First of all, stay away from sonos. They sound like garbage.

Now that that is out of the way, we've got some discussing to do.

If you want the ease of Sonos, but good sound, a pair of KEF LSX is what you want. slightly over budget, but there isn't really anything else in your budget. 'All in one' stuff like that isn't very popular, and is pretty hard to find. KEF makes some of the only stuff like that, that actually sounds decent. Honestly, they sound really nice. I like them a lot, especially for all that they can do.

If you'd rather make a 'custom' setup with bluetooth, a receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers will be great. Will they be better than those KEFs? Yeah, but a lot of people don't want to deal with the 'hassle' that comes with setting up a system (it really is pretty easy though. put stuff where you want it and run wires). Also, it won't particularly be loads better than the KEFs.

Here's the receiver you want. It has everything you could ever need. Don't worry that it's 'too many channels'. 2 channel receivers usually don't have as many options. This one has bluetooth, airplay, wifi for streaming, etc.

With that, you'll want two speakers. I prefer bookshelf speakers. You get more for your money with them. To expand on that a bit, bookshelf speakers are usually cheaper than tower speakers for what you get. Neither bookshelf speakers or tower speakers can go all the way down, and you'll get some help from a sub with either. For example, you can get a pair of 'budget' tower speakers for around $1000, or you can step up and get a pair of bookshelf speakers that are the next 'tier' in a line, so you'll get better sound.

This is where you have options to make (not like you didn't before, but now you really do). After that receiver, you have around $700. There are two options. The first is to get a pair of bookshelf speakers. The second is to get a pair of bookshelf speakers and a sub. I would prefer just the bookshelf speakers, because you can get something much better (the 'cheapest' sub I would get is around $400) and you can add the sub in later.

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Here are your bookshelf speaker options:

I really like Ascend Acoustics Sierras. They've got a really smooth response, that's pleasurable to listen to. The Dark Cherry color is beautiful by the way.

These KEFs are really nice as well. They have a less 'smooth' presentation and more of a 'detailed' presentation. They're accurate and revealing. Loads of fun to listen to IMO. (They make a bigger version as well, but they aren't any better, and they're more expensive. Too much to get into now, but I'd avoid them).

Now, I'm going to put this pair in here, but I've never heard them. Philharmonic Mini Monitor. I can't comment on them too much, but I can speculate as well as tell you what I've heard from reviews. These are supposed to be very nice. Ribbon tweeters are very 'open' and 'airy' sounding. It's hard to explain, but it makes the sound feel very transparent. Again, hard to explain. The ribbon tweeter they use is a spectacular ribbon tweeter, so I'm sure it sounds great. They'll have tons of detail but will never sound sharp or anything.

Bowers and Wilkins 607 are a very good option. The way their system works is this: The higher the first number, the better series (607, 707 are the same size but with different drivers). The lower the last number, the bigger the speaker (607 is the smallest, 606 is bigger, etc - I have no idea why it is backwards). We were discussing earlier with towers vs bookshelves and I feel this is a good time to explain. You can get a pair of 600 series towers for $1800. However, you can get a pair of 700 series bookshelves for the exact same price, therefore get better sound quality for the same money, if you're okay with having a bookshelf. Anyways, sorry about the side tangent. I think that the 607s are very good speakers (I bought a pair for my friend the other day but he said he couldn't accept them so I returned them :( - fair enough though). They are very fun and sweet sounding speakers. I like them a lot. They also hit to a decent frequency for their size. If WAF is a concern (wife acceptance factor) I feel like these are a very safe bet. They're also in your budget.

Alright, those are some of the best options. If you'll be doing a lot of music listening, I'd pick the Sierras or the B&W because they sound very sweet and they're fun to listen to. If you're doing a lot more tv/movie stuff, the detail of the KEFs or the Philharmonics will be great for vocals.

Also, if you do any of these, you probably won't feel like you need a sub, but it might be nice. This one is the one to get.

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Here are your bookshelf and subwoofer combos. You'll want this sub as well. It's the least expensive sub I feel good about recommending at this price point.

