Just like the title says.
This is for my RV. For ages I had a Boston Acoustics 2.1 system that was a $180 closeout on Crutchfield. It had a powered 8" sub in a small box and two little cube mains. I think it was likely marketed toward gamers or high-end computing, and less for home theater, but it was actually perfect for the camper. It did it's thing for about 10 years and now it's dead. It will accept an input for a few seconds, then fades out and just clicks. I want to replace it.
Wants:
- audio in for the TV and bluetooth so it can double as my sound system paired with phone/spotify. The TV is a little older, so I'm not sure if it has optical output, but I know it has HDMI, 1/8", and RCA.
- compact size. Most of them I'm finding are for 60" TVs and up, so they're like 4 feet long
- DIY/knockdown/make it myself is an option
- Budget $150 ish. (it is just a camper after all)
- I don't need anything crazy like surround, I just want a good, full-range stereo sound that doesn't take up a ton of space in an RV.
- I also don't need it to be loud. A) it's a campground and I'm inside an aluminum box, and B) I'm sitting 5' away from the speaker.
I hit up the Amalazon and found names I trust for $500-1000, like Klipsch, Bose, Harmon Kardon, etc, and then eleventy quillion results for cheap, knock-off Oogblm or Krmax stuff. I figure one of you nutjobs has bought one of the cheapy sound bars with the funny Amazon name and found it to be actually pretty good.
Other possibilities: I had purchased one of these MKBoom bluetooth kits for a gift for someone and assembled it, and I'm pretty impressed with the sound for $150. It might work as long as I don't expect much response below 120hz. I supposed I could also save some coin by finding a just-sub part of a 2.1 system on FBM which would allow me to get everything in the above kit except the plate amp and power supply... just drive the MKBoom with the amp in the sub. Downside - it's not really compact, but mounted under the cabinets it might do the trick.
If you can, I would try and wait until cybermonday. I am sure there will be better deals then, otherwise this might work if you can figure out how to connect it to your tv. Might be worth a Costco trip:
I would not discount one of these either, I have one in the garage and I am always amazed at how good it sounds. I have the previous version and it has 1/8 input too.
Are you ever going to be parked somewhere in total solitude where you might want to play a Pink Floyd I.M.P.U.L.S.E. live video dvd concert? At full volume? Just replace the 2.1 with a great Crutchfield or Parts-Express.com knock down stereo kit. If you just want to listen to a transistor radio, get the soundbar. 
Edit: I'm trying to say that there is nothing better than a 2.1 satellite/sub stereo.
I haven't heard too many Bose products I've cared for. But, audio is subjective, we've all got our opinions...if I was getting a soundbar, I'd go JBL.
I have been impressed by the Edifier active speakers I've heard. They're Chinesium, but seem to have found a way to squeeze the money out of the product while still sounding better than they should.
I've heard the R1280Ts and they're nicely balanced and musical for $120/pr. They do clip in kind of a nasty way if pushed too hard, but sound really good at reasonable levels. They have a R1280DB (I haven't heard those, but I believe they have the same drivers as the 1280Ts, but with Bluetooth added for about $160, so I'm guessing they'd sound the same.) Not sure if they'd fit your installation or not, but might be worth a try.
I recently set up another TV. An older TV but still a flat screen. I did not have a sound bar for this but I wanted something that would be forward facing sound, not the rear facing speaker built into the TV. I'll admit, I was not looking for hi-fidelity, just forward facing.
My budget answer was to re-purpose my now deceased FIL's former computer speakers circa 2001.
They are plugged into the 3.5mm jack of the TV. I then placed them on their side, on a shelf, at opposite ends of the TV stand pointing forward.
It seems to me that a BT portable speaker might be adequate for a RV. If that speaker accepts a 3.5mm you could plug it into the TV and when not watching TV it could BT into your phone.
Or, are you dedicated to being more hi-fidelity?
Don't like highs? Not a fan of lows? Go ahead and buy a Bose!
I don't mind Bose stuff. Some of it is great, but some of it sounds like they built it using math but didn't listen to it before they sold it. I remember being so excited when the Acoustimass 2.1 came out. I went to a Bose store and I was supremely disappointed. They finally got their highs and lows, but they forgot about mids.
