Upgrading PC Speakers

[n00b001]

Hello, I have gone through many forums on many websites over a long time and I've decied it's time to ask because I am still a little confused.

I currently have a low quality 7.1 speaker system. I wish to change to a 2.1 system because there are far too many wires and I'm often moving my speakers for parties and such. So I am looking at two bookshelf speakers and a sub (Me and my friends like low frequecy music). Now, I am aware I'd need an amp for most bookshelf speakers? This seems a bit pricey for me, could I not get two active speakers and an active sub. And then use my PC as an input, or a phone/ipod/etc? If I were to get an amp, I have to get the right wattage/ impedance or I could blow them?

Thank you

Alex

 

[Ben123]

Budget? Please do check out the B&W MM1. They are tiny but sound absolutely amazing. There is no sub but i personally dont feel that it needs it.

The MM1s replaced my separates system with bookshelves and have no regrets. Too much faff for a pc setup.

400 might sound a lot but you get a high quality dac, amplifier and high quality speakers in a small footprint.

Some guy has managed to rig up a sub to the MM1's on youtube if thats the way you want to go.

All the best

 

[davedotco]

You give no idea of budget or where you are based.
Both would help a lot.

 

[n00b001]

My budget is under £200 - so thos B&W's are a bit pricey

I'm in the UK, and some products aren't availble that I've been recomended.

I have the Creative T9700 at the moment that I got for £45, so IDEALLY I'd like to see some jump in audio quality/frequency range.

Thanks

 

[KidKomet]

I know you said you'd like a sub but it might be worth looking in to the active speaker market. £200 can bag you a lot in the second hand market if you look around.

 

[n00b001]

I'm used to have a sub, not a good one - but still a loud bassy one. I'd like chest vibrating bass - could just two speakers do that?

 

[davedotco]

My budget is under £200 - so thos B&W's are a bit pricey

I'm in the UK, and some products aren't availble that I've been recomended.

I have the Creative T9700 at the moment that I got for £45, so IDEALLY I'd like to see some jump in audio quality/frequency range.

Thanks

Fair enough, budget is pretty tight though.

There are some hi-fi/lifestyle type speakers available though the only one that I know is within budget is the Audioengine A2. It is a pleasant sounding speaker, far better than the usual computer speaker, but lacks any real presence.

The standout product at this price is, for me, the Studiospares/Seiwin 6a. This is a full size speaker with a 6 inch bass driver and properly mounted (it needs stands), will deliver a room filling performance. These are not desktop speakers so be warned, they produce good bass but it is tight and dry, little or no boom but power and punch aplenty. Try them as is, a sub will only be required for seriously bass heavy material, and if you really need one don't be tempted with anything too cheap.

http://www.studiospares.com/studio-monitors/studiospares-seiwin-powered-monitors-pair/invt/248030

 

[davedotco]

I'm used to have a sub, not a good one - but still a loud bassy one. I'd like chest vibrating bass - could just two speakers do that?

Depends on whether or not you want to hear bass that is related to the music.

 

[KidKomet]

As Dave said, it depends on whether you want it to be related to the music or not. You might after something more like the Logitech Z-2300, though the sound quality won't be anything near a good set of monitors, it will have the 'bass' you're looking for.

 

[n00b001]

The Studiospares Seiwin speakers look good, how do I put sound into them? There is a 6.3mm in, would I need a 3.5mm to 6.3mm, then a splitter? I think I'll go with this and throw a sub into the mix when I can afford it.

Am I going about this correctly?

And as Dave said, I'm not sure what you mean. I want to hear the bass from the music, are you implying the manufacturer would just add bass for bass sake?

Thanks

 

[davedotco]

The Studiospares Seiwin speakers look good, how do I put sound into them? There is a 6.3mm in, would I need a 3.5mm to 6.3mm, then a splitter? I think I'll go with this and throw a sub into the mix when I can afford it.

Am I going about this correctly?

And as Dave said, I'm not sure what you mean. I want to hear the bass from the music, are you implying the manufacturer would just add bass for bass sake?

Thanks

If you are using a computer the best way is to use a simple USB dac, the Behringer UCA 202 will do a very decent job and is available around £25.

