I own the RB42s and I love them. I have them at my desk but I've had them in the living room also and they sounded great. Amazing how much bass they get out of them. If they came out with a larger speaker with a 5 inch, I'd jump on them. Micca, are you listening? Great little speakers.
I enjoy and trust your opinions. I’m no audio expert, just a 68 yr old retired guy looking for good easy listening speakers to go with a Sony 190 receiver. I have the Sony SSCS5 which I’ll keep. I just bought the Micca RB’s. I’m wondering if I’m duplicating sound, listening profiles. Should I buy something other than the RB’s to get a different listening experience from the Sony SSCS5? Price range $100-$200. Room size 220 sq. I have a sub. Thank you.
There can't be much room for profit margin with a speaker like that, you'd think they'd skimp on quality not use thicker mdf . 100% agree with you're opening statements there something deeply satisfying about squeezing as much performance as you can out of a tight budget, it truly makes something your own..!!
Agree with you that they're sacrificing profit margins for getting potential audio enthusiasts interested in this hobby. A speaker like this could hook someone for life. I'm sure the MB42X did that for a lot of people. I think Micca has the right idea.
thanks for the detail on the crossovers. It's those details that make your reviews so anticipated. I can't wait to your take (validation actually) on the Klipsch RP600M's!
Great video, Joe. Well thought out and very informative, as usual.The comparisons/rankings at the end are invaluable; they make things even more interesting and put them in perspective. Excellent!! Thank you!
Those who have reviewed this speaker say the same thing about the bass....and more so that it is a 4 incher.....They are impressed! This make a great case for when there is no space for a bookshelf speaker like the Elacs Debut 2.0 B6.2 which I recently purchased on this Black Friday for $239/pair (the B5.2 at $199). As a matter of fact it seems that these match or even beat the 6.2 low end bass (+/- 3db). Yes, they don't sound as good but like you say, they are kind of fun, maybe an overkill for the desktop. I bought the Elacs for the bedroom and wanted something fancy to drive them but the cost of the Cambridge AXA35 int amp was, at $350, a little bit too stiff for my bedroom system budget ($500
Hey Joe, great review! I just received my RB42's a few days ago. I really didn't need the speakers, I just really wanted to hear them. LOL. I'm actually looking for a pair of speakers for my son's bedroom. I said he could have these ones, but he's not very happy with them. Damn kid is 13 and thinks he knows everything. LOL. My question to you is he really wants the fluance sx6, how would you compare the two? He likes bassy music, I guess you could call it rap music. He will be getting a small sub too, he wants to buy the 10" Polk sub, I think it's the PSW10. Anyways would the Fluance be an upgrade from the Micca's? He has a Sony 590 receiver. Thanks man.
Great review mate. One question: did you paint your mb42x's white? If so, is there a video for that? I've been mulling over the idea of painting my set a matte red!
I have a pair of the mb42xs as a pair of computer speakers as I was looking to get something that's more audiophile grade without breaking the bank, and I have to say I'm amazed by how clear they sound, if I'm playing music of them they almost sound like the artist is right in the room playing live! like for instance if I play like "Battery" by Metallica for example you can actually hear the picks hitting the strings on the acoustic guitars in the intro!
Been watching tons of videos for a budget desktop PC setup. Your channel is my favorite I have come across by far. Is the SMSL AD18 Amp still your recommended amp for these speakers? It will only be connected to my PC and used for volume control. Also might drive some higher end headphones down the road.
Tweaking will always be a thing for audiophiles,from changing wires/cables to tube rolling,cap replacements and so forth..those are learning/experimenting journey of what works and what not that makes this hobby a worthwhile venture to those interested enough.
@@joentell fortunately I still have most of the equipment I purchased in the last 20 years. I've been experimenting with the Loki on the old stuff and I'm blown away. I've spent thousands of dollars upgrading preamp, cables, interconnects, phono cartridges, speakers just to make subtle and sometimes superficial changes. Glad I took a chance on the Loki. It has made a huge audible difference.