Slippery, no problem waiting for cyber monday. I don't plan on using the RV again until April-May
John Welsh said:
I recently set up another TV. An older TV but still a flat screen. I did not have a sound bar for this but I wanted something that would be forward facing sound, not the rear facing speaker built into the TV. I'll admit, I was not looking for hi-fidelity, just forward facing.
My budget answer was to re-purpose my now deceased FIL's former computer speakers circa 2001.
They are plugged into the 3.5mm jack of the TV. I then placed them on their side, on a shelf, at opposite ends of the TV stand pointing forward.
It seems to me that a BT portable speaker might be adequate for a RV. If that speaker accepts a 3.5mm you could plug it into the TV and when not watching TV it could BT into your phone.
Or, are you dedicated to being more hi-fidelity?
A really good computer 2.1 setup would work, but I don't think a bluetooth portable will provide much more than the TV unless I pay lotsa money. When it comes to reproducing a full range of sound, the hard truth is that it takes space to make lows. I've seen plenty of small speakers that make low sounds, but it just isn't the same. Kind of like a 500-hp 2.0L is a whole different animal than a 500-hp 6.0L. The 2.0L has to work hard and you have to get to 7000 RPMs before it's fun. The 6.0L makes effortless torque from 2000-5000 RPMs.
In this analogy, a portable bluetooth pill is the 2.0L, a full-on home theater is the 6.0L. I'm hoping to find a 3.0L V6
This is what I did have before it died. It did a very nice job, but was a little weak on the mids. I had to push the sub crossover pretty high to fill the gap.
I've never heard a sound bar that sounded good. Doesn't mean they don't exist.
I've been looking for a small audio system and I think one of the tiny digital amps that parts express (for example) sells with a couple of 5" woofered bookshelves seems like the right solution.
For my PC, I started with a $60 (CAD) 2.1 system from Walmart (Black Spider brand maybe?), the sub being the main power point that takes the audio in and sends it out to the speakers. Has an independent knob on the back for 'low' adjustment and a main volume knob on the front. Sub fires to the floor.
I used the fronts for about 30 seconds before replacing them with my old pair of Quest bookshelf speakers. Sound was good enough to make me happy and the quests added enough fidelity for the volumes I use in the house. I later upgraded the Quests to a pair of Paradigms and made a second setup for my bedroom tv and have been happy with it.
Downside, no BT connectivity.
jwagner (Forum Supporter) said:
I've never heard a sound bar that sounded good. Doesn't mean they don't exist.
I've been looking for a small audio system and I think one of the tiny digital amps that parts express (for example) sells with a couple of 5" woofered bookshelves seems like the right solution.
I bought their C-note kit and loved them so much that I got another set. I use one set as my home theater mains and the other set is in my studio as monitors. They genuinely sound tremendous, and have a -3db of 50hz. I've been considering getting a plate amp to drive the c-notes in the studio and get rid of my bulky old-school receiver.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
I'd love to see someone do a side-by-side comparison with the C-notes and the Overnight Sensations, which I have built and my son currently has at college. I love the Overnights, and could see myself building another pair, you know, for me.
For you, Curtis, my advice is go big, or go home!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296020521828
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
Haaa. I could remove my fridge and install those.
I had a hair-brained thought. What if I bypassed the fried amp on my original Boston 2.1 and instead put something like this on it with two C-notes (or Sensations) as the satellites? The bookshelf speakers would be bulky, but it may be a way to make this happen. I know the Boston sub makes good booms, and the C-notes would fill in the missing mids.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Sounds like a plan, and the price is right!
A possibility on FBM
Not many other viable options I'm seeing
Parts-Express.com: Speaker & Subwoofer Kits
My wife hates our World's Greatest $1500 3.1 Stereo. It is way too complicated to turn on and adjust. Plus, unfortunately, our almost 2 year old grand daughter has discovered how to turn knobs and press buttons, I can barely remember how to use the stereo and If I ever had to redo everything as in if anybody ever pulled out the patch cords or turned all of the knobs, I would have to buy a soundbar. 
