(UK) Musings on speakers for around £100

[sreten]

Hi,

Just sharing my thoughts. I've heard two pairs of these that I have
advised two of my friends to buy for simple bang per buck quality.
(And the fact they simply don't look like basic £100 speakers.)

Neither of them are audiophiles or DIY types and don't share my penchant
for taking things apart and having a look at what can be sensibly improved.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...har-cr30.4-blk



They are 2 ways with an ABR driver rather than a port.
Spiked plinth. One set of input terminals, (good IMO).

From a DIY perspective price up 2 1" tweeters, 2 6.5" bass/mids,
2 6.5" ABRs, 2 quality crossovers, 2 input terminal, an 8 spike set.
Or alternatively consider the cost as a kit of the cabinets/plinths.

FWIW they sound surprisingly good in stock form, IMHO #.
(One system was an I-pod dock and Rega Brio (early) amplifier,
the other CD/vinyl/cassette/radio with a Pioneer A-300X amplifier.)

I've tried to find some decent tests / reviews, drawn a blank.

IMO they would make a very good base for some sensible DIY modding.

In no particular order you could :

Possibly upgrade the tweeter capacitor.
Possibly upgrade the bass/mid capacitor.
Check driver mountings and possibly go for blutack.
Possibly solder all connections.
Possibly upgrade internal wiring (not to something silly).
Possibly damp the bass/mid driver chassis,
(no real point modding the ABR driver).
Possibly add damping to the speaker walls *.
Layer of damping between plinth and box.
Possibly upgrade the internal stuffing.
Possibly detune the ABR somewhat by coating it,
to tighten and extend the bass (carefully here,
I'd try adding a blutack ring around the centre
as a proof of concept that it will actually work).

I'm not saying that they can be massively improved
but that the end result would be very worthwhile,
and you couldn't hope to build them for the cost.

rgds, sreten.

* My favourite for this was cheap self adhesive
solid vinyl floor tiles, but cant find them any more.
Bitumen sheeting and contact adhesive is an option.

# No major issues in either system for the price,
very good across the broad sweep of the range.
Minor treble issues in one system, none the other.
Minor different bass issues with both, probably
both room and placement dependent.

[puppet]

A lot of good tips right there. Anybody looking to pick up a set of secondhand speakers can try these things out. Nice!

The self adhesive tile tip is very nice.

[sreten]

Originally Posted by puppet

The self adhesive tile tip is very nice.

Hi,

Yes if you can find them. What you want is the (ugly) very cheap solid
vinyl types designed for high load industrial / schools / hospital flooring.

The problem with most domestic types now is they tend to have
a thin layer of vinyl over a foam type layer and then the adhesive.

rgds, sreten.