Best Computer Speakers?!? Clarity, Clarity!

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Enthusiast Extreme

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 1, 2011
Messages
334
Alright guys, now that I bought my Sennheisers HD 650, and the Creative ZXR soundcard, I need to get a pair of serious high end speakers. I currently have a pair of Bang and Olufsens and they are great but just no base and I think that there is better stuff out there. My other pair of speakers is Klipsch Promedia 2.1, again an average set but definitely better stuff out there :D

Ok now that I got that out of the way, I am looking for something that not more than 500 dollars. I am looking just for 2 speakers and not a multi speaker setup!

1. Has to have exceptional clarity (highs, mids, lows)

2. Bass is not a huge concern but still want it to be there.

3. I listen to a lot of trance/techno, jazz, rock, dance music, so a little bit of everything.

Thanks for all the input!!! :D
 
You can get one quarter of a single serious high end shelf speaker for 500 bucks.

Entry level hifi options are available at 500 bucks per pair. Are you going to play them near field i.e. on the desk while sitting on the desk or are the speakers going to be placed further from you?
 
I understand where you a coming from as far as floor standing speakers etc, I know those can range in to thousands. I am just looking for a setup that will be on the desk, for example I am looking for something like Audioengine A5+ but with better looks ;) :D
 
I just bought a pair of JBL LSR2325P's for $300 new/shipped. They replaced my Klipsch 4.1 speakers after the subwoofer stopped working. The JBL's are connected to a ZXR soundcard. They sound great with decent bass.
 
Enthusiast Extreme said:
I understand where you a coming from as far as floor standing speakers etc, I know those can range in to thousands. I am just looking for a setup that will be on the desk, for example I am looking for something like Audioengine A5+ but with better looks ;) :D
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You mentioned High-End. Hi-fi you can get for 500 bucks but HE? No :)

Check the price of Kef Reference 201/2, Marten Duke 2 ,Sonus faber Guarneri Memento / Evolution or Lindemann BL-10 for example ;)

6b8db2ef0d.jpg
 
what are you going to be driving the speakers with? are you current B&O's passive or active speakers?


couple suggestions
wharfedale diamond 10 $350~

http://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-DI...93&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=wharfedale+diamond


Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 $490~

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MRBBX2 PWAL



even now this second I am listening to a pair of Monitor Audio Silver S1 speakers ... I am a huge MA fan

if you can work with a sub woofer NHT SuperZero's and Super8 sub would be very good ( i own the Super Zero's ... when Paired with a good sub these are just next to unbeatable but on their own they have little bass).

with the combo deal they have it would come in right at $500~

http://www.nhthifi.com/


and I have listened to these also... awesome right at $500 as well Dali Zensor 1

http://www.amazon.com/DALI-ZENSOR-Bookshelf-Speaker-Black/dp/B0057X5KF0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1
 
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See if you can find a decent ribbon tweeter speaker in your price range, they are sweet for detail.
Perhaps build your own speakers, you can get a lot of quality for the $.

Try this place, I cant vouch for them as I'm in the UK and havent used them.
They sell some great drivers.
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/speaker-kits/

Hmm, I couldnt find any kits with ribbon tweeters, but they do a ready built speaker right in your price range!
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/preassembled-speakers/rhyme-acoustics-nuscale-216-2-way-pair/

There is a kit without cabinets for $295
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...untek-rm6k-kit-6.5-ribbon-monitor-parts-only/
The pdf details how to build the cabinet, give it to a wood cutter to make the panels and parts.
 
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Guys, all these answers are perfect!!! Thank you for all the suggestions and this gives me something to think about!!
 
They appear to be a great ribbon based speaker!
Cant go wrong at $300.
 
So, now you've added your soundcard budget to your speaker budget :D You have what... $700-$800?

Are you really against floor standers?

I find that tower speakers generally sound better than a bookshelf/sub combo. But go and have a look around Frys or Best buy and listen to what they have, that is the best way to start. See if you like ESLs, see if you like silk dome tweeters or aluminum etc etc... It's a start.

If you look for used speakers $700-800 you could really find something amazing from the 90s For instance I just saw a pair of B&W 802s on CL for $875 (I think it is that series they use in the Abbey Road studio, serious audiophile stuff) and that was with a 30 second search. There are some amazing speakers to be had for your budget if you are patient and do your research.

here's some more I've seen pair of Polk LSI25 - $650. Polk RTIA9 - $800 pair. Vandersteen 2Ce - $600. Carver AL3 - $675/

You get my point... I would never buy a new set of speakers again if I knew then what I know now.
 