HSU also makes speakers. I don't know much about them, but I can speculate (mine show up monday). Horns are fun and dynamic, but also provide great vocals in my experience. These would be good for a tv/movie setup rather than a music setup, probably.

Here's another pair of horn speakers. Klipsch makes good tv/movie stuff.

These other Ascend Acoustic speakers are also very good. Not as good as the sierras, but they have a similar smoothness to them. Very good speaker for the budget.

These elacs are what you want if you'll be putting them directly against the wall. They have a front port that won't be choked off if you do that. Also, they are a very warm sounding speaker. I like them a lot.

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Whoops, looks like I shot myself in the foot with this one. I told you not to get towers. There is one pair of towers that I would recommend.

Tekton Mini Lore. I've never heard them, but look up reviews. Extremely sensitive, meaning they have awesome dynamics and sound effortless. Also, they get low enough where you won't need a sub. They get lower than a decent amount of subs actually.

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"But Poly, what would you do?

I'm glad you asked.

If I wanted something 'easy' and 'no fuss' the KEF LSX are the way to go.

If I want something for music and I can't fit towers, Sierras are what I would get.

If I want something for TV/Movies, the KEF Q150 is what I would get. Vocals on those things are crazy good.

If I could fit towers, the Tektons are what I would get. Unfortunately I haven't heard them, so I cant 100% tell you that they're perfect, but look up any review and you'll get the idea.

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How does this all look?

A decent system if it all works. The turntable is just OK, but perhaps that's all you need.

The Key to a turntable is the Tone Arm and Cartridge (stylus/needle). Your turntable appears to be a P-Mount, meaning the entire Cartridge assembly just plugs into the tone arm. There are many replacement P-Mount cartridge available. The tone arm look like a generic DJ tone arm similar to that found on Stanton, Technics, Audio Tecnica, and Reloop. That's not the absolute best, but still decent; no problems.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-92ECD?sc=2&category=16684

http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-311EP?sc=2&category=16684

This appears to be a more consumer version of Technics DJ turntables. And assuming it is in good condition, and well oiled, it is probably very good considering the price you paid.

Generally Technics are considered good equipment, and they are now re-entering the audio market again with a new line of equipment.

You can give us the model number of the amp and we will look up specs on it, or you can simply use Google to look up information on the amp. You should be able to determine the power, and the range of years in which it was made. If the amp is at least ~50w/ch, then it is most certainly worth having and using assuming it is in good working condition.

It is difficult to see the Amp Model number but the closest I can determine is SU-V78 - 100w/ch to 8 ohms.

http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/technics/su-v78.shtml

Oddly the Technics SU-V76 is also 100w/ch -

http://www.highqualitymanuals.com/images/large/products/HD/HD84//HD84_2.jpg

The AM/FM Tuner should still work, and will pick up radio stations just fine even with the most basic antenna.

The Cassette Player is an Antique unless by chance you still have a stack of Cassettes available to play.

The CD Player, assuming it still works should be fine as the standard for CD has been locked into place since its inception.

The speakers are fine; good sided. The key with older speakers is the Surrounds, the foam or rubber ring that attaches the actual cone to the frame. If foam these can deteriorate, and sometimes disintegrated over time. Gently touch or rub your finger on the surround and see if it is gritty or crumbling. If so the surrounds can be replaced for a fairly modest fee.

Given that you got this for FREE, there is one other aspect you could consider. It is possible to use a Stereo system to enhance the movie watching experience very considerably. However, modern TV do not have analog audio outputs, most have Digital Optical Audio out, though a few have Coaxial.

Given that you got a pretty nice system for free, you could spend some money, assuming you are into movie watching, and get a DAC (digital to analog converter) to allow you to plug the TV into the Stereo. These can range from about $25 for just the basic DAC, up to about $500 for a more complex multi-input DAC.

