Pioneer SP-BS41-LR 2-Channel Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair) $85 + Free Shipping (expired)

Quote from MIX MASTER ICE : BTW, I just recently sold my Energy EF-500's (rebadged Jamo)that I bought earlier this year from newegg for 100 bones. Those are back on sale for 100 and they sound really nice for the price. Better than the Pioneer FS51's.

LOL.

I would like to have better sound in my living room and my primary purpose is to listen to music (progressive house mostly) through my laptop/mp3 player and a little television. I am not interested in a 5 or 7 speaker setup, and do not plan on using a subwoofer (probably inviting a lot of complaints in my apartment building anyway). I have a very limited budget, but have found some options that I would like to ask someone knowledgeable.

1) If I go for a small amp such as http://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Le...pg__header , will it run any of the bookshelf speakers listed below at a good volume level? Also, between the ones listed below, any recommendations and why?
- Pioneer SP-BS41
- Polk Audio Monitor30 Series II 2 way bookshelf speakers
- Polk Audio Monitor40 Series II 2 way bookshelf speakers

Total cost of setup above is $25+[$85 - $150] = $110 - $175

2) In terms of sound, will there be a big difference if I instead decide to go with
- Energy EF-500
- Pioneer SP-FS51
- Polk Audio Monitor50 Series II Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Which do you recommend and why?
Will these speakers need a more powerful amp/receiver than the one I posted from amazon? If yes, how about something basic like a Pioneer VSX-521-K? I have found a used one for less than $100 on craigslist.

Total cost of setup above is $75+[$100-$160] = $175 - $235

Thanks for your time

I picked up the bs21 version for my cafe that I own and its important that music sounds exceptional and so far it has done a fantastic job. I've even gotten a lot more customer's asking about my music lately since i've had the speakers, their that good. Definitely would pick this up!

Quote from Buckeyefan 1 : They are a much better speaker than these Pioneers. There's a small cult following on the DV62's on AVS and Audioholics. There is a certain crossover tweak on these that make them some of the best sounding bookshelves on the market. The BIC center channel - I think it's the CLRS series, it also amazing for the price. If you can swing a little more money, you'll get twice the speaker for the BIC's.

Without the crossover modification, do you still prefer the BIC DV62SIs to the Pioneer BS41s?

Quote from bigmakstudios : Without the crossover modification, do you still prefer the BIC DV62SIs to the Pioneer BS41s?

Yep, they'll run off any AVR, have great bass for a bookshelf, look better, and have been a hidden gem for many, many years. They also have one of the smoothest soft dome fabric tweeters for a bookshelf.

Quote from aedgington : That's a great setup for that room size. One Polkie to another, Frys is clearing out their LSi stuff. I picked up a pair of LSi9s and an LSiC all for $500. Super ymmv but if you have one near you, my Frys was dumping their LSi7s for $160/pr.

Sadly no but ill put some deal alerts and ill wait for a good price.

How do these compare to the Sony SS-B1000?

Quote from lenser : How do these compare to the Sony SS-B1000?

I don't have Sony speakers you listed, but I have the 41's for the fronts, and 21's for the rears, and matching center channel. I tell you that you probably don't even need a sub. these are pretty much full range speakers.

The drawback is that they are HUGE! I had the itzy bitzy ones before, and they were not filling up the room, even with the volume set pretty high. These, using the same amp, fill up the room pretty nice. The sound is clear, and loud, without being boomy ot tinny.

But, because these are so big, I had to buy different wall/cieling mounts that can support over 10 lbs.

Quote from blueiedgod : I don't have Sony speakers you listed, but I have the 41's for the fronts, and 21's for the rears, and matching center channel. I tell you that you probably don't even need a sub. these are pretty much full range speakers. The drawback is that they are HUGE! I had the itzy bitzy ones before, and they were not filling up the room, even with the volume set pretty high. These, using the same amp, fill up the room pretty nice. The sound is clear, and loud, without being boomy ot tinny. But, because these are so big, I had to buy different wall/cieling mounts that can support over 10 lbs.

The sensitivity of the 21's is less than the Sony's I mentioned. That is a concern for me that I would need to run the amp louder to get the same amount of volume.

The problem with that is I'm running fairly large old pioneers at the back and having to turn the volume louder would lead to the old rear pioneers overwhelming the Pioneer 21's.