This was posted 9 years 3 months 13 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Voll B44 4" Bookshelf Speakers $74.95 Shipped (Metro) Save $25

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james25off

Been looking at these for a while but wanted them a bit cheaper - today I found a coupon code on retailmenot that gives $25 off the speakers or the package deals (only just noticed these). These are apparently great speakers (same as Micca MB42X sold in the US) so definitely worth $74.95.

Not sure if the coupon code is meant for someone called James or not but my order has gone through and I haven't received an email saying it has been cancelled yet!

Specifications

4” Carbon Fibre Woofer
0.75” Silk Dome Tweeter
12db/Octave Crossover
60Hz-20kHz Frequency Response
4 Ω Impedance
85dB Sensitivity (1W/M)
75 Watts Power Handling (Per Speaker)
240mm (H) x 147mm (W) x 156mm (D)

Obligatory "this is my first post" yadda yadda yadda

Related Stores

Voll Audio
Voll Audio

closed Comments

  • good price for decent speakers though and free shipping it says. and I am sure they are better than PC type speakers (Logitech etc) from dick smith that are similar prices.

    you sure you're not a rep. became a member today to post this and from same city.

    • +7

      Not a rep, have lurked around here at times but never really thought of any deals worth posting…

      • -6

        I'm also suspicious.

        You and the business are registered as being in Adelaide.
        It's your find post.
        Never heard of Voll before.

        • +3

          Voll has been posted about on OzB multiple times… just use the search function guys <.<

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/search/node/voll

        • -3

          @sp3tsnaz:

          And the last person to post it was from Adelaide too. Just sayin'

        • +12

          Who cares if it's a rep or not- I was looking at these speakers a few months back and they were at a stable $99, and that's still the listing price without the coupon… so it's $25 saved if you want the speakers irregardless of the OP's status

        • +5

          @Drew22: lol I'm from Adelaide…..better start posting these too!

        • +2

          [@Carnal]regarding "Who cares if it's a rep or not.."

          It's part of OzB rules to declare such things..
          and I care about this community and therefore the rules.
          Context is important.

        • @Stitchy: OK. And you aren't sure they've been broken either.

        • @Diji1:
          My comment was in reply to 'Who cares if it's a rep or not'.
          Not about whether rules have, in this case, been broken.
          Apologies, I have edited my post to make this more obvious.

        • +2

          @Stitchy: Gotcha!

        • +7

          Ozbargain are a skeptical bunch aren't we? Not a bad thing.

          I'm a long time Ozbargain member and have posted Voll deals in the past. If I wanted everyone to have this deal I just would've posted it myself (as I have done in the past).

          I'm not saying that it's all bad that this code got out but it is a bit cheaper than we'd like to go and if I could go backwards I probably would've put some kind of limit on the coupon!

  • Would these be ok as speakers for TV ?

    • +2

      There is a review in the deal link saying good for TV/PC, but poor for music listening. You did read it?

      In summary these speakers are small, good looking and well priced. Their good vocal clarity would make them good TV or computer speakers but their little drivers just can’t put out enough bass or lower mid-range for more than casual music listening.

    • We use ours for the TV and music, and as bruce notes, they would be suitable for computer use (via amp). Great little speakers and a good price.

      That however may be a single use code you have posted. Ask chiefbodge.

    • Not really

  • I too had suspicions that the OP was a sockpuppet/rep.. but don't see any motive.
    Seems like a genuine decent first-post deal.

    The price is better than previous best that I can find ( $83 delivered).

    Can anyone that bought them last time comment on the quality?
    Preferably someone who has a good ear/experience with speakers.

    • +7

      You probably right, most likely genuine poster, BUT - does it really matter? Judge the message, not the messenger.

    • +1

      Yeah I mean increased sales, who would want that. Not a motive at all :D (I have no idea regarding the post author's motives).

  • +8

    I bought these speakers a few months ago. (have extensive experience with HiFi gear)

    Its reasonable value for $75, but not a huge bargain. They're fairly small and the box construction is decidedly nowhere near as good as proper bookshelves speakers so there's a bit of reverberation. Tonal balance is a bit odd, but its ok.

    Not Hi-Fi, more 'Mid-Fi'. Marginally better sound quality than Logitech Boom. But given the Voll needs an amp and a lot less portable/practical, I tend use Logitech Booms a lot more.

    If more serious about the sound quality, I'd rather pickup old secondhand entry-level HiFi bookshelves from eBay for around $150 and up.

    • Ahhh… Hopefully they suit my needs. Will be interesting to see what they are like when I get them - I first came across them from this whirlpool review here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2323121 and he seemed to have pretty good things to say about them, but also lots of people are saying they are identical to the Micca MB42X which seems to be loved by people in the US.