You can see a range of possibilities here -

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=DAC

The output of the TV is limited to a 48k Sample Rate about CD quality, so a very basic $25 DAC is probably adequate if you are not too serious.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical-Toslink/dp/B005K2TXMO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1468898121&sr=1-2&keywords=DAC

Some thing like this will give you one channel that is either Optical or Coaxial, another Coaxial only Channel, and USB-PC for connecting directly to a computer.

https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-Azur-DacMagic-100/dp/B0078Q35PG/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1468898121&sr=1-10&keywords=DAC

The speakers, though I can really determine, appear to have at least 10" woofer, and they should sound pretty good. I think this will make a fine movie and music system.

I'm far from the most senior audiophile here, but I hope I can help a little. There was a similar question a week ago or so that summarized some good options in this price range. Here it is, these are all powered speakers or speakers with an amp.

Among the ones mentioned, I have the M-Audio AV40s and I love them. For what you listen to, I can genuinely say you probably will too. On top of sounding wonderful, they are really easy to drive, which makes them very versatile. Honestly, they out perform some $350 speakers I have in terms of accuracy and sound staging. The only downside is the serious lack below 80 Hz, but I think for the music you listen to, it shouldn't be noticeable.

The other options on that list I can't talk as much, but I've heard nothing but good things about Swans (besides the fact that they're gorgeous too). The Klipsch I have heard, and to be honest I didn't like them as much as I thought I would. Maybe it was the way they were setup, but they seemed to be lacking in the lower mids. And the Dayton's are often thrown out there (and always by ZeosPantera) which I looked into, but after reading so many "they're great for being only $25" posts, I seriously started wondering if they were worth the $50 they are now.

So yeah, look into Swans and M-Audio. You can find the later at GuitarCenter or any music store (they are monitors after all) where you can request a listen. Swans I'm not so sure about where to find them, but aesthetically, they may go with your turntable nicely.

You have many many options! I would lurk around the sub for a while to get some ideas. The suggestions that come to mind:

For speakers, going from lowest to highest price, I'd check out the Micca MB42x's, the Fluance SX6's, and the ELAC B5's.

The SMSL SA50 is a nice budget amp but (if you have the space for it) a used receiver is the best bang for your buck and will likely be more powerful.

I have the MB42x's. They're quite capable and will do just fine for me for some time. Just remember that there are so many options out there. Do your best to find the right setup for you.

Just to get started, I'd check out Zoes' 2.0 Desktop Suggestions list from his suggestions sub. His influence as a youtuber is a bit of a controversial topic on this sub but I'd say he has some good suggestions. Good luck and have fun!

Edit: I should also mention that it's always useful to demo equipment if you can. Hit up a local audio shops and demo some gear if you have the time.

Almost anything with a built in mic is going to sacrifice audio or build quality. A cheap and popular solution is to get this Zalman clip on mic. Of course, it won't be the highest quality, but it's certainly good enough for chat. Look for something better if you're recording for lets plays or anything like that.

I love Sennheiser's open cans, but they're open and can get uncomfortable after long gaming sessions. The hifiman will need an amp, so that will go beyond your budget. If you can afford an extra ~$100 for an amp, the Hifiman HE-400 is really an incredible option. Super comfortable, though fairly heavy.

Also look at Beyerdynamics. At ~$160, it gives you room for an amp. Very comfortable too.

Try to test drive a pair if you can. Some websites have generous return policies so you can try them out.

I'm going to college soon and I wanted to get some good speakers for my dorm room. I'm into EDM and I've confirmed my roommate is too, so I want really good quality ones with great bass.

My friend got the Logitech Speaker System Z623 and I was very impressed when I heard them. I want something like those, but I'd rather not have the $100+ price tag. I mean if I really have to, I'll get those, but I'd rather not spend that much.

I was looking at the Z523 and the Z506, but I guess they aren't as good. But is the difference noticeable?

I asked my friend and he said a good way to tell the quality of a system is the frequency range. And I guess the more watts, the better bass.

If anyone could recommend some good ones for a good price I'd be grateful. Thanks!

I've been in the market for speakers for playing music + playing guitar / bass. I currently have the following:

• Scarlett 2i2
  
• Logitech Z623 2.1ch
  
  When I'm just listening to music, the speakers sound great! When I add in playing guitar along with the music, there's definitely some loss in quality. The guitar and bass both sound just fine, but not really ideal.
  
