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Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater Surround Sound, Stereo, and Passive Near Field Monitor, 2-Way (Black, Pair)
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Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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- Select the return method
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Micca |
Model Name | Media Series |
Speaker Type | Bookshelf |
Connectivity Technology | Wired |
Special Feature | Silk Dome Tweeter, Carbon Fiber Woofer, Ported Enclosure |
About this item
- The MB42 is a demonstration of our designers’ love for the classic compact bookshelf speaker. Handsomely styled with simple contours and modern design cues, the MB42 is easy to place and blends into any room or decor. Its enhanced audio capability makes it a great fit with a wide range of usage scenarios, including living room stereo, home theater surround sound, office background music, or computer desktop sound.
- Our design starts with carefully picked drivers that mesh perfectly in the critical crossover overlap region. It incorporates a balanced woven carbon fiber woofer for enhanced transient and impactful bass, and a high performance silk dome tweeter for smooth treble and accurate imaging. The drivers are housed in a ported enclosure that delivers extended bass response with low distortion. A simple yet effective 6db/Octave crossover helps the drivers blend together for a smooth tonal balance.
- The fabric front grills are easy to take off and put on. Leave them on for a classic look or take them off to show off the incredibly handsome drivers. Full size 5-way binding posts provide the full complement of speaker wire connectivity options. Hex screws are used throughout for assembly.
- Home Trial - Listen for yourself, try them in your home with your music. Place the MB42 along a wall or near a corner of the room for best results. They can be used on desks, book/wall shelves, or on speaker stands.
- Specifications: Woofer: 4" Carbon Fiber, Rubber Surround; Tweeter: 0.75" Silk Dome; Crossover: 6dB/Octave; Enclosure: Ported; Frequency Response: 60Hz-20kHz<br> Impedance: 4-8 Ohms; Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1M; Power Handling: 75 Watts (Each); Dimensions: 9.5" (H) x 5.8" (W) x 6.5"
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From the manufacturer
Note: MB42 speakers are not self-powered and require an amplifier or receiver to play music.
Micca home audio products focus on delivering unbeatable value, with each product engineered to offer the most performance for its market segment.
Proudly designed in the USA, built with high-quality components and rigorous design, Micca speakers deliver exceptional sound quality and classic good looks.
Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers
Note: MB42 speakers are not self-powered and require an amplifier or receiver to play music.
The Micca MB42 bookshelf speakers render an amazing listening experience while taking up very little in space or budget. Handsomely styled with classic appearance and natural textures, the MB42 is easy to place and blends into any room or decor. Its well balanced sound signature and vocal clarity are a great fit with a wide range of usage scenarios, from background music to home theater.
- Neutral and accurate sound signature with excellent vocal clarity
- Compact classic design is easy to place and disappears into any room or decor
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Amplifier Required!An amplifier is required for use with this speaker and is not included. Use your existing amplifier, home theater receiver, or choose the Micca OriGain compact amplifier. |
Silk Dome TweeterHigh performance 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter. Well integrated driver output matching for smooth treble, wide dispersion, and accurate imaging. |
Carbon Fiber Woofer4-Inch balanced woven carbon fiber woofer with rubber surround for enhanced transients. Matched ported enclosure tuning for deep and rich bass output. |
Classic Good LooksSimple yet sophisticated design with rounded corners, soft bevels, and classic cloth grill design for a timeless look. The MB42 sounds good and looks good. |
Micca MB42 | Micca MB42X | Micca MB42-C | Micca MB42X-C | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars
5,877
