JM Lab/Focal Chorus Line-up. The Pioneer's are great and you can get them at Best Buy (so you can take them back if you don't like them). Some PSB's are excellent.

I'd love to hear about the mods - what they entail and how much of an improvement it makes. Seems unbelievably cheap!

My apologies for the tardy response.
It is has been quite busy as Cassa Curmudgeon lately.

Since my last post, one of our local group has stumbled upon a jackpot of sorts.
It seems these crossovers are for all intents & purposes identical the ones we designed for the Dayton B652.
Chris was able to purchase 20 sets at via a 'pennies on the dollar' liquidation for a ridiculously low price.
So low he is essentially giving them away to any one who will use them.

They work slightly better than the ones we made.

If we were to build these ourselves with equivalent-quality components (& no circuit board) it would be in the $40 -$50 range easily.

If anyone is interested, I can put them in touch with Chris.
For the cost of shipping & literally pocket change (less than he paid) he is more than happy to 'share the wealth’.

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

Here is a schematic of the crossover Chris designed.

As you can clearly see, no expense or adoption of the latest technologies are spared at Cassa Curmudgeon.

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

You really can only answer this question once you have defined a budget and a speaker type; otherwise you end up being so general that it is silly and useless.

One person's best budget speaker is the best floorstander for under $1000, while the next person's best budget speaker is the best bookshelf speaker for under $50; and so on!

Wealthy is just more than you have...

Yes, commsysman, the term 'Budget' is relative, as is the OP's question.

& there have been many speakers across a wide price spectrum mentioned in this thread.

But I have read many interesting comments & recommendations here.

As Mark Twain is to have said, "All generalizations are false, including this one".

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

Parts Express just upgraded the B652

You can trust that we will have a couple pair shortly.

I will pass on our impressions as soon as we get a chance to hear them.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-b652-air-6-1-2-bookshelf-speaker-pair-with-amt-tweeter--300-651

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

Any model by Thiel.

I had a pair of Rti4's on pedestal stands for about ten years, and I loved them. I've still got them on a shelf in the bedroom closet if anyone wants to make an offer on them. I brought home a pair of Bowers and Wilkins 685's, but (call me crazy), I didn't like the way they sounded. The high end sounded harsh and loud and distorted to me. I wound up taking them back to Best Buy and bringing home a pair of Rtia5 floorstanders, which I love. They're two-way, so only one crossover,and I was able to get rid of my subwoofer. I never really liked subwoofers much, they just sound boomy and muddy up the sound to me.

a couple of speakers i love, and i enjoy despite owning a more expensive set for main listening room...

(1) Totem Dreamcatchers (you can score a pair under $500 on ebay but they go quick)
honestly a superb speaker. big resolution, dynamic, wide stage, not fussy to set up, and tiny for the huge, accurate, velvety sound it kisses your ears with. a favorite of mine.

(2) AudioEngine A2... if you sit close (~2ft) and set them up right, these are amazing monitors. at under $200...? i have to pinch myself at times. i listen to classical music on these little things for hours. everything sounds right. i have acquaintances that have been converted to start as audiophiles because of these after listening to them in my office (they will prolly hate me in a few years) :-).

(3) There is a German brand called Nubert - brilliant little active speakers.

(4) KEF LS50. sure at $1.5k they are not really budget.... but they are budget *reference* speakers. in a smaller listening room it is all one would ever need. dollar for dollar i think it is the best speaker ever produced.

When I think budget, I usually think below $200. Anybody have any speakers at, just barely above, or under that price that can stand with some authority?
I enjoy a very dynamic and textured bass response for bass guitar, timpani and bass drum rolls, and sometimes when string instruments really dig low. I also like a nice prominent midrange, and very very detailed highs. Gotta get that cymbal play, dammit!

this thread was started in 2005! I hope the op got his answer, I just started a new vs vintage thread and am hoping it compiles a list of bang for the buck 2nd hand speakers.