with a sub they are very nice and a nice size (i think).

I have a somewhat bigger set of JBL L1s playing right now.. 6.5" woofers these ones can hang without a sub (for me at least) and my Klipsch KG 2.5's are find without a sub I think.