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
5,877
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
5,877
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
5,877
|
Woofer | 4-Inch Carbon Fiber | 4-Inch Carbon Fiber | Dual 4-Inch Carbon Fiber | Dual 4-Inch Carbon Fiber |
Tweeter | 0.75-Inch Silk Dome | 0.75-Inch Silk Dome | 0.75-Inch Silk Dome | 0.75-Inch Silk Dome |
Crossover | Filtering capacitor on tweeter | Advanced 9-element, 18dB/Octave on woofer and tweeter | Filtering capacitor on tweeter | Advanced 9-element, 18dB/Octave on woofer and tweeter |
Enclosure | Rear ported, wood grain vinyl | Rear ported, matte black vinyl | Rear ported, wood grain vinyl | Rear ported, matte black vinyl |
Magnetic Grill System | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Frequency Response | 60Hz-20kHz | 60Hz-20kHz | 60Hz-20kHz | 60Hz-20kHz |
Power Handling | 75 Watts (Each) | 75 Watts (Each) | 100 Watts (Each) | 100 Watts (Each) |
Sensitivity | 85dB 1W/1M | 85dB 1W/1M | 86dB 1W/1M | 86dB 1W/1M |
Dimensions (inches) | 9.5 (H) x 5.8 (W) x 6.5 (D) | 9.5 (H) x 5.8 (W) x 6.5 (D) | 5.3 (H) x 15 (W) x 7.1 (D) | 5.3 (H) x 15 (W) x 7.1 (D) |
Requires Amplifier or Receiver | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note: MB42 speakers are not self-powered and require an amplifier or receiver to play music
Top Quality Components and Superior Construction
The MB42's design starts with carefully picked drivers that mesh perfectly in the critical crossover overlap region. It incorporates a balanced woven carbon fiber woofer and a high-performance silk dome tweeter. The drivers are housed in a ported enclosure. Full-size 5-way binding posts provide the full complement of speaker wire connectivity options. Hex screws are used throughout for assembly.
Home Trial
Listen for yourself. Discover how good an affordable pair of speakers can be by trying them in your home with your music. Place the MB42 along a wall or near a corner of the room for best results. They can be used on desks, book/wall shelves, or on speaker stands.
Compare with similar items
This Item Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater Surround Sound, Stereo, and Passive Near Field Monitor, 2-Way (Black, Pair) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -20% $79.99$79.99 List: $99.95 | $69.99$69.99 | $79.99$79.99 | $69.99$69.99 | $99.80$99.80 | -21% $106.99$106.99 List: $135.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Value for money | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | — | 4.6 |
Sound quality | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | — | 4.6 |
Quality of material | 4.5 | 4.3 | — | — | — | 5.0 |
Volume control | 4.2 | — | 4.3 | 4.3 | — | — |
Bass quality | 4.1 | 3.9 | — | — | — | 4.3 |
Sold By | Micca Distributor | GRD US | Saiyuan | Saiyuan | Molody | Amazon.com |
speaker size | — | 4 inches | 4 inches | 3.5 inches | — | 5.25 inches |
power source | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
connectivity tech | Wired | Coaxial | Bluetooth | Auxiliary | Bluetooth, Auxiliary, Coaxial cable | — |
speaker type | Bookshelf | Bookshelf | Surround Sound | Bookshelf | Bookshelf | Bookshelf |
mounting type | Shelf, Desk | Freestanding,Shelf Mount,Tabletop | Tabletop, bookshelf | Tabletop, bookshelf | Shelf Mount | Bookshelf, Wall Mount |
weight | 3 pounds | 4.71 kilograms | 10.2 pounds | 8.47 pounds | — | 10.6 pounds |
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 6.5 x 5.8 x 9.5 inches |
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Item Weight | 3 pounds |
Manufacturer | Micca |
ASIN | B009IUIV4A |
Item model number | MB42 |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #67,434 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #114 in Bookshelf Speakers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | September 28, 2012 |
Speakers Maximum Output Power | 75 Watts |
Item Weight | 3 Pounds |
Number Of Items | 2 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
The MB42 is a demonstration of our designers’ love for the classic compact bookshelf speaker. Handsomely styled with simple contours and modern design cues, the MB42 is easy to place and blends into any room or decor. Its enhanced audio capability makes it a great fit with a wide range of usage scenarios, including living room stereo, home theater surround sound, office background music, or computer desktop sound.
