Please help out a noob in need!!

[alexsabree]

Hey guys,
I really need your help here. Right now I’m kind of in that semi-noob state where I’ve saved up $300 but I really don’t know how I should spend it. Just recently I took a giant leap of faith and bought some really nice $150 Audio Technica Headphones (ATH-A700). Boy has that changed a lot. Before I was listening to freaking rap/hip hop – now I hate that crap and can’t go back. I have an entirely different perspective on music and now listen to ACTUAL music.

But there is where the problem comes in… I only have $300 and want to spend it on audio equipment.

I'm open up to all suggestions.

 

[Adam]

What equipment do you have already?

 

[mudrummer99]

I would say if you are starting from ground zero, my assumption, that you hit up local pawn shops and craigslist. $300 retail will not get you far, but in the used market you can get some decent stuff for that.

Mike

 

[agarwalro]

I took a giant leap of faith and bought some really nice $150 Audio Technica Headphones (ATH-A700)... I have an entirely different perspective on music and now listen to ACTUAL music... I only have $300 and want to spend it on audio equipment.

I'm open up to all suggestions.

If your primary interest is in sampling new music, get a good MP3 player to match your ATH and relearn what good sound from good music should be.

MP3 players rated on sound quality, http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/12/top-5-mp3-players-of-2008.php

Note: If possible, get a player that can handle the lossless compression formats like, FLAC, OGG, etc. or use MP3's of at least 256kbps encoding quality.

 

[alexsabree]

Alright, well I pretty much use my Computer for everything. I watch TV on it, play games on it, listen to music on it.

It has an Creative Xfi XtremeMusic sound card and this is what the equipment will be connected to.

I have some Itrigue SPeakers along with the already mentioned ATH-A700 headphones. I was thinking about building a good 2.1 setup but because my money is low. I really thinking about buying this sub and temporarily using it with my Creative speakers. Later on I would buy a receiver and some good bookshelf speakers.

Also, I pretty much live in the smallest room ever made.. so anything will fill this thing up.

I'm just asking for suggestions on what you think I should do with $300.

Buy better headphones (possibly sell my older ones)
OR
Buy a sub now and get decent speakers later.
OR
DIY Subwoofer Build (Infinity kappa maybe?)
OR
Buy a cheaper sub and get receiver/speakers now.

 

[alexsabree]

I would say if you are starting from ground zero, my assumption, that you hit up local pawn shops and craigslist. $300 retail will not get you far, but in the used market you can get some decent stuff for that.

Mike

Well... I live in Arkansas and there isn't much on craigslist where I live.

 

[mperfct]

If your primary interest is in sampling new music, get a good MP3 player to match your ATH and relearn what good sound from good music should be.

MP3 players rated on sound quality, http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/12/top-5-mp3-players-of-2008.php

Note: If possible, get a player that can handle the lossless compression formats like, FLAC, OGG, etc. or use MP3's of at least 256kbps encoding quality.

I got a Sansa Fuze 4gb and added a 8gb sd card to it. I was surprised to see the Clip and the Fuze ranked #1. Bonus for me I suppose. Plus it supports FLAC among other things. They are fairly cheap now.

 

[alexsabree]

I got a Sansa Fuze 4gb and added a 8gb sd card to it. I was surprised to see the Clip and the Fuze ranked #1. Bonus for me I suppose. Plus it supports FLAC among other things. They are fairly cheap now.

Think I'll definitely be buying the clip. I've owned various MP3 Players, but they usually break as soon as I get my hands on them. The clip is pretty cheap, and surprisingly doesn't seem to be too bad.

 

[mperfct]

Think I'll definitely be buying the clip. I've owned various MP3 Players, but they usually break as soon as I get my hands on them. The clip is pretty cheap, and surprisingly doesn't seem to be too bad.

I bought the clip for my wife and she loves it. The only downside is if you start ripping FLACs, you'll run out of room fairly quickly. It doesn't have a memory slot like the Fuze does. The Fuze really doesn't cost that much more...

 

[alexwakelin]

Most 2.1 speaker setups such as your creative have everything built into the subwoofer. I'm not sure that you could replace just the subwoofer, as the amplifier for the speakers is probably built into it. The $300 you have saved up is enough to get a pretty nice headphone amp, or some decent bookshelf speakers that you could power with a used receiver. I've heard of people finding very nice vintage receivers at thrift stores or garage sales for ~$10.

 

[agarwalro]

I'm just asking for suggestions on what you think I should do with $300.

Buy better headphones (possibly sell my older ones)
OR
Buy a sub now and get decent speakers later.
OR
DIY Subwoofer Build (Infinity kappa maybe?)
OR
Buy a cheaper sub and get receiver/speakers now.

