Active monitors vs sound bar system

[Syringer]

I have a small-ish place that's not really set up for 5.1 audio, but I want to improve the audio in my HTPC.

It'd be used about 60% for tv/movies and 40% music. Any recs on either?

 

[nsafreak]

Budget? There's a pretty wide range out there with active monitors so we kind of need to know that first.

 

[Syringer]

Let's say $200-300.

 

[nsafreak]

Ok, that gives us a fair number of options. For just active monitors only I would recommend one of the following:

Audio Engine A5 $300
Audio Engine A2 $200

Or if you would like some more bass with a subwoofer I would go with the:

Corsair SP2500 $200

 

[mshan]

If you can stretch your budget, the Paradigm A2 Shift might be worth auditioning:http://www.goodsound.com/index.php?...speakers&catid=56:equipment-reviews&Itemid=37

If you have an AVR, another option would be Hsu HB-1 mk. 2 (get sub later): http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html (Hsu used to use Onkyo to power them in their demo rooms, now apparently use Pioneer) Sonic Impact / Dayton T-amp could be temporary amp with these easy to drive, high sensitivity speakers: http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-...OH2I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1324768080&sr=8-4

Don't know if you can see this posting without being a member, but someone over at Club Polk is selling brand new Audio Engine A2 (one black pair, one white pair) for $150 shipped each: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?127487-Audio-engine-a2-in-black-or-white (don't know seller at all, so as usual, do your own due diligence on any seller).

Good Luck!

 

[Syringer]

If I connect a pair of active monitors to my TV's audio output via RCA--will the TV control the volume levels? Or is that only controlled by the speakers?

 

[nsafreak]

The volume levels will only be controlled by the speakers themselves if you were to do that. That would be a disadvantage to going with the active monitors as opposed to a soundbar that comes with its own remote.

 

[Syringer]

Ahh yeah that would be quite inconvenient. It'd be fine with my HTPC but if I want to connect a satellite/cable box in there then it probably wouldn't be ideal.

 

[nsafreak]

Understandable. I'm not sure who makes the best soundbars, not something I have extensively shopped for, but Boston Acoustics makes some pretty good speakers so hopefully they have put some good ones in their soundbar solution. It's at the top of your budget but it looks like this system: http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acousti...051899&sr=8-19 from them would fit the bill.