I'm just about done building the Leach amplifier (~100Wrms / channel). I was hoping to get some suggestions for first speakers to match with it, probably in the price range $200-400. All I've got now are some no-name bookshelf speakers. Some floor-standers might be nice, but I really don't know too much about speakers.

Thanks,

Evan aka bperboy

Here's one channel completed. I haven't finished building the other channel yet. Forgive the messy wiring; I will tidy it up nearer to the end of the project.

Edited October 10, 201213 yr by bperboy

How much room do you have? 100w/ch allows you to use inefficient drivers also or perhaps multiway designs. Depending on how you want your money to be divided up, open baffle would allow most of the money to go towards drivers. Multiway would drive cost to the enclosure and crossover components. Are you doing the woodwork yourself or paying someone else?

I was thinking more ready-built speakers... I will probably think about diy speakers a little later down the road...

I like Focal and Dali because they usually have something good at most price points, so look at those.

I love the sound of vintage Klipsch and DCM speakers. You could try finding them in AudioKarma.

Thanks guys.. I'll take a look at these!

+1 on Dali.

I have a pair of their Helicon 400 Mk2s and they're made of win.

They look awesome, but completely out of my price range.. I'll keep them on the wishlist though!

Vandersteen 2ce?

Hmmm, good suggestion. I remember really liking the Vandersteens back in the day.

If Vandersteens can fit your budget they should be on your short list. My wine buddy has a pair and in my opinion they are very transparent, accurate yet musical. they do jazz and Cabernet exceptionally well. Great recommendation!

Haven't heard them for a few years, but add another fan here.

If Vandersteens can fit your budget they should be on your short list. My wine buddy has a pair and in my opinion they are very transparent, accurate yet musical. they do jazz and Cabernet exceptionally well. Great recommendation!

After listening to some of the best speakers on the market this weekend, there were a couple standouts, but one that really stood out because with was only $300. Sounded better than 90% of the stuff there.

Hsu HB-1 mk2. Off an Onkyo integrated fed by a midrange Sony DVD player. All hooked up with zip wire.

Damn those hsu speakers look very very interesting.

Also they seem tubeampable!

naaman, were they supported with a sub there or were they just running them 2 channel?

naaman, were they supported with a sub there or were they just running them 2 channel?

Both. The sub makes a big difference, but 2 channel was still pretty good, though a little bass shy. Their subs are affordable, though.

they have a very comfortably priced package for the 2.1 system but i am not sure how the sub would get added to a 2 channel amp...any thoughts?

Vandersteens are nice. I've always been curious about Jordan's though in a simple 35" mltl. I won't complain about my Lowther alerions.

they have a very comfortably priced package for the 2.1 system but i am not sure how the sub would get added to a 2 channel amp...any thoughts?

You feed the speakers through the sub crossover.

^ Yep. Both R & L channels into sub, then speaker outputs of subwoofer to speakers. Pretty easy, and works well.

Will the integrated amp be used to power the sub and the bookshelves or is a split happening inside where the plate amp is powering the sub and the integrated juices with the low frequencies filtered out are powering the bookshelves?

The power goes just to the speakers, the sub is powered by its own amp. It's just the frequency divider network that's in the way, sending LF to the sub and the rest to the speakers.

Hokay. Makes sense now. Thanks