Came for the Miccas, stayed for the easter egg 👍🏾 In my 5.2.4 I use the MB42X & MB42X-C as my LCR. The Covo-S as my Surround Rears and JBL 8" In-ceilings for Front & Rear Atmos/DTS-X. Miccas are multipurpose audio-phile friendly and Spouse approved for the living room!
@@joentell Room is in open space, 16x16, hardwood, no curtains just blinds. Only acoustical treatment is a 9x6 rug. The two subs are Polk Audio SW505. Receiver is an Onkyo TX-NR787. The Miccas fit right in the sound stage and 1 yr later haven't felt a want or need to upgrade :)
I got the MB42Xs and a Dayton Audio Sub 12000 and a Lepy LP 2024A+ for a music listening as I wanted something that was of an audiophile grade without breaking the bank, and I'm very happy with the Soundstage. I was Spinning some Queen on my turntable and it sounds almost like Freddie Mercury is actually in the room!
Thx for your reviews I would like your opinion re:atmos/dts.x height speakers. My current setup is a Denon x3400h , Rotel RB-1552 MKII amp on my FR and FL. 4 Elac Uni-fi slims (BSU5), Centre is a UC5 and my sub is Elac 3010. I dont want to spend a ton on atmos related speakers. Do you think these Miccas or the mb42x will do the trick? Do they have a wide dispersion tweeter? and could you recommend others so that I can research your suggestions? Also I would obviously have to mount the speakers to the wall. Thanks in advance. Cheers!
, I know that Micca likes small speakers but they really need to step up to a 5 inch speaker or even a passive radiator design. these are very good but need at least twice the power. I do plan on getting a pair with a Emotiva 150 amp or Yamaha receiver rated at 100 wpc/rms.
Hi Joe. Great video as always. Do you have any thoughts on the Sony SSCS5 3-Way Bookshelf Speaker? I've heard good things about the sound stage and the detail and clarity at all volumes. I would have thought this speaker would have a place on your under 200 list. Any thoughts? Thanks!
I love yours speakers leaderboard. Nice job. Can you help me. Am I hesitating between the Micca RB42 or the EDIFIER R1700BT? I would use them via a PC and an integrated sound card on the motherboard. And they would be used for music, movies and video games... TNX :)
Thanks Joe for another great review. Do you have a plan to review that SVS Prime Soundbase I saw on the video? if not could you give me some thought about it? I'm thinking to get either SVS Prime soundbase or PS Sprout100 and pair it with my Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 for my small living room. Thanks,
It's definitely more than powerful enough to drive the B6.2's. It is exclusively controlled with the app so dedicated remote for volume and input control. That's my main gripe. I haven't tried out the Sprout 100.
Question: How do these or any of the newer product for less than $500 compare to the original or "updated" NHT Superzero or Superone bookshelf speakers? I've got both (original versions) and love them when used with a sealed subwoofer or two, but before I part with my money, I would like to be convinced that what is available today is a real upgrade. Any idea? Obviously they won't reproduce the lows as well as the ported cabs but they were intended to be used with subwoofers or, in the case of the Superone, right up against the wall. But do they compare favorably when considering audiophile attributes or has their basic tech met its match? They were both highly regarded back in the day and punched way beyond their price point when it came to sonics above 100 hz. Thanks in advance!
i got 3 pairs of refurbished mb42, all the tweeters were blown within a year, didn't care to replace them. the fake wood vinyl finish peels sooner than it should, i guess one should go with the matte black, and for the price those rb42 should be matte black for a lasting finish.
Hey Joe N Tell, I buy with your links... What would you say were the Mid and Tweeter differences between the MB42X and the RB42 ??? Were the RB42s more clear? more accurate? Warmer? any differences besides the bump in bass ??
I really appreciate you! The MB42X had significantly less bass. I would say the RB42's are more accurate. The MB42X's had some character with nice vocals. They were very inexpensive also.
Yo thank you for the information that you always share with people on RU-vid. Question for you. I have a parasound hca 1000 a stereo amplifier. These amplifier have four bad capacitors, each of them has 10000 UF my question is can I install capacitor with higher values or I have to stick with the same values.
