Looking for new speakers

[cheez]

Originally Posted by SyndromeOCZ

I don't have a set of the A2's. It could also be argued that having them that far back on a wooden desk is going to make it sound worse than having them away from the wall.

You want to whine about sound quality then keep them close to your face and have all that room behind the speakers on your desk then.

This is for OP. He has limited space and I am sure he doesn't want them close to his face.


cheez

[s44]

Originally Posted by Howard

Quick question: would you be able to get a cheap AV receiver to use? Almost anything could work as long as it has S/P-DIF/analog inputs and an LFE output, e.g. anything from the last 15 years. Maybe you know a buddy who's upgrading, or perhaps there's a garage sale down the street? Having something like that would greatly increase your options.

Assuming that you CAN get something like that, I would strongly recommend something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B203.../dp/B000LQ2ABK

It'll definitely work, and it's better than listening to the crazy person in this thread, but you're really advocating a desk-busting maximalist approach.

Unfortunately, with audio it's really a matter of price, quality, and size -- choose two. With the OP really limited on cost, letting the size balloon may be the best option. Still for nearfield I'd probably choose a cute little T-amp over a big AVR...

[Howard]

Originally Posted by s44

It'll definitely work, and it's better than listening to the crazy person in this thread, but you're really advocating a desk-busting maximalist approach.

Unfortunately, with audio it's really a matter of price, quality, and size -- choose two. With the OP really limited on cost, letting the size balloon may be the best option. Still for nearfield I'd probably choose a cute little T-amp over a big AVR...

I don't disagree. But, if you espouse KISS then an AVR really is the best thing he can do for a separate sub output.

In any case, the B2031P does have decent bass.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by cheez

OP, the A2 speakers actually has plenty of bass. They are front ported, and are designed to help increase bass further if you place them close to the wall. Their mid/low is very detailed. I remember the guy that recommended me this. His name is runawayprisoner.

Please ignore what Howard said about the stupid receivers... No need to go passive. They sound worse and take up more room.

cheez

1) Nobody gives a crap about runaway prisoner.
2) All speakers will effectively produce more bass if they placed closer to more boundaries (walls and corners).
3) He is not interested in better mids and lows, even if your crappy speakers were good at them.
4) I agree that they might take up more room, especially if a receiver is used for amplification. However, in this price range, active will not sound any better than passive.

PM me if you want to discuss the technical stuff. I may or may not respond.

[kdubbs]

A bit OT, but my god, that Coconut Audio site is hilarious. One of the more ambitious audiophile trolling efforts I've every seen. I wonder if people actually try to order their "products". Well played, Mr. Coconut.

[gus6464]

Originally Posted by cheez

OP, the A2 speakers actually has plenty of bass. They are front ported, and are designed to help increase bass further if you place them close to the wall.

cheez

That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever read. Putting a front ported speaker close to the back wall does almost nothing for bass response. You really do love to spout random idiot things to see what sticks don't you? Is he going to listen to them in a tiny closet and 1 foot away?

[Howard]

Originally Posted by gus6464

That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever read. Putting a front ported speaker close to the back wall does almost nothing for bass response. You really do love to spout random idiot things to see what sticks don't you? Is he going to listen to them in a tiny closet and 1 foot away?

He's not wrong that putting them closer to the wall will increase the bass response. There just isn't that much to begin with.

The location of the port is not very important.

[SyndromeOCZ]

Originally Posted by Howard

He's not wrong that putting them closer to the wall will increase the bass response. There just isn't that much to begin with.

The location of the port is not very important.

But if they're on the rear of your speaker you can't see papers on your desk flying around from all of the air your drivers are moving.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by SyndromeOCZ

But if they're on the rear of your speaker you can't see papers on your desk flying around from all of the air your drivers are moving.

Or in his case, the air that the drivers aren't moving?

[gus6464]

Originally Posted by Howard

He's not wrong that putting them closer to the wall will increase the bass response. There just isn't that much to begin with.

The location of the port is not very important.

Yes but when you get to speakers with big and multiple drivers (> 6"), the port location does start to matter when placing near the back wall. You wouldn't place a rear-ported tower with four 6" drivers super close to the back wall.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by gus6464

Yes but when you get to speakers with big and multiple drivers (> 6"), the port location does start to matter when placing near the back wall. You wouldn't place a rear-ported tower with four 6" drivers super close to the back wall.

As long as it isn't too close, it won't matter. There are two issues I could see when placing a port opening close to a wall; 1) the volume between the port and the wall becomes an extension of the port itself and therefore the tuning may change, and 2) as the space becomes smaller, the air velocity between the speaker and the wall increases, leading to increased damping of the port as well as noise.

But we're talking very close distances here, say less than 2x port diameter between the port and the wall.

[Hellhammer]

Originally Posted by Howard

Quick question: would you be able to get a cheap AV receiver to use? Almost anything could work as long as it has S/P-DIF/analog inputs and an LFE output, e.g. anything from the last 15 years. Maybe you know a buddy who's upgrading, or perhaps there's a garage sale down the street? Having something like that would greatly increase your options.

Assuming that you CAN get something like that, I would strongly recommend something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B203.../dp/B000LQ2ABK

This is the passive version, since the active version costs a lot more. If you have the receiver then that can supply power anyway, and the LFE channel opens up the possibility of adding sub(s) later as necessary. The 8" woofer gives a pretty decent low-end; I've run it down to about 40 Hz full-scale and it seems to be OK for most types of music. Would be worlds better than what you have now anyway.

See below for more info:

http://www.zaphaudio.com/blog.html (search for "B2031P")
http://dtmblabber.blogspot.ca/2010_07_01_archive.html

The KRK Rokit 6 is not much more in terms of $$ and is likely to be similar in terms of SQ but it doesn't produce as much bass due to its smaller woofer.

Hmmm, I'm pretty sure my dad or granddad might have a spare receiver. Will have to ask, this would definitely be a more limitless approach. Desk space is obviously limited but I can cram plenty of stuff under the desk, so that's not an issue.

Originally Posted by Howard

3) He is not interested in better mids and lows, even if your crappy speakers were good at them.

It's not just bass that I'm interested in, it's the overall quality. However, the bass is definitely the worst part of my current setup so that's why I put emphasis on it.

But I'll send a few emails and see what my relatives have in their closets, thanks for the idea!