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Topic: Good portable powered speakers for $80-120 (Read 3816 times) previous topic - next topic
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Good portable powered speakers for $80-120

Hi, I am looking for a clean sounding portable powered speaker system around $80-120 that can be cranked up to produce volume that is at least loudER than the cheapo 'Harman Kardon HK195 speakers' outdoors.  It will be likely used with ipods and a laptop.

So far, what comes to my mind is the M-Audio AV40s, AudioEngine A2, and Samson MediaOne 3A.  (m-audio av40 reviews tend to show many heat/reliability complaints tho)
(I know those are basically marketed as accurate-responce monitors with a close-field sweet spot, my thinking is they should already sound much better than "multimedia marketed" speakers off-axis at a distance)

What do you guys think?

Good portable powered speakers for $80-120

Reply #1 –
For outdoor use, you probably want powered "PA speakers" rather than computer speakers or monitors.    But, you probably won't be able to get a pair in your price range.  You might have to settle for mono.  Here are some examples.  (Some of these you might not consider "portable".)

Or for about twice your budget, you can get a little portable PA system something like this.  (These usually are not stereo either, although they often have two speakers.)

Note that most "studio monitors" don't have grills over the drivers which can make toting them around risky.  PA speakers/monitors tend to be a bit more rugged.

Good portable powered speakers for $80-120

Reply #2 –
Quote from: DVDdoug on
For outdoor use, you probably want powered "PA speakers" rather than computer speakers or monitors.    But, you probably won't be able to get a pair in your price range.  You might have to settle for mono.  Here are some examples.  (Some of these you might not consider "portable".)

Or for about twice your budget, you can get a little portable PA system something like this.  (These usually are not stereo either, although they often have two speakers.)

Note that most "studio monitors" don't have grills over the drivers which can make toting them around risky.  PA speakers/monitors tend to be a bit more rugged.


PA speakers are bigger than what my strict portability requirements allow (I think powered-bookshelf-sized is the limit at most); I'm hoping for something the same or a little bigger than the Harman Kardon HK195 speakers that used to be in use.  It is expected that the speakers are to be placed (and used) on a kitchen counter whenever it isn't in use outdoors.  I won't be needing to carry them back and forth very far however. The audio doesn't need to be a whole lot louder than the cheapo speakers I own now either, only as long as it is at least to a degree louder than those cheapo speakers; I am not trying to fill something the size of a sports stadium with loud music.

Good portable powered speakers for $80-120

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ray890 on
So far, what comes to my mind is the M-Audio AV40s, AudioEngine A2, and Samson MediaOne 3A.  (m-audio av40 reviews tend to show many heat/reliability complaints tho)


I am very satisfied with my AudioEngine A2. I have used the M-Audio AV40 in the past, but the left channel blew right after the warranty period. The build quality of the A2 is superior and IMHO sounds better than the AV40 even though it is 10 watts less in RMS. The A2s are also more portable.