@Joe N Tell *I have a recording mastering studio and I am changing my monitor configuration to a 9 speaker surround L/R Configuration. Whereas I will have a single Dayton Audio 15" SUB front and center and my L/R tops will be 4 boxes literally running across the Left wall and the same on the right side - all pointing toward mix position... I had settled on the (x8) FLUANCE SIGNATURE SERIES BOOKSHELF'S for this task... however, I am seeing this MICCA RB42 and i am intrigued to say the less.....* *Question is,* "which speakers between the Fluance Signature Bookshelves or the Micca RB42 would you personally recommend?"
For recording and mixing/mastering, I don't know that any of these would be my first choice. I would say that the Fluance Signature wouldn't be appropriate because of the dip that I experienced in the treble frequencies. That might change the way you mix. The Micca RB42's are some of the flattest speakers I've measured nearfield so that I would rather recommend those than the Fluance for your purposes. I would also take a look at dedicated studio monitors like those from JBL or Yamaha. They are designed for nearfield use. I'm also reviewing some Vanatoo Transparent One Encore powered speakers that also measure well and perform well nearfield.
If you high pass these with your receiver along with a sub they become more efficient. In other words if they aren't playing the lows, you can turn them up more.
. . . also, with the high pass filter, you cut freqs wherever you set it, usually around 100hz, so nothing below that freq passes into the RB-42, improving lower-mids,and everything up to tweeter xover, as less motion in the 'woofer', improves the mids, the holographic effect.
These look like the speaker i have been looking for, a desktop setup for my dad. I would like something small, real small, volume isn't a major concern, stylish and sounds good, he listens to classical, jazz, brass bands and folk. Given these parameters would you say these are the ones to get? Could you recommend anything smaller? I am probably getting the smsl ad18 to drive whatever i end up getting.
Since they are so cheap I wanted to get 2 pair with the matching center. Should i buy for the MB or RBs and wait for the center? Even though I have a sub I like my other speakers to fill the room with bass and rarely use a bass crossover on them. I watched Zeos's review on the RBs and its funny how he was so blown away by the RBs. plus ebay has some RBs for $80 or so. Thanks
Hey man! Question for you, how do you think these would pair with the Andrew Jones Pioneer front stage (fs52 and c22) if you use these as Rears? The fact that these are so small would make it easier to use as rears especially for the wife Factor
Had an eighty-nine Masda 626 very much liked it after I put new struts in it and a pair of nice Falcon tires up front just one size up . The 2.2 not much horse power but nice torque. Mazda built nice inexpensive cars back then. The independent twin trapezoidal linked rear suspension was great. It gave you some cornering control using the accelerator pedal to keep the terminal under stear under control. A little of topic...good Chanel though...
My crappy computer speakers are failing so I am thinking of upgrading to these Micca RB42s (without a sub). Thanks for the review. Wish I got them off Amazon for $130 it is up to $150 now : (
I just got a set of jamo s805 which have the same drivers as the s803 but with a bigger enclosure. How would I go about determining if my new speakers have some of the quality issues that you saw with your s803's? I saw you had complaints about a low frequency resonance in one speaker but not the other, was that it?
Must buy ..... Micca MB42X ...... 4 quantity And 8 - 10 inch subwoofer ..... ........ RB 42 has bass ..... I like it ..... But ....when u put more volume on that .. RB42's Xmax cross easy and gets rattling sound ( this is law of physics ) ... U not able to put high volume on RB 42 .... ................ Main benifit of MB 42x is ..... 1) price is less than RB 42 .... Which is u able to get subwoofer for MB42X 😎 2) when u play louder on MB42X .... Which direct benifit on theirs MID range performance than RB 42 ... Especially when u play EDM music on it 👍 3) when u pair with subwoofer with MB42X ...... U will get all rounder performance than RB 42 4) RB 42 is limited to ... Near field / high watt need / not versatile / ...................... ...................... My recommendation to get this pair ... MB42X ....... For RL + SRL ... 4 quantity MB42X-c ....... For center 8 - 10 inch subwoofer / woofer Frequency reng between ( 30 hz - 1k hz ) .... For better mid base punch 👍👍👍👍
Great review. When you were talking about the complicated crossover in there I was thinking to myself. "hmm, you could use that crossover network in part to attenuate mid to higher frequencies and improve the relative bass response..." Then right after you start talking about how the speaker is low impedance, quite inefficient, and has a great bass response for the size. lol. Seems the manufacturer did exactly that. This looks like it'd make a great inobtrusive satellite speaker for a multi-channel home-theatre setup. Then you'd have a good high-power receiver and a sub or two tucked away somewhere. At this price and size you could have a decent 9.1 setup with a high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).