      • Remember if you don't like them you can get your money back :) (less a $10 return shipping fee). We have sold 100s of B44 in the last 6 months or so and had a money back guarantee for about 3 months and have only had our first return today.

        • +1

          First of all, thanks for being so obliging in honouring our orders, good to see such an open response. (I've never really understood those retailers who panic and pull the plug - surely the increased sales outweigh the smaller per-unit profit margin?)

          I've always been curious about these money-back guarantees in general - what do you do with the returned units? Sell them as refurbished? Or sell them as brand new to the next customer who orders a pair?

          I don't work in the retail industry, but these money-back promises strike me as rather risky from the seller's perspective. How do you handle those time-wasters who never had any intention of keeping the product?

        • +3

          @shake:

          We're happy to honour it because we're roughly breaking even. If we were losing money - as a small business it would be hard to sustain and a much harder decision to honour I think.

          Because we've only had one so far we haven't done anything with it yet. We do plan on testing and selling refurbs eventually so we'll just stockpile them until we have enough. We also have some returns where one speaker is faulty so we'd combine them into one good pair, test and sell as refurbished too.

          We think we have a pretty good product so the money back guarantee makes sense - because the numbers are so low we don't really mind if we get a few tyre kickers (the $10 return shipping fee would probably be enough to discourage them anyway).

  • I have mine hooked up to a cheap Lepai amp from ebay and use them for casual music, PC and youtube. Very happy about the size and sound for the price.

  • I bought these speakers last year. First note you need an amp to drive them.

    Secondly, built-in pc soundcards are crap and these will sound crap if hooked up to one. I then tried driving mine with my hrt microstreamer and that's when the speakers really shone.

    Prior to the microstreamer I thought the speakers lacked bass. But going with a better source fixed that right up and now I don't find them wanting at all. I actually find them great for music.

    • +1

      Expensive when you factor in the price of both.

    • The T-Amp with DAC that Voll offer should improve the sound, as is the trend. And as ilikeit mentions - more expensive but pretty versatile.

    • Yes expensive but the point is that one has options, and the speakers will respond accordingly.

      I usually use my hrt for portable listening but was pleasantly surprised when hooked up to the Voll.

  • have audioengine a2s, how does this compare?

    • I'd keep what you've already got unless you're looking for more oomph (but you'd lose the clarity)

    • I'm not going to lie and say our speakers are the best ever. They are $100 speakers so aren't going to win any hifi awards. That said they do represent great value for money in their price range. I personally don't believe that the A2 or A5 represent that great value in their price ranges and would argue that our Voll B44s are superior to the A5+ (and similarly the passive version, the P4).

      http://www.noaudiophile.com/ has good reviews of the P4 and Pioneer BS22 (as well as the MB42X) that are worth checking out if you are considering our Voll B44s :)

      • You say these Volls are better than the A5+?? Does anyone else have experience with either speaker? I was looking at getting a pair of A5s in the near future.

        • +1

          You might be able to google some comparisons between the A5+ and MB42X to be best informed. The problem with the A5+ is that it isn't a very neutral speaker but some people might prefer that. I think there are much better speakers in the price range (speakers that are better than the B44 as well obviously). My recommendation would be the Swan M200MKIII over the A5+ any day (a bit more expensive though).

        • I have the original A5 version and these Volls. They sound fairly different with pros and cons.

          Overall I would prefer the A5.

  • +3

    Off-topic, but does anyone remember (perhaps it only happened in Brissy) about 13 years ago dudes would drive around in vans trying to flog off speakers in the most dodgy fashion? They would wave you down in traffic, or pull you up at a servo and ask you to follow them round the corner. Ran into them several times. They said the warehouse was full and that's why they had them.. lol.

    I was driving a dodgy car, maybe that's why I attracted them.

    • +1

      Yep LEL.

      If you Google "white van speakers warehouse" etc yada yada you'll see that this is some sort of global scam that has been running for literally decades. The scam is basically selling fairly low quality speakers (though not absolutely terrible apparently, just terribly overpriced).

      There's been a few investigations by major news outlets and such, interesting articles.

      • haha was worried it was in my mind and the men in the white vans were dealing straight jackets and not speakers

    • I was approached at Glenrowan BP only a year or two ago, so this scam is still happening.

    • Yes Dude, I remember!!! Happened to me also at the bunnings near beams road. I was told it was a scam and they had bricks in the boxes.

    • +2

      My dad got stung by the old white van trick years ago (he's kind of silly sometimes). Funnily enough we have his old set in the warehouse being used a drinks holder. They look pretty cool but sound absolutely rubbish. A quick google uncovered someone selling them on eBay, this is them: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/z/ZGYAAOSwuMFUenOG/$_12.JPG "Audiofile" brand, ha!

