As some of you know, I recently got a cat. I thought my house was cat proof but she's quite energetic and frisky. Anyway, I have old "hi-fi" speakers on stands by my computer. They're great but they have to go. Kitty sits on them and has started to claw the grill cloth when they're playing. So I need the floor space back and I will put up another Kitty Condo where one speaker was. This is right by a window which is why she's so interested in it.
I'm not ruling out building a pair but I don't think I can beat these for the price. https://www.abt.com/Polk-Audio-Sign...Home-Theater-Pair-3003621400005/p/169216.html Any other recommendations are welcome. Small with clear audio, acceptable without subwoofer is the criteria. I'd consider a worthwhile design for DIY too. That price is about the top of my bracket too, but I would consider anything worthwhile.
Thanks.
I'm not ruling out building a pair but I don't think I can beat these for the price. https://www.abt.com/Polk-Audio-Sign...Home-Theater-Pair-3003621400005/p/169216.html Any other recommendations are welcome. Small with clear audio, acceptable without subwoofer is the criteria. I'd consider a worthwhile design for DIY too. That price is about the top of my bracket too, but I would consider anything worthwhile.
Thanks.
I'm thinking about rolling the dice on some old Minimus 7 speakers. I'd be satisfied with just the enclosures and grilles. They're the right size and I've always liked the aluminum enclosures. I'll spray paint them to suit and I'm sure I can find some drivers to kick them up a notch.
Interesting, although it will be used for near field listening of music. I have never heard a sound bar that didn't sound absolutely abominable.
What's a bass booster from an old TV? I have a perfectly good sub and enclosure, but don't want to mess with it.
What's a bass booster from an old TV? I have a perfectly good sub and enclosure, but don't want to mess with it.
Here some 29" and larger CRT sets had a pair of side firing speakers in a resonating (bass) tube mounted on top of the back cover, just behind the top, and about half the thing could be seen.
Upward firing models were also sold.
Turning them to fire down from the roof is feasible, I think.
Those show up in scrap, and are decent sounding.
Use a low power chip like 2844 or 6283, and use them as active or passive speakers...active would put everything out of the cat's reach, until it decides to play with wires.
Or make something in 3/8" to 1/2" board, and use the guts from a computer speaker...you get the idea, use whatever strikes your fancy, and is handy.
This allows you to make a tuned box, and your choice of drivers.
Car speakers ....many options exist.
Upward firing models were also sold.
Turning them to fire down from the roof is feasible, I think.
Those show up in scrap, and are decent sounding.
Use a low power chip like 2844 or 6283, and use them as active or passive speakers...active would put everything out of the cat's reach, until it decides to play with wires.
Or make something in 3/8" to 1/2" board, and use the guts from a computer speaker...you get the idea, use whatever strikes your fancy, and is handy.
This allows you to make a tuned box, and your choice of drivers.
Car speakers ....many options exist.
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I thought about car speakers. But I was hoping to get some assistance selecting small "hi-fi" speakers that I can mount on the wall.
Remember, this is about "cat proofing." I already have speakers that work. They're driven by an old receiver.
I'm liking the idea of Minimus 7 speakers. Metal grill, last forever. Can be beefed up if not adequate. Not the best speakers but classic and durable. I can't believe that after all these decades collecting junk that I don't have a pair. They're available but I'm surprised how much they ask for 40 year old speakers that will almost certainly need refurbishing.
If there's any new speakers that beat the Polk, I want to know. Thanks.
Remember, this is about "cat proofing." I already have speakers that work. They're driven by an old receiver.
I'm liking the idea of Minimus 7 speakers. Metal grill, last forever. Can be beefed up if not adequate. Not the best speakers but classic and durable. I can't believe that after all these decades collecting junk that I don't have a pair. They're available but I'm surprised how much they ask for 40 year old speakers that will almost certainly need refurbishing.
If there's any new speakers that beat the Polk, I want to know. Thanks.
Could you mount a carpet covered table on the window speaker, making it into a cat viewing platform ( and the overhang making the grill difficult to reach)?
For listening near a computer, 2 watts/ channel is enough.
You can obtain the small speakers used in 'home theatre' systems, or go up the scale as your preferences go.
Or put 4 to 6 inch drivers, maybe with tweeters, in wall mounted cabinets, out of reach of cat.
Or try this, or similar:
Anti pigeon device...may slow down the cat.
Generic item here, no ties to seller.
You can obtain the small speakers used in 'home theatre' systems, or go up the scale as your preferences go.
