Help me select (and more importantly, understand) what I need for a 10x10 room

[ACA]

I'll provide full details here, but if you need any more information please ask. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help a rookie like myself out.

I have a 10x10 room with a 42" LCD tv. This is connected to a laptop via standard 1/8" cable; on it I have a large collection of DVD-ripped Divx files and V0 VBR MP3s. This is how I play all of my media; I don't watch "television" or need speakers for a cable box.

I have a $100 (retail 2007 price) pair of 2.1 Logitech speakers, currently. They sound good, or so I think.

However, I'm not content just accepting this. I'd love to improve my speakers. I don't think I need 5.1 or 7.1, so two speakers and a sub is probably just fine.

Here are some questions, if you can edify me

Can I get better sound quality with a "better" set of speakers?

Do I need a receiver? Would this help?

I'll never be playing Blu-Ray or wav files; would I be able to tell the difference playing V0 MP3s/Divx?

Would I be able to tell the difference in a tiny 10x10 carpeted room?

What kind of differences could I (potentially) notice, and for how much?

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[ski2xblack]

Hello ACA-

Can you get better sound quality? Yes
Do you need a receiver? Not necessarily

From the sounds of your current source and intended use, a pair of powered monitors would be a nice improvement.

What is the budget?

 

[ACA]

Hello ACA-

Can you get better sound quality? Yes
Do you need a receiver? Not necessarily

From the sounds of your current source and intended use, a pair of powered monitors would be a nice improvement.

What is the budget?

The budget really depends on the what (why? how?) the sound will be improved. What does two powered monitors bring to the table?

I suppose if the improvement is big enough, I could spend around $500. If there was some huge improvement more than that, I could save longer and wait. What are some options?

Thanks for the response, I appreciate the time!

 

[shadyJ]

It sounds like you need to get a better idea of how the sound can be improved. Is there any hi-fi stores around where you live? What about a pro-audio shop, like Guitar Center? You should take a listen to what they have. Studio monitors will be a very substantial step up from some budget PC speakers. I have heard lots of praise for JBL monitors, KRK Rokits, Genelec, and Mackie stuff. I have had good luck with passive Alesis and Behringer monitors myself. I think you would still want to add a good subwoofer though, it really does help a lot.

 

[ski2xblack]

The budget really depends on the what (why? how?) the sound will be improved. What does two powered monitors bring to the table?

I suppose if the improvement is big enough, I could spend around $500. If there was some huge improvement more than that, I could save longer and wait. What are some options?

Thanks for the response, I appreciate the time!

Powered monitors will be a huge step up from your logitech computer speakers. You will be pleasantly surprised at what they bring, which can be simply amazing performance for the price. (As for 'what, why', it will be flat freq response, good off axis response, and much, much more dynamic range.) Plus, if you're keeping it simple, they allow you to skip the receiver.

Take a look at the JBL LSR2325, which are going for about $400/pair. As ShadyJ pointed out, you can find these at Guitar Center or similar musician/pro-audio shops, so swing in and give them a listen.

The JBL LSR2328 is slightly larger, and is going for about $600 or so.

There are quite a few options for active monitors within your price range, and hopefully others will make some suggestions, but the above two will rock your little room in awesome fashion.

 

[ACA]

Does it all account for moderate volume?

I don't need to CRANK it; I will still notice a difference listening to it at "average" volume levels?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[ski2xblack]

Does it all account for moderate volume?

I don't need to CRANK it; I will still notice a difference listening to it at "average" volume levels?

Thanks for all the help.

Yes, they will sound better at average levels too. The JBL pro monitors are extremely neutral and uncolored in their presentation. For the price, you would be hard pressed to match or exceed their performance. Coming from Logitech computer speakers, they'll probably blow you away with their clarity.

Keep in mind that those are just a suggestion. I would encourage you to audtion speakers before you buy if at all possible. What I tell you means little compared to what your own ears tell you.

If you want to explore the more traditional route (receiver and normal passive speakers), I think you would end up having to spend more overall, but I'm not up on the latest deals on entry level speakers and receivers. Hopefully others will come along and give some alternate suggestions for you.

