Compact passive speakers for PC use

[samlowry]

Hi,

I'm planning to replace my ageing 2.1 PC speakers and one option is to reuse an old integrated amp I have lying around and get some small passive speakers, suitable for sitting on my desktop, either side of my monitor.

They will be for nearfield use only, and I'm not a basshead, so the (expected) modest bass will be fine.

I've been looking at the JBL Control 1, which get good reviews and are about the right size (not too deep, which is good!) but can anyone recommend some alternatives? For example, will something like the Q Acoustics 2010i be significantly better, given their larger size (and price)?

The other option is to buy some powered 2.0 speakers, e.g. the Creative T40, the Audioengine 2 or (and these are over-budget really) something like the B&W MM1 or the Ruark MR1.

Can anyone offer any comments / advice here? For example, the JBL Control 1 are approx the same price as the Creative T40, but I assume they would offer a significantly better sound?

Thanks!

 

[samlowry]

bump!

 

[JoelSim]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

 

[chebby]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

 

[Overdose]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

They don't seem to be active, or have I missed something in the blurb.

The look to be powered passives.

 

[fr0g]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

Seems a little harsh. I see no links to a particular shop, and upon googling they come up on Amazon first.

 

[The_Lhc]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

Nevertheless as someone "in the trade" he is required to say so in his signature.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

Seems a little harsh. I see no links to a particular shop, and upon googling they come up on Amazon first.

 

[chebby]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

Seems a little harsh. I see no links to a particular shop, and upon googling they come up on Amazon first.

Joel's Avatar is his business name and logo.

(Mention of his customers is another giveaway that he runs a business.)

He has also promoted a product he sells here, and on a couple of other threads, in the last day.

At the very least, he should declare his trade status details in his signature.

 

[fr0g]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

Seems a little harsh. I see no links to a particular shop, and upon googling they come up on Amazon first.

Joel's Avatar is his business name and logo.

(Mention of his customers is another giveaway that he runs a business.)

He has also promoted a product he sells here, and on a couple of other threads, in the last day.

At the very least, he should declare his trade status details in his signature.

I know he runs a business. But he mentioned only the product and not his site. I imagine most people upon hearing the recommendation would simply google it. And his site doesn't exactly feature...

In fact, the first time it's been linked is by yourself...(are you in business together? )

 

[JoelSim]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

Sorry, didn't realise my signature had vanished. It has been reinstated.

(Check rules 10 and 12 here or pay for your advertising.)

Seems a little harsh. I see no links to a particular shop, and upon googling they come up on Amazon first.

Joel's Avatar is his business name and logo.

(Mention of his customers is another giveaway that he runs a business.)

He has also promoted a product he sells here, and on a couple of other threads, in the last day.

At the very least, he should declare his trade status details in his signature.

 

[JoelSim]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

They don't seem to be active, or have I missed something in the blurb.

The look to be powered passives.

They are Active, Overdose. Blurb from Nocs below.

http://nocs.se/products/ns2-air-monitors-v2

 

[Overdose]

Although active, you may want to look at the Nocs NS2 v2. New last week, these have gone down a storm with my customers. 7 colours, AirPlay, bluetooth, Spotify Connect, 16cm tall.

They don't seem to be active, or have I missed something in the blurb.

The look to be powered passives.

They are Active, Overdose. Blurb from Nocs below.

http://nocs.se/products/ns2-air-monitors-v2

I see no evidence that these are true actives and the claimed 80W power output, implies powered passives with an onboard class D amp of 80W peak power.

Active speakers are usually specified with the amplification per driver and not total peak power output. The output of true active speakers is usually also stated in dB.

This may be incorrect though and the manufacturer means four individual amps of 20W peak each and that seems rather low to me, but then they have less than 3" drivers.

The blurb might say active, but it aint neccessarily so.

THIS review seems to corroborate this.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

Isn't there supposed to be some kind of rule about dealers, stealers and others not having their website address in their signature? Or is that something else that's gone by the board in the new improved soul-sold whathifi.com?

 

[chebby]

Isn't there supposed to be some kind of rule about dealers, stealers and others not having their website address in their signature? Or is that something else that's gone by the board in the new improved soul-sold whathifi.com?

I think the crew grabbed the first lifeboat and snuck away, unseen, a while ago.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]