The Design
Our design starts with carefully picked drivers that mesh perfectly in the critical crossover overlap region. It incorporates a balanced woven carbon fiber woofer for enhanced transient and impactful bass, and a high performance silk dome tweeter for smooth treble and accurate imaging. The drivers are housed in a ported enclosure that delivers extended bass response with low distortion. A simple yet effective 6db/Octave crossover helps the drivers blend together for a smooth tonal balance.
The Construction
The fabric front grills are easy to take off and put on. Leave them on for a classic look or take them off to show off the incredibly handsome drivers. Full size 5-way binding posts provide the full complement of speaker wire connectivity options. Hex screws are used throughout for assembly.
Home Trial
Listen for yourself, try them in your home with your music. Place the MB42 along a wall or near a corner of the room for best results. They can be used on desks, book/wall shelves, or on speaker stands.
Specifications
Woofer: 4" Carbon Fiber, Rubber Surround
Tweeter: 0.75" Silk Dome
Crossover: 6dB/Octave
Enclosure: Ported
Frequency Response: 60Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 4-8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1M
Power Handling: 75 Watts (Each)
Dimensions: 9.5" (H) x 5.8" (W) x 6.5"
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, value, quality and size of the speakers. For example, they mention that they sound surprisingly good, are awesome and fill the bass perfectly without being muddy. They appreciate the build quality, saying that the woofer is extremely durable and the material is very nice. They also like that the speakers are relatively small, making them perfect for a small room. Customers are also impresseded with the performance, saying they perform flawlessly.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the speakers. For example, they mention they sound surprisingly good through a modest system, are awesome speakers to not break the bank with, and are quite happy with their volume. They say the bass fills the room perfectly without being muddy or too quiet. The sound is very clean, and the speakers are plenty efficient that they reach. They make great surround and satellite speakers, and allow you to hear dialogues in movies more clearly. Overall, customers are happy with the quality and quantity of these speakers.
"...The MB42X seem to have a fuller sound across their range, sound just fine and detailed at lower volumes and really start to shine when you give them..." Read more
"...all kinds of music: rock, metal, EDM, classical, pop punk and they all sound great. I found that the mids on these speakers really make vocals shine...." Read more
"...The sound? Gorgeous...." Read more
"...So, over all, for the price, they make great surround and satellite speakers if you use a subwoofer (Or turn up the bass on your stereo…) And..." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the speakers. They say it's a reasonable priced entry-level audiophile system that delivers solid performance on a budget. Customers also say the crossovers are worth the extra money and the speakers are revealing of detail at this price point.
"...So am I satisfied with my purchase? Definitely! Are they worth the money? Absolutely!UPDATE (2 days later)..." Read more
"...Prices are always competitive and shipping is usually very fast, even the free shipping...." Read more
"...speakers are top-of-the-line for the bookshelf or desktop, with a bargain price that you shouldn't pass up." Read more
"...OK. The MB42. Overall this is a great speaker for the price and is better than anything I found for a pair of speakers priced at 60 bucks...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the speakers. They say the build quality is solid, and the material is very nice. The kevlar makes the woofer extremely durable, and it has an almost 3 dimensional quality. The speakers are relatively cheap and are breaking in nicely.
"...Build quality was as hoped for: decent binding posts, excellent fit and finish (of relatively light 3/8" vinyl-covered particle board)...." Read more
"...The build quality seems good, but they are quite a bit lighter than I expected when setting them up and that made me skeptical of their performance..." Read more
"...have returned them when it first broke, but I was too satisfied with the overall quality and a little too lazy to go through the process of..." Read more
"...Gorgeous. When I unboxed these, I noted that they felt decent and solid - I was confident that there wouldn't be any rattling when playing at higher..." Read more
Customers like the size of the speakers. They say that they are physically small, but easily produce sound. They also say that the compact cabinet size, good woofer size, and internally damped vented make the speakers perfect for a small room. Some customers also say they fit almost perfectly on yoga blocks. Overall, customers are pleased with the overall spaciousness.