  I've been considering ditching the logitech speakers for actual studio monitors paired with a subwoofer, but I'm not 100% whether I need to go this route if I want to play guitar + bass + music all together.
  
  My friend comes over to play the bass as well, so we would be playing simultaneously. I took a trip to GC today and had a listen to a bunch of studio monitors and narrowed down the most pleasing (to my ears) sound to these two monitors:
  
  
• Yamaha HS7
  
• Yamaha HS8
  
• KRK 10S2
  
  Holy crap the above speakers sounded amazing. The HS7 and HS8 had me in that room for like an hour, switching back and forth between the two. I just couldn't figure out which one I liked better!
  
  Anyways, before I go making a purchase, I wanted to see what others had to say or suggest.
  
  My budget is 1.5K

What I would recommend is a good stereo headphones, "spacious sound", like sennheiser hd 555, or ad-700.
Aside from being higher quality, the spacious sound is generally preferred for gaming, and not only that, but works best with virtual surround sound.
Which brings me to the 2nd part I would recommend.
A asus xonar dg.
They are relatively cheap, I believe about 20 dollars when I lasted checked.
The soundcard will provide better sound than the integrated sound, and will offer virtual surround sound.
While many games have this built in, like Serious Sam, many do not, and this will allow you to experience this with all games.
As someone who once owned a tritton surround headset, and now own a hd 555 and a xonar dg, I can saw that not only is it much better sounding, but it also offers better surround sound than my trittons did.
5.1 headsets simply have the drivers too close together to allow them to provide any meaningful surround effect.
Lastly, as for a mic, I would recommend a clip on like this zalman

Try not to listen to recommendations for the ATH M50 for gaming since its sound stage is pretty cramped, so you won't really get any "directional" sound. Additionally, it's not my type of sound overall (though I'm more into a warm sound signature; jazz and orchestra friendly sounding headphones are my type of thing). The M50 has been described as too harsh treble/highs, (too) boomy bass, recessed mids, cramped sound stage, but pretty detailed overall, but somehow have gotten head-fi's Flavor-of-the-Month (for two months) and reddit's "Best headphones ever. choo choo," so people still like them. However, from the sounds of things, sound stage definitely sounds like a contributing factor to "cinematic experience."

This link might help:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-3-15-2012-dolby-headphone-test-on-1st-post

In the end, I bought a used Denon D2000 (best sounding headphones I've heard significantly) for an overall price of $210.15 from an American head-fier, but I live in the US. I have no idea how often people would be willing to ship to Australia though on the head-fi buy/sell forums or if you're willing to stretch the budget a little.

Decently safe recommendations for what you're looking for:

http://www.head-fi.org/products/m-audio-studiophile-q40-closed-back-dynamic-headphones/reviews (also compared with the 2nd recommendation)

http://www.head-fi.org/t/491632/review-fischer-audio-fa-003-a-neutral-champ

For the mic, I know several people who use this and it's pretty clear in general. I don't have a wide experience with mics though, but I'm not sure how it compares to other mics. I can't hear any typing or clicks from the people who use this, but I can hear voices of background people somewhat and doors closing clearly.

Mic:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332190458&sr=1-1

Purchase location of the FA-003. This is an identical rebrand of the FA-003, but at a less expensive price, a 1.3 meter cable, and 2 pairs of pleather pads:

http://mp4nation.net/catalog/brainwavz-hm5-studio-monitor-headphones-preorder-p-663.html

Note: I couldn't find an Australian amazon website and I have no idea how it handles shipping to Australia.

Hey guys,


The DAC and amp guide here seems a bit old and I'm a bit of a newbie so I figured I'd ask here.


Here is my current equipment at my work desk:

• Dell E1505 laptop - crappy, giant, old school enterprise laptop. Only audio output is 1/8th headphone jack and the sound card is awful
  
• M-Audio Studiophile AV-40 Active Studio speakers with built in amp
  
  
  These are currently connected using a simple 1/8th to 1/8th audio cable, but the end result sounds awful and looks ugly as well since the 1/8th cable has to be plugged in to the front.
  