Also, given your budget, I have not considered a sub. My thoughts are that you'll get more value doing this incrementally, so starting with a pair of good main speakers is more important at this stage. For the sub, save up until you can get a sub worth having (as another poster succintly put it, you can always turn down the volume on a good sub, but you can't turn up the quality on a bad one.)

 

[gotchaforce]

The issue is how to control volume, if you got the JBLs you need an audio interface.. then its like, might as well get a receiver for a tad more

 

[ski2xblack]

Good point, Gotcha.

Some of the more consumer friendly powered monitors have common volume control (I don't think the JBLs do), and some even have remote control, e.g. the Audioengines. They look pretty sharp too. Can't comment on their sound, but they've received favorable reviews.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Does it all account for moderate volume?

I don't need to CRANK it; I will still notice a difference listening to it at "average" volume levels?

Thanks for all the help.

You also need to look into room acoustic treatments as it can make large improvements.

 

[shadyJ]

The issue is how to control volume, if you got the JBLs you need an audio interface.. then its like, might as well get a receiver for a tad more

I would just control it from the source, it looks like the OP is using a computer or tablet or something like that. It will most certainly have a volume control.

 

[gotchaforce]

The volume out on a laptop i wouldnt trust to use with studio monitors

 

[ACA]

The volume out on a laptop i wouldnt trust to use with studio monitors

Care to elaborate, please?

 

[gotchaforce]

Dont think the gain would be loud enough, ive tried it before with my krk RP6g2 and i had to turn up each studio monitor way up (with windows volume at 100%), while right now i have it hooked up to my tascam us144 and the amps are only up half way and get super loud. Just means less strain for the monitors because they dont have to have the amp running at 100% all the time

 

[ACA]

So, what would you suggest with just a 1/8" line out from a laptop?

Should I look at products from a company like Bose?

 

[shadyJ]

You could get a very simple and inexpensive pre-amp to help with that, something like this might work. Maybe this may work too, very cheap and doesn't eat up a lot of shelf space. This not only applies gain but can cut some bass too, that may help the speaker's clarity.

Oh, and I wouldn't bother with Bose.

 

[ACA]

Oh, and I wouldn't bother with Bose.

Interesting read, there. I'd love to read a Bose rebuttal. Like I said, I'm a newb here, so this is good to know.

Do you think there's anything decent I can line directly out of a laptop? Or should I really start considering preamps and such if I want decent sound?

 

[ACA]

What do you audio guys think of stuff like this

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001202C44/ref=asc_df_B001202C441856608?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=cnet-ce-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B001202C44

Harman Kardon SoundSticks III Review & Rating | PCMag.com

How to Buy PC Speakers | Roundup | PCMag.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RQ4IA4/ref=asc_df_B001RQ4IA41856999?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextagus0007683-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B001RQ4IA4

Or are they "PC Speakers" and therefore not as good in some way?

I really appreciate all this constant help.

 

[shadyJ]

Those are all satellite speakers, none of them will sound as good or get as loud as some real bookshelf speakers. If you are interested in good sound, as a general rule you should stay away from small speakers. For a full sound you will want speakers with at least 5.25" woofers, at the very least. Personally, I would prefer to have 6.5" woofers or larger, as those can generally more easily meet the 80 hz crossover point needed for subwoofers.

As for a rebuttle from Bose, that is usually served in the form of a subpoena.

 

[ski2xblack]

So, what would you suggest with just a 1/8" line out from a laptop?

Should I look at products from a company like Bose?

Bose? Hell, no, as their product represents all marketing and relatively few smiles/dollar. Decent active monitors will dance mad circles around Bose. A cheapo receiver with a pair of entry level pioneer or infinity speakers would also.

I would try the 1/8" output and see how it goes first. It may be ok for your needs, but keep in mind that good quality monitors like the suggested JBLs will reveal upstream issues if they exist, much moreso than your present Logitechs. The issues would be not enough output or relatively poor s/n.

Using a computer as a source, you may want to consider a more hi-fi/pro-audio style sound card, if not now perhaps as a future upgrade. Doing so would be beneficial regardless if you're feeding active monitors or a receiver. Of course, those cost about the same as a decent entry level receiver.