Building a 2.1 System under $250

If you are just hooking this up to your computer and in a small room what about a cheaper system for 100$ and 150$ headphones. Then when you have money buy that bigger system and you can still use headphones and you have a nice backup system. Would this work?
 
Alright guys, I have the receiver picked out, it's about $100, so all I need is a Sub+Speakers at about $150.
 
You can nad some pretty decent bookshelves for around $100, but I'd say spend at least that on a sub. Personally, I'd spend the rest of your budget on speakers and then add a sub later. I've got a pair of 6" JBL Arenas, and while I do plan on adding a sub in the future, I find that they have a decent amount of bass booming out of their ports.

Just my .02 :D
 
some people have been recommending the Polk r150 from frys.com for 60$ shipped. Add a sub later from the looks of your budget.
 
If she's anything like my mother, she'll hate using a second remote to controle the volume of the tv (if that's a use) ;). Hell, just get her Logitech-in-a-box and she'll never know the difference!*


*The previous statements are based upon my own experience. Mileage may vary!
 
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So is the 8" version of the Dayton pretty good too? It's going to be in a bedroom, so we don't really need a booming sub.

And I actually have a pair of those R150's, and was thinking about doing that. What do you guys think?
 
Danothemano said:
So is the 8" version of the Dayton pretty good too? It's going to be in a bedroom, so we don't really need a booming sub.
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Only a $10 difference between them since the 10" version is shipped free, while the 8-incher's shipping will run you around $15. Unless you purchase some filler items and get your cart over $99 to qualify for free shipping.

Not many reviews on the 8" Dayton btw, I did run into a couple of positive end-user reviews @ FW i believe. But otherwise it's hard for me to speculate.
 
I'm doing this same setup now! What kind of cables do I need for the bookshelf speakers and the sub?
 
RyanGrob said:
Like this? http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10236&cs_id=1023602&p_id=2682&seq=1&format=2
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Something like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2749&seq=1&format=2

OH, ok, you are talking about the binding posts.
They screw up, you wrap wire around the posts or put in a hole in the post and screw it down, same for receiver as well. You can also use banana plugs for a simple plug in connection to both receiver and speakers. Those just either clamp or screw onto the wire.
 
I'm just asking what I need to actually get my speakers to play through the receiver! I know this seems so easy for you, but I've never dealt with any of this, just cheapo speakers. So basically I get that wire and some banana plugs and I'm good to go?
 
You need to understand that it's simple:

You need wiring to go from the speaker to the receiver. You don't need bananas unless you want it for added convenience... regularly terminated wire (meaning just bare wire) will fit into the binding posts of your speaker and your receiver. All you have to do is attach the wire to the binding posts using whatever method possible. Some binding posts require you to simply "clip and slip", some will require you to unscrew the binding post and slip the wire in.

Wire to connect the speaker and the receiver... and any method to get them connected is all you need to know.

Good luck. Ask for clarification if needed.
 
Pinipig523 said:
You need to understand that it's simple:

You need wiring to go from the speaker to the receiver. You don't need bananas unless you want it for added convenience... regularly terminated wire (meaning just bare wire) will fit into the binding posts of your speaker and your receiver. All you have to do is attach the wire to the binding posts using whatever method possible. Some binding posts require you to simply "clip and slip", some will require you to unscrew the binding post and slip the wire in.

Wire to connect the speaker and the receiver... and any method to get them connected is all you need to know.

Good luck. Ask for clarification if needed.
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Got it! Thanks both of you :) Ordered, just a waiting game now!
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'm in a really similar boat here. I am looking to move from my Klipsch ProMedia 4.1s to a component system, probably 2.1 since I am in a relatively small dorm room and really don't have space for big surround setups (I barely know what to do with the rears in my ProMedia setup). I'd really like to go optical out from my PC and 360 to a receiver, since running it through my PC's line-in is obviously not optimal.

Problem is, the more I spend on audio the less I have for computer upgrades, and since I'm currently a poor student I don't have the kind of income that will let me add pieces (sub, center channel, etc) anytime soon. Specifically I'm looking at the Polk R150s and an inexpensive receiver that has 2 optical inputs (maybe the Onkyo SR304?), though I worry that I will miss my sub.

So I guess what I'm wondering is, at this kind of budget price range, would the upgrade over my ProMedia 4.1s even be worthwhile? Or is this hopeless?
 
I think it was in avsforum that I was reading that the dayton sub is a good budget setup. You could do 100$ or even cheaper if you don't want 5.1 or HDMI and so on for the receiver. I am trying to decide between an out the box system or upgrading my speakers to the polk r150 and using it with my existing receiver (upgrading that last probably). Then adding this dayton sub (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-633) in a bit. Then I would most likely get a new receiver and some better front and center speakers and move the polk r150 to the back. I was looking at the swan m10 for an out the box solution but I don't think I will be happy with the bass and loudness of it enough.

