Suggestions for speakers for my PC and a few general questions.

[jcat0111]

Hello!

Since I mostly listen to music from my PC, I have decided to buy some decent speakers that give me the most bang for buck. The following list details the speakers that I am currently considering. If you would reccomend another system, please post because I am spending a max of $550 dollars and would like to get the best sound possible.

- m-audio av 30 or 40
- Audiobyte Computer Speakers
- Harman Kardon Soundsticks
- Bose Companion 3 or 5

Is it good to just buy good speakers or should I invest in a good sound card / other equipment? Again, I am willing to buy anything to maximize sound quality as long as its $550 or less. Keep in mind that I will be listening to music from my computer.

Thanks in advance for all the help and I apologize for being so uninformed about quality audio and how to get it.

-Jcat0111

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hi jcat0111 and welcome to AudioHolics forum...

Axioms recently become somewhat a controversial brand and I'm not sure about them....

Your top choices should be:

AudioEngine A5
Behringer MS20-40 or Truth B1030A if you don't mind having control on the back
m-audio av 30 or 40

I just bought JBL LSR2325P Monitors for my home pc and honestly I quite like them

 

[bikemig]

Hello!

Since I mostly listen to music from my PC, I have decided to buy some decent speakers that give me the most bang for buck. The following list details the speakers that I am currently considering. If you would reccomend another system, please post because I am spending a max of $550 dollars and would like to get the best sound possible.

- m-audio av 30 or 40
- Audiobyte Computer Speakers
- Harman Kardon Soundsticks
- Bose Companion 3 or 5

Is it good to just buy good speakers or should I invest in a good sound card / other equipment? Again, I am willing to buy anything to maximize sound quality as long as its $550 or less. Keep in mind that I will be listening to music from my computer.

Thanks in advance for all the help and I apologize for being so uninformed about quality audio and how to get it.

-Jcat0111

If you have $550, you can do better than (most) of the brands you mentioned. I'd lose the Bose pretty fast; the HK soundsticks aren't bad but you can do better. The Audioengine A-5s will beat the ones you mentioned and there are plenty of other good speakers in the category. If you want the best sound possible from computer playback, I'd add an external dac. The HRT streamer II runs off your usb, costs around $150, and will improve the SQ of the music.

 

[shadyJ]

In that budget, I would look at Behringer 3031A or KRK Rokit 8 speakers- if you have the desk space for them. They both have 8" woofers, so they should have pretty reasonable bass, and they are both around $500 a pair.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The HRT streamer II runs off your usb, costs around $150, and will improve the SQ of the music.

This will be waste of money. If you need USB sound card - get Behringer UC202
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/422094-REG/Behringer_UCA202_UCA202_USB_Audio_Interface.html

I would look at Behringer 3031A or KRK Rokit 8 speakers- if you have the desk space for them. They both have 8" woofers, so they should have pretty reasonable bass

Do you own these speakers or Did you heard them?

Here are two reasons I'm asking this are :
a)Speakers with 8" Woofer WILL take too much space on computer desk.
b)JBLs I mentioned above - I own them. They are rated down to 43 Hz and upto 112db MAX SPL total volume (pair). Honestly I don't need any more bass from PC speakers and they much smaller than 8" woofer speakers.

 

[its phillip]

a)Speakers with 8" Woofer WILL take too much space on computer desk.

Depends on the size of your desk

 

[bikemig]

This will be waste of money. If you need USB sound card - get Behringer UC202
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/422094-REG/Behringer_UCA202_UCA202_USB_Audio_Interface.html

BSA is usually pretty spot on in his advice but not, I think, on this. There are issues with sound quality when playing music from a computer; a good quality dac (and you don't need to spend a bomb on one though you can) will make a difference.

 

[LAB3]

Before you spend that much money, listen to the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 about $150.00 you migh be suprised. I was.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

BSA is usually pretty spot on in his advice but not, I think, on this. There are issues with sound quality when playing music from a computer; a good quality dac (and you don't need to spend a bomb on one though you can) will make a difference.

Yes, it could make a small difference, but not nearly enough difference to justify spending 30% of the budget on it. Behringer USB dac above will do more enough on this budget. Modern computers with sound card based on newer Intel HD Audio spec no longer present huge issue for audio quality.
Obviously actual implementation quality may vary, but not that much any more

 

[jcat0111]

Thanks for all the replies thus far!!

Before you spend that much money, listen to the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 about $150.00 you migh be suprised. I was.

I'll definitely look those up. Thanks!

Hi jcat0111 and welcome to AudioHolics forum...

Axioms recently become somewhat a controversial brand and I'm not sure about them....

Your top choices should be:

AudioEngine A5
Behringer MS20-40 or Truth B1030A if you don't mind having control on the back
m-audio av 30 or 40

I just bought JBL LSR2325P Monitors for my home pc and honestly I quite like them

Thanks for the nice welcome. I have a feeling I'm gonna get obsessed with improving my sound as soon as I start learning more and more... Thanks for letting me know about the axioms. I'll definitely try to demo your suggestions before I make a purchase.

If you have $550, you can do better than (most) of the brands you mentioned. I'd lose the Bose pretty fast; the HK soundsticks aren't bad but you can do better. The Audioengine A-5s will beat the ones you mentioned and there are plenty of other good speakers in the category. If you want the best sound possible from computer playback, I'd add an external dac. The HRT streamer II runs off your usb, costs around $150, and will improve the SQ of the music.