Or put 4 to 6 inch drivers, maybe with tweeters, in wall mounted cabinets, out of reach of cat.
Or try this, or similar:
Anti pigeon device...may slow down the cat.
Generic item here, no ties to seller.
We have (North American) porcupines in our pear tree. We have a plastic anti-cat product. (Probably not as good as the one you pictured.) Porcs just walk over it.
A state animal control agent suggested nails in a board. I used a pneumatic 18 gauge finish nailer on 3/8" plywood strips. The porcs won't cross it.
The plastic stuff is buried in weeds but you can see it. It is more like blunt acupuncture than a barrier. The nails.... I can't even handle it without blood-drip. Those stamped nails have wicked points.
I do not hate cats and do not advise this technique. I don't hate porcupines BUT after a $700 midnight veterinarian bill for a nose-full of quills, it's them or me, and my nails won't stick in flesh like porc quills.
If you get a sheet of cellophane, scrunch it up, undo it and put it under and on top of your speakers (eg with double sided tape), the cat will hate the feeling under its paws and not do it again.
We've had Boston Acoustics Digital Media Theatre speakers and sub for 20 years, excellent computer speakers. The sub has a built in 20w RMS amp, connects to PC Soundblaster sound card.
Geoff
We've had Boston Acoustics Digital Media Theatre speakers and sub for 20 years, excellent computer speakers. The sub has a built in 20w RMS amp, connects to PC Soundblaster sound card.
Geoff
We get pigeon covers for outdoor a/c units, and cars as well...
People feed birds, as an act of piety, this happens....side effect really, cannot be avoided.
People feed birds, as an act of piety, this happens....side effect really, cannot be avoided.
Fast Eddie D, TBH, I worry about you sometimes!
My advice to you in your current situation is to buy a bargain pair of Logitech Z200 Computer speakers:
One must live in the moment. Much to like in this design.
My neighbour Paul was suffering significant issues with his hopeless PC speakers last year. I couldn't repair them.
I told him to buy some Z200 speakers and be done with it.
He is happy with the results. And so should your cat be. 😀
My advice to you in your current situation is to buy a bargain pair of Logitech Z200 Computer speakers:
One must live in the moment. Much to like in this design.
My neighbour Paul was suffering significant issues with his hopeless PC speakers last year. I couldn't repair them.
I told him to buy some Z200 speakers and be done with it.
He is happy with the results. And so should your cat be. 😀
Um...
I don't want/need amplified speakers. I have some old USB speakers I'll probably give away. I want/need passive speakers. I have external sound card and actual receiver for sound. And they will be used for listening.
I went and picked up the Polks yesterday. I also got another kitty condo to put in place of one of the speakers. I don't think I'll have time to mess with them until tomorrow at the latest. There's lots and lots of yardwork happening, including planting new bushes in the front where the old ugly and nasty bushes were removed earlier this year.
I didn't think there was an actual hi-fi store left that didn't require a letter of credit to gain admission, but here it is. https://www.abt.com/?camptype=cpcCh...MIqI3b0oaw-gIVtcLCBB11nwxAEAAYASAAEgKbivD_BwE Plus a knowledgeable, non-douchebag salesman. I was shocked at how good the Polks sounded in the store, didn't expect a true full range speaker from such a small package.
So thanks to all, and I will report back on the Polks.
I don't want/need amplified speakers. I have some old USB speakers I'll probably give away. I want/need passive speakers. I have external sound card and actual receiver for sound. And they will be used for listening.
I went and picked up the Polks yesterday. I also got another kitty condo to put in place of one of the speakers. I don't think I'll have time to mess with them until tomorrow at the latest. There's lots and lots of yardwork happening, including planting new bushes in the front where the old ugly and nasty bushes were removed earlier this year.
I didn't think there was an actual hi-fi store left that didn't require a letter of credit to gain admission, but here it is. https://www.abt.com/?camptype=cpcCh...MIqI3b0oaw-gIVtcLCBB11nwxAEAAYASAAEgKbivD_BwE Plus a knowledgeable, non-douchebag salesman. I was shocked at how good the Polks sounded in the store, didn't expect a true full range speaker from such a small package.
So thanks to all, and I will report back on the Polks.
OK I've lived with them for a few days. I haven't experimented too much but I have formed some impressions.
I didn't expect small speakers to break the laws of physics. I did expect them to be versatile within context and I'm not convinced that they really are at this point. But I usually roll my own and I'm picky.
