Upgrading PC to bookshelf speakers: worth it?

[metaljurgen]

Hi all, looking for some advice on PC audio.

(Warning: long read)

I work all day behind my PC in my home office, a rectangular room of about 30 square meters (322 square foot if I'm correct), and I'm always listening to Spotify Premium or YouTube in the background. It's a 13th Gen Intel i9-13900K PC with Windows 11 Pro.

For years I've been using a Logitech Z906 5.1 set. It's connected to a Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus card. I'm using an analog connection as that seems to work better than optical to get the 5.1 output.

If functions properly and I can tweak a bunch of settings with the Soundblaster Command utility.

However, I'm debating whether I can get better sound with some affordable bookshelf speakers. The Logitech speakers are not that big and (to my ears) work best when I'm directly in their path. They don't seem to fill the room very much. Also the back speakers are a bit low in volume compared to the front ones. I can tweak that with the utility but that hurts the sound quality.

I've been looking at a lot of options and reviews and was thinking of getting a Marantz pm6007 amp with Elac debut 3.0 speakers. Something like that is about the budget I wanna spend for now. If needed I could add a center speaker and/or subwoofer later on.

From what I've been reading the best and easiest way to connect the Marantz to my PC is via optical.

The speakers would be on adjustable stands, so I can place them anywhere in the room, at the best sounding height.

Some things to consider:

- I play all kinds of music. Mostly heavier kind of metal (Lamb of God, Pantera, ...), but also rock, classical, Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler, R&B, ...

- I like a warm sound with a bit of bass, not a fan of the sharp pitch some speakers emit. Ideally the sound should be OK wherever I am in the room. I alternate between sitting and standing behind my desk.

- About volume... I do like heavy music, but I play stuff at a reasonably low volume when I'm working. Outside work I'd crank it up a bit, but not enough to wake the whole street. I have tinnitus, the very loud days are over...

- The amp should have a phono in (which the Marantz has), as I also have a turntable that I'd like to use from time to time.

OK, long story short... Is it worth it? Will I notice a difference from the Logitech set (going from 5.1 to 2 speakers)? I know Spotify and YouTube (and heavy metal) from a PC is not the highest quality source, but that's what I'm using. I'm willing to look at something like Tidal, if that's better.

Is my proposed amp+speakers combo a good one? Should I get the Elac Debut 3.0 b5.3 or b6.3? Is the b5.3 is better for low volume? Or do you recommand other speakers?

Thanks!

 

[Ferdy Bossy]

The LS 50 Wireless II are far from cheap, But are active, so no amplifier needed. I don't play records anymore, the CDs are not actually played either. Thought streaming was a waste of the monthly fee. Started with the BlueSound Node 2i but now use the RME ADI 2 FS DAC also as a preamp. The loudness function is great, the music sounds the same regardless of the volume. https://teufelaudio.nl/ultima-25-active-106438000 These are much cheaper, let the ears decide. The BlueSound with Spotify worked fine, but I find Apple's ALAC lossless much better, even though it is only €109 per year. Don't expect the Turkish drum is audible. But you will still be amazed and wonder how is it possible this sound from these speakers. The Apple Music (classical) on the (IOS/ANDROID) smartphone, tablet etc. is all you need.

 

[daytona600]

Passive or Active small pro-monitors ideal , as used studios/musician
Near Field , designed to heard on desks/stands etc

Whats your budget
Active Use a set of Hedd type 07 myself with PC/Server connected to external DAC
.

 

[Jasonovich]

Passive or Active small pro-monitors ideal , as used studios/musician
Near Field , designed to heard on desks/stands etc

Whats your budget
Active Use a set of Hedd type 07 myself with PC/Server connected to external DAC
.View attachment 8256

Excellent choice, the Hedds are cousins to my Adams.

 

[Jasonovich]

The Elac's are a good choice but this requires amplification. The Marantz as excellent it is, I would avoid the amp in favour of active speakers, this is better for desktop scenario, this will free up your budget to invest in a better DAC or Streamer DAC.

