Speaker recommendation request

[taltamir]

After 7 years of commendable service, my 150$ speakers shorted and died...

What are some good speakers for a PC one can buy right now? I will NOT be doing surround... how much I am willing to spend depends entirely on how much awesomer more expensive speakers are. That is to say, whether I would spend 20$, 100$ or 300$ depends entirely on how much more speaker for the buck you get when upgrading. Naturally I want to spead the least amount as possible, but if there are some really nice speakers at higher prices they might entice me.

I have been informed that the real good speakers are often called "monitors" oddly enough but are from smaller companies and harder to find; also they focus on accurate reproduction rather then boosting bass to appeal to the average consumer... I am interested in accurate reproduction and I am not scared of buying those over the more "mainstream" brands.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

what are the old speakers you're coming from?

 

[taltamir]

some logitech speakers; I don't remember the model and it doesn't say.
4.1 surround but i unplugged all but the FR and FL speakers making it 2.1

 

[kalrith]

You'll get better sound with either powered bookshelves or unpowered bookshelves plus a T-amp than you will from any computer speakers.

 

[taltamir]

You'll get better sound with either powered bookshelves or unpowered bookshelves plus a T-amp than you will from any computer speakers.

what is a T-amp and what is bookshelves?

 

[shiranai]

The common recommendations for entry-range powered monitors are:
Audioengine A2/A5
KRK Rokit 5/6/8
M-Audio BX5a/8a
Swans M200

From what I've read, people tend to prefer the KRKs or the Audioengines (good features/connectivity).

Subwoofer isn't strictly necessary for the larger monitors, since their low-frequency response is actually pretty good. Think about where you're going to put these though; ideally, you want them on floorstands away from walls and corners, but that's hard to do in many workspaces.

Also, if this is just for personal listening, it's worth noting that getting high-quality sound is almost always easier and cheaper with headphones.

 

[kalrith]

what is a T-amp and what is bookshelves?

Here's an example of bookshelf speakers. Bookshelves are pretty much the same as what you referred to as monitors in the OP. They are much larger than the typical computer speakers (which would be called satellites), and yet are not nearly as large as floorstanding speakers, so they can either be placed on your desk (as long as you have room) or on speakers stands.

This is a T amp. It's what you'll need if you want to run unpowered or "passive" bookshelves. It will provide the power for the bookshelves, and it will connect to your computer's sound card.

Edit: Here's a past thread on this very topic: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=327073

 

[taltamir]

thank you kalrith and shiranai for explaining and the recommendations.
I know headphones are cheaper and higher quality audio, but I find them to be extremely uncomfortable, especially for very long gaming sessions (being ~15 hours)

Audioengine A2/A5
KRK Rokit 5/6/8
M-Audio BX5a/8a
Swans M200

Where is a good place to buy those? newegg shows the swans M200 as OOS and all the rest it doesn't even list.

Here's an example of bookshelf speakers. Bookshelves are pretty much the same as what you referred to as monitors in the OP. They are much larger than the typical computer speakers (which would be called satellites), and yet are not nearly as large as floorstanding speakers, so they can either be placed on your desk (as long as you have room) or on speakers stands.

This is a T amp. It's what you'll need if you want to run unpowered or "passive" bookshelves. It will provide the power for the bookshelves, and it will connect to your computer's sound card.

Edit: Here's a past thread on this very topic: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=327073

Are those just examples, or do you specifically recommend this T-amp and those bookshelf speakers?
how the Polk 40 compared to Polk 30 or Polk TSi100?

What about freestanding speakers? are they better/worse? cheaper/more expensive?
Would putting one free-standing speaker to my right and one to my left provide better or worse performance then two bookshelfs in front of me (but a little to the right/left)

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

thank you kalrith and shiranai for explaining and the recommendations.
I know headphones are cheaper and higher quality audio, but I find them to be extremely uncomfortable, especially for very long gaming sessions (being ~15 hours)


Where is a good place to buy those? newegg shows the swans M200 as OOS and all the rest it doesn't even list.