  
  I would like to hook up the laptop to send audio to the speakers, I don't usually use headphones. The speakers use RCA and 1/8th as input, but I'd like to use RCA because those inputs are behind the speaker and won't clutter my desk. In an effort to accomplish this AND improve the sound quality a bit, should I get a DAC? And should I consider switching speakers or do you guys think these are ok?
  
  
  
• Audio source: laptop.
  
• Audio type: music, mostly metal, some IDM, some hip-hop.
  
• Willing to buy used: yes.
  
• Budget: ideally <$150, the lower the better.
  
  
  
  Ideally, I'm looking for the DAC to run off of AC/USB power since I intend to leave it plugged in 95% of the time. A rotary volume dial would be ideal but isn't strictly necessary. Do I need something like these? And if yes, which one would you recommend?
  
  
  
• Syba USB DAC
  
• Nuforce Icon UDAC-3
  
• Modi USB
  
• Fiio E10
  
• Audioengine D1
  
• DAC destroyer
  
  
  
  
  PS - Could something like this Fiio D3 work maybe? Not sure what kind of adapter would be needed, but it seems unlikely.
  

Ok, couple things.

First, looks like speakers are included. I don't know these speakers, so I can't comment on their quality. But if your current speakers still work and use regular speakers wire, then you could just keep those. Of course, it's always nice to get nicer speakers; but you don't need new speakers to get sound going.

Now the amp itself will work, and has the CD built in. However, it only has one RCA input (that is the "line" input). You can hook up only one thing to it; so a record player would fill it up.

One other thing to consider is if you will eventually want a subwoofer. The amp you linked has no sub out, so no subwoofer. This is a preference thing, but a lot of people like subwoofers.

And now the record player. They need a special piece called a phono pre-amp. Some record players come with them built in, some don't. You would hook record player to phono pre-amp, and plug the phono pre-amp to the amp. Both using RCA cables. Also some amps come with a "phono in" input, which has the phono pre-amp built in.

Now, that setup will work. But there are other options. If you want my personal opinion, I would say get a decent cheap amp, and a separate cd player. Then save up money to get speakers as good as I can afford. That will give you a good base to build off of. Then you can add the record player (and phono pre-amp) later. You can upgrade the amp or the CD players also, if you think you need to, without replacing the rest of the setup.

I'm afraid I don't have exact amp recommendations, but SMSL and Topping are pretty common cheap amps. This Topping one has gotten good reviews, but I can't say much since I have heard it: https://www.amazon.com/Topping-MX3-Bluetooth-Headphome-Amplifier/dp/B075SYC4Z5/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=topping+amp&qid=1555784891&s=gateway&sr=8-3

That amp has a subwoofer out, but still just one input. Some amps have more inputs, but generally you want a receiver. Here is an example of a cheap stereo receiver with several inputs: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs202bl/yamaha-r-s202-2-ch-x-100-watts-natural-sound-stereo-receiver/1.html

That receiver does not have a sub out. Both of those amps are just ones I've seen others talk about, I haven't heard them. But hopefully this gives you an idea of what you're looking for.

One other consideration is digital inputs, but you never mentioned a computer or anything so I don't think you'll need to worry about them.

Sorry for the wall of text, I hope.its.helpful! Gotta run now, but definitely look around r/budgetaudiophile, they are always talking about and comparing cheap components.

Check out the Audio Technica M50X. They are currently $167. If you wait, you can probably get them on sale for around $120 or even cheaper sometimes. They are closed back, but you should be able to hear your surroundings well enough. They will also work just fine without an AMP or a DAC.

Another option could be the Sennheiser HD598. They are currently $144.93. These headphones don't seem to go on sale too often, but I think Amazon puts them on sale for around $100 every Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I don't think you want to wait that long though. Unlike the other headphones I recommended, these are open back. So you will be able to hear your surroundings perfectly. As for sound bleeding, you really do not need to worry about that unless you put your headphones on full volume (literally full volume). Otherwise, people will have to be really close to you (3 ft or closer) to hear anything come out of them and right next to your ear to be able to understand what you are listening to. These also work just fine without an amp or dac. As for sound clarity, these should be on par with the M50X. However, they will have a better sound stage (because of the open back design) and the bass is probably stronger on these (not overpowering though).

