2.0 options - TV/music in small room - <$500 CAD

[theevilsloth]

Hi everyone, I want to create an audio setup for TV/Movies in my living room. The speakers are 6ft away from the couch and will be directly in front of a wall. For music listening, I need the sound to reach 10ft behind the speakers (dining room). I have a budget of $500 CAD.

Source: Movies/TV will use a Chromecast plugged into the HDMI-in of my TV. Music will use Bluetooth -> DAC.

Option 1: passive 2.0 speakers + a combo DAC/amp with optical and Bluetooth

• Passive: JBL Stage A130 ($300), Sony SSCS5 ($330), Kanto Yu Passive 5.25" ($290), Micca RB42 ($200)
• DAC/Amp (with Bluetooth + optical): Aiyima D03 ($200), T8/T9 ($170), Loxjie A30 ($215)

Option 2: 2.0 active Bluetooth speakers + a DAC with optical

• Active: Edifier 1700BTs ($250), R1280 DBs ($200), JBL 305 ($230).

What's my best option here, am I missing anything? Missing any speakers within price range?

 

[Yasuo]

I would go with option 1. It gives you more flexibility and you can later upgrade (like adding a subwoofer)

 

[theevilsloth]

I would go with option 1. It gives you more flexibility and you can later upgrade (like adding a subwoofer)

Thanks - yeah I don't see myself upgrading anytime soon, but nice to keep that option open.

What speaker/DAC combo would you go with in this price range?

 

[Yasuo]

JBL Stage A130 & Loxjie A30 (but this is based purely on what I've read)

LE - what I would prefer: JBL Professional 306P MkII + Topping E30 II DAC

 

[Elitzur–Vaidman]

How soon do you want/need to make your purchase? If you can wait a little bit, JBL Studio 530s regularly go on sale for $230 a pair. I'd go with those + a loxjie a30 or similar.

 

[theevilsloth]

How soon do you want/need to make your purchase? If you can wait a little bit, JBL Studio 530s regularly go on sale for $230 a pair. I'd go with those + a loxjie a30 or similar.

I can wait, but I'm not optimistic about sourcing the JBL Studio 530s in Canada - right now, there's not a single site selling them, unfortunately.

 

[GDK]

I recently reached out to JBL to ask how I might acquire a pair of Studio 690s here in Canada and they said it wasn’t possible.