Affordable powered bookshelf speakers w/bluetooth

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by Stuff Jones, May 22, 2018.

  1. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Looking to get my mom a new system and simplify by removing the amp. Any suggestions on <500 small powered speakers w/bluetooth that will fill a small/medium room?

    I've got the Vanatoo T0s and love them, but I wonder if there may be something more appropriate for midfield (?) listening.
     
  2. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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  3. riker1384

    riker1384 Acquaintance

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    You can buy a separate Bluetooth receiver and just plug it into any powered speakers. They don't cost much at all. With a $500 budget you could get some pretty nice studio monitors, like maybe those JBLs that everybody seems to like. Although you might want to check with your mom and see if she would be happy with the no-grill look of a studio monitor.
     
  4. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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  5. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I have a set of A2+ speakers... basically the same thing as the HD3 but without the built-in bluetooth. With a sub (cheap-ass Acoustic Audio PSW8) and appropriate EQ (I use REW to generate), they are pretty good for nearfield listening.

    Alone, I find the A2+'s slightly v-shaped, and the treble can get a little harsh. They have surprising bass quantity, but it's tubby/overemphasized and you can easily bottom out the driver. I use the EQ to cut the bass to the A2's and then dial in the crossover on my sub to compensate. With these changes, I find them to be very good computer speakers.

    IMO they are too small for mid-field listening. The HD6 looks like it is geared towards mid-field, but it's getting pricey.

    I'd have to second the recommendation to spend your cash on better pure speakers then get a bluetooth receiver ($25). I used this https://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-NFC-enabled-Wireless-Bluetooth-Auto-Reconnect/dp/B00G57CWZ8 in my old car for years and it worked like a charm (I did use a ground loop isolator in the car... another $5). All you would need to do is get a cheap power supply and then plug it into the monitors.

    dave
     
  6. Iron-Buddha

    Iron-Buddha New

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    I have the A2's (the original) and the Vanatoo T0 on my desk (the A2 is getting uninstalled shortly). The T0 is hands down a better speaker.

    I have limited space on my desk for speakers, so the A2's were top of the line for super-compact speakers back 12 years ago when I got them. They fit my needs so well that everything else on my desk has been replaced multiple times, but the A2's have survived. I was a big fan of Audioengine back in the day. The story was a good one, a few engineers left Apple and Harman and decided they could do desktop speakers better. And they did. But fast forward a decade later, rather than focus on engineering, they seem to be content marketing to hipsters. Classic marketing e-mails like "Did you know 2 speakers are better than 1?", "You can play vinyl on Audioengines!" and "Androgenous Mary likes Red and Bearded Bob likes Black". The HD3 wasn't a major improvement to the A2+, which wasn't a major improvement to the A2.

    Vanatoo has a similar story, a few engineers thought they could do it better. And they did. What is clear, only a real geek would program speakers to have as many options as the T0's, and I appreciate it. Lets hope hipster money doesn't distract them from engineering work.
     
  7. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Ended up getting her the T0s and shes happy. They fill up a fairly large living room better than you would imagine.
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2018

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