I was expecting these speakers to excel at one thing. While I didn't expect them to deliver any kind of bass, I hoped that they would at least present better midrange, or better soundstage, than my home made 8" two-ways. They do not. They are remarkably bland and competent and balanced, marketed as rear speakers for a "high end" surround system. Their blandness and balanced sound (not too "bright" or bass heavy) make them maybe a good choice for a compact bedroom system. They would probably respond well to equalization, but I haven't really examined that. I personally would design a different kind of speaker (with a different "balance") for dedicated use with a subwoofer, but in the context of the product's goals that's apples and oranges.
They play pretty loud but if pushed a little too far sound huffy. Can't criticize a small speaker for that. No punchy bass but they're small. I was hoping for some really clear sound when used as nearfield speakers but I'm not impressed. I guess they're like a Toyota Camry, solidly built for the masses.
I'm going to mount them on the wall. They're sitting on my desktop now, not ideal. Putting a pencil underneath them to tilt them up made an obvious improvement. Putting them on stands would probably be better yet but won't work for my application; I needed to ditch the stands and regain floor space.
I didn't expect small speakers to break the laws of physics. I did expect them to be versatile within context and I'm not convinced that they really are at this point. But I usually roll my own and I'm picky.
I was expecting these speakers to excel at one thing. While I didn't expect them to deliver any kind of bass, I hoped that they would at least present better midrange, or better soundstage, than my home made 8" two-ways. They do not. They are remarkably bland and competent and balanced, marketed as rear speakers for a "high end" surround system. Their blandness and balanced sound (not too "bright" or bass heavy) make them maybe a good choice for a compact bedroom system. They would probably respond well to equalization, but I haven't really examined that. I personally would design a different kind of speaker (with a different "balance") for dedicated use with a subwoofer, but in the context of the product's goals that's apples and oranges.
They play pretty loud but if pushed a little too far sound huffy. Can't criticize a small speaker for that. No punchy bass but they're small. I was hoping for some really clear sound when used as nearfield speakers but I'm not impressed. I guess they're like a Toyota Camry, solidly built for the masses.
I'm going to mount them on the wall. They're sitting on my desktop now, not ideal. Putting a pencil underneath them to tilt them up made an obvious improvement. Putting them on stands would probably be better yet but won't work for my application; I needed to ditch the stands and regain floor space.
How often, people have said: "I wish I had listened to system7"..
Thus it is again. Another audio disaster:
Those puny rear Polk ES10 Elite speakers were never going to deliver the entire audio experience with a PC! An entire lack of the bass acoustic fundamentals.
I think a rethink is necessary here. Possibly your cat won't like it either. You must rearrange the room.
Thus it is again. Another audio disaster:
Those puny rear Polk ES10 Elite speakers were never going to deliver the entire audio experience with a PC! An entire lack of the bass acoustic fundamentals.
I think a rethink is necessary here. Possibly your cat won't like it either. You must rearrange the room.
I already rearranged the room to accommodate more cat stuff. That's really what this is about. If I don't appease her then she will entertain herself with other stuff. She's really energetic and curious. She's really busy.
Old speakers were better. But they were maybe a little silly. I already have a primary listening space in the garage, where she never goes. But the old speakers were room filling and house filling. Lots more punch.
I will probably mount them on the wall on either side of the monitor. I'm pretty sure they will sound better. Eventually I'll take them in the garage and evaluate them properly, with speaker stands.
Old speakers were better. But they were maybe a little silly. I already have a primary listening space in the garage, where she never goes. But the old speakers were room filling and house filling. Lots more punch.
I will probably mount them on the wall on either side of the monitor. I'm pretty sure they will sound better. Eventually I'll take them in the garage and evaluate them properly, with speaker stands.
I was very pleased with the sound of a pair of Audax AT100M0 4" full-ranges in sealed boxes. I picked them because they were magnetically shielded (important in the days of CRT monitors) and had decent bass response without resorting to ports. Unfortunately they had foam surrounds... and have been discontinued. There must be something similar out there, though. For nearfield, fullrange or a coincident tweeter like KEF's Uni-Q seems like the way to go. Right now I"m using Minimus 7's, but they don't have the same "solid" stereo image that the fullrange Audaxes did. And need a crossover upgrade, which is waiting for me to wind a couple of 1 mH air-core coils.
I got a pair of MarkAudio CHN-50's to experiment with. In 3L ported tuned at 80 Hz (each side) they sounded pretty nice for nearfield type stuff. If you can high pass them you'll be able to extract more output. Make the box with an angle appropriate to your situation so you can listen on-axis.