Bookshelves or PC speakers?

[Aritolis]

Looking for some good music sound for my computer. Got a soundblaster z sound card and am looking for some good speakers. My question is "Is it better to go with PC speakers or Bookshelves." Lookin at about a $150 budget and i think you gotta get an amp or something for the bookshelves. What is the better option for the price? Thanx again in advance.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

I would go with some good computer speakers. You would need an amp with bookshelf speakers and you are talking a lot more money. I have some old Logitech Z 2300s with an 8" sub that are THX certified and they will literally rock the whole house. My advice in your price range is to go with something like this.

http/www.klipsch.com/promedia-2-1-computer-speakers

 

[photonboy]

I recommend the bookshelves. They aren't as good for sound but they do store books.

Here are two good choices:
2.0: www.ncix.com/products/?sku=28063&vpn=9900%2D65140%2D00&manufacture=M%2DAudio

2.1 (subwoofer): http/www.ncix.com/products/?sku=27404&vpn=S330D&manufacture=EDIFIER&promoid=1299

I own the AV40's (five years?) and love them. I considered a 2.1 setup, however the BASS sound would carry too much through my floor.

Regardless of what speakers you get, some basic points:
1) Ensure the main POWER SWITCH is accessible (not on the Subwoofer)

2) Ensure an auxiliary input (I attach my MP3 player to the front using a 3.5mm M/M cable so that's my stereo.)

3) Headphone jack (Most need the speakers to be powered to use this. It's also possible to just use a 3.5mm splitter with extension cord and attach the headphones when needed and turn OFF the speakers entirely. )

 

[batuchka]

For best SQ/$$ bookies and a T-Amp? Once u hear proper bookies PC speakers would be clearly exposed as poorly built, muddy sounding and muffled and ya have heard both ^^ I suggest used market and if small is not needed a nice 2 channel amp on the cheap is good too - have a scan of a craiglist where u at? Lastly for a musical set up i would suggest nabbing a decent 2.0 and save up for a nice active sub because PC speaker subs and bad entry level subs kindda muddy up your music so get a decent one

 

[photonboy]

For best SQ/$$ bookies and a T-Amp? Once u hear proper bookies PC speakers would be clearly exposed as poorly built, muddy sounding and muffled and ya have heard both ^^ I suggest used market and if small is not needed a nice 2 channel amp on the cheap is good too - have a scan of a craiglist where u at? Lastly for a musical set up i would suggest nabbing a decent 2.0 and save up for a nice active sub because PC speaker subs and bad entry level subs kindda muddy up your music so get a decent one

Please note these are referred to as "MONITORS" (not "speakers"). Drivers are the components that push the air.

The sound from the M-Audio AV40's is very good. I've compared to lots of different speakers. Huge difference between using onboard Realtek and my Auzentech X-Fi Forte sound card. They're distortion free for me at any volume, though 40% is the maximum I usually use.

Amplifiers should only be used with speakers that don't have an internal amp. The cost of an amp will also reduce the money going towards the speakers themselves so I don't think that's the best idea on a $150 budget.

REVIEWS:
1) Video (mainly to see them): http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOEO4gAy2Yk

2) http/www.macworld.com/article/1143173/studiophileav40.html

3) http/www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AV40/reviews

4) http/computer-speakers-review.toptenreviews.com/m-audio-studiophile-review.html

5) M-Audio product site: http/www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MAudioAV40.html
***You appear to have to REGISTER your product within 30-days to qualify for support which I assume includes the 1-year Warranty.***

Other people have had FAILING issues, but I couldn't find any speaker setups that didn't have some people with issues. I can only repeat that there's lots of great reviews and mine still work after 5 years.

Other:
If you require a SPLITTER for the 3.5mm output for any reason, I recommend one with a 90deg bend or a normal one that you can tape somehow to remove the stress.