You sound like you have experience building speakers and crossover design. You're right on. I just try to keep a bit simple so that beginners aren't overwhelmed but I don't insult the intelligence of more experienced audio enthusiasts.
Looking to buy some beginner audio stuff. Would these pair nicely with the Topping MX3? I’d be using them for my desk setup, Xb1X and PC. Music, movies/shows, and some gaming. What I’ve been looking at for my needs is: •FX Audio dac X6 & Smsl sa50 amp paired with the rb42’s OR •the Topping MX3 and the rb42’s. OR •the fx Audio dac X6 paired with the pb42x’s. I am a complete novice and would like some help/advice with this stuff, if possible. I’d like to control the volume from the dac/amp. My sources are spidf (console) and usb(pc).
This was my thought, but the MX3 is listed as 40wpc, so I'm not sure it could push them enough. Haven't tested, though. SMSL AD18 is listed at 80wpc, which is why I think Joe recommended that one.
I just bought an SMSL AD-18, Pioneer BS22 LRs, and a Micca MS-10 for 2.1 desk duty. Sounds great, but would I notice a difference if I swapped out the Pioneers for these Miccas?
Cool stuff! I only own 1 pair of speakers and want to buy more, although I feel if I buy more i'll never be able to stop haha :) I want one of those mini tube amps you looked at in a previous video, just for the coolness factor.
Joe N Tell I hope Martin Logan emails you soon. The motion 15’s are a strange speaker. The frequency response is only down to 70hz. Maybe because they want it to be paired with a sub? Only going to 70 hz allows the speakers to be powered with less powerful amps for sure, and lets them get louder as well but they definitely don’t shake the house.
Great video. For my taste, I think the highs are missing. The overall sound is a bit muddy. But for the price, footprint and build quality, these are a great investment and make a great desktop addition.
Hey Joe. Try the SMSL sa98 amp. 160 wpc they claim but 100 wpc is more like what it puts out. I just bought a Yamaha 100 wpc/rms off Amazon 130 bucks. Extremely good Especially for the cost.
@@joentell Since you have compared the BS22-LR to other speakers, would be great if you can compare it to the RB42 as well. I think, your sound test comparisons where the music alternates between the 2 speakers should give us all a good idea as to which of the two speakers is better.
, FYI, the vanatoos are not passive, they are an amplified monitor, caint compair those with these speakers. a more comparison would be between the Q3020i. also, the Fluance ai60s are also amplified and are a monitor, caint compair those either
Lots of confusing info. At first, "crazy bass" then, "you'll need a sub and a small room", Then, "42X not as good as 42" then later "if you want better performance go with the 42X". I hear this with every reviewer. It's always "they don't even need a subwoofer" followed soon after by "you'll need a subwooffer" (?????) Is this a generational thing? I don't really believe in subs unless you're listenting to Dr. Dre because those sub frequencies are not heard they're felt. I wouldn't listen to rock or jazz or classical with that kind of bass. So, ....what is it? I'd like to get these or the Andrew Jones Pioneer FS52 floor speakers which I've heard astounding things about. I have a 12 by 16 foot room. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. You're vids are great.
