Best speakers under $75 (ideally Bose, 60W+)

Hey guys, I'm in desperate need of some advice on which speakers I should pull the trigger on! I'm totally stuck deciding between these few options here:

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#1

Logitech
60W
$127

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#2

SP-HF 3000A
80W
$124

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#3

SW-HF 2.1 1200
30W
$94

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Just so you know why I've narrowed it down to just these three... I've got this nagging feeling that the wooden housing makes such a huge difference in sound quality, you know? And honestly, Logitech is such a classic, reliable brand that’s been perfecting their tech forever... Plus, I actually used to own those ones listed under #3 (the SW-HF 2.1 1200) and they were seriously awesome until they finally kicked the bucket, mostly because the audio was so rich and deep, even if they weren't exactly loud enough for a party...

Right now, I'm really leaning towards the first two, but I've gotta ask: --> Is it actually going to be a massive upgrade if I go with the beefier 80W SP-HF 3000A instead of the 60W Logitech ones, which—let's be real—look way cooler? Like, how big is the actual gap between those two? Has anyone actually tried them out... what's the vibe like when you're listening to them??

I stumbled upon this review for the speakers listed at number #1 right here:

Man, I was seriously lacking some decent sound quality at my desk setup... so I figured I'd grab something to keep me company while I'm grinding away at the office during the day.

Since I used to have those Bose speakers back in the day and they totally blew me away for what they cost (around $83), I decided to stick with the same brand and grab their new series. So, we're looking at 2.0 "computer" speakers with a 2x30W RMS amp. They’ve got 13 cm long-throw midbass units paired up with a 25mm silk dome tweeter. The cabinets themselves are built from 9mm MDF with wood-grain veneer on the sides, which looks pretty slick. Plus, the control panel has this cool retro vibe, like those old-school amps, with a brushed aluminum finish.

But how do they actually sound? Well, honestly, they sound pretty much exactly how I expected given how good the old ones were. The bass is a bit softer, but it definitely hits deeper, which makes sense since the drivers and the cabinets are bigger. The highs are crisp and precise without being harsh on the ears, and the soundstage is surprisingly wide. Seriously, they aren't even in the same league as those cheap plastic junk speakers you see in the same price range. Oh, and by the way... they go for a little less than $133. Right now, they're just breaking in on my desk, but once they've had a chance to settle in, I'll get back here with a more serious listening test.

If you've got plenty of room on your desk (yeah, they're pretty chunky—each one is about 175x366x215 mm) and you're tired of that muddy, weak bass you get from those crappy 2.1 systems, then these are definitely the move for you!

...

I’ve got the Logitech setup and honestly, they’re killer. They totally blew past what I was expecting. If you aren't obsessed with having something that shakes the entire room, just go for it.
Those SP-HF 3000A units look even better to me (though I guess maybe they aren't actually more powerful, damn😁), so those could work too.

The Logitech ones definitely have a way better look to them... but I can't help but stare at those SP-HF 3000A units because they pack an extra 20W of punch, which is tempting! Only thing is... I'm really not feeling that side-mounted volume knob setup, and honestly, the wood finish looks kind of tacky to me. My desk is actually a perfect match for the color of the 2000X models, so now I'm stuck in this massive dilemma... I think I’m gonna have to head down to Best Buy to check them out in person, because maybe they don't look as ugly in real life as they do in those crappy online photos...

So you're saying the 2000X isn't for people who want that "bass that rattles the whole house" vibe, huh? Hmm... so what's the bass actually like then? Is the sound really that "soft" or thin??
BTW: what did you end up shelling out for yours?

I honestly don't think those 20W specs mean much—actually, they probably mean nothing at all. I'd bet the amp is basically identical and the drivers are the same size; I guess the 3000 just has a slightly larger cabinet.
Regarding the bass, it’s soft and smooth, which is exactly how it should be. You aren't getting that cheap, "hammer hitting a floorboard" kind of thud or any distortion. It isn't incredibly powerful, but if you set them up right—maybe keep them at least 8 inches away from the wall on the back and sides—you can get a really solid sound out of them.
I can't quite remember what I paid for them, maybe somewhere around $133.