Edit: remember, a good 6.5" midrange woofer combined with a good super tweeter pared with a good 8" sub or even a mediocre 10" sub will sound great in or out of a camper.
Kind of like this:
Following this. Would not mind a budget soundbar. I have some cnotes that I love the sound of but when combined with an amp they are huge. Also the amp I have isn't optical and I want something that handles some sort of digital signal and doesn't require tinkering with inputs or settings. Basically an external TV speaker
For a cheap audio/video amp, look for obsolete Yamaha HDMI A/V receivers for the video processing w/ 7.2 pre outputs and an antique A/V high powered receiver w/ 7.2 inputs if your choice of speakers is low efficiency to use as a hdmi pre amp into a high power 7.2 (125 wpc) amp.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:
I bought their C-note kit and loved them so much that I got another set. I use one set as my home theater mains and the other set is in my studio as monitors. They genuinely sound tremendous, and have a -3db of 50hz. I've been considering getting a plate amp to drive the c-notes in the studio and get rid of my bulky old-school receiver.
Audio Science Revew takes a "data is everything" approach to testing audio gear, which I don't agree with, but it does give a good head start on picking out gear. They've reviewed a couple of small digital amps that put up some really good numbers for not a lot of money. Take a look at the Fosi V3 and the Topping PA5-II for instance. I don't know what plate amp you're looking at but these might be a better sounding option.
In reply to jwagner (Forum Supporter) :
I suppose the amp I'm looking for could be a standalone (like the Fosi and Topping), a plate amp, or just an amp board that I could stuff inside an enclosure. I mostly mentioned plate amp since it's a nice design with the controls/inputs outside and the guts inside.
If I go with the C-notes, they're advertised at 60wrms, but two of them are currently hooked up to 200w each and the other two are plugged in at 160w each. I just don't push them past where my ears can hear the cones crying in pain.
What I'm going to do tonight is listen to a movie at home with my home theater just on 2-channel stereo (meaning they'll only have the pair of C-notes driven). I know they make enough mid and high, it's just a matter of whether or not they will be satisfactory when 007 nearly perishes in a building collapse, or when Rambo drops a bomb on the bad guys. If it's enough, I'll snag a 2-channel amp and call it a day. If they really do lack enough punch to do the job themselves, I'll be looking for either a 2.1 amp to fix my existing sub, or maybe just purchase a used 2.1 sub and power the C-notes with that.
Has anyone made a design to repackage the cnotes in a single box with a plate amp with optical/digital input?
ProDarwin said:
Following this. Would not mind a budget soundbar. I have some cnotes that I love the sound of but when combined with an amp they are huge. Also the amp I have isn't optical and I want something that handles some sort of digital signal and doesn't require tinkering with inputs or settings. Basically an external TV speaker
I really have to say that the C-note line is pretty impressive, but they really need to pair with a sub.
I would strongly consider an MKBoom. I linked to it in the first post. It's a little stouter and bigger than a typical soundbar, but Parts Express itemizes what comes in the kit with links. You can spec out your own kit with whatever you want, like ditch the batteries and battery board, or skip the whole BT plate and power them from a reciever. They wimp out hardcore below about 65hz, but the one I built as a bluetooth portable is pretty awesome and I think it sounds better than any sound bar I've heard.
ProDarwin said:
Has anyone made a design to repackage the cnotes in a single box with a plate amp with optical/digital input?
Probably not hard. You can buy the components without the box and make your own, or you could likely modify the bottom panel to make it a mirror image and glue it all up as one box. The bottom panel would become the separator plate. For that matter, you could just screw two of them together.
Or you could build a wee box in the middle for an amp board. A quick search turned up this plate amp, but performance would likely be sub-par with c-notes since it only claims 30w x 2. C-notes are only modestly efficient, and their 60wrms rating seems to be pretty conservative. I wouldn't hesitate to pair it with a 100x2 amp and use your ear to make sure you don't eject a cone.
Edit to add: If you go to the c-note page and ask a question, you might find some geek who has already done it. Responses are slow, but it's worth a shot.
