If you're an audiophile or just someone looking to get good sound on a budget, you might have been in the same position I was – searching for decent sound quality without breaking the bank.
I’ve been interested in passive speakers for a long time, but the entry cost has always been too high. Most audiophiles will laugh at you if you're listening to budget gear, saying you’re wasting money.
Well, I bought a pair of HiVi T200C active speakers 8 years ago for $500, so I decided to use them as a reference and see if a budget passive speaker could hold its ground.
The First Hurdle: Passive Speakers Need an Amp
The main issue with passive speakers is that you need an amplifier to drive them. I started with a $200 DIY TPA3116 amp, but as soon as I powered it on, there was crackling and a terrible hum.
The noise floor was unbearable. After this disappointment, I decided to try a different route and went for an $80 amp from BRZHIFI. I tested it with a few passive speakers I had on hand, and the sound quality was pretty good. Compared to that $200 amp, this one sounded way better.
A New Hope with Higher Expectations
After reading tons of reviews, I decided to try a pair of $260 passive speakers with 6.5-inch front-facing dual drivers. When they arrived, I was let down. The sound was chaotic – too much bass, and it sounded all over the place.
If you dialed down the bass, it was somewhat tolerable, but the build quality was way too thin. These 6.5-inch speakers weighed only 6kg for the pair, or 3kg each. Way too flimsy. I ended up returning them and losing just $1 in shipping.
Low Expectations, but a New Surprise
At this point, I wasn’t expecting much from speakers in this price range. However, sticking to the value-for-money mindset, I decided to look for a heavier, better-built speaker cabinet, and try some DIY with better drivers and crossovers.
Maybe I’d find a hidden gem. That’s when I came across this speaker that was the heaviest in the $100 range. It had 6.5-inch drivers and weighed a solid 12kg, which caught my attention. There weren’t many reviews – only about ten – so I didn’t have much to go on, but I decided to give it a try.
A Pleasant Surprise: Better Than Expected Sound Quality
When the speaker arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality and weight. It felt solid. I hooked it up to the amp and started listening, and wow! The sound was clear, with well-balanced highs and lows. Is this an $80 speaker?
I couldn’t believe how good it sounded. To make sure, I did a direct A/B comparison with my HiVi T200C active speakers and found that the clarity of the sound was better on the budget speakers.
The bass and vocals were even a bit more solid. The main difference was in the detail and warmth of the sound. The HiVi T200C had a richer, more tube-like sound, while the budget speakers were a bit more direct and clinical.
I wouldn’t say the $80 speakers completely outperformed the HiVi speakers, which cost close to $500 (though probably not worth that much anymore), but they held their own. The detail wasn’t as refined as the T200C but for $80? They’re doing remarkably well.
Final Setup and Gear
As for my setup: the speakers were $80, the amp was a no-name $200 model, and the source was a ShiKuan D3PRO DAC, which cost about $300, connected to my computer. I’m planning to try it again without the DAC to see how it sounds.
For true audiophiles, this setup might seem like cheap gear, but for those of us on a budget who still want good sound, it’s a solid option.
I found it hard to find guidance when searching for speakers and amps – most of the advice out there is focused on $5000-$10,000 high-end systems, which is just not realistic for people like me who don’t have a huge budget but still want great sound.
Honestly, for an $80 speaker and an $80 amp, the sound quality is more than worth it.