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I think he's looking for powered speakers since he didn't mention anything about a receiver. No point of owning a Zxr if you you're going to use a receiver.
 
If you care about audio, at some point you're going to move away from receivers into amp/preamp combos.
 
I would focus all of my research into finding the most neutral-sounding speaker you can afford.
 
matteos said:
If you care about audio, at some point you're going to move away from receivers into amp/preamp combos.
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Many flagship receivers measure just as well as top end separates, and often use the same components too. Receivers like the Yamaha RX-Z11 and Denon 5805 have measured in power output and vrms pre-amp output as clean as any good seperates.
 
dragonhawke said:
Many flagship receivers measure just as well as top end separates, and often use the same components too. Receivers like the Yamaha RX-Z11 and Denon 5805 have measured in power output and vrms pre-amp output as clean as any good seperates.
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Yep. Most integrated components that sound like crap aren't doing so because they're integrated. They sound like crap because they're crap.
 
This is off topic.. but it hurts me that you are plugging your HD 650's into a Creative soundcard. :(
 
dragonhawke said:
Want to clarify that point?
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I'll help.
AV amps (unless very expensive) dont resolve as much detail as decent hifi amps and can suffer in bass depth as well.
I had an Onkyo 875 AV amp, very highly regarded for its sound quality.
I always struggled to get the depth of bass that I wanted and now I know why.
I have since moved onto an Emotiva XPA-2 amp for my front speakers and this opened up a new world of detail and bass depth.
I was using analogue input for both, being fed from an Eastern Electric Minimax MK II DAC.

If you use digital input on an AV amp, the result will be even better moving to a quality hifi preamp/DAC and amp.
The DACs and analogue circuits in AV amps are lower quality unless you spend a lot.
My Minimax DAC blew away the Onkyo 875s DAC for sound quality, it wasnt even close.
 
dragonhawke said:
Many flagship receivers measure just as well as top end separates, and often use the same components too. Receivers like the Yamaha RX-Z11 and Denon 5805 have measured in power output and vrms pre-amp output as clean as any good seperates.
Click to expand...

That doesn't tell the whole story, not by a long shot. Integrateds have more EMI/RFI distortion for example. Simply because things are closer together. I imagine those two receivers you list are better than many many separates... You're listing $5k components. Better than plenty of Separates costing less, And with integrateds you're likely getting part of the budget spent on things you don't need.

There are no absolutes in audio. But generally you are better off putting your money towards separates over receivers if you care about SQ. Not always the case, but as a general trend. Yes.
 
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Enthusiast Extreme said:
Guys, all these answers are perfect!!! Thank you for all the suggestions and this gives me something to think about!!
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If money is no object and you're going to be keeping the speakers on the desk right next to you, I'd invest in Genelec.

For 6000-7000 bucks you will get an active pair of pro quality near field monitors. And by pro I mean pro - the stuff that audio engineers around the world use as reference.
 
Aren't the majority of commercial music mixed on Yamaha NS-10s? I don't think they cost $7000 a pair.
 
so when the first post talks about a $500 cap how did we arrive at cost no object $7000 monitors?

meh...


also yes the NS-10s are very popular in studios because they sound like ass =p and so when you get something to sound decent on them then it will sound pretty good anyplace... not really what I'd want for my music enjoyments however.
 
dragonhawke said:
Aren't the majority of commercial music mixed on Yamaha NS-10s? I don't think they cost $7000 a pair.
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No, not these days. Studio monitors are big business now. Luckily, there are a ton of options for quality monitors (including Genelec).
 
for 500 dollar budget may I suggest KRK rokit power 8 gen 3. Anything in that lineup sounds really good. I just upgraded my KRK RP6 G2's to KRK RP10-3's. They are very crisp and I listen to a lot of electronic music as well.
 
atarione said:
so when the first post talks about a $500 cap how did we arrive at cost no object $7000 monitors?

meh...


also yes the NS-10s are very popular in studios because they sound like ass =p and so when you get something to sound decent on them then it will sound pretty good anyplace... not really what I'd want for my music enjoyments however.
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He said high-end and didn't seem to react when I posted some high-end floor stand speakers so I assumed he might be ready to spend more than the 500 he thought would be enough for a high-end table speaker.
 
B00nie said:
He said high-end and didn't seem to react when I posted some high-end floor stand speakers so I assumed he might be ready to spend more than the 500 he thought would be enough for a high-end table speaker.
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Being the way I am I will probably end up spending more than 500 ;) I guess we will see. Also someone mentioned me using Sennehisers with ZxR, I don't think that it's "too bad" of a combo but it's merely a start. I will be doing a way different setup in a couple of months using all the proper equipment ;)
 
Enthusiast Extreme said:
Bought Bowers and Wilkins MM1!
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If I may be blunt I do not think that was a good buy. Those are not bad speakers and they certainly look very good but for the money I really think you could do a lot better.