    • +2

      I got approached for the first time a few months ago, was flattered but I knew :)

  • +2

    If they really are 4 ohms then make sure your amp can handle 4 ohms or you will burn it out.

    Most home amplifiers are 8 ohms are sometimes go as low as 6 ohms but not often will you see 4 ohm home amplifiers.

    • This is a good point. Pretty much all T-Amps I know of are fine with 4-Ohms (especially all the ones that we sell of course). Home AVRs are all mostly a minimum of 6-Ohm but these days it would be almost impossible to blow up an AVR due to running 4-Ohm speakers on it because they all have thermal cutoff to prevent damage.

      In fact Denon say minimum 6-Ohm on the back of their receivers but they have an official notice on their website that 4-Ohm speakers are absolutely fine to run on all their receivers.

  • +23

    Yikes!

    Didn't take me long to figure out where all those orders came from, has to be OzBargain of course!

    This code was intended for a specific customer (we sometimes do this when we stuff up an order or we want to reward repeat customers).

    I have just had a chat with my business partner and we have decided to honour all existing orders and future orders at this price for the next couple of days. This is pretty much cost price but the OzBargain community has been extremely supportive in the past (that and getting the B44 into more loungerooms / bedrooms can't hurt).

    • +1

      Good guy @chiefbodge.

    • +3

      Cheers Chief! Much appreciated. Think of it as a Karma Credit :)

      • +2

        Great to see you finally bought a pair Steve :) I hope you like them - would love to know what you think when you receive them!

        • +2

          Yep, couldn't resist at that price :) I don't need any more speakers but for $75 I know they'll be very decent for the money. I'll audition & A-B compare them to other speakers with a few different Amps inc. a cheapie Tripath, a few Solid States (inc. a pair of 400w Perreaux monoblocks) plus a Valve Amp or two and will report back here with MY opinions for others to refer to if need be… not that I pretend to know everything of course, they're YOUR ears and everyone hears things differently! Looking forward to it though!

      • +1

        yeh about bloody time Steve!

    • Thank you for your kind offer to buy these at cost price without cancelling my order, I feel bad that your margins are being squeezed due to this code being 'leaked' but the customer service you offer by doing this make us debt slaves feel alive in knowing we get a great deal at the expense of your free labour. It's not very often us at the bottom get to feel alive like our Government do every day.

    • Sorry for posting this if it wasn't meant to be public. It seems to have been on Retailmenot for some time :P for the record my name isn't James :) Thank you for honouring the deal anyway!

      • haha, no worries. I probably would've done the same if I were in your shoes.

  • +1

    Great price, I have bought and already been shipped! I even made a mistake and got charged for shipping due to putting in the wrong postcode. Quick email and the shipping address was changed and they even refunded the postage without me even asking; with a nice email letting me know to boot..
    Great to see an Aussie seller at a good price with great customer service! Keep it up Voll!
    I bought these to match in with my Jamo's to make a 7.1 setup.

  • What amp would you recommend rep…?
    For a bedroom this one..

    • The Pioneer A10 should be good enough for the bedroom.

    • Sorry for the delay - the Topping TP22 that we sell would be perfect for the bedroom. SMSL SA-50 is another good amp if you want something more powerful. If you want to go really cheap you could get away with a lepai lp-2020 but it would only be good for low volumes without distorting and isn't the best quality.

  • I have a pair of really old speakers, the SS-RV900's. Any audiophiles here able to advice me on whether I should pick up these guys?

    • +2

      If you're thinking of ditching the speakers and swapping these with your unit, forget it. You run 6ohms, these are 4ohms. I also wouldn't bank on all-in-one packages to be able switch these stuff as they're mostly designed to be running with what's included.

      • Thanks, plmko. Solid advise. I already picked up a pair, still nice to have around the house. The only thing about the SS-RV900 system is how gigantic everything is :P

  • I literally bought a set of these yesterday, after giving up on another deal coming up soon. facepalm

    • +5

      That sucks! - send us an email with your order number and I'll see what I can do :)

      • Thanks! Sent you an email.

      • Also, thanks for the discount. I'll try to hold out a little longer when I need another set!

  • Is this better than Logitech Z623 for movies? which I have connected to my TV currently

  • Could you do a deal on the bundles? (TP22 or TP23)

    Also, I read on your website the that the TP23 is for low volume use, what sort of wattage are we talking about?

    • +1

      The bundles do work with the james25off code but we can't really do any better than that.

      The TP23 is 22w per channel @ 4 ohms but that's at fairly high distortion. It depends on how keen your ears are but realistically it's probably only good for 13w or so. Because the Volls aren't very efficient speakers (most smaller speakers aren't) we can really only recommend it for desktop listening. It does go quite loud but sound quality is sacrificed up louder.