It has phono outs, so phono to phono cables and a phono to jack adaptor for the speakers, these cost just a pound or two.

Set it up with the speaker levels set to minimum, set the volume on the software player to max, then turn up the speakers to the loudest you would normally use and leave them there. Use the software player to adjust volume thereafter.

Subwoofers are a difficult subject, peoples expectations and requirements vary a huge amount. Good subwoofers are expensive, the cheapest I know that is even reasonably capable is the the BK XLS200 and that is £300+. That said, I know others will say differently.

 

[Willferox]

If I were you, I would buy some cheap active monitors like the ones here: http://www.andertons.co.uk/studio-monitors/cid606/studio-monitors.asp#1381170999474page-1 I would then buy a cheap DAC so that you can plug in your ipod, computer etc, while generally improving the sound of your system. Then, if the speakers weren't bassy enough, you can buy a cheaper sub online and connect it into the mix (however, my friend has some sub-£300 monitors and they are very bassy - much more bassy than any computer speakers). You could pick up some decent second hand monitors, a second-hand arcam rDAC (I'm selling one ebay), and some cables for around £350. This will be a very decent system for what you're after, and if you buy a DAC with enough inputs, you can plug in your playstation, ipod, computer etc all at the same time. My setup includes a pair of Dynaudio BM5A Mk2 speakers with an Arcam irDAC and a Wharfdale sub (which I never use - even when listening to bass-heavy music). My DAC is plugged into my PS3, computer and ipod. Spend about £350 on a 2nd hand setup and you will have a very decent nearfield setup for what you're after.

 

[Geo_scars]

I have Logitech ones that are simple connections and simple to use and AMAZING for the price

look on http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=logitech%20speakers&sprefix=logitech%2Caps%2C459&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alogitech%20speakers

Also Look up the thx 2.1 they do well worth it

 

[steve_1979]

Corsair SP2500 2.1 Speaker System. They're a bit ugly but have good sound quality and plenty of bass for £180. Clicky

Using them with this £23 Behringer UCA202 DAC will improve the sound quality from your computer a lot too. Clicky

 

[davedotco]

As always it depends on what you want and what your expectations are.

The speakers mentioned in the last couple of posts are computer speakers, quite decent ones in the case of the Corsair, but computer speakers never the less. If you want to go down this route, an integrated system with a sub, then I would add the Acoustic Energy Aego to that list.

They are decent enough products for what they are but they do not remotely compare to full sized systems, particularly ones chosen with care and properly set up. There is the rub.

If you want good sound to need proper speakers, properly set up, probably on stands, if you are going to get what they are capable of. Just putting them on a desktop or a shelf will not do it, neither will adding a cheap subwoofer, unless you are simply impressed by a lot of tuneless, booming bass.

Looking at the Andertons link in the post above shows that they have the M Audio BX5s at just £149 a pair, not my favourites but a far better proposition then any computer or desktop system. I prefer the Studiospares /Seiwin 6a speakers I mentioned earlier but either will do a pretty decent job of actually playing music, just add the Behringer dac and some stands.

You will get a great sound for the money but what you will not get is all the boom and rattle of a cheap sub, a very big plus in my view.

 

[pauln]

... then I would add the Acoustic Energy Aego to that list.

I've had those connected to my office computer for 5 or 6 years and am very happy with them although the volume knob has been getting a bit scratchy lately. One nice thing about them (for me anyway) compared with studio monitors is that the satellite speakers are very small, solidly built and also come with wall mounting brackets.

 

[davedotco]

... then I would add the Acoustic Energy Aego to that list.

I've had those connected to my office computer for 5 or 6 years and am very happy with them although the volume knob has been getting a bit scratchy lately. One nice thing about them (for me anyway) compared with studio monitors is that the satellite speakers are very small, solidly built and also come with wall mounting brackets.

They are very decent for an all in one desktop system, I checked them out a year or two back and thought they were the best at that level. In the end I bought these instead....

Studiospares/Seiwin SN4a, a tiny, under 10 inch tall, fully active speaker ideal for desktop use and costing barely over £100. I have them on the small Audioengine 'wedge' stands. Fantastic clarity and dynamics but with only a 4 inch bass driver no deep bass at all. Not a problem for me.