Examples of 3.5mm splitters (examples for STRESS on splitter/sound card):
NOT RECOMMENDED: http/www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-40641-Stereo-Adapter/dp/B000J1BRY8/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1367679377&sr=1-14&keywords=3.5mm+splitter

YES/Maybe:
- http/www.amazon.com/aboutSAGA-degrees-Female-extension-Players/dp/B004WB8CBM
- http/www.amazon.com/Belkin-RockStar-3-5-mm-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B0017PG8KS

 

[Aritolis]

Really lookin for some good sound. From what it sounds like, bookshelves or monitors are better but a lil out of my price range. Right now I have some Bose companion 2's and they are alright until there is something with a lot of bass. Then it gets all muddy and even sounds like the equalizer gets changed in the middle of a song. Thinkin I can do better so how bout 250. What are we lookin at in this range?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

I can't stand Bose. Overpriced for what you get in my opinion. I am a big Klispsch fan though. I like "bright" sounding speakers and I love the Klipsch horns. I have RF 82 IIs with a Marantz head unit for music.

 

[Aritolis]

I can't stand Bose. Overpriced for what you get in my opinion. I am a big Klispsch fan though. I like "bright" sounding speakers and I love the Klipsch horns. I have RF 82 IIs with a Marantz head unit for music.

That seems to be the consensus on most thing bose. Definitely thinking of taking them back only had them for a few days. How much can I get an amp and descent monitors for?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Really depends on your budget. For $150 I would try those Promedias I linked to above. Go to Best Buy and you can listen to them. I'm pretty happy with these Logitechs. They don't make them anymore but they go for over twice what I paid for them on ebay. Not sure how the newer Logitechs sound. Anything THX certified should sound decent though.

 

[Aritolis]

Listened to the Pro medias at Best Buy and the difference is there.They are much nicer. Taking the Bose speakers back but also thinking of increasing my budget. Didnt know good sound cost so much. Anyways will be looking into some monitors and an amp. Wonder what a good beginner price range is?

All typed from my EVO 3D! ;D

 

[batuchka]

Really lookin for some good sound. From what it sounds like, bookshelves or monitors are better but a lil out of my price range. Right now I have some Bose companion 2's and they are alright until there is something with a lot of bass. Then it gets all muddy and even sounds like the equalizer gets changed in the middle of a song. Thinkin I can do better so how bout 250. What are we lookin at in this range?

Nah not really - i have made an international sharing thread over @ Overclock.net regarding passive bookies/T-amp combos and the Dayton B652 + Lepai TA2020 at just $60+ beats out a lot of these pricier PC speakers which costs a lot more. A user who has owned AV40s and later the Dayton/Lepai combo also feedbacked that the latter offered better SQ/$$

Also a rich source for speaker pros and advice:
http/www.avsforum.com/f/89/speakers

 

[photonboy]

Listened to the Pro medias at Best Buy and the difference is there.They are much nicer. Taking the Bose speakers back but also thinking of increasing my budget. Didnt know good sound cost so much. Anyways will be looking into some monitors and an amp. Wonder what a good beginner price range is?

All typed from my EVO 3D! ;D

Hi again,
It's hard to recommend as I'm uncertain what your EXACT needs are. The M-Audio AV40's are really great stereo speakers, so if there's some FEATURE or question of QUALITY that the AV40's are lacking could you discuss what that would be?

There's also a DIMINISHING return in perceived quality. I'm not sure how much you'd have to spend on more expensive stereo speakers and a better sound card for a fairly noticeable improvement over the AV40's.

As for BASS, the most important features are:
1) Monitor (speaker) QUALITY.
2) Monitor bass driver DIAMETER (2", 3", 4" etc.)
3) Sound card (including analog amp stage; some Op-Amps are replaceable)

For reference, the AV40's use a 4" driver which is possibly the largest in a speaker this size.


OTHER:
1. What did you think of the Macworld review I previously linked?
http/www.macworld.com/article/1143173/studiophileav40.html

2. Don't forget the proper PLACEMENT for speakers, if possible ("For the best sound quality, you want a speaker’s tweeter to be pointed roughly at your ears when listening... )
*I have mine setup as an equilateral triangle (roughly 2.5 feet each side) with the speakers angled slightly to face me.