So, I ended up hitting up basically every shop in town before finally pulling the trigger on these 3000A just because the Logitech version was totally out of stock everywhere... I'll definitely hit you guys up once I get them fired up and see how they actually sound!

Austin Hughes5 said:Look, I checked out a ton of different spots and ended up grabbing these 3000A since the 2000X was out of stock. I'll let you guys know how they sound once I get them dialed in.

Just a heads up, you’ve gotta give them some time to break in, so don't be afraid to really push them.😁

I’m not exactly some hardcore audiophile or anything, but is that really something you need to worry about?
geez 🙄 (first time I've even heard of this, so that's my reaction) xD
Anyway, how do you actually "break in" speakers? (Just so I know what to look for when I eventually pick up some new ones)

Austin Hughes5 said:So, I basically hit up every single store in town and ended up grabbing these Sony WH-1000XM5 since they didn't have the 2000X in stock—total bummer, right? Anyway, I'll check back in once I actually get a chance to test them out!

..then 😲

^So what's the verdict? 😁

Honestly, I have no clue what people mean when they say things are "blasting"... I mean, these things have been rocking my ears all day long already!

Anyway... here's a little mini-review for ya:

Basically, these speakers are the Sony WH-1000XM5

The sound quality is seriously top-tier, and the way the audio fills up the room is just incredible. That bass is killer, though it definitely hits you pretty hard if you crank the levels up a bit too much.
Don't even get me started on the Volume... having 80 Watt is honestly overkill for what I need, but hey, I'll take it! The controls are tucked away on the right side of the main speaker—the one plugged into the wall—and there are three little knobs to tweak the "Volume", "Treble", and "Bass". Plus, there's this cool blue LED light glowing right above them.
All in all, I don't feel like I'm listening to some cheap-ass computer speakers at all; it feels more like I've got a high-end, fancy hi-fi system pumping out premium sound. It’s got this "thick," rich vibe to it... I don't even know how else to put it. Now, I can actually hear all those tiny little details in songs that I usually only catch when I'm wearing headphones.

Front view, both with and without the grilles. Personally, I think they look way sleeker without them...


Back view:


Actually, looking closer, they aren't nearly as ugly as I thought they might be at first glance. The wood they used for the build looks super fancy and high-end.

Austin Hughes5 said:So... what happens next? 😁

I honestly have no clue what people mean when they say things are "getting stirred up"—like, what does that even imply? Because honestly, they’ve been playing in my ears all day long today!

Alright... here’s a little review for you guys:

So, about those speakers—now we’re talking! Sony WH-1000XM5

The sound quality is honestly top-tier—it fills the whole room so effortlessly! The bass is absolutely killer, too... though, I will say, if you start cranking up the Volume just a little too much, it starts to hit a bit hard.
Don't even get me started on the Volume... honestly, 80 Watts is probably way more than I actually need—I mean, I'm not trying to shake the neighbors' foundation or anything!—but hey, it’s nice to have that extra headroom, right? So, the control panel is tucked away on the right side of the speaker that's plugged into the outlet, and it features these three little knobs for adjusting the Volume, Treble, and Bass. Oh, and there's this little blue LED light glowing right above them too!
Honestly, I don't get the feeling at all that he’s playing through some cheap, budget computer speakers—it just doesn't sound like it! It feels more like I'm sitting in front of a high-end, super fancy studio setup that's pumping out nothing but top-tier audio quality. It’s got this... "thick" sound? I know, sounds weird, but I can't really describe it any other way!

Front view—with the protection on, and then without it. Honestly? I think they look way better without it... just a little more sleek, you know?