"...Build quality was as hoped for: decent binding posts, excellent fit and finish (of relatively light 3/8" vinyl-covered particle board)...." Read more
"...of both seem incredible to my aging ears, and they matched up perfectly with my small sub...." Read more
"...And it is tune ported for better bass response. It also excepts banana plugs for a more solid connection with speaker wires and have gold plated..." Read more
"...final note about their design, I really like the fact that they accept banana plugs...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the speakers. They say that it performs flawlessly, has an impressive base response, and works well for acoustic music. They also mention that it has improved its response over time. Overall, customers are satisfied with the performance and recommend the product to others.
"...The speaker still works, but I have to make sure the terminal stays in the socket; I've resorted to using tape to hold it in, and it works fine...." Read more
"...have pushed them yet, but at the volumes I have played them, they performed flawlessly...." Read more
"...than I expected when setting them up and that made me skeptical of their performance ability...until I turned them up...." Read more
"...is better than fabric, polypropylene or Mylar, so it gives a better smoother high range. So, the sound is better and more realistic...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the speakers. They mention that it is convenient, unobtrusive, and good looking. The mid-range is absolutely beautiful, and the highs are sharp and sparkly. They also appreciate the correct design and outstanding performance. The speaker looks very clean with and without the grill, and has a very crisp and airy sound.
"...Concertinos and they performed admirably - no resonant peak, just beautiful, clean sound...." Read more
"...work (they really like to move when turned up) and the speaker looks very clean with and without the grill as there are no holes on the face of the..." Read more
"...Overall, I'm very happy with these speakers. I love their looks...." Read more
"...fiber woofer of these speakers give them a classic, yet sexy high-tech appearance that says "expensive", even though they cost less than a..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the clarity of the speakers. They mention that the highs are crisp without being fatiguing, the bass is punchy and full, and they emphasize the high notes very well. The trumpets are clear without being strident, and the cymbals have a nice presence. Overall, customers are happy with the speakers' clarity and soundstage.
"...They also stay quite clear at "loud" volumes- of course I can get them to distort if I turn everything up beyond reasonable levels in my..." Read more
"...The miccas have a fuller sound to me and a little more clarity in the highs, but it could just be that I prefer the micca's sound signature...." Read more
"...speakers really shine are in the mid-range and high sections; both areas are clear and bright...." Read more
"...They have beautifully crisp highs and get quite low for their size...." Read more
Customers find the speakers easy to setup. They say the instructions are clear and the speakers are light, making mounting them easy. The speakers come with an hex wrench, so no tools are needed. Customers also say the quality is very good, simple, and functional. They mention that the upgrade itself was simple and easy to understand.
"...The crossover comes with an hex wrench, so no tools are needed. Just undo everything and put it back the way it goes. The crossover is 2nd order...." Read more
"...I bought a pair and installed them today. Very easy, takes about 5 minutes per speaker with no special tools...." Read more
"...I dont have super ears and is just an average listener. The upgrade itself was very simple...." Read more
"...but works fine in many other placements and small enough so it is easy to handle." Read more
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First, the "bad": one has no right to expect powerful or deep bass at this size or price, and, indeed, they don't go down very low. But the bass is fairly solid and clean right down to where they started to lose steam (around 80-100Hz in my estimation - they really don't go down to the 60Hz specified, in my opinion). I won't concentrate heavily on specs in this discussion, because most people don't have measurement equipment, and, interestingly, most people perceive 80-100Hz as "deep bass" (they also perceive 12KHz as "very high treble"). But where you can tell is with music containing quality bass content (electric bass guitar, string quartets with bass fiddle, organ music, etc.). These speakers didn't do a bad job, but they sure don't give you the physical pounding that you get from speakers with top-class bass response (Klipschorns, or 18" sound reinforcement systems used in concerts, etc.). Room placement is key, here (this is mentioned prominently in the manufacturer's literature, in fact). I placed them along the short wall of a 15'x24' rectangular room, about 6" from the wall and 4' from the corners, and they produced shockingly pleasing sound. Again, not powerful bass, but entirely pleasant and adequate.