Both of these headphones are probably the most popular when it comes to that price range. I strongly suggest starting out with one of those pairs of headphones. They should suit your needs for almost anything you need.

Hi all. I bought these things and I think I realized I want to go a bit bigger/I kinda bought the wrong things:

Micca PB42x Speakers

Nobsound NS-15G Amp (im dumb and got powered speakers on accident, another reason to return them)

I think instead I'd like to do a set up with KEF Q150s, but am unsure what else I need. Apparently they sound better with bass (I'm in an apartment but it's a highrise with good thick walls so I think I'll be ok?) and I was thinking about going with this. I was hoping that amp up there would be good enough, but I want to be able to switch between computer/turntable/tv/maybe stream audio from a phone so I think I need a receiver.

So I guess I'm mainly looking for suggestions on accessories for receiver/amp/wires. I already have some rca to rca cables and rca to 3.5mm cables, but I assume I will also need a subwoofer cable (?) and some speaker wire + banana plugs (??!!) so I would really appreciate some help here. Help is much appreciated, cheers :)

Hey I got the same TV, 55" though. Surround channels can also be 90 degrees from you like this.

Do you have any 4k content? Older / cheaper receivers might not support it. I don't personally have much experience with any other receiver than my own (Marantz NR1504), but I'd suggest something from A4S around $300. Marantz, Denon, and Yamaha are generally solid choices. If you're unsure about anyone feel free to ask.

With about ~$400 left for speakers, you can go about this a couple of ways. First is a 2.0 with the best LR speakers you can get. This is the best option if you're willing to spend more money in the future to buy the center / sub. SVS Prime / Elac UniFi UB5 are both $500 retail, but you can likely find them for cheaper used on amazon, or direct from SVS Outlet. Both speakers have matching centers that can be bought afterwards.

If you'd like a more complete system, I'll recommend a 3.0 and a 2.1 system soley because I don't think it's worth trying to squeeze a full 3.1 in at the moment. Do you plan on mostly watching movies or listening to music? Center vs Sub is going to be dependent on your use case.

For a 3.0, I'd recommend the Elac Debut Line. For main speakers, Elac B5 or B6. B6 costs more but is going to have more bass, which makes up for not having a sub. This is the matching center.

For a 2.1 system, I'd still recommend going with either the B5 or B6, but instead of the center grab this sub.

You'll still need to buy speaker wire, but that's dirt cheap.

So looking at your area I see a few options, but none strike me as a great deal. However, based on your location this may be normal. I attempted to check the price of shipping from various ID sellers and shops and it seems shipping will be $100-$200 which isn't ideal as it really hurts your buying power.

You can attempt yourself to see what the shipping is. I tried Chane's bookshelves, HTD's level three, Audio Advisor, and Accessories for less.

The only retailer that I could find that was reasonable shipping was of course Amazon. So here are my suggestions:

Local speakers to try:

B&W DM601

Paradigm Mini Monitor V6

If looking new:

Monitor Audio B1

I think the Paradigm or MA should be the preferred routes. The DM601 isn't really worth it unless it's at least a S2, if original it may be worth around $150-200. Still, nothing hurts trying to negotiate a better price on the used ones - you'll need it on the electronics side.

Your biggest problem is finding power and cheap. If you could even find a budget Onkyo locally you will likely be ahead as shipping hurts. Otherwise you'll looking at something like a T-Amp/DAC combo from amazon or paying ~$160 shipped to get something like this rebadged Amp 100 which doesn't include the DAC. If your laptop has a mini-toslink there's a Fiio DAC on Amazon for ~$20 that would work - while it isn't USB equipped it does allow you to move it around later one being toslink/spdif. So this amplifier, the B&W speakers, and the DAC could fit in your $500 though I think the speakers are overpriced. If you could get the Paradigms for $300 the APA 100, Fiio, and them would likely be up your alley.

For all intents and purposes you could get the Monitor's and this amp shipped for around $500 or get a slightly more powerful T-Amp like this and one of the used pairs, but I'm hesitant to recommend chi-fi T-amps considering that shipping is so expensive that return shipping for repairs/returns could really hurt.