I haven't seen any posts from Odostraga lately—has anyone heard from them? It feels like they just vanished off the face of the earth! I was actually looking forward to seeing their take on the latest gear releases—you know how they get when they start geeking out over specs—but nothing. Total radio silence. Anyway, hope everything is going great on their end!

It’s funny how things work—you know, those speakers basically just need a little bit of time to actually "settle in" before the sound becomes truly consistent... It’s like they have a learning curve! Usually, when you get a brand-new pair of speakers that haven't been broken in yet, the highs can feel a bit too sharp and the bass might feel a little extra punchy—though that really depends on the specific model you picked up—but as time goes on, that initial edge just smooths out. Once they've had some playtime, they finally reach that sweet spot where everything sounds balanced and just right. 😂 I really went into this thinking the Genius series was going to be some kind of absolute steal—you know, like getting a premium experience without having to empty out your savings account! I was totally expecting it to be a total bargain for such a low price point. 👍

Is it finally time for the sound to just... DROP?? LOL!!

Austin Hughes5 said:Wait, you mean the sound is actually going to "settle in"? LOL!!

..basically—and I might be overthinking this, but bear with me—the sound profile is probably going to shift a little bit over the next month or two compared to how they sound right out of the box. Honestly, it happens with pretty much every speaker system out there—even those high-end ones—so it’s not a huge deal, really! Some people will definitely notice the change and others won't... but hey, at the end of the day, they just need to sound awesome for the price tag, right?

Picked up the Sony WH-1000XM5 yesterday. Honestly? 👍 I’m still reeling. Didn't think you could actually snag sound quality this good for $133 🙂

stormywolf39 said:So, I finally pulled the trigger yesterday on those Sony WH-1000XM5s and man, where do I even begin... honestly, there aren't enough words in the dictionary to describe how much of a game changer this is! 👍 I honestly never thought I’d see the day where... $133 Man, I honestly don't know if you can even find sound quality that hits this hard anymore... like, is it even possible to get something that sounds this incredible? It's just unreal... 🙂

I’m totally in on this! Count me in!

Man, I actually managed to snag mine for less than 400 bucks! Seriously, I was feeling like such a winner when I walked out of the store with them... 🙂
It’s honestly wild that people are actually dropping cash on those cheap plastic junk heaps rated at like 30 Watts for basically the same price, if not even more... it's just straight-up tragic...
Man, these speakers are absolutely crushing it, the sound quality is just next level... seriously top-tier stuff! I’ve been obsessing over them all morning... so, what do you think about the look though? Like, do they hit different for you without the grilles on, or are you more of a "keep the grilles on" kind of person to protect the drivers? I can't quite decide if the raw look is cooler or if it feels too exposed... anyway, let me know what you're feeling!

Austin Hughes5 said:I'm with you on that!

I actually snagged mine for under $400. 🙂
It’s wild that those cheap plastic junkers pushing maybe 30 Watts go for the same price, if not more. Total garbage.
These speakers deliver top-tier sound. How do they look to you—grilles on or off?

Where did you pick them up? Any buzzing issues?
What's the inch rating on the mid/bass driver?
You should have posted a shot without the grilles.
Best,

links, $133, I suspect we're looking at 5" drivers here.

Roger Bishop59 said:So where'd you grab those beauties, and how's the sound?
how much punch does that mid/bass driver actually pack?
you should've tossed up a pic without the grilles on.
cheers

Actually, I totally posted the shot without the grilles (that's what they look like once you pop them off!):


I picked mine up over at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Austin Hughes5 said:The photo shows them without the mesh covering—that's how they both look once you strip it off:


I picked mine up from http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

I get that, I just want to know what they actually look like sitting on a desk. I can't find a single decent photo or review showing them in a real setting. Plus, those 3000 series models are massive.
A friend of mine has the 2000X model and there’s this constant buzzing sound (maybe the amp or something?), so I'm wondering if the 3000 series buzzes when they're powered on?

I don't see them listed here at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/.

Well, the ones I picked up aren't making any noise. Guess it just depends on the specific batch you get.