The only other area where I felt that my high-end speakers were audibly superior was what I would call a slight "softness" in the midrange and upper midrange. This most noticeably affects female vocals, and was, for example, noticeable on Sara K's "Hobo" album, and, to a similar extent, on stuff by Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris.
To their credit, these speakers behaved very well at amazingly loud (for their price and size) levels, even though their published sensitivity is 85dBm. This relatively low number means that they need, say, 10 times as much power as a 95dBm speaker to produce the same level, and that translates to a boatload of power going into them in order to sound loud. They're rated at 75W, but I'm certain that if you actually ran them at 75W continuous, they'd be quite well cooked in a minute or so (as would your ears). So I was probably driving about 4W average into them and they sounded quite impressive.
The clean sound and overall balance is really wonderful (that almost insignificant midrange softness mentioned above doesn't really detract). They're just so pleasant to listen to, you really could mistake them for speakers costing 20 times more. So far, I've AB'ed them with Sonus Faber Concertinos. Admittedly not every uber-audiophile will rate those at the absolute top of the small-speaker spectrum, but they're quite respectable (and around $1000/pr). The differences with the MB42s were audible, but not severe. As I said, you would never guess that you were listening to $50 speakers, and to be able to compare them with the Concertinos in the same paragraph is nothing short of astounding.
Build quality was as hoped for: decent binding posts, excellent fit and finish (of relatively light 3/8" vinyl-covered particle board). They probably weigh 1/4 as much as the Concertinos, and while one might want something sturdier, at $50 you are simply not going to find that.
A thought about that modest bass response: a lot of folks will be tempted to add a subwoofer to make up for missing bass. I've found, sadly, that most affordable subwoofers do a really poor job of augmenting bass response. They insert a huge bump somewhere between 60Hz and 100Hz, but the result isn't natural-sounding bass, just an impressive thump-and-boom. I understand that's what a lot of people want, but that's just not going to make these speakers sound fabulous. You'd have to consider spending $500 to $1000 or more on a serious powered subwoofer system to get a combined system worth listening to, and let's face it, there's just no way it could be worth adding a $1000 subwoofer to a $50 pair of main speakers. I mean, you *could* do it and it would sound very good, but if you've got the money, you should first look at spending more on the main speakers and probably forget the subwoofer altogether.
I next hope to compare these to Bose Acoustimass 5 Speaker System - Black , a system that I've never really enjoyed listening to, but which, at $399, should, in principle, outperform the Micca MB42.
One last point: considering that you could combine these with an excellent quality inexpensive amp like LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply or FiiO A1 Mini 2x14W Class-D Digital Audio Amplifier or Topping TP20-MK2 MKII TA2020 Class T-AMP Digital Stereo Amplifier , you'd have a killer system for around $100 that could hold its own (respectably!) against systems costing way over $1000.
So am I satisfied with my purchase? Definitely! Are they worth the money? Absolutely!
UPDATE (2 days later)
I've had a chance to listen to a lot more music, and have discovered a moderately unpleasant narrow resonance peak in the midrange (haven't measured - seems like it might be around 600Hz). This was surprisingly and annoyingly audible on a performance of The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy". To be sure I wasn't imagining it, I played the same segment on the Sonus Faber Concertinos and they performed admirably - no resonant peak, just beautiful, clean sound. Having heard that CD through many other speakers, I was pretty sure it was the Miccas, but there's no doubt about it. Pretty annoying.
Interestingly, the peak is narrow enough to not be audible on most material, but wow, when you hear it, it really sings (and not in a good way). OK, we're still talking about $50/pr speakers, here, so it's something I can overlook, but I sure won't be playing The Nutcracker on these speakers again.
