Video Asylum

Posted by -3db on February 28, 2001 at 05:18:44:

In Reply to: cheap surround system ? posted by jack on February 25, 2001 at 19:51:23:

Dear Jack,

The PSB system is actually pretty good, but I can better it for the price.

1) Radio Shack LX-55's front & rear (on sale now at US$150 per pair, this is the one with the Lineaum tweeter. These things are excellent, the best rears in the business, for good fronts you have to get the passive sub; discontinued, but still around, or used rw-14 or something is the model #. This passive sub matches the sensitivity and has a good slope to match the Lx-55's. US$50 is what I paid. I've seen these used in pawn shops for $75. The center is the LX-88. very good at $100US on sale.

I have also gotten the LX-5's used for $88US.

The LX-5/LX-55 fronts should be modified by removing the top grille, and cutting a covering back from big foam block(sprayed black) to dampen the back wave. Open speaker from back, put in one half of a maxipad. Get Oil caps from Triode guy in Chicago if you want to replace the crossover caps 6uf external.
These mods, along with the passive sub balance the mids with the tweeter, and turn the speaker into a damn fine music maker = to $1200+ speakers.

Leave the rears as bipoles, but remove the top grille, and put the half maxipad inside. Get the passive sub for the rears also if you want.

Total cost not including speakerwire:
Fronts on sale ; $150
Passive sub ; $ 50
Rears ; $150
Center ; $100
Costco KLH sub ; $100
TOTAL; $550 for a system which will kick ass, and deliver some very refined music also if you want it.

Good Luck, the mods are fun-
-3db
Bad Boy