3. Sound is nice, but if you have money to burn you may also wish to consider a high-res monitor instead of going too nuts on sound (obviously your choice). Dell has a great 27", 2560x1440 screen for $700 which was on sale recently for $560 and some experts expect $500 to be a standard price for quality high-res screens within another year or so. (I play most games a 1920x1080 even with a 680/3770K/16GB rig, but several games look really awesome on my screen such as StarCraft 2, D3, Dirt 2/3. Even at 1920x1080 I get the advantage of a massive screen without individual pixels being obvious). The reason for 1080p is that most games look nearly identical to 1440p but with a 30% drop in frame rate.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Really lookin for some good sound. From what it sounds like, bookshelves or monitors are better but a lil out of my price range. Right now I have some Bose companion 2's and they are alright until there is something with a lot of bass. Then it gets all muddy and even sounds like the equalizer gets changed in the middle of a song. Thinkin I can do better so how bout 250. What are we lookin at in this range?

Nah not really - i have made an international sharing thread over @ Overclock.net regarding passive bookies/T-amp combos and the Dayton B652 + Lepai TA2020 at just $60+ beats out a lot of these pricier PC speakers which costs a lot more. A user who has owned AV40s and later the Dayton/Lepai combo also feedbacked that the latter offered better SQ/$$

Also a rich source for speaker pros and advice:
http/www.avsforum.com/f/89/speakers

^ +1 for the AVS forums. That is where you need to be asking audio questions. I don't post there but that's where I go to learn. Bought my 55" Samsung TV based on recommendations there and went with a Marantz head unit over a Yamaha because of recommendations there. Very happy with both choices.

Now if like me you hear Klipsch and fall in love with those horns you can get into some still very good speakers for about $300 with the RB 41 II. Add another $150 to that for an entry level head unit and you will have great sound in a smaller room. The RB 81 II are the bookshelf "matched" speakers for my RF 82 IIs. Those are recommended for 7.1 channel setups with mine as the mains. They are amazing for a bookshelf speaker.


http/www.klipsch.com/bookshelf-speakers

 

[thee_prisoner]

Really lookin for some good sound. From what it sounds like, bookshelves or monitors are better but a lil out of my price range. Right now I have some Bose companion 2's and they are alright until there is something with a lot of bass. Then it gets all muddy and even sounds like the equalizer gets changed in the middle of a song. Thinkin I can do better so how bout 250. What are we lookin at in this range?

Nah not really - i have made an international sharing thread over @ Overclock.net regarding passive bookies/T-amp combos and the Dayton B652 + Lepai TA2020 at just $60+ beats out a lot of these pricier PC speakers which costs a lot more. A user who has owned AV40s and later the Dayton/Lepai combo also feedbacked that the latter offered better SQ/$$

Also a rich source for speaker pros and advice:
http/www.avsforum.com/f/89/speakers

Please please don't buy PC speakers if you don't have too! The Dayton/Lepai(t amp) combo is awesome. I recommended a similar setup for my friends' son who wanted some good sound for cheap. They bought the drivers in those speakers, built the cabinets and the T-amp( they upgraded to a bigger amp) for a fun project but of course you don't have too.

The nice thing about this setup beside being really inexpensive. You can always use the speakers if you decide to get a something fancier later on. For example, using them for rear surrounds. Link to parts express, $40.00 for the pair and if you look you will see a link for the Lepai amp: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-652

For a sub, the Dayton sub-800 for 80 bucks should be more then fine so for about 150 bucks, that includes 2 mains, amp and powered sub woofer.

You will have to use a line out stereo mini plug to rca for this amp to work(use the headphone jack), otherwise a stereo receiver for optical in will work(a used receiver or integrated amp even better). Always put the money into speakers before spending that kind of money on a sound card.

What model of motherboard are you using?

Happy listening, the Prisoner...

 

[Aritolis]

using an asrock extreme6 but i have a soundblaster z sound card.

 

[Aritolis]

thanks for your posts guys. Think im gonna give that setup a try. I have a friend-of-a-friend who has some AV40's and they sounded pretty nice. If i can match or beat those for the price i will be happy.

 

[thee_prisoner]

Your mobo has analog outputs, you should try those out and bi-pass the sound to see how that sounds.

The AV 40s are a good sounding speaker.They sound best with a sub. The M Audios M3-8 look intriguing.

 

[photonboy]

Your mobo has analog outputs, you should try those out and bi-pass the sound to see how that sounds.