Are those just examples, or do you specifically recommend this T-amp and those bookshelf speakers?
how the Polk 40 compared to Polk 30 or Polk TSi100?

What about freestanding speakers? are they better/worse? cheaper/more expensive?
Would putting one free-standing speaker to my right and one to my left provide better or worse performance then two bookshelfs in front of me (but a little to the right/left)

do you mean floorstanding speakers? those are more expensive than bookshelves, generally. Also, you wouldn't put spekaers to your left and right....but rather in front of you on the sides of your screen

 

[taltamir]

do you mean floorstanding speakers? those are more expensive than bookshelves, generally. Also, you wouldn't put spekaers to your left and right....but rather in front of you on the sides of your screen

why not? would it not sound right?
I generally listen to mono (I hate stereo, and I loathe surround even more so... because everyone is so hooked on the gimmick that they massively over emphasize it... instead of a few percent higher you end up one speaking at 100% volume and one at 0%, and the tiniest movement swaps which is which... ARRRG! They have lots of potential if they would only be used in a more realistic fashion... kinda how everyone uses way too much bloom and an exaggerated motion blur effect in games today)

 

[kalrith]

thank you kalrith and shiranai for explaining and the recommendations.
I know headphones are cheaper and higher quality audio, but I find them to be extremely uncomfortable, especially for very long gaming sessions (being ~15 hours)

Where is a good place to buy those? newegg shows the swans M200 as OOS and all the rest it doesn't even list.

Are those just examples, or do you specifically recommend this T-amp and those bookshelf speakers?
how the Polk 40 compared to Polk 30 or Polk TSi100?

What about freestanding speakers? are they better/worse? cheaper/more expensive?
Would putting one free-standing speaker to my right and one to my left provide better or worse performance then two bookshelfs in front of me (but a little to the right/left)

I would recommend that T amp, but I'm not sure about the bookshelves. The Monitor 40s are good, but you might be able to do better for the money. I'd stay away from the TSi speakers. They're basically a newer version of the Monitor speakers with a much higher price tag.

I did some searching on the AV forum, and it seems that the Infinity P162 would be a good choice.

do you mean floorstanding speakers? those are more expensive than bookshelves, generally. Also, you wouldn't put spekaers to your left and right....but rather in front of you on the sides of your screen

That's what it sounds like he means. In the lower price range, you will get more for your money with bookshelves. Unless he sits back several feet from the wall, then I agree that having the speakers either right next to the screen or on stands next to the desk is best.

This is the only place I could find those Swans. They're more expensive than the amp plus the Infinity speakers, but I'm not sure how the sound compares. BTW, if you order the speakers off of Amazon, you can order the T amp from them as well.

 

[kalrith]

why not? would it not sound right?
I generally listen to mono (I hate stereo, and I loathe surround even more so... because everyone is so hooked on the gimmick that they massively over emphasize it... instead of a few percent higher you end up one speaking at 100% volume and one at 0%, and the tiniest movement swaps which is which... ARRRG! They have lots of potential if they would only be used in a more realistic fashion... kinda how everyone uses way too much bloom and an exaggerated motion blur effect in games today)

If you were going to be 6-10' back from your speakers, then you would want the left and right speaker to be 6-8' apart from each other. However, in the typical computer-desk setting, you're about 3-4' from the wall. Floorstanding speakers wouldn't work well in that situation for two reasons. One is that the tweeters probably wouldn't be high enough for your listening position; the tweeters are supposed to be at the ear height of the listener. The other is just a space issue. With the bookshelves you could try placing them on your desk. If that doesn't work, you could buy some stands and place them where you would place the floorstanding speakers (except place them at proper ear height).

