Buying speakers amidst the crowded market is anything close to a confusing nightmare, especially when you’re on a budget. Many audiophiles will tell you to spend big bikkies on your set-ups but for many of us starting out that is just not an option.
So, below is a list of 6 budget speaker set-ups that hold their own in quality and affordability to sink your teeth into.
Roth Oli RA2 — $235.00 USD
No way! $235 for a decent pair of speakers? Yup, and Roth is no joke brand, either. They produce top quality stuff. Commanding a high standard of sound reproduction the RA2s, remarkably, can be described as having a mature, even ‘refined’ sound. They compare very well to more expensive models too. Steal!
Audioengine A2+ — $249.00 USD
Small, compact, and pack a punch. These little gems are pretty damn affordable and come powered so there is no need for a receiver or integrated amp to run them. The built-in DAC and small form-factor are features most people look for when starting out and the physical design is pretty sleek and appealing. Hosting well designed silk-dome tweeters and the ability for the addition of a subwoofer and you have an ear-friendly presentation of high and low frequencies.
Acoustic Energy 101s — $390.00 USD
One of the recent stars of the low cost speaker design and a company that has put real thought — often with some surprising yet subtle innovations — into its budget designs. The 101s’ were designed for flexible room placement which is great for those of us restricted to ‘square’ or untreated rooms. Borrowing much of the innovation from its bigger brothers, the 101s’ sound ‘big’ and retain a clean, crisp presentation.
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 122–$435.00 USD
The terms ‘low cost’ and ‘value’ have always been associated with the Wharfedale brand. It’s a brand name affiliated with quality and realiablity. For many enthusiasts, their first ‘proper’ pair of speakers were Wharfedales — me included. One aspect that seems to pop up whenever the Diamond 122's are talked about is their surprising bass response and featuring a Kevlar mid/bass unit (yes, the stuff they use for bullet-proof vests) and a downward firing bass port to enhance low frequencies, its pretty clear why.
JBL STUDIO 230 — $545.00 USD
Effortlessly handling everything you throw at them — JBL 230's produce warm, smooth highs, very accurate midrange, and punchy, precise bass. Precisely what you are looking for in a speaker set-up. There is no need for concern that the rear-firing bass ports will degrade/muffle/distort low end music clarity either. Even in reasonably close proximity to the wall (about 2 inches) it doesn't become a perceptible issue. It doesn’t seem to matter what sort or size room you put them in either, the JBLs have no problem filling it. The sound is high, wide and compelling. Simply put — superb for a modest home set-up.
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AERO 2 — $499.00 USD
The Aero 2's display a far more civilised and polished performance than its price would suggest… With so few flaws and so much to love, these little loudspeakers just get on with the job of making music sound rich and enjoyable. At the heart of the Aero 2's is BMR technology which firstly, takes over a lot of the midrange duties so the cone at the bottom of the speaker concentrates more upon bass and the tweeter is not as position sensitive as most, so it’ll sound just as good if you sitting off-centre. That ‘sweet spot’ is wider, in other words.