The AV 40s are a good sounding speaker.They sound best with a sub. The M Audios M3-8 look intriguing.

Why are you referring to the motherboard when he has a sound card?

What do you mean "bypass the sound to see how that sounds"?

As for the Subwoofer, I suppose it's possible to add a subwoofer in addition to the AV40's, but keep in mind that the mix of the tweeter and bass of the speakers with the Subwoofer might not be optimal if you try to mix these two components yourself.

I'd start with ONLY the AV40's hooked to the sound card.

 

[thee_prisoner]

Your mobo has analog outputs, you should try those out and bi-pass the sound to see how that sounds.

The AV 40s are a good sounding speaker.They sound best with a sub. The M Audios M3-8 look intriguing.

Why are you referring to the motherboard when he has a sound card?

What do you mean "bypass the sound to see how that sounds"?

As for the Subwoofer, I suppose it's possible to add a subwoofer in addition to the AV40's, but keep in mind that the mix of the tweeter and bass of the speakers with the Subwoofer might not be optimal if you try to mix these two components yourself.

I'd start with ONLY the AV40's hooked to the sound card.

AV 40s really don't have much bass. I'm not sure if he is looking for some bass but a 4" driver is really just a mid range driver. Having the heard the AV 40s numerous times, they could use the help of a woofer and cross them over at the right frequency which would allow the 4" driver more freedom to put out midrange frequencies instead of struggle with bass.

The reason I mentioned bypass,(turnoff, whatever you want to call it) the sound card doesn't have an analog output(although the headphone jack ,which outputs analog, will work like mentioned above in my other post)His sound card doesn't have analog outputs(his mobo does) since the AV 40s don't have an optical input. Most mobo onboard sound is good, depending of course. I just mention it in case he may want to try something different and see how it sounds to him.

The signal is going to be changed from Digital to Analog anyways(hence DAC) for the speakers so why not just send it all analog. I'm giving him options. If the sound card hook up sounds better in a blind test then go for it.

The Dayton combo is a better value which is in his budget.

Happy listening, the Prisoner...

 

[photonboy]

thee_prisoner,
The sound card DOES have both analog and digital outputs, so I'm not sure where you got your information:
http/www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Creative/Sound_Blaster_Z/1.html

The sound card manual would specify the proper output for STEREO (it would be one of the "3 x 1/8" mini jacks").

Headphones:
While it's possible to plug into most speakers they usually have to be on, not to mention that the Headphone jack on the audio card may have an amplifier. What I do is leave BOTH the speakers and headphones plugged in at the same time. I use an extension cord for the headphones so I can unplug them as the back of my PC is inaccessible. So when I need headphones I:
a) turn down the VOLUME (critical; I use high-end Sony's not designed for PC so 20% volume is a maximum from my sound card)
b) turn OFF the desktop speakers
c) plug in the headphones

Subwoofer:
While I'm happy with the bass from the AV40's, I'm not certain how you would add a subwoofer later and whether that would factor into any decision of what you buy now. I suspect you might have to buy an external amp and subwoofer separately and be careful that everything can actually connect AND that the subwoofer isn't too powerful. While you can adjust the volume on the stereo speakers, you would want the Subwoofer and speakers to SCALE up together otherwise you'd be constantly changing the volume on the speakers (so the Sub couldn't be too weak or too powerful; a rather trick thing).

Any added subwoofer would likely have a manual shut-off switch which is a pain (I always shut my desktop speakers off when not used).

If getting the absolute best from a 2.1 setup is important I think it's best to invest in that all at one and get the best PC 2.1 (stereo + subwoofer) to avoid the connection, volume, external amp etc.

The AV40 speakers may "only" have 4" drivers for bass, but everything you buy has Pros and Cons such as cost, setup etc. In fact my issue is I can't get TOO MUCH BASS as the vibration of a subwoofer on the floor is a no-no for other residents of the house. Unless you're an extreme audiophile I think you'll discover the AV40's are great for short distances and acceptable for longer. I don't get nearly the bass of my 12" speakers downstairs but my PC is in my study (about 12' x 14') and use them for movies, music and games.

Cheers.