Build Me An Objectively Superior Audio System Than My $1000+ Setup!

[SunnyOctopus]

I have had a pair of KRK VXT 6
VXT8 Studio Monitors Speaker KRK SYSTEMS

And a KRK10S Sub:
10s Subwoofer KRK SYSTEMS

Setup for nearfield listening and level matched with an SPL meter. I bought my setup for around $600, and now I'm going to sell it for $700, and I want to get something better for as little money as possible. Is that possible? I mostly just want to spend the money I make from the sale on other things, but I need my new audio system to match, if not better, my current system. Thanks for your help! Best wishes!!

Everything is all hooked into my computer's sound card.

 

[shadyJ]

Lol you had a good system for a good price, the KRK Rokits are pretty good speakers. The only thing I would have changed is the subwoofer. For $700, I would get a pair of active speakers like this Behringer pair which will probably be something like $300 after shipping. Then get a subwoofer with better extension than what you had, check out this Hsu STF2, which is $392 shipped. That setup should be a bit more powerful than what you had before, but I don't think you will get a big increase in sound quality, just an increase in bass capability. Switch the sub's internal crossover on and set it to 60 hz, then set the Behringer's low frequency switch to "0". If you do that, you might notice an increase in bass definition and less localization than what you had before. By the way, the speakers and sub will also be larger than what you had before, I hope you have room for something like them, or the best you can hope for is a lateral move, not an upgrade, especially on your budget.

 

[shadyJ]

By the way, the above post is assuming you only want to spend the $700 you made on your KRK sale. But even assuming you have more money to work with, you still won't get a big huge improvement on what you had before, at least not with the near-field monitors. If you have more than $700 to spend, I would still get active speakers with larger woofers for better bass extension like the Behringers, and the best subwoofer you can afford. I would stay away from studio subwoofers, they won't ever be big on deep bass unless you are spending thousands.

For just a bit more spent, I might go for these JBL monitors over the Behringers, not that the JBL will sound better but the Behringers don't have a great reputation for reliability in their electronics. If you can handle a big subwoofer, check out the 12" subs from Hsu Research, Rythmik, Elemental Designs, SVS, Epik Subwoofers, and Outlaw Audio which are in the six to seven hundred dollar range.

 

[SunnyOctopus]

I haven't sold anything yet!

 

[markw]

One doesn't judge speaker and value objectively.

They, more than any other purchase in this hobby, fall down to a subjective decision as to whether they are worth the asking price or not.

 

[GranteedEV]

Speaker Suggestions in rough-ish order of rising cost:

EMP E41-B
JBL 4325
Philharmonitor 2
Vapor Audio Breeze

Drive the passive ones with an Emotiva mini-X a-100