For now you spend 100 for receiver, 60 for r150, 100 for sub plus the shipping. You can delay on the sub if budget is tight.

About money for computer upgrades what are you really trying to do? I used my Tbird 1GHz with 512 ram and a 30GB HD for 5yrs before I upgraded recently. I didn't run any games other than CS but it worked fine for everything else I ever needed.
 
Eh, I'm trying to move to Core 2, with a new video card (8800GT most likely, or AMD 3870 if I can't find any 8800GTs in stock), so it's not going to be super cheap

I've just been hoping to squeeze some better sound out of my setup

I think I am going to get the R150s and play around on Ebay or something for the receiver, possibly working in that Dayton sub
 
Danothemano said:
Yeah, try turning those way up without getting distorted.
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Huh, What? Klipsch has the best crisp sound for anything near that price, these speakers have extremely good fidelity at even the highest volumes and after 2 years of use they haven't changed.
 
Sagan said:
Huh, What? Klipsch has the best crisp sound for anything near that price, these speakers have extremely good fidelity at even the highest volumes and after 2 years of use they haven't changed.
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LOL!!! The R150s and Dayton sub will blow that shit out of the water, PLUS!!! you can upgrade anytime you want, because you will have a REAL receiver.
 
montypythizzle said:
LOL!!! The R150s and Dayton sub will blow that shit out of the water, PLUS!!! you can upgrade anytime you want, because you will have a REAL receiver.
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I've heard the Polk line and they're nothing to write home about. I've even owned their top of the line LSi9 monitors and while they're decent, they're not worth anywhere near the price they retail for. The R150s are decent, but not great and they certainly aren't as god-like as you constantly describe them as. Yeah the R150 system will sound better than the Klipsch computer speakers but it should; $100 for the receiver, $50 for the speakers, $150 for the sub, $40 for cheap speaker cable, $340 total, more than double what the Klipsch system costs, not to mention more than double the footprint. Much like the Insignia bookshelves, for $50 they're are a steal of a deal but please don't mistakenly tell everyone in every thread that they're giant killers.
 
skyline889 said:
I've heard the Polk line and they're nothing to write home about. I've even owned their top of the line LSi9 monitors and while they're decent, they're not worth anywhere near the price they retail for.
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I agree, but nothing can touch the R150s in their price range.

skyline889 said:
The R150s are decent, but not great and they certainly aren't as god-like as you constantly describe them as.
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For 60 shipped they are ^_^

skyline889 said:
Yeah the R150 system will sound better than the Klipsch computer speakers but it should; $100 for the receiver, $50 for the speakers, $150 for the sub, $40 for cheap speaker cable, $340 total, more than double what the Klipsch system costs, not to mention more than double the footprint.
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Wait, WUT? The Dayton 10 was 100 shipped I believe. While they may be a LITTLE bit bigger, but that is usually what you expect when you get better speakers. You can't put a 10" sub in a 1" deep box. (hmm, wonder what it would sound like though :p)
Also, speaker wire for 40 dollars? Are we running 0 guage to them???!!? I just recommended some 16awg to a guy above for these for around or less than 10 dollars I believe.

skyline889 said:
Much like the Insignia bookshelves, for $50 they're are a steal of a deal but please don't mistakenly tell everyone in every thread that they're giant killers.
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I was just saying how they are such a bargain, and WAY better than anything in the 1-75$ region.

Also, you can upgrade many of times with that receiever, including new sources, such as a computer, a DVD player etc. You have 3 digital inputs PLUS a 5.1 analog hookup, I think the Kilpsch's have stereo analog input.
 
Jeez we are going to have to do a speaker sticky I think.

Klipsch PC setups are old and are not very good except that they play LOUD.

The Swan M10 sounds much better but is not as loud.

A receiver like a Pioneer or Panasonic XR-55 w/ a av123 xls 2.1 setup will kill anything for around $500 shipped. For around $700 you can get the TAD 805 and sub which will truly put the sound into audiophile entry level territory. Those are new prices btw. You could cut $200 off of that if you shop around.
 
RyanGrob said:
For my receiver again (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...Id=abcat0202003&type=product&id=1171057791920) what cable do I need so I can plug my ipod directly into the receiver. Also, is there a cable I can use to plug my Macbook Pro into the receiver? It has an optical out plug. Thanks!
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I believe you will need a minjack adapter, look in the Toslink section of Monoprice.
For the iPod, you can just buy a 2.5mm to stereo RCA adapter from Monoprice or somewhere else. OR!!! you could buy a special dock plug to RCA which will put out straight from the DAC of the iPod instead of being amplified.
 
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