speakers for apartment computer use

[coreyb]

I just moved into a new apartment and am in need of some new computer speakers. I got rid of my 5300's because the bass was way too loud and boomy and I knew it would bother my neighbours. Any recommendations for something with some decent sound but not out of control bass?

 

[Ghouler]

Logitechs tend to be boomy. Creative or Klipsch have tighter bass which does not overwhelm at higher volume. Also consider stereo bookshelves

 

[sdifox]

Studio monitors are suitable for near field application.

 

[coreyb]

I have a budget of $150ish. Any suggestions?

 

[sdifox]

http://www.music123.com/Gem-So...0316-i1323344.Music123

that price range of yours is a bit tight for decent studio monitors, but these should do. You do have to listen to them first so go to a music instrument shop.

 

[Tiamat]

active studio monitors, offerings from m-audio for example.

 

[mshan]

Slightly above your budget, but Audio Engine A2 are real nice.

There are sometimes 5% or even 10% off coupons, so if you google around, you mind find a pair for $175 shipped brand new.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Behringer MS40 active monitors

no personal experience, but that would be my pick

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
Behringer MS40 active monitors

no personal experience, but that would be my pick

big thumbs down to anything with Behringer name on it.

 

[coreyb]

http://www.ncix.com/products/i...-Audio#CustomerReviews

Would these be a good choice? I assume these are the M-AUDIO speakers you meant Tiamat?

 

[coreyb]

and would these produce enough bass in fps games? I am worried that I won't be able to hear people's footsteps, etc in the games I play.

I should mention my options are limited because I live in Canada.

 

[coreyb]

Found the M-30 model for $80 Canadian. Is that a good price?

edit: I have been looking at some reviews and it looks like these M-AUDIO speakers are exactly what I'm looking for. however, now I'm not sure which model would be the best fit? 20,30 or 40?

 

[sdifox]

Where in Canada are you? Are you close to a Long & McQuade? Go in for a listen. M-Audio got into the monitors pretty recently so you are probably paying for name more than anything else.

http://www.long-mcquade.com/

 

[JDub02]

I know everyone talks smack on Bose, but I bought a set of Bose computer speakers from Sam's Club (2.0 setup, no sub) because I was in the same situation, in an apartment and wanted good sound without annoying the neighbors.

I've been very happy with my purchase. I recently saw that Klipsch offers a pair of stereo computer speakers as well.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: JDub02
I know everyone talks smack on Bose, but I bought a set of Bose computer speakers from Sam's Club (2.0 setup, no sub) because I was in the same situation, in an apartment and wanted good sound without annoying the neighbors.

I've been very happy with my purchase. I recently saw that Klipsch offers a pair of stereo computer speakers as well.

not talk smack, educated opinion. I guess if you are going to compare the Bose to the Logitechs, they are not too far apart on sound quality.

Bose is for those form over function people. Most of whom are gay interior designers. Or female.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: coreyb
and would these produce enough bass in fps games? I am worried that I won't be able to hear people's footsteps, etc in the games I play.

I should mention my options are limited because I live in Canada.

What does the amount of bass have to do with footsteps?

And IMO, no these speakers would not have "enough bass" for my taste as they will likely leave the sub 60 Hz weak or not there at all. However that is the trade off with a "apartment" configuration. It all depends on what you are expecting though. If you want good clarity and sound quality...yes they will provide that. If you are expecting rumble...no they will not.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: coreyb
and would these produce enough bass in fps games? I am worried that I won't be able to hear people's footsteps, etc in the games I play.

I should mention my options are limited because I live in Canada.

What does the amount of bass have to do with footsteps?

And IMO, no these speakers would not have "enough bass" for my taste as they will likely leave the sub 60 Hz weak or not there at all. However that is the trade off with a "apartment" configuration. It all depends on what you are expecting though. If you want good clarity and sound quality...yes they will provide that. If you are expecting rumble...no they will not.

Maybe he's talking about Transformer footsteps

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: JDub02
I know everyone talks smack on Bose, but I bought a set of Bose computer speakers from Sam's Club (2.0 setup, no sub) because I was in the same situation, in an apartment and wanted good sound without annoying the neighbors.

I've been very happy with my purchase. I recently saw that Klipsch offers a pair of stereo computer speakers as well.

not talk smack, educated opinion. I guess if you are going to compare the Bose to the Logitechs, they are not too far apart on sound quality.

Bose is for those form over function people. Most of whom are gay interior designers. Or female.

I'm not defending Bose. I think their home theater systems are horrendously overpriced. But the computer speakers I have weren't that expensive and sound great, IMO. To each their own, I guess. I have no brand bias. If it sounds good, I'm OK with it .. Bose or otherwise.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: JDub02
I'm not defending Bose. I think their home theater systems are horrendously overpriced. But the computer speakers I have weren't that expensive and sound great, IMO. To each their own, I guess. I have no brand bias. If it sounds good, I'm OK with it .. Bose or otherwise.

Companion 2? They are still overpriced.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: coreyb
and would these produce enough bass in fps games? I am worried that I won't be able to hear people's footsteps, etc in the games I play.

I should mention my options are limited because I live in Canada.

