Any M-Audio AV40 Owners Here?

[ControlD]

Opinions?

My 20+ year old Altec Lansing 2.1 cube system seems to be finally nearing its end of life so I have been looking for a good replacement. I see a lot of positive reviews of the AV40, and I have to admit I like the idea of a self amplified system. I don't think my desk layout works well for a bookshelf + amp system. I'm a little leery of going away from a 2.1 system with a powered sub however so I'm curious if these have enough bass for gaming / light music listening.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I have had a set of those for over a year now. They work great with an Asus sound card and have a good neutral sound, if you like a boomey sound then I would get a 2.1 system. But for computer speakers they are way more powerful than I need really. Have never had a problem with them.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I'll be the first to claim that I am no audio expert, and I could be wrong, but it seems to me that you can get very close to the same quality of sound and a fraction of the cost going with something like these bookshelf speakers from monoprice, along with a T-Amp like this one.

 

[ControlD]

I'll be the first to claim that I am no audio expert, and I could be wrong, but it seems to me that you can get very close to the same quality of sound and a fraction of the cost going with something like these bookshelf speakers from monoprice, along with a T-Amp like this one.

I've looked into that option (not Monoprice but a T-Amp with bookshelf speakers) but I'm not sure I can make it work. These speakers need to be sitting on my desk, which is against a wall. It seems like having a pair of bookshelf speakers sitting that close will have me well out of the sweet spot. I think most bookshelf speakers are meant to be several feet from the listener? The AV40s are really monitors so they are designed for close proximity to the listener. Also, having them on my desk I would like something shielded (the AV40s are) because my tower is also on my desk.

 

[StrangerGuy]

JBL LSR305s at ~$300. Period. As an owner of a pair I can tell you with great certainty that nothing even comes close in raw sound quality and bass extension per dollar, let alone the MASSIVE sweetspot and sound imaging they provide which makes placement far more forgiving than other speakers. These pups destroy other 5" studio monitors let alone the massively overrated, easily prone to failure Audioengines.

 

[ControlD]

JBL LSR305s at ~$300. Period. As an owner of a pair I can tell you with great certainty that nothing even comes close in raw sound quality and bass extension per dollar, let alone the MASSIVE sweetspot and sound imaging they provide which makes placement far more forgiving than other speakers. These pups destroy other 5" studio monitors let alone the massively overrated, easily prone to failure Audioengines.

Thanks for the suggestion. Just out of curiosity, how do you have them mounted? Are they sitting on your desk?

 

[StrangerGuy]

Thanks for the suggestion. Just out of curiosity, how do you have them mounted? Are they sitting on your desk?

That's a Dell U2311H as a size reference. Normally it's recommended to raise speakers above the desk for tweeters to reach ear level, but these things are tall enough for that without them.

 

[ControlD]

That's a Dell U2311H as a size reference. Normally it's recommended to raise speakers above the desk for tweeters to reach ear level, but these things are tall enough for that without them.

Thanks for the picture. That helps quite a bit!