Nice for the Price (as part of a system)
Written: Jan 02 '03 (Updated Sep 06 '03)
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Pros: Nice sound, small size, style
Cons: Not for more expensive systems, larger living rooms or sound aficionados.
The Bottom Line: Amazing Price, Fantastic Quality, Excellent for the everyday user and Intro to Moderate Level system owner.
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| kblier's Full Review: KLH TW-09B Main / Stereo Speaker |
I purchased a set of these speakers in the beginning of December 2003 at Smart Bargains' on-line website for $30 plus shipping. I purchased them because it was time to upgrade from my old bookshelf speakers (that once came with a double tape deck stereo system). My old AIWA speakers were 10 years old and ready for our upcoming yard sale. One of the reasons I was attracted to these new speakers was because of their size. They are very small and I was tired of the larger speakers taking up so much shelf space. For those people who do not want them to be used on a shelf, they also come with a mounting kit that looks easy to install.
At first, my impression of these speakers was very positive. I am aware that, a lot of times, you get what you pay for with electronics and this is a low-level price. My in-laws recently purchased very expensive (on sale, $1K each) Panasonic tower speakers and I did not expect to match this type of sound quality; however, I did hope to get my money's worth. Fortunately for me, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the outcome. As I suspected, the speakers do not match the same quality as the more expensive ones; however, the quality is very good, probably more so than it should be for $30. The sound is very clear and carries well without having to turn the volume very high(which I am not accustomed to with my former speakers, I had to jack up the volume to hear them throughout the house). This was truly unexpected to me because of their size. I also found that I really liked the twist function on these speakers. I thought it would not make much of a difference, but found that the ability to point sound in a particular direction can drastically change the overall outcome of the sound experience. It is a nice addition.
After using them for a little while, and after I got past the excitement of having better sound than the bookshelf speakers (I know, not a large feat), I noticed that there were a few drawbacks to these speakers. First off, I discovered that I did not like them as the only source for sound. They didn't carry any bass and, therefore, were not excellent for listening to music, primarily, as I do. Typically, I found they were good for television (evening news, sitcoms, etc.), but not as the only component in a sound system. I also do not believe that they would do very well as a part of an expensive system (high-level a/v, HDTV, etc.) as they would not support the range that makes these systems so desired and expensive (reference: in-laws). However, I am sure if a person is spending the sort of money that it takes to buy high-end television and stereo equipment, they would not be looking at these speakers to go with their particular investment.
This said, I would like to append on this review to include the speakers' use in a surround environment. Although I did not like these speakers on their own, I did like the quality of these speakers enough to decide to see how they worked as a part of a surround system. I initially looked at adding components to the original speakers, but decided to purchase a surround system (KLH HTA-4906 which included 5 of these speakers and a powered subwoofer) because I found it cheaper to buy the set than the components individually. I purchased this set at Best Buy on sale for $120. I also added a KLH receiver to the package for $80 since my initial receiver did not support more than 4 speakers. The specs for the set are as follows:
Finish: Black
Includes One 6.5" 50 Watt Powered Subwoofer
- Front-Firing Bandpass Enclosure
- Amplifier: Built-In with 50 Watts RMS Output
- Woofer: 6.5" Long-Throw, Magnetically Shielded with Rubber Surround
- Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 180 Hz
- Inputs: Low Level, Speaker Level with Feed-Through for Satellites
- Overload Proof Design
- Controls: Power and Volume - Dimensions: 10-7/8"H x 10-5/8"W x 12-1/2"D
Includes One Pair Front and One Pair Rear Channel Satellite Speakers
- 3-5/8" Fiber Cone Woofer
- 5/8" Multi-Directional Dome Tweeter
- 2-Way Design; Magnetically Shielded
- Use with Equipment 5 to 100 Watts
- Frequency Response: 35 Hz to 20 kHz
- Impedance: 8 Ohms Average
- Dimensions: 6-3/8"H x 4"W x 5"D
Includes One Matching Center Channel Speaker
- 3-5/8" Fiber Cone Woofers
- 5/8" Multi-Directional Dome Tweeter
- 2-Way Design; Magnetically Shielded
- Use with Equipment 5 to 100 Watts
- Frequency Response: 35 Hz to 20 kHz
- Impedance: 8 Ohms Average
- Dimensions: 6-3/8"H x 4"W x 5"D
Includes Speaker Wire
Warranty:
- 1 Year Limited Parts/Labor
As recommended by my brother-in-law, we bought two adjustable speaker stands for behind the couch and set up two of the speakers on those stands on either end of the couch 1' from each corner of the back of the couch and at level with the top of the couch in height. The other three speakers we set up on the top of our 4' high entertainment unit (an inexpensive one from Best Buy that is 5' wide). Two of the speakers sit on the back R & L corners of the unit, pointing toward the center of the room. The last speaker, the one marked as center, sits in between those speakers, pointing straight into the center of the room. The sub sits behind the unit, hidden from view. Ideally, I understand that it is best to put the sub behind the couch at the back of the room (our couch is parallel to the entertainment unit); however, due to cat constraints, this was not an ideal solution (they can't get behind the unit, but they can get behind the couch).
I was happy to discover that the speakers did work better in a system. With the other KLH components, they offer clear and precise sound quality for an average living room environment (mine is 15'x16'). I am very happy with the output for my 27" average RCA TV). I would like to point out that, in a larger environment, or from the perspective of a listener that is not sitting directly in between the rear speakers, the nice sound this package offers could become watered down. Overall, this speaker set is more than fine for my needs or for the needs of a beginner in stereo equipment. I would not recommend it for someone more polished in the refinements of entertainment sound or for someone who has a larger listening environment.
Bottom Line: I would easily recommended these speakers in a surround sound environment for an average living room, as I am sure they were intended, and for beginners and/or people with a smaller budget. I would not recommend the speakers alone or for someone with a larger room or components that demand higher quality sound.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 30
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Epinions.com ID:
kblier
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Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 4 members
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