What does the amount of bass have to do with footsteps?

And IMO, no these speakers would not have "enough bass" for my taste as they will likely leave the sub 60 Hz weak or not there at all. However that is the trade off with a "apartment" configuration. It all depends on what you are expecting though. If you want good clarity and sound quality...yes they will provide that. If you are expecting rumble...no they will not.

Exactly. OP, most speakers in your price range and even double it will not provide much below 60hz without a subwoofer. Its a trade off between better clarity and overall sound quality.

 

[evident]

I don't mean to threadjack, but what is the advantage of using studio monitors over a receiver and bookshelf combo? aside from not having to put a huge receiver somewhere.

I have a pioneer elite receiver and two bookshelf speakers (no sub) and it sounds amazing. I sold my logitech z5500 and went with a receiver+ bookshelf route a few years ago and it's been great.

I was going to recommend the OP get a cheap but decent receiver and a nice pair of bookshelfs, which would give him good SQ and the option to expand his stereo if he needed.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: evident
I don't mean to threadjack, but what is the advantage of using studio monitors over a receiver and bookshelf combo? aside from not having to put a huge receiver somewhere.

I have a pioneer elite receiver and two bookshelf speakers (no sub) and it sounds amazing. I sold my logitech z5500 and went with a receiver+ bookshelf route a few years ago and it's been great.

I was going to recommend the OP get a cheap but decent receiver and a nice pair of bookshelfs, which would give him good SQ and the option to expand his stereo if he needed.

nothing wrong with going with speaker + receiver. Buying used would yield great sounding system at a low cost. It's just that studio monitors are designed for near field application and normal speakers are not and given his setup, nearfield makes sense.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: evident
I don't mean to threadjack, but what is the advantage of using studio monitors over a receiver and bookshelf combo? aside from not having to put a huge receiver somewhere.

I have a pioneer elite receiver and two bookshelf speakers (no sub) and it sounds amazing. I sold my logitech z5500 and went with a receiver+ bookshelf route a few years ago and it's been great.

I was going to recommend the OP get a cheap but decent receiver and a nice pair of bookshelfs, which would give him good SQ and the option to expand his stereo if he needed.

Studio monitors are voiced for near-field listening. Some normal consumer-grade speakers are voiced with mid-far field in mind. Their design incorporates the expected decay of the treble for that distance and could be too "bright" if listened to up-close.

Then again, this effect could be ameliorated by the comb-filtering that results from Speaker Boundary Interface Response (i.e. reflections from the table surface, wall behind the speaker, the monitor, etc.)

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: evident
I don't mean to threadjack, but what is the advantage of using studio monitors over a receiver and bookshelf combo? aside from not having to put a huge receiver somewhere.

I have a pioneer elite receiver and two bookshelf speakers (no sub) and it sounds amazing. I sold my logitech z5500 and went with a receiver+ bookshelf route a few years ago and it's been great.

I was going to recommend the OP get a cheap but decent receiver and a nice pair of bookshelfs, which would give him good SQ and the option to expand his stereo if he needed.

nothing wrong with going with speaker + receiver. Buying used would yield great sounding system at a low cost. It's just that studio monitors are designed for near field application and normal speakers are not and given his setup, nearfield makes sense.

Originally posted by: Tiamat


Studio monitors are voiced for near-field listening. Some normal consumer-grade speakers are voiced with mid-far field in mind. Their design incorporates the expected decay of the treble for that distance and could be too "bright" if listened to up-close.

Then again, this effect could be ameliorated by the comb-filtering that results from Speaker Boundary Interface Response (i.e. reflections from the table surface, wall behind the speaker, the monitor, etc.)

Thanks, that was very informative. I don't keep my bookshelfs on my desk, they are on the sides of my TV which is facing my right ear. I need to find a better layout to have them facing me in the front when im computering.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: evident
I don't mean to threadjack, but what is the advantage of using studio monitors over a receiver and bookshelf combo? aside from not having to put a huge receiver somewhere.

I have a pioneer elite receiver and two bookshelf speakers (no sub) and it sounds amazing. I sold my logitech z5500 and went with a receiver+ bookshelf route a few years ago and it's been great.

I was going to recommend the OP get a cheap but decent receiver and a nice pair of bookshelfs, which would give him good SQ and the option to expand his stereo if he needed.

nothing wrong with going with speaker + receiver. Buying used would yield great sounding system at a low cost. It's just that studio monitors are designed for near field application and normal speakers are not and given his setup, nearfield makes sense.

Originally posted by: Tiamat


Studio monitors are voiced for near-field listening. Some normal consumer-grade speakers are voiced with mid-far field in mind. Their design incorporates the expected decay of the treble for that distance and could be too "bright" if listened to up-close.

Then again, this effect could be ameliorated by the comb-filtering that results from Speaker Boundary Interface Response (i.e. reflections from the table surface, wall behind the speaker, the monitor, etc.)

Thanks, that was very informative. I don't keep my bookshelfs on my desk, they are on the sides of my TV which is facing my right ear. I need to find a better layout to have them facing me in the front when im computering.

Yeah, not much stereo action going on when you have both firing into your right ear