Itrigure out... Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 IN... from personal experience these are awesome computer speakers. Excellent for music and lot of power for movies and games. Here is a review, http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1477 They are on eBay for approx $150 new+shipped.

This kind,

 

[alexsabree]

Most 2.1 speaker setups such as your creative have everything built into the subwoofer. I'm not sure that you could replace just the subwoofer, as the amplifier for the speakers is probably built into it. The $300 you have saved up is enough to get a pretty nice headphone amp, or some decent bookshelf speakers that you could power with a used receiver. I've heard of people finding very nice vintage receivers at thrift stores or garage sales for ~$10.

Oh, What I'll be doing is this. The Creative 2.1 Speaker setup allows you turn down the volume of the subwoofer. I would turn it all the way down and hook it up to the T250 subwoofer at a crossover rate at around 100hz (this is what I think the Creative speakers are at)

Line Out -> T250 Subwoofer *Crossover set at 100hz* -> Creative Itrigue with Subwoofer turned off.

To be honest, the subwoofer is one of my main concerns. I'll replace my speakers later on down the road.

 

[alexsabree]

Itrigure out... Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 IN... from personal experience these are awesome computer speakers. Excellent for music and lot of power for movies and games. Here is a review, http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1477 They are on eBay for approx $150 new+shipped.

What about the Logitech Z5500 For $300 shipped?

 

[alexwakelin]

I'm still not sure you would get the best results. Try downloading some test tones and playing them to see where your sub crosses over. Some 2.1 computer systems cross over as high as 200hz, which is not ideal. A "real" subwoofer probably won't perform well in that region, and if you cross lower then there will be a hole in your system's fr. The Logitech z5500 gets good reviews for movie and game performance, but I don't think it is the best solution if you are looking for musical fidelity. I have heard some people describe the subwoofer as "boomy", which might not bother you if you were listening to rap or techno music, but you said you have been turned off of rap music. A high quality pair of bookshelf speakers can really be a eye opener if you are coming from a "multimedia" setup. Many bookshelf speakers perform well into the 50hz region, and that could get you by until you save up enough to add a subwoofer.

 

[alexwakelin]

Here's link for some test tones, it's only a 37k file. Don't play them too loud either as you could damage your speakers.

http://mdf1.tripod.com/test-tones.html

It has a 200hz tone, play that one and see if any of the sound comes from your subwoofer.

 

[Nemo128]

For music, Z-5500 is not the way to go at all.

Consider picking up a used amp and nice monitors. They'll blow away dedicated computer speakers in all respects and possibly cost you less.

 

[agarwalro]

What about the Logitech Z5500 For $300 shipped?

The Logitech z5500 gets good reviews for movie and game performance, but I don't think it is the best solution if you are looking for musical fidelity. I have heard some people describe the subwoofer as "boomy", which might not bother you if you were listening to rap or techno music, but you said you have been turned off of rap music.

+1 I felt the same thing when I demoed them.

A high quality pair of bookshelf speakers can really be a eye opener if you are coming from a "multimedia" setup. Many bookshelf speakers perform well into the 50hz region, and that could get you by until you save up enough to add a subwoofer.

+1 This is a good idea. Only thing is that you will need an amp to power the bookshelf speakers.

Maybe for now, you can get powered monitors. The KRK RP5 G2 comes up as one of the top options for <$300 budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Monitors-Whirlwind-Unique-Squared-Stickers/dp/B001PCWTO2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1238099964&sr=8-3

 

[alexsabree]

Here's link for some test tones, it's only a 37k file. Don't play them too loud either as you could damage your speakers.

http://mdf1.tripod.com/test-tones.html

It has a 200hz tone, play that one and see if any of the sound comes from your subwoofer.

At 200hz nothing comes from my subwoofer, only my speakers.

 

[m_vanmeter]

something to consider for a 2.1 system

a/v receiver
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR304S/Onkyo/TX-SR304-5.1-Channel-Home-Theater-Receiver-SILVER/1.html
speakers
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Two-Way-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B000MGNDHE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238099515&sr=8-1
subwoofer
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SA-W2500-Performance-Line-Subwoofer/dp/B000OL3QTW/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1238100852&sr=1-12

I think that puts you about $50 over your budget, but miles ahead of anything you would get from a computer speaker company. And you can easily build it out to a 5.1 system by adding another pair of R150's and a center speaker

 

[alexwakelin]

At 200hz nothing comes from my subwoofer, only my speakers.

That's good, you could add a new subwoofer as you described, but I still think you will get a bigger overall improvement by replacing the speakers first.