Boring topic, Speakers under $300 as gift

[Benji]

Thinking of Elac b5 or b6's or KEF Q100's.  Open to any bookshelf.  Recipient will think that subwoofers are the bane of all existence so it should have decent bass as one will not be used. 

 

Using a low budget receiver from Yamaha or Onkyo. 

[pippenainteasy]

Is recipient more concerned with looks or sound?

[semente]

I'd add the PSB Imagine XB to that list.

[firedog]

Actives don't count?

Some very good ones under $300.

[wwaldmanfan]

If you can stretch it to $419/pr, the Klipsch RP-150M is very good. They also have a lesser model around $249.

[RichB]

Besides the Elacs, AudioEngine makes passive (i.e. not active) versions of some of thier speakers which are worth looking at for use with a inexpensive receiver.

 

[semente]

11 hours ago, RichB said:

Besides the Elacs, AudioEngine makes passive (i.e. not active) versions of some of thier speakers which are worth looking at for use with a inexpensive receiver.

 

 

Judging from the measurements available online I don't think that AudioEngines are at the same level as Kefs, PSBs or Elacs by a long way.

[GUTB]

At that price range you aren't going to get good performance no matter what you pick, so I would go with looks. Isn't there something with a ribbon tweeter at that price? IMO ribbons have the most visual appeal, makes the speaker look high-end. The uni-drivers in the KEF Q100 also might look cool. What about the Edifiers or whatever they're called...the ones with the side-ribbons?

 

Since it's a gift, I recommend going with something more unique. You want the receiver to feel special by having something different or perceived better than the norm.

[Benji]

On 12/8/2017 at 10:39 AM, firedog said:

Actives don't count?

Some very good ones under $300.

I can still get the JBL LSR305's for $99 each on Newegg.  It's very tempting. 

[Benji]

The LSR305's are quite remarkable for those who haven't heard them.  With good source content they will make an audiophile from a crowd. 

[RichB]

On 12/9/2017 at 5:08 AM, semente said:

 

Judging from the measurements available online I don't think that AudioEngines are at the same level as Kefs, PSBs or Elacs by a long way.

 

D'oh! I was thinking of the bigger AudioEngine passives, but I see those are more expensive than what I thought they were.

 

I like the ELACs I have heard, but I think they would gel better with a nice used old inexpensive integrated amp (for a budget set-up) than a inexpensive receiver. :-)