Buying $900-$1400 2.1 system for PC, please help :)

[Nnola]

Hi

I'm planning to get a new sound system for my PC and am a bit unsure even after hours of research about what to buy exactly. I have an X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty sound card and would like a good 2.1 system. I have looked at the SP2500 from Corsair and it seemed fairly decent but the speakers seem a bit too small and I'm not sure about the quality for only ~$215. Since I need it for a PC, I'm guessing floorstanding speakers are not an option, but am looking for bookshelves on a stand. Mainly I would be listening to electronic music on it and sometimes use the PC for gaming. Could you please help me choose for everything to be optimal and for the connections to work with a sound card?
Sorry for the wall of text

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hi

I'm planning to get a new sound system for my PC and am a bit unsure even after hours of research about what to buy exactly. I have an X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty sound card and would like a good 2.1 system. I have looked at the SP2500 from Corsair and it seemed fairly decent but the speakers seem a bit too small and I'm not sure about the quality for only ~$215. Since I need it for a PC, I'm guessing floorstanding speakers are not an option, but am looking for bookshelves on a stand. Mainly I would be listening to electronic music on it and sometimes use the PC for gaming. Could you please help me choose for everything to be optimal and for the connections to work with a sound card?
Sorry for the wall of text

I assume you don't want or have a room for proper receiver if so - you would be pretty much limited ether to go with AudioEngine A5+ speakers plus good sub or with prof. active monitors

I can wholeheartedly recommend JBL LSR2325p - sold as each - $200 or less - I love mine. For sub this get a bit more tricky - you must take in account your room size and how big the sub could be, but to point you to right direction i'll list few models which would be find in most mid to large rooms:

PB12-NSD - SVS
VTF-2 MK4 Subwoofer
Outlaw Audio LFM-1 Plus Powered Subwoofer

For cables you'd need to get a pair of these:
For only $3.06 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 10ft Premium 3.5mm Stereo Male to 2RCA Male 22AWG Cable (Gold Plated) - Black | Premium 3.5mm to RCA Audio Cables

 

[Nnola]

Thanks!

The room is 4m by 4m, I will be sitting next to a wall, in the middle. I'd be fine with a receiver if it was a better deal than active speakers. I could only find the JBL speakers you've mentioned for $300, and I couldn't find any of the subs being sold where I live. What about the JBL LSR2310SP? The A5+ looks nice . I've also found the JBL LSR2328P/230. Is that too big for this purpose? I couldn't find a similar 2.1 active set that would be all in one even though I guess that that'd be a better deal than getting them separately.

 

[bikemig]

If I had $1k or so to spend on a music system for my computer and wanted a 2.1 system, I'd take a long hard look at the focal little bird which runs around $1k. It has analog and digital inputs; it streams wirelessly using kleer technology. There are multiple means to set up the speakers which can be important depending on your room set up. And the amp has a built in woofer. There are multiple reviews online; here is one: Focal Bird Compact Audio System (Playback 48) | AVguide. I'd find a mail order place that has generous return policies so you can play with this for a while before paying for it. It looks cool, has a really well thought out feature set for a computer set up, and focal makes good speakers.

 

[Nnola]

Why the hell do they make the entire thing so small if they design it for 40m2+ rooms?(and that's the little bird)

 

[shadyJ]

Here is one suggestion for a setup:
Behringer Truth B2031A monitor x 2: $400
Sanus NF30 speaker stands: $60
Hsu Research VTF3 mk4 subwoofer: $758

That would be a killer system for electronic music and games. I think it would also be worth looking into KRK Rokit monitors, those are very popular and there is a lot of praise for them. I also find the Behringer 3030A speakers interesting looking, I have not heard them but I would love to give them a listen. I also like Alesis and Genelec Monitors, if there is a Guitar Center or a pro-audio place around where you live, you should drop by and give their monitors a listen. JBL monitors are very highly regarded as well. The VTF3 subwoofer is a beast, but if you really want a sky-is-the-limit setup for output and dynamic range, check out the Hsu VTF15h, but that is $1k shipped. If you like dubstep and bass heavy music, a properly setup Hsu sub will bring tears to your eyes.

 

[Nnola]

I can't find any HSU subs being sold in Hungary and the speakers cost about 20% more here as well eh .. I could get the JBL system boredsysadmin mentioned fairly easily and for a good price through one dealer, but I will definitely listen to a couple high-end setups before. Thanks everyone!