Regardless of all that, a $200 pair of bookshelves will sound better than a $200 pair of floorstanding speakers. Why? Because you're paying for extra wood and extra shipping (even free shipping is factored into the item cost) when compared to the bookshelves. Therefore, the $200 pair of bookshelves will have better-quality components than the $200 pair of floorstanders.

 

[taltamir]

thank you.

Regardless of all that, a $200 pair of bookshelves will sound better than a $200 pair of floorstanding speakers.

Bookshelf speakers it is then.

By AV forum do you mean http://www.avforums.com/

The infinity primus speaker you linked http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...namitedata.com
is 140$ for 1 speaker; since I need two we are looking at 280$. thats a lot of money .
the polk 40 speakers were 140$ for 2 speakers. and the polk 30 are 110$ for two speakers.

Are the infinity primus really worth that much more?

 

[kalrith]

thank you.


Bookshelf speakers it is then.

By AV forum do you mean http://www.avforums.com/

The infinity primus speaker you linked http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...namitedata.com
is 140$ for 1 speaker; since I need two we are looking at 280$. thats a lot of money .
the polk 40 speakers were 140$ for 2 speakers. and the polk 30 are 110$ for two speakers.

Are the infinity primus really worth that much more?

I actually meant the Audio/Video & Home Theater forum here on AT. I also frequent www.avsforum.com as well.

Rats! I didn't realize that was $140 per speaker. I'm not really sure how the quality compares and if it's really double the quality of the Polk Monitor 40. I'll have to look into it a bit more. I haven't really shopped for bookshelves before, so I just have to go off of what others have said.

I will mention this. You'll do a heckuva lot better by shopping for used speakers than new speakers.

Edit: If you go here and ask them to email you a price, you can get a pair of P162 for about $248 shipped.

BTW, how much do you really want to spend? Not a broad range like $20 - 300, but what's your preferred target price?

 

[taltamir]

my preferred range is 100-150$
thanks for the forum links

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

my preferred range is 100-150$
thanks for the forum links

For just the speakers or for the speakers and the amp together?

 

[0roo0roo]

real monitors are for a certain type of flat clarity for when you are mixing, which may not be pleasant to listen to at all.

bookshelves and a used/or cheap receiver might be best.

 

[kalrith]

bookshelves and a used/or cheap receiver might be best.

OP, if you have room for a receiver, you can probably find a used stereo receiver for less than the T amp. It would also give you greater flexibility with connections.

 

[alfa147x]

I'm a big fan of the M-Audio BX5a's absolutely love them

 

[kalrith]

I'm a big fan of the M-Audio BX5a's absolutely love them

B&H has them for $239 shipped. OP, you wouldn't need to buy the T amp with these since they're powered.

 

[killster1]

B&H has them for $239 shipped. OP, you wouldn't need to buy the T amp with these since they're powered.

thnx for the thread im in same boat. going to grab me them m-audio's i love almost anything that is that brand. the p162 infinity looked good till scrolling down thread thanks!

 

[phait]

http://www.zzounds.com/item--CAKMA15D

Seems Edirol no longer produces their monitors under that name but Cakewalk now... anyway I have an older pair of MA-10Ds as I produce music, but for general use I love them

 

[taltamir]

thank you for the suggestions everyone. I am having a hard time justifying 200+$ for a pair of speakers though.

what about some of the cheaper bookshelf speakers such as: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290009

or even much cheaper: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882007009

are they really that bad compared to those more expensive ones?

 

[alfa147x]

thank you for the suggestions everyone. I am having a hard time justifying 200+$ for a pair of speakers though.

what about some of the cheaper bookshelf speakers such as: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290009

or even much cheaper: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882007009

are they really that bad compared to those more expensive ones?

Those look so damn nice! You do know you have to power those right?

 

[taltamir]

Those look so damn nice! You do know you have to power those right?

yes, the plan is to use this T-amp http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-DTA-1-C.../dp/B001PNOH2I
as recommended by others on this thread.

still, quite a bit less money spent on the whole setup.