Since I have been upgrading I figured why leave that alone, figured I would try a few things... And I didnt want to spend more than $1000 total, I set this budget and promissed myself I wouldnt break it...
I previously had a few low dollar pc systems, the best being an audio engine A5 setup, that sounded good... Since most of my work is done at the office, and a lot of my home computing is done on laptops, I tend to use the PC in my home office when Im listing stuff on ebay, printing stuff out, or browsing the web...
Since I have been upgrading I figured why leave that alone, figured I would try a few things... And I didnt want to spend more than $1000 total, I set this budget and promissed myself I wouldnt break it...
I decided to use a set of bookshelfs with 2 ch amp, DAC, and a single sealed powered sub {2.1 system}.
The amp decision was easy I got 10% off the Emotiva Mini X making it under $200 and it fits with most of my other equipment, so I pulled the trigger on that.
The sub also was a pretty easy decision, I was stuck in between the HSU stf2 and the Wharfedale sw300, I ended up going with the sw300 because
1-I got a great deal on a black one
2-I love the remote control function, Im addicted..
3- Asethically it is much more pleasing than the HSU
4-The hsu seems to perform better with theater than the sw300 but the not as well with music which is what this system is for.
So now I alrady had an audioengine d1 dac, and it works good, went through a couple before I got this one, it works very good...
Now the hard part, picking the bookshelfs...
I set everything up, so I could easily audition the options be just plugging them in, first was a set of Ascend Sierras, They just didnt do well in my room rite in front of me, the cabinets are great but the sound was to forward and not what I liked {these sound great in a theater, but not in my pc system}
Next was an array of Klipsch and Energy bookshelfs, along with a pair of wharfedale Jades.. The energys werent warm at all, the klipsch were way to bright {both sets 52 and 62}, and the jades sounded good but where too big for soe reason and far above my budget {you see the budget is getting thrown out the window here...}
So I grab my set of 200se's from my theater and try them, they are very powerful and just flat... Mids are strong and pronounced and the highs are nice and laid back... A speaker you dont mind haivng a foot from your face...
The only problem with these was they needed the sub, and I prefer not to run the sub all the time... SO I would like a speaker that can stand alone... And it hits me, the 170 because the 340s are way too big, I didnt even bother trying the 340's...
The 170s came fast, and I couldnt wait to plug them in, plus if I didnt like them, my brother said he would take them for what I paid... But that didnt happen, even with out the sub they have pleanty of bass. They are so flat and level its insane, just a warm place to go....
Even with the small Mini X they will push you out of the room with ease. The mini X is anoher great product, I am so happy with this purchase, the auto on feature, the volume control, thin design and price made it a no brainer.. This amp is strong.. I hooked it into my Evo2-40's and it made them sing nice and loud with out breaking a sweat...
So thats it, for under $1000 I got it all setup and it is pretty impressive... If anyone is in the market for a decent setup, check it out....
Sorry about the pic quality cell phone cam... I have some wood stands for my monitors coming soon..., for now they are held up by a couple rolls of tape
plus I have a wireless keyboard and mouse just havent set them up yet... Sorry about my messy office, its always covered in cardboard and papers...
