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Low-end HiFi Speaker help (please, audiophiles)

D

Daovonnaex

Golden Member
I'm in the market for a set of powered speakers and subwoofer, and I'm willing to spend up to $2,000, but preferrably about $1,000. I'd be most interested in a 4.1 system, but 2.1 is fine.
 
powered speakers?
with that kind of budget, you really should be looking into an integrated amp and passive speakers

EDIT:
How big of a room is this for?
music or movies?
What is your source?
 
I'm not too familiar with powered speakers, so I'm gonna have to agree with flood on the integrated amp/powered sub/passive speakers idea. Try posting at this forum for more help: Home Theater Forum
 
I should've clarified. I intend to use these with my computer, mainly for music, but also for gaming. Since I don't intend to use a receiver or amplifier, I'm interested in powered speakers. Integrated amplifiers would also be an option. The room is a large, rectangular one.
 
are the speakers going on your desk?
or can they be floorstanding?

if desk, then how big can they be?
 
aha.. 2 speakers will do you say?

Diva swans are respected. Why not consider their newest audiophile PC solution for $300.

Diva by swans M200 I don't know how they are since I havn't heard them. They're new.
 


<< aha.. 2 speakers will do you say?

Diva swans are respected. Why not consider their newest audiophile PC solution for $300.

Diva by swans M200 I don't know how they are since I havn't heard them. They're new. >>



I was about to recomend them too :-]
comparable to a pair of paradigm atoms and an integrated amp
 
Integrated amps with speakers or active speakers are a good idea if they are executed properly, but the models that I'm thinking of are more than $2k (Meridian). The advantage of a self powered speaker is that the amp can be a lot more efficient. That's why powered subs are so successful. Having 150 watt active sub is like having a 300+w amp powering a passive sub. What subs require though is brute power to control the large bass driver and they don't need to have as much finesse as the better amps on the market. The disadvantage of a self powered speaker is that you are stuck with the amp that came with the speaker. I've had a ton of amps on my speakers and each one of them made the speakers sound remarkebly different.

What you need is a set of passive monitor speakers and an active sub. This way the external amp can concentrate on the much easier to power higher frequencies and the powered sub can handle the bass. I would suggest a monitor speaker that can go cleanly down to 50 hz though. The problem with the smaller speakers it that they don't produce enough bass on their own and have to rely on the sub for too much of the midbass and midrange. This makes it almost impossible to integrate the sub and sats. You either end up with too much boominess or a hole in your midrange.

I would personally look at something like a Paradigm Titan's or PSB Alpha's with one of their active subs. I'm using a set of PSB Alpha's all the way around with a PSB active sub and center channel along with a Harmon Kardon receiver for my HT system and it's very satisfying. The receiver isn't the greatest in overall fidelity, but this system is great for movies and tv. I would suggest buying something in the area of a PSB Alpha or Paradigm Titan along with a powered sub and then spend the rest of the money on a good amplifier. At least something in the neighborhood of a Onkyo, Denon, HK, Yamaha. You'll be much better off than spending more on speakers and less on amplification. You need to balance to two.

BTW.. I've had the Alpha's in place of a set of $2k ProAc mini monitors in my dedicated 2 ways system and they didn't do half bad. I could definitely live with them in this system. Heh.. About $5k worth of electronics with $200 worth of speakers. I definitely would rather have this than a $200 receiver and $5k speakers.. My point is that the amplification and your source are as important or more important than the actual speakers. Just food for thought..

Anyway.. I'm rambling now..

Sal
 
The main problem with computer speakers is the satellites and the subs are in different places. separated by a thick piece of wood or whatever your desk is made from. What this means is your satellites need to play as low as possible so that you can get a halfway decent mesh with the sub. the problem with that is that to get low, you're going to have pretty big speakers. My current project uses a 4.5" driver and still needs to use a 3-4L box. This is small in the loudspeaker world, but not when they're sitting on your desk. The other thing I would be concerned with is the crossovers. You don't want your satellites playing lower than they are designed for because you'll end up with a lot of distortion, especially if they are ported. I am not very familiar with the various active studio monitor offerings. I don't think thats the way you want to go if you're looking for hi-fi.

for multichannel here's what I'd suggest

For $300-600 you could get something like one of the 5-6 channel amps by rotel, parasound, harmon-kardon, adcom, carver, etc.
Add one of the popular 5pc HT sets like Energy Loudspeakers Take 5.2 $3-600
For the sub you could do something like the sony SAWM40 for $150 dollars. SVS' are big and a lot more expensive. subs are too easy to DIY so my experience with commercial stuff is pretty limited. REL has been the only commercial brand that has impressed me, but they are really pricey.

If you just want 2.1, you can get a little more extravagent, but you have to be careful. Most of the systems are going to be designed with a seating distance of 6+ feet in mind. Be sure to go to all the local hi-fi shops and ask to hear the stuff you're interested in up close. I would tell you to try the magnepan MMG's, but I think it would be a nightmare getting them in a position that sounds good near your computer. There are so many systems that all sound good in the $500-$1000 range its impossible suggest something. some brands off the top of my head to check out though.... B&W DM 602/603, JMLab Cobalt, Dynaudio Audience Series, ProAc Tablette, Snell, Tannoy, etc.

Can't help you with 2 channel amps/integrateds. I haven't really listened to anything in the "mid-fi" range. seems like its always somebody's junk sony receiver or a Krell/Levinson/Pass. no middle ground...except for the amps I have built myself.

so what is my purpose for this post? Its an endorsement for do it yourself audio! It wont be much cheaper, but it can be a lot better if you have the time.

jt
 
$2000 is an aweful lot of money to be spending on computer speakers. However, if you're bent on spending that much, I'm sure we'll have no problems helping you out 🙂
Anyway, at that price range, for power speakers, the Paradigm Reference Active series comes to mind. You might be able to get a 2.1 system minus the subwoofer, since the Servo-15 itself costs more than a grand. Settle for another cheaper sub, and you'll have a kick ass set of computer speaker system.

I'd shell out a few hundred for a decent soundcard too, such as the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 or M-Audio Delta 410.
 
Enough with the bureaucratese (use of formal stilted language unfamiliar with ppl who lack special training).

lol
 


<< ntegrated amps with speakers or active speakers are a good idea if they are executed properly, but the models that I'm thinking of are more than $2k (Meridian). >>




My sentiments exactly....


...Meridian is the best at integrating amps.
 
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