Did research need HELP :(

[NYC_legacy]

Need help guys, I have been doing a lot of research on purchasing a 2.1 for mainly music play back from my computer with the occasional movie in a 14x14 room. I most defiantly will be picking up a DAC not sure which one yet but am split between a few sets of speakers(sub $500 pair) and wanted to get some input. I have been looking at the:

Behringer B2031A, Swan M200MkII, Audioengine A5,and the Bowers & Wilkins’ MM-1 if they are truly above all and worth every penny. Input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Boerd]

Need help guys, I have been doing a lot of research on purchasing a 2.1 for mainly music play back from my computer with the occasional movie in a 14x14 room. I most defiantly will be picking up a DAC not sure which one yet but am split between a few sets of speakers(sub $500 pair) and wanted to get some input. I have been looking at the:

Behringer B2031A, Swan M200MkII, Audioengine A5,and the Bowers & Wilkins’ MM-1 if they are truly above all and worth every penny. Input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

The order I'd buy:

1. By a mile - Behringer B2031A

2. Swan M200MkII or Audioengine A5

I wouldn't buy B&W - I don't think they are competitive in this category (500$ active)

 

[its phillip]

I would definitely consider these at $200/ea:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-CX8-Speaker-2-way/dp/B00267TXBM/

I've not heard these particular models but I have used the lower end ones and found them decent enough...and these are on sale for near the same price

 

[Boerd]

I would definitely consider these at $200/ea:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-CX8-Speaker-2-way/dp/B00267TXBM/

I've not heard these particular models but I have used the lower end ones and found them decent enough...and these are on sale for near the same price

I have listened to M-Audio (don't remember the exact model but they were around this price) at Guitar Center - and liked them.
But CX8 has a tweeter and a 8 inch woofer - I think something like tweeter and a 6 inch would sound better - CX5 ...

 

[NYC_legacy]

Have you heard any of the ones I was considering above, just curious as to how they compare.

 

[its phillip]

I haven't heard any of the ones you listed.

I have listened to M-Audio (don't remember the exact model but they were around this price) at Guitar Center - and liked them.
But CX8 has a tweeter and a 8 inch woofer - I think something like tweeter and a 6 inch would sound better - CX5 ...

Yeah, the CX5 might be more reasonable (and still decently priced at ~230 each).

 

[NYC_legacy]

Anyone else have any input on the M-Audio no offence phillip

 

[bikemig]

If you go with the B&W MM1, you won't need a dac as they have a built in dac. The same goes for the Focal XS. I own a pair of A-5s and I think they sound great. Sometimes the design just works right. You won't go wrong with them and they have some very useful inputs (2 minijack), a line out (useful for a sub), and an AC input (useful if you use a streaming device). Plus they look pretty sharp. For a dac, it depends on whether you plan to stream your music or not. If you are not streaming, the HRT music streamer II is an inexpensive, good quality asynchronous dac. The Squeezebox Touch sounds great paired with the A-5s using the analog outputs (i.e., relying on the SB dac). By the way, I had bad luck with the reliability of a pair of m-audio speakers (different than the ones you looked at) and the company was completely unresponsive; you might want to read some of the reviews on Amazon with different people's experience with M-audio speakers before buying one. From my experience, Audioengine is a very different company to deal with.