 

[pauln]

tiny, under 10 inch tall, fully active speaker ideal for desktop use

You must have a bigger desk than me Dave. I wouldn't say 10" was tiny; well, not in terms of desk top speakers anyway...

(BTW - your signature implies that you tour, or used to? A noise boy?)

 

[steve_1979]

...The speakers mentioned in the last couple of posts are computer speakers, quite decent ones in the case of the Corsair, but computer speakers never the less. If you want to go down this route, an integrated system with a sub, then I would add the Acoustic Energy Aego to that list...

Those Corsair 2.1 speakers look like they're just regular 'computer speakers' but they're suprisingly good and are a small step up in quality over the Acoustic Energy Aego. They're Proper actives too not just powered passives.

Where volume and bass depth are concerned as well as sound quality the Corsair's are very good for the price. I do agree that a small pair of two channel active monitors like the StudioSpares that you mentioned will have better overall levels of clarity though.

 

[davedotco]

tiny, under 10 inch tall, fully active speaker ideal for desktop use

You must have a bigger desk than me Dave. I wouldn't say 10" was tiny; well, not in terms of desk top speakers anyway...

(BTW - your signature implies that you tour, or used to? A noise boy?)

To be honest the speakers are currenly used as my main speakers as I am living away from 'home' at the moment. The Idea is that they can revert to desktop or bedroom use in the fullness of time is part of the plan. Just getting out the measure, they are slightly over 9 inches high and 6 inches wide, about as small as you can get for 'real' speakers.

I have spent virtually my whole working life in the music/hi-fi business, sometimes both at the same time.

I ran a live sound production company from '76 through to the early 80s, so given the era I would not say that I am frightened by loud noises. The first Mrs DDC got fed up of me being away a lot so I stopped touring in 83 returning only for one very special event in the summer of 85.

 

[Cypher]

A couple of weeks ago I bought the Behringer MS16 speakers. Not expensive but they sound very good............

 

[pauln]

I ran a live sound production company from '76 through to the early 80s, so given the era I would not say that I am frightened by loud noises. The first Mrs DDC got fed up of me being away a lot so I stopped touring in 83 returning only for one very special event in the summer of 85.

Before my time then. '87 was when I started.

 

[n00b001]

Thank you all very much for the help.

I think those corsairs are the one, with the USB DAC. Does anyone have experience with these, or my current speakers (Creative T7900), are my speakers at the moment poor? Will I be "blown away"? From £45 to £179 is a big step

Thank you again guys

 

[steve_1979]

Thank you all very much for the help.

I think those corsairs are the one, with the USB DAC. Does anyone have experience with these, or my current speakers (Creative T7900), are my speakers at the moment poor? Will I be "blown away"? From £45 to £179 is a big step

Thank you again guys

I don't think I've ever heard your Creative T7900 speakers but those Corsair 2.1 speakers sound better than any of the Creative or Logitech speakers that I have heard. Several of the PC magazine reviews also rate them as the best 2.1 'computer speakers' on the market too. They should be a big upgrade from what you've got now and I'm pretty sure they will "blow away" any cheap £45 computer speakers.

I would advise that you try and listen to them for yourself first if you get the chance. It would also be worth going to a pro-audio shop and listening to some active monitors such as the StudioSpares suggested elsewhere in this thread. The Corsair speakers have lots of volume, power and bass paired with surprisingly good sound quality for this type of speaker system. Alternatively some of the cheap pro-audio monitors such as the StudioSpare's will make up for their reduced power and bass by having better sound quality and clarity.

Whatever you do decide to go for let us know how you get on with them. It's always good to hear what people think when they buy some new speakers.

 

[Dommer]

If you're looking for a good active speaker that you can connect to your computer or smartphone/tablet then check out the KEF X300A speakers.

I had a listen to these at my work and was blown away how good they are. I would say they come quite close to my £2000 Naim/R100 setup.

Yes they cost a bit more than your budget, however, if you want to hear a difference, you do need to invest in a decent set of speakers.