If none of these solutions float your boat, the LSR305 in the OP and a DAC could still work as well and would fit in your budget rather easily.

I know that if you get teh M-50 this might be out of your price range. but The Audioengine D1 DAC I've heard is pretty good.

Plus on amazon, someone already had the Fiio E-10 and is comparing it between the two. It should be the top comment. http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-D1-Premium-24-Bit-DAC/dp/B006IPH5H2

theres a Massdrop for the Audioegine D1 DAC for 100 dollars. basically a group buy that passes the savings onto you. normally it cost around $150. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/audioengine-d1

Again, I think you're good with the headphones alone, but if you want the DAC, thats a pretty good deal for a pretty solid DAC.

I'm the thrifty kinda guy.

Refurbished Denon receiver, 2 Micca bookshelves, a Micca center channel, and a Bic America subwoofer. About 700 bucks total. Sounds good enough for me. I know much better is out there but it's hard to justify the costs.

My Sennheiser HD598SE's are great ($150), and I have a FiiO E10K ($75) that they plug into at work, and at home I just plug them in directly since the onboard soundcard isn't too bad surprisingly on my motherboard. I have a Sony SRS-X5 bluetooth speaker plugged into the back of it as well. I have those cheap-ass sony ANC headphones (20 bucks at the time I bought them) and they get the job done at a cheap price for planes and for the AC unit blasting in my office (I know... killing me, 80db of white noise all day long).

I have a friend from work that spent 50,000 bucks on his setup. It sounds great, and it's worth it, but I couldn't spend that much on it.

I'm more of a headphone kinda guy. My next upgrade would probably be going all out on headphones. A pair of Sennheiser HD800's probably. That's in the far future, I got stuff I want to do around the house first.

These are my workout earbuds

They are a great value.

I am looking at powered speakers. I will be using these mainly for listening to music in my office. Source will be my PC, and hopefully, eventually a vinyl setup. I have max $150 to spend. I am looking at a powered setup for simplicity. I could probably be swayed into an amp/non powered combo, but I think it's a stretch at $150. I need something good for all genres of music, good bass, I understand a 2.0 bookshelf setup won't be like have a separate subwoofer. I have been going back and forth among about 10 pair of speakers and I just can't make a decision.

Here's the list:

Thonet and Vander Kurbis BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers, Hi-Fi Wooden Bluetooth Stereo Speakers with Enhanced Bass, 300 Watt Peak Power, Integrated Amplifier and RCA Input, 1 Pair, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HG1JOVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DSHAzb60E38WB

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers - 2.0 Active Near Field Monitors - Studio Monitor Speaker - Wooden Enclosure - 42 Watts RMS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016P9HJIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kTHAzb4S1S3GF

PreSonus Eris E4.5 2-Way Powered Studio Monitors (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GP56OYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YTHAzbJ09ARQC

Mackie CR4 (Pair) Creative Reference Multimedia Monitor - Set of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVEIY4O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_iUHAzbAVD4RB0

Edifier R1010BT - 4" Bluetooth Wireless Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Studio Monitor Speaker (Pair) 24 Watts RMS - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071YV97LK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zUHAzbNHTFE9G

Plugable 4" Subwoofer Bluetooth 2-Channel Powered Bookshelf Studio Monitor Speakers - Optical & RCA Aux Inputs, 55W Output Power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGPEW70/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2UHAzb0R24FK0

Presonus Ceres C3.5BT 2-Way Powered Speakers with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N55NS4W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uVHAzbATXGVCP


Pair Rockville APM5B 5.25" 2-Way 250W Powered USB Studio Monitor Speakers+Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D3Z3FGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MVHAzbKMSC2QP


Please help me stop going in circles. I know some of these are more than $150...just hoping to catch a sale.

Copy/pasting my response to this sort of question because it comes up a lot in other subreddits like r/gamingpc, r/buildapc, r/hardware, etc.

---

Get a pair of headphones and a mic.