      People report loving the MB42X with the little Lepai amps which are quite a bit worse than the TP23 in my opinion so we are just being overly cautious - making sure people are aware of the limitations.

      I personally have a TP23 with B44s on my desk and it's fine. The VX1 (which we sold out of today, more stock in a couple of weeks) is a bit more powerful and a better all rounder.

  • +1

    Just letting everyone know that we will mark this coupon code as expired on Sunday (18th of January) at 11pm.

    VX1 is now out of stock - we are receiving more stock via airmail in 1-2 weeks. If you want the VX1 and order it the same time as the speakers we will wait on the VX1 to arrive before shipping.

  • +2

    Amazing service and product, mine arrived today without a hitch. After hooking these up to my Bel Canto Ref150S they highlighted the massive difference between my Galaxy S5 with a quadcore Wolfson DAC and my old school Cowon J3 which blew the Galaxy away, lesson learnt, never use a phone as a source.

    • +1

      I have to agree with dannyhc here. I ordered a set of B44's and the VX1 and the package arrived the next day! Have set it up with my iMac and the kit is pretty awesome for my study room. Well done VOLL.

    • Been listening to them for a few days now and I think they are great. I'm no audiophile but I have noticed that they sound much cleaner than any other speakers that I have owned. The bass is definitely sufficient for me but I may add a sub later on. Any recommendations for something cheap that will do the job?

      • +2

        There's really nothing decently priced available in Australia. I would recommend buying something secondhand.

        Also FYI we are currently testing our new 10" home theatre subwoofer which will be approximately $170 when available (in 3-6 months approximately).

  • +4

    OK, review time…

    Got them today and just spent the last couple of hours auditioning & comparing them to other speakers in my system. The hundreds of 4.5/5 ratings & glowing reviews of these and their US counterparts (the Micca MB42X) are all spot on, they are fantastic little speakers capable of producing very good quality sound across most of the range and with many different types of music. Of course this is just MY humble opinion and as everyone hears things differently, uses them with different gear in different configurations and in different environments then they'll sound different in nearly every setup… but they really are pretty good ;)

    Up against MY favourite benchmark speakers (the much larger and far more capable Yamaha NS-1000Ms) running up to approx. 85-90db (the slightly 'loud' side of normal near-field listening IMO) and running completely flat EQ these little fellas obviously couldn't compete. They were producing very clear sound with a great sound stage but lacked the oomph, realistic mids and extra clarity the Yamahas produce with ease. Fair enough too, it's like comparing a Datto 120Y and a Tesla S… both do the same basic task but they're completely different in so many ways… that was until I gave them a bit of EQ!

    I gave the 80Hz region a sharp kick but kept the bandwidth about mid-range. I also slightly boosted the 2.5-3KHz region with about the same bandwidth (maybe a bit less) and bingo, that got the Volls singing nicely… like chucking a Peripheral-Port Rotary into the Datto… still not as good as the Tesla but pretty damn good and for far less dosh. I then A-B compared the Volls with EQ to the Yamahas without EQ via a speaker comparator/router/switcher (instant switching from one to the other) and the Volls performed really, really nicely! They were a joy to listen to but they obviously couldn't effortlessly extend down as low as the Yamahas nor could they offer the same naked & natural sound the Yamahas are famous for. They got a bit overwhelmed with the lower mids and on some tracks they coloured that region with a bit of muddiness. They also lacked the 'presence' of the Yamahas in other tracks but I'm being extremely critical here and no-one in their right mind should ever compare small & inexpensive 'no-name' speakers with much larger, famously crystal-clear, big-branded studio monitors worth 50 times as much as I'm doing here.

    Nevertheless, the little Volls performed & competed really REALLY well and with the addition of even a small, cheap Sub they would be all most people would need for many listening situations around the home. They'd probably be best for near-field listening (ie. computer desk etc.) however I found them just as enjoyable in a small-mid sized room. Of course they wont blow your face off and I'm still yet to test them at higher SPLs but they promise to be great when cranked a bit too! Not exactly what you'd use for a drunken backyard party but they'd very easily fill a mid-sized Lounge Room full of people with decent sound assuming you feed them with a decent signal of course.

    I hope this helps others jump on these the next time they're offered here but to be honest even at their usual eBay price of $115 (inc. Postage) these little speakers really are excellent value for money IMO! Flexible too… you could buy a few pairs and use them with a Sub for a great Home Theatre system or even use them in a car/truck/motorhome as they're 4Ohms and will work perfectly with car audio.

    Cheers, ChiefBodge. You've got a great product here and I look forward to seeing what else you'll soon be stocking.

    • nice review SaB

      Chiefbodge better get cracking on his subwoofer project

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