 

[Nnola]

Actually, I'm a bit unsure. My sound card is a simple Titanium X-Fi, not a Fatal1ty one and I've heard a couple bad things about creative drivers, though the card is supposed to be decent. I'm not sure about getting a receiver/amp for a 2.1 system only, but then I could output the audio via the video card with an HDMI cable and get passive speakers, which as I've read somewhere, may be a good decision(and give the card away or something). Ideally I would buy the speakers as a set, designed together.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Creative drivers are hit or miss, but don't get hung on the sound card,
If you want to really step up - you might want to consider outboard balanced interface...
I was looking hard and only two good ones :
Behringer SRC2496
and Emotiva XDA-1 - the later is now only $199 - which is a steal from it's original price about $450 not that long ago

About sub - you could get it from official SVS reseller here for about 200k HUF
SVS PB12-NSD DSP Black Charcoal Subwoofer - 12" basselement og 400W DSP - L-Sound AS

 

[Nnola]

You really need to talk to me about this as if I had no clue, which is sort of true If I get the Behringer SRC2496(I couldn't find the other one for sale here), then will I need the sound card or not? The SVS reseller doesn't ship to Hungary :|. Will I still need active speakers with the Behringer SRC2496? What is its exact purpose? I couldn't find anything on this online.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You really need to talk to me about this as if I had no clue, which is sort of true If I get the Behringer SRC2496(I couldn't find the other one for sale here), then will I need the sound card or not? The SVS reseller doesn't ship to Hungary :|. Will I still need active speakers with the Behringer SRC2496? What is its exact purpose? I couldn't find anything on this online.

Behringer SRC2496 is a pro DAC - the difference from your soundcard - it has balanced speakers connectors which are common on pro monitors
That said, JBL monitors can also accept regular RCA (or aka unbalanced) connections - which do work fine for me (with shielded rca cabled).

External DACs, like Behringer SRC2496, could help eliminate some of background noises associated with pci sound card sometimes pickup from the pc mainboard and other components.

Too bad about SVS. Checkout your local resellers and see what they have so we can help you further choosing the sub.

 

[Nnola]

So if I understand this correctly, giving away the sound card and getting two JBL LSR2325P/230-s and one JBL LSR2310SP/230 sub as I've said earlier would be a workable solution(with the Behringer DAC)?

These are the subs available in Hungary, sorted by price high to low, starting from 210k HUF=~910USD: Hangfal Mélynyomó ajánlatok, árak - ÁrGép - 5. oldal

Thanks!

edit: how would I connect the DAC to the motherboard?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So if I understand this correctly, giving away the sound card and getting two JBL LSR2325P/230-s and one JBL LSR2310SP/230 sub as I've said earlier would be a workable solution(with the Behringer DAC)?

These are the subs available in Hungary, sorted by price high to low, starting from 210k HUF=~910USD: Hangfal Mélynyomó ajánlatok, árak - ÁrGép - 5. oldal

Thanks!

edit: how would I connect the DAC to the motherboard?

You don't have to match Sub brand to speakers.
You might want to consider a different sub:
This one for example:
Jamo Sub 660 - Hangfal árak - ÁrGép

or this budget option:
Magnat Monitor Supreme Sub 301A - Hangfal árak - ÁrGép
I don't know anything about this brand, but specs sound solid and price is cheap

Behringer Dac connects to your pc using spd/if connector (coax or optical) - hopefully you have on your motherboard

 

[Nnola]

So... Having a digital optical go from my motherboard to the digital optical input of the Behringer SRC2496 and having the two active speakers connected to the Behringer SRC2496's analog outs would be the proper way of doing this, right? How would I connect the sub? Are the JBL LSR2325P/230 speakers fine, then?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So... Having a digital optical go from my motherboard to the digital optical input of the Behringer SRC2496 and having the two active speakers connected to the Behringer SRC2496's analog outs would be the proper way of doing this, right? How would I connect the sub? Are the JBL LSR2325P/230 speakers fine, then?

oops sorry, forgot about sub connection
Just keep your SB and have all analog connection

JBL LSR2325P/LSR2310SP - are more than fine

While you are getting the matched components - you might want to get the MSC1 - Monitor System Controller with Room Mode Correction - You don't

This will give you best of controls and connections and a simple connection to pc - a single usb cable
Sometimes this set sold together:
like this:
JBL LSR 2325P LSR2310SP MSC1 Studio Monitor Package LSR2325P NEW Authorized Dlr 050036903646 | eBay

 

[Nnola]

Using usb would make the sound card useless, wouldn't it? Also, the sound card outputs unbalanced, so wouldn't that be a waste to get such high-end speakers for it? What exactly does the MSC1 do? Just making sure that the separate pieces all have the same volume and providing easier control?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Using usb would make the sound card useless, wouldn't it? Also, the sound card outputs unbalanced, so wouldn't that be a waste to get such high-end speakers for it? What exactly does the MSC1 do? Just making sure that the separate pieces all have the same volume and providing easier control?

going back to sb - yes, the connection would be unbalanced, but it's not a big issue if cable is under 100ft

Usb would make sb useless

Msc in addition to central volume/other controls also does automatic room calibration - it helps to eq the sound automatically to get most accurate output

 

[Nnola]

how does the usb input even work? is the MSC1 a DAC too?

 

[Nnola]

apparently I can't get the msc1 in Hungary but even if I could, is it worth it paying premium for speakers bought separately and having to buy an MSC1 over a system that's designed for 2.1 sound with PC users in mind?(though I have a hard time finding high quality ones)

 

[Nnola]

What about simply getting something like the Edifier S550? xD