So these have crazy bass...for their size. For your music taste, you probably don't need a sub. For movies and bass heavy music, someone might want a sub. The MB42X's are more cost effective if you will be using them with a sub. The RB42's are better if you aren't using a sub and if you are, but they are more expensive. I thought I was pretty clear. What you have to keep in mind is that all of this stuff is relative. I'm not talking in absolute terms. Do a pair of floorstanding speakers with dual 10" woofers have "crazy bass" in my apartment? Yes! Do those same speakers have crazy bass in a football stadium? No. So I'm not waffling, I'm setting limits on my statements. Does that make more sense?
What would you recommend for basic listening and some gaming for a desk setup that has Bluetooth support for connecting via phone? Have been looking fo a while but couldn't make a decision
These Micca RB42's will likely produce more than enough bass and get more than loud enough for a typical dorm room. No need for a sub. That's the ideal use case for these.
I was planning on getting these or the MB42X for my garage speakers, currently planning to build. 24'x24' with 10' ceilings. It's a 2 car plus with home gym. Workshop and gym will get used quite a bit. Powering with my Onkyo TX-NR737 that I retired from my basement theater room.
@@joentell Haha! Yeah. I would have a reason to buy and try a Rythmik servo controlled sub in my living room and the BIC PL-200 would go to the garage. Probably gonna buy 2 pairs of bookshelves and run in Multi-channel stereo.
@@joentell I forgot about the NHT SuperOne 2.1 2-Way Bookshelf speakers. They have a 6.5" woofer and are sealed. I have their SuperZero 4" version as my front height channels in my basement theater and they are great. Do you have any experience with the NHT speakers? Built in threaded mounting holes, ready to go on the wall or ceiling.
The Micca OriGen G2 is a DAC and Pre Amplifier, not an amplifier. It has enough power to drive a pair of headphones, but not enough to drive a pair of speakers. You will need an amplifier with two channels - such as the SMSL SA-98. There are tons and tons of amplifiers available, you don't have to buy that specific amplifier. But you do need an amplifier. You can plug the Micca OriGen G2 DAC into the amplifier and use it as a source.
Hey that was a gr8 review.... need some recommendation for u... I am planning to buy 3 of these n replace my left, right and center speaker of sony HT IV300... the amp has rating of 125W at 3ohm for left and right channel and 250W at 6ohm for center speaker ... will it be ok to connect or will it damage speaker or itself... ?
@@joentell thanks ...but I fear only for center channel ..since amp is at 250W at 6ohm while speaker is just 100W at 6ohm so means amp might be overpower full for speaker ..while left/right channel is 125W at 3ohm so I think that might be less power for 6ohm 100w speaker... wouldn't it create imbalance of sound?
@@joentell I understand you but the woofer on Micca looks over kill, so why not compare with Dynaudio focus 110 or BM6A for example. Anyway you do a create job 👍
, I love Micca products. I have the Dayton MK42s at my job on my work bench with the Micca amp @50 wpc with a sub out. to a Dayton amp @75 wpc to a 10 inch sub. I may purchase a pair of these . all my equipment is running off of a simple Sony portable CD/radio player thru the headphone output.
Ever hear the Polk LSIM703s? I own them..really feel they will Wow you for speakers under 1k. They debuted in 2012 for $1500. Can be had for $600 now! 30lbs each...3 way! Are you open to reviewing them? For what it is worth Sean from Zero Fidelity said they are a Stupide deal at $600 for the pair. Would love to see you review them!
I'm not overly interested just because they are older speakers and I've never been a fan of Polk's sound signature out of the many I've owned and have since sold. The treble was way too hot for me. These might be different, but that's why I haven't. There are so many speakers out, it makes more sense to try to cover new speakers coming out.
@@joentell fair enough. I had a feeling you would want to focus on more new models. All I have to say though is these in my opinion are the best bargain bookshelf speakers out as of right now. I've heard many many different bookshelves and nothing we'll touch these for the money considering that they are so well-balanced. The best way I can describe them is they are a large bookshelf speaker that sounds like a tower speaker. They use a ring radiator Tweeter I have them face and straight out and they're not even close to being hot. They are just so well-balanced. Yeah the polks that you have had we're not this kind of Series this is the reference series these are audiophile speakers no joke. I just thought you would like them a ton of considering you like the UniFi fives by elac. The polks are also three way
