Need Speaker Advice – Budget Setup for 20m² Living Room

[EAXAE]

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for a bit of guidance on choosing speakers for a living room.

Setup Info:

• Room size: ~20 square meters
• Listening distance: 2–3 meters, but I’ll be moving around and listening from other rooms too
• Sources:
  • A basic vinyl player, no fancy phono stage or anything (RCA)
  • TV, mostly YouTube and Spotify (HDMI or Bluetooth)
  • Phone with Spotify via Bluetooth

What I’m looking for:

• Budget-friendly, under $600, the cheaper the better.
• Preferably active (don’t want to deal with an external amp)
• Pleasant design (they’ll be visible in the living room)
• Soundbar suggestions are welcome too, if they make more sense for this use case

I’d love to hear your recommendations — specific models, brands, or even what to stay away from.
Thanks!

 

[Bruce Morgen]

Kali Audio LP-8s if you want to buy new, IN-8v2s are even better and can found within your budget used.

 

[Overseas]

Triangle br03 , 02

 

[staticV3]

Budget-friendly, under $600, the cheaper the better.

Is that in total, including stands etc?

 

[BeeKay]

I would consider used stuff too when budget is paramount. Prices are really nice while the gear often was maintained with some attention. Passive not much of a risk, active is another thing

 

[EAXAE]

Kali Audio LP-8s if you want to buy new, IN-8v2s are even better and can found within your budget used.

Thanks for suggestion! Kali won't do though as these models don't have Bluetooth and do not look like they belong in a living room.

Triangle br03 , 02

Thanks! Good looking speakers, yet they're passive.

Is that in total, including stands etc?

No, don't need stands.

I would consider used stuff too when budget is paramount.

Yes, I don't mind buying used.

 

[Overseas]

Checkg Triangle, they have active models. But better, they are good at sound.
Check Audiophonics

 

[staticV3]

But better, they are good at sound.

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

 

[Overseas]

I know , i know.
I just listen daily to.my Australe EZ. My wife loves them, heck my dog loves them.
Triangle, Focal. These French guys knowv their shit.

 

[JeremyFife]

Aesthetics are very personal, but a pair of used Genelec 8030 are just in budget ... see what you think

 

[TimW]

Klipsch The Fives have all of the inputs you'd need and are intended for use in a living room.

I see them for $600 right now on Amazon.

 

[EAXAE]

Aesthetics are very personal, but a pair of used Genelec 8030 are just in budget ... see what you think

Yeah, I already have 8030 in my another apartment. They are too expensive though, $1000 used where I'm from. And no Bluetooth.

Klipsch The Fives have all of the inputs you'd need and are intended for use in a living room.

I see them for $600 right now on Amazon.

Great suggestion, ticks all the boxes. Already on my short list. The only problem is new ones are $1100+ where I'm from, and I've never seen any on the used market.

 

[staticV3]

The only problem is new ones are $1100+ where I'm from

Where are you from?

Sources:

• A basic vinyl player, no fancy phono stage or anything (RCA)
• TV, mostly YouTube and Spotify (HDMI or Bluetooth)
• Phone with Spotify via Bluetooth

Are you fine with using an external remote control to control playback volume?

If you want to be able to control volume using the TV's own remote, then you'd need speakers or a DAC with HDMI ARC input, which would either limit your options, or eat into your budget.

 

[EAXAE]

Where are you from?

Easten Europe with no access to Amazon etc.

Are you fine with using an external remote control to control playback volume?

If you want to be able to control volume using the TV's own remote, then you'd need speakers or a DAC with HDMI ARC input, which would either limit your options, or eat into your budget.

Thanks for the info about ARC. Now it's either speakers with it or with Bluetooth.

 

[Overseas]

Amazon.de will probably ship to you.

 

[TimW]

Easten Europe with no access to Amazon etc.



Thanks for the info about ARC. Now it's either speakers with it or with Bluetooth.

A speaker with ARC and HDMI-CEC is nice because the TV will be able to control its volume and also turn it on and off. With BT you would have to turn the speaker on and off manually or leave it on all the time.

What brands are commonly available to you in your area? ELAC? KEF? Kanto? Neumi? Onkyo? PSB?

All of those brands make powered speakers with HDMI input intended for home use.

 

[kyuu]

Are you dead set against having a separate box? If you're able to get Wiim devices in your area, utilizing one of the Wiim streamers with some actives would open up your options a bit. Or using one of the Wiim amps with a couple of passives would get you even more options.

With your budget, aesthetic and functionality requirements, and market, pickings are pretty slim. Are Vanatoo Transparent Encore Plus available in your market?

 

[EAXAE]

What brands are commonly available to you in your area? ELAC? KEF? Kanto? Neumi? Onkyo? PSB?

KEF and Elac are pretty common, Triangles are rare, no new wave brands like Kanto or Neumi whatsoever. The only viable option I've found on used market is KEF LSX II for $800.

Basically all kinds of soundbars are available though. I've seen glowing recomendations here on ASR, are they really good?

If you're able to get Wiim devices in your area, utilizing one of the Wiim streamers with some actives would open up your options a bit. Or using one of the Wiim amps with a couple of passives would get you even more options.

True. Although having a Wiim device in a system isn't ideal, I'll keep them in mind. Used Wiim Mini is $100 for me, Wiim Amp — $500.

With your budget, aesthetic and functionality requirements, and market, pickings are pretty slim.

That’s the nicest way to put it!

 

[Head_Unit]

Phone with Spotify via Bluetooth

Are you opposed to an external Bluetooth adaptor? (Which would mean the speaker would need an additional RCA input). Or small external streamer like a WiiM which *might* deliver better sound via Spotify Connect (with only the Spotify compression, and not the Bluetooth compression on top, is what I'm thinking. IF that's how Spotify Connect works). I wouldn't think an external Bluetooth would be much different than built-in, and would open up a larger selection of powered speakers.

 

[kemmler3D]

JBL 308p mkII are still pretty good in this price range and often come up second hand, with those you would not have to work very hard on your source.