If you have a limited budget, check out the nearfield monitors such as KRK Classic 5 Studio Monitor Pack (pair) or KRK Rokit RP5 G5 Monitor with 5" bass driver (sold single), marry this with either midrange Topping or SMSL DAC or if you prefer it with a streamer, the WiiM Ultra is an excellent choice and you're good to go!

I started from the same place as you, originally built around Topping E30 and PreSonus studio monitors, then the upgrade bug hit me and I went mental! So if you're starting off, buy to your maximum budget, otherwise you'll never stop upgrading!

KRK Rokit RP5 G5 Monitor with 5" bass driver

Get your from KRK Rokit RP5 G5 Monitor with 5" bass driver Andertons Music today!

www.andertons.co.uk

KRK Classic 5 Studio Monitor Pack at Gear4music

KRK Classic 5 Studio Monitor Pack at Gear4music

www.gear4music.com

 

[gasolin]

logitech shitty 5.1 systems, i don't know why people buy it instead of a real hifi system

Check out Dali Obereon 3

Also the wiim amp pro

Edifier or studio monitors for around 500 euros with hifi feet, mabye a practical control (volume) unit on the table between the pc and speakers

Like this or a more advanced version

 

[ultraminiature]

I plug my computer into my hi-fi system. I do have powered speakers around, mainly used for testing and setting up a spare PC elsewhere.

I use the computer as source for movies, tv, BBC iPlayer and BBC sounds (streaming radio) and to convert LPs and rip CDs to a digital juke box. Surround sound is great but few programmes really make full use of it but when they do 5.1 is worth the cost, to me. iPlayer is only stereo so to get 5.1 I have to record off Freesat. I use iPlayer more often since they offered 1080p. 4K is only via pay monthly services.

For a budget we are down to powered speakers like Kanto YU4 and Ora or Klipsch Fives anything from £185 to £1000. The cheapest active speakers (amps in each speaker) are Adams Audio with T5V at £270 a pair. Lack the streaming features but fully active with models into the thousands.

Desktop PC speakers I still rate B&W MM-1 (discontinued, sell 2nd hand for around £150). Kef LSX and LS50 II wireless are obvious choices. Kef Egg powered speakers are worth tracking down. Audioengine A1 Wireless, Audioengine A2+ wireless, Ruark Audio MR1 MKII, Triangle AIO Twin are worthwhile stereo systems but do not easily scale up to surround sound.

For surround B&W Formation (not Duo), Dali wireless system, Buchardt, Devialet custom phantoms, B&O Beolabs offer wireless active surround solutions. Easier to mix and match passive speakers and analogue active speakers. I used a CYP hdmi debedder to 5.1 Meridian active speakers using the control from the computer. Streaming from the PC using a browser for BBC sounds and Media player for stored music and videos. I then got WiSA speakers - wireless DSP room correcting active speakers. So far I am not interested in Dolby surround but would then get a Beosound Theatre and ceiling mounted WiSA speakers to the Beolabs I have if I could find the insane amount asked for those.

The Platin Monaco 5.1 wireless home theatre system is around £714.

 

[ultraminiature]

Computers can have optical (toslink) and coaxial outputs but the graphics card usually offers two or three HDMI outputs. You can use the higher audio output of the graphics card to a HDMI debedder to split off 8 channels of audio to active speakers or an AV receiver. Toslink fibre optics is compressed for surround, not compressed for stereo. You then need an input that then splits to surround channels. The computer sound card usually has mic, line in and line out that can be set for front L/R, rear L/R centre and sub-woofer output to active or powered speakers. There is enough control and features built into the operating system for these.

You can use a Soundsend to take HDMI or an Axiim Link for USB to WiSA speakers. They support anything from a pair to 11 channels of audio for 5.1 or 7.1 surround.

I have also a stereo USB Motu M4 connected to a pre-amp and my turntable to transfer LPs to the digital jukebox. I previously used a Terratec 6 channel USB sound system but Windows 10 stopped supporting the chip.