UPDATE 5/27/2013:
If you happen to read recent reviews of the Dayton Audio B652 6-1/2-Inch 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair , it seems that they've "updated" that speaker with an inferior product that buyers are quite unhappy with. So it looks like, in this price/size range, the Micca speakers are the one to buy - if you can get them.
I am using the speakers in a 2.1 desktop system, primarily for music, some movies and Netflix, as well as a small amount of gaming. The complete setup consists of a HP desktop with the ASUS Xonar DX sound card installed, Mediabridge 3.5mm to RCA cable connecting the sound card to the TP22 amp, cheapo speaker wire (will be replaced soon) to the MB42X, and finally the Polk PSW10 powered subwoofer- which has now become the weakest link of my system, as well as the crappy speaker wire.
The little Miccas will almost completely drown out the PSW10 when I play them loud, even with bass heavy music. Now keep in mind the small 4" woofers will not go down to sub-bass frequencies, but they play what they can hit with authority and clarity. I am listening to them now and should mention even though I have not played them a full 20 hours or whatever to fully "loosen" the drivers, I am hearing sounds in my music I was not hearing before with a big name branded "studio monitor" called the AV40. I suspect the amp has something to do with that, as the drivers of the AV40 seem of decent quality, but they must use cheaper electronics to keep prices down.
The MB42X/TP22 combo is far and away better than the AV40, in my opinion, and with sale prices can be had for not much more than the AV40 and is still cheaper than the next level of powered monitors or bookshelf speakers. The MB42X seem to have a fuller sound across their range, sound just fine and detailed at lower volumes and really start to shine when you give them some power. I like the magnetic grills- makes it easy to remove them and watch the little woofers work (they really like to move when turned up) and the speaker looks very clean with and without the grill as there are no holes on the face of the speaker, but really I don't think one should worry too much about how a speaker looks for obvious reasons.
I was trying to keep this short, but if I am taking the time to write a review, I feel it's worth offering all of my feedback to help people make their decision. The build quality seems good, but they are quite a bit lighter than I expected when setting them up and that made me skeptical of their performance ability...until I turned them up. Again, not of much concern but worth mentioning. the 42X is lighter than the satellite AV40 speaker- the one with no amp inside. I think the cabinets are not as thick material.
People have talked about box resonance, standing waves, this, that and the other technical terms the hard core "audiophiles" like to throw around. I would not label myself as such, but do appreciate a high quality sound system and this should be more than satisfactory for anyone looking for good sound quality at a reasonable price. Micca got this speaker right and the price is why they get 5 stars from me. I would probably give the speaker itself 4 stars as a 5 star speaker will have even more range. Again, you are looking at $200 or more for just the speakers. This setup was less than $200 for everything except speaker wire since I had some laying around.
They need a more powerful sub. I have my eye on the Dayton Sub-1000, which effectively doubles the power of the PSW10, and should be good for a mix of music and movies. The Sub-1200 looks nice as well, but I think the 10" should be a good match for my setup and I don't need super loud room shaking bass, just enough to fill out the bottom end and hit hard in movies or bass heavy music. That comes out to almost $300 even for a very nice sounding desktop or bedroom system- both in my case. Some have said the speaker could even be used as a studio monitor, which I do not doubt.
Finally, everything I have mentioned here was purchased through Amazon and the service has always been great. Prices are always competitive and shipping is usually very fast, even the free shipping. This order (speakers, amp and cable) was an exception due to a delay with Amazon and my bank processing the payment- these things happen. One phone call to Amazon got that cleared up and they sent my package over night, which was not requested by me at any time. Mostly, I was just calling to make sure everything was in stock, etc. because the order had not shipped for a couple days after placing it, which doesn't happen often in my experience here. They explained everything to me, then said it would be delivered the next day- still free shipping. Thanks again Amazon for the service and offering so much helpful information through the website itself and allowing us to post our feedback.
5 star service rating for the Amazon team!