In this price range a pair of entry level studio monitors from KRK/M-Audio/Adam/etc... should blow them away.

Seriously if you look into studio monitors you will find amazing products...so many good competing companies like the ones I already mentioned plus Focal, Dynaudio, Event, Neumann, Genelec and many others

For example in this comparison the B&W even lose to the much cheaper AV40 even though for the price they go against the BX
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/two-channel-pc-speaker-gigaworks,2836-9.html
 
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I would say that the option I would go with if I had the money would be the Dynaudio DBM50. The problem? It's $500 each. Assuming you want stereo, you'd have to buy two. However, like others have mentioned, there are plenty of Studio Monitor manufacturers that can fulfill what you want/need.

Yamaha HS5's are $199.99 each as an example.
 
There seems to be hissing noise coming from the set of Bowers and Wilkins MM1 when they are plugged in via USB(none when plugging through AUX). I love how they sound and this is really more of what I was looking for.

I understand that the studio monitors will sound better, the problem is I am looking for something that is aesthetically pleasing as well. I can have two bulky speakers sitting on a glass desk next to a 27 inch IPS panel monitor with 8mm bezels. Everything has to look just right. Based on this I still don't know whether or not I am going to keep these or return them (bought at a local apple store with 14 day return policy).

Now based on the aforementioned paragraph, what can you recommend me. Needs to look good, and sound good!
 
Hmmm...yeah aesthetics...that is a slight issue with studio monitors...most have a utilitarian look to them

Those KEF I think look good...but I'm not sure how good they sound (they are not marketed as studio monitors but KEF stuff is usually quite good)
http://www.kef.com/html/en/showroom/digital_music_solutions/x_300a/x_300a/index.html#.Uk2N9nea98E

You might like the look of some of the focal studio monitors:
http://www.focal.com/en/68-monitoring-pro-studio

Adam audio monitors have a nice no nonsense utilitarian look to them (being made in Germany and all):
http://www.adam-audio.com/en/pro-audio/products

I'll see if I can think of others that look good
 
Out of those 3 I like Kef the best. The question is I live in apartments and most of the time the music plays on low to medium volume. How do they sound on those ranges? I know some speakers don't perform well when played on low volume..
 
studio monitors will sound very good at low levels also.

Think of their target demographic: If you do mixes on them all day you cannot afford to keep them at full blast unless you want to damage your hearing and end your career

Btw find a quitar center close to you or any other pro music shop (not hifi shop). They should have models on display, this way you can see and listen to them.
 
So it looks like aesthetics are of more concern than previously thought. I'll bite.

On the topic of KEF, I've been addicted to these lately:
http://www.kefdirect.com/ls50.html

They are most certainly well outside of your budget however.

The upper range Swan actives are nice as well, although they don't quite match the minimalist aesthetic I think you are looking for (correct me if I am wrong):
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/index.php?loudspeakers=swan-active-desktop-sound&cPath=21_24

I know you mentioned the A5+ previously, but you were turned off by its aesthetics. Does this include the A5+ in bamboo?

Orb Audio is in your range, but I'm not sure I would consider those for your purposes. Their sound won't hold up to many other options here.

Anthony Gallo makes some nice offerings, and are similar in aesthetics to Orb Audio. Problem is you're going way out of budget there, and I'm not convinced it would be worth it.

Harmon Kardon GLA-55:
http://www.harmankardon.com/estore/hk/us/product/productDetails.jsp?pid=GLA-55

These are, again, way out of budget, but they are likely one among the best looking computer speakers out there. Sound is, reportedly, good too of course.

Paradigm Shift:
http://www.paradigm.com/products/model=a2/page=overview

I love the look of Paradigm drivers, and generally love Paradigm's sound.

Zu Audio Cube:
http://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers/cube-1a

These are on the larger side, and they are another passive speaker. So again, way out of budget...

I love the Zu sound, however, and love them in walnut:
http://static.squarespace.com/stati...1375313199665/Cube-1a_desk-1.jpg?format=1500w

They are also from Zu... so you can get just about any finish out there, providing you pay for custom work.

I hope this helps. Sorry for going so far over budget on many of these options, but aesthetics and sound generally cost you, unfortunately.
 
I did look into Harman Kardon GLA-55's. Not very many reviews out there and I didn't have a place to try them... That is more of what I am looking for..
 
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