I'm guessing Bose sucks then. I suggested it because some friend said that he had the companion 3's and he really liked them. My brother, however, has always said that Bose makes sub-par products. Guess he was right.

In that budget, I would look at Behringer 3031A or KRK Rokit 8 speakers- if you have the desk space for them. They both have 8" woofers, so they should have pretty reasonable bass, and they are both around $500 a pair.

I definitely think I have the space for these speakers, but just to make sure, I'm gonna try and see them in person before making a decision

This will be waste of money. If you need USB sound card - get Behringer UC202

Do you own these speakers or Did you heard them?

Here are two reasons I'm asking this are :
a)Speakers with 8" Woofer WILL take too much space on computer desk.
b)JBLs I mentioned above - I own them. They are rated down to 43 Hz and upto 112db MAX SPL total volume (pair). Honestly I don't need any more bass from PC speakers and they much smaller than 8" woofer speakers.

Read review on that little device and it seems to work pretty well for the money. Since its only $27, I think its worth a shot. I'll also take a look at the JBL's you own.


If anyone has any other suggestions, please feel free to post. I am looking to accumulate as much info as possible.

- Jcat0111

 

[lsiberian]

If you are listening alone you might also look into headphones. You can get top of the line on that budget

 

[Wayde Robson]

At home I have my PC digital s/pdif out to a cheaper Sony receiver connected to some decent bookshelf speakers in my livingroom. The PC is the entertainment/radio system in that room.

At work I use a headphone amp and some Grado Labs SR325 headphones connected to the (cheesy) mic-out of my laptop. I know the tube amp and Grado is overkill for the laptop mic-out but the laptop is owned by work, the headphones and amp have gone with me from job to job for almost eight years now.

 

[jcat0111]

If you are listening alone you might also look into headphones. You can get top of the line on that budget

Interesting suggestion, but the only time I use headphones is when I'm flying. I have some Bose noise cancelling headphones that most people on this forum probably hate... haha


What do you all think about the Tannoy Reveal line? I'm reading good things about them.

 

[LAB3]

Interesting suggestion, but the only time I use headphones is when I'm flying. I have some Bose noise cancelling headphones that most people on this forum probably hate... haha


What do you all think about the Tannoy Reveal line? I'm reading good things about them.

My wife has the Bose as she likes it she can have it quiet when I have the Klipsch jammin and she is one the laptop. I own several other brands and as I have gotten older the inner ear pods I got from Klipsch Image S4 in my 60 year old ears and I hear highs I have missed on other very expensive head phones..........suprised. I was told B&O has some inner ear pods that are even better. I tried several brands of ear pods when I finally got a Ipod Classic 80Gb. I always hated having anything stuck in my ear. I am use to it now and watch movies when kids have the big TV playing games on it.

 

[bikemig]

You might want to check these out, http://www.kantospeakers.com/collections/ipair-5/products/ipair5-in-beautiful-black. They have some neat features since they are designed to work with an ipod as well and it comes with a device for bluetooth streaming from a number of different devices. If you are interested in streaming music (which is great if you decide to move the speakers away from the computer), this is works really well and sounds great, http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Squeezebox-Wi-Fi-Internet-Radio/dp/B0013IWYHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309375402&sr=8-1. It even solves the dac issue (since the SB has a good quality dac) in a way that might not get BSA to sound off on how terrific those $25 Behringers are . . . .

 

[LAB3]

You might want to check these out, http://www.kantospeakers.com/collections/ipair-5/products/ipair5-in-beautiful-black. They have some neat features since they are designed to work with an ipod as well and it comes with a device for bluetooth streaming from a number of different devices. If you are interested in streaming music (which is great if you decide to move the speakers away from the computer), this is works really well and sounds great, http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Squeezebox-Wi-Fi-Internet-Radio/dp/B0013IWYHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309375402&sr=8-1. It even solves the dac issue (since the SB has a good quality dac) in a way that might not get BSA to sound off on how terrific those $25 Behringers are . . . .

I am looking for a way to store all my CD, DVD on. Thanks another option.
I have a Ipod docking station that came with my AVR.

 

[shadyJ]

Do you own these speakers or Did you heard them?

Here are two reasons I'm asking this are :
a)Speakers with 8" Woofer WILL take too much space on computer desk.
b)JBLs I mentioned above - I own them. They are rated down to 43 Hz and upto 112db MAX SPL total volume (pair). Honestly I don't need any more bass from PC speakers and they much smaller than 8" woofer speakers.

I have not heard them, although I have the Behringer 2031p speakers, which share some similarities. I am guessing that KRK and ribbin tweeter behringers would only sound better. As for the JBL speakers, I'm sure they will do bass fine, but they aren't going to do 43 hz at 112 db. I don't believe they would outdo the Behringer and KRK monitors with regard to clean bass output. Bass is very important to me personally, so if I was to go without a sub, I would want something with a much larger woofer than a 5", although I know that JBL can engineer a good driver.

I definitely think I have the space for these speakers, but just to make sure, I'm gonna try and see them in person before making a decision

If you live around any Guitar Centers, I believe they are both available there.

 

[Nihsnek]

What about some studio monitors? KRKs