If you want surround sound with your headphones, go for the Asus Xonar DG($24) as your sound card. It is very inexpensive and offers Dolby Headphone(ie, it allows you to have virtual surround sound on any pair of headphones - certain headphones work better with this than others, check out this thread at Head-Fi for a plethora of headphones reviewed with Dolby Headphone in mind).

As for the microphone, the common choice is the Zalman zm-mic1($9). Another great choice if you want a better microphone is the Antlion ModMic($33).

As for the headphones, this is a very personal thing. Do you want to be able to accurately pinpoint the location of footsteps in first person shooters? Go for something that is reviewed well by Mad Lust Envy in his thread. Good choices would be the Audio Technica ATH-AD700, the AKG K701/K702/Q701, the Sennheiser HD558/HD598. All of these are open headphones, which tend to be better if you want positional accuracy, but if you'd prefer a closed pair, the Beyerdynamic DT770/DT880/DT990 are rather good. Keep in mind that the Beyers and the AKGs should not be used without an external amp. The other ones should be fine to run off the sound card.

If you don't need pristine positional accuracy in first person shooters, you could go for a huge number of different headphones to suit your tastes. Here is a great thread on Head-Fi comparing many different headphones.

Soundbars are typically meant to be used with a TV. Normally you would connect everything to the TV via HDMI or whatever and then just run the audio output (usually optical) into the soundbar.

Because you are using a monitor which does not have the receiver capabilities like a TV does, you are going to have to get creative. It sound like that soundbar only has digital inputs. So you need to always use digital outputs. There's no such thing as a 3.5mm to HDMI cable. 3.5mm is an analog output and HDMI is digital. There's need to be a conversion that happens but usually it happens the other way. Digital > Analog.

I would recommend staying away from soundbars. Unless you are willing to drop about $1000 on one, it's going to sound like above average TV speakers. And like i mentioned about, they are designed to be used with an actual TV.

Get yourself a pair of powered speakers. Even computer speakers would probably work better for you. Anything with multiple inputs. Something like the Audioengine A2+ would work great. Just plug your computer into the USB and get a small DAC like the Fiio D03K to convert the optical on the PS4 to analog so you can connect it directly to the other input.

Hey Audiophiles!

Im brand new to the this world and I'm looking for my first setup. I have a broke and starving college budget, so it will need to be the best bang for my buck.

What I'm planning on purchasing as far as speakers go will be the Micca's. Buddy of mine has them and I am quite impressed.

Im also looking into getting a Lepai amp to push them. However, I am willing to change my mind.

As far as a DAC goes I am clueless. I've looked into a Schiit, but those are a tad pricey. Any and all recommendations welcome.

The actual setup I will be using revolves around my dorm room. Desktop placement pulling my music from my Mac. However, eventually, I would love to move them to my TV and be able to use them as all around media speakers (For movies, games, music streamed from airport). I realize that these speakers probably aren't designed with that plan in mind, but I gotta do with what I have.

Any help would be great! Thanks everyone.

1. What is your budget?
   $500
   
   
2. What are you looking for?
   Looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers, a 2-channel stereo receiver that can be used as a home theater setup with my speakers, playstation, and tv.
   
   
3. How will you typically be using the gear?
   I will use the gear for music (indie rock, hiphop - no EDM), gaming, and sound for my TV (sports, movies, shows)
   
   
4. What gear do you own?
   The only gear I own are my TV (60" Samsung LED 1080p Smart TV), and my playstation 4. I could probably figure out some stands for the speakers too. Other than that, I have nothing.
   
   
5. What do you intend on using for a source?
   Right now, I want to play music off my phone and/or laptop. Sound also playing through my TV/playstation. Down the road, I want to get a turntable and start collecting records.
   
   
6. What material will you be using your gear for?
   Gaming, music, movies, sports, shows. Music - indie rock, hip-hop, ambient, punk rock, post-rock, etc. No EDM business here.
   
   
7. Are you willing to buy used?
   Would rather not.
   
   Someone kindly gave me a few suggestions before, but I'm afraid the stereo receiver isn't what I need. I'm a bit of a newb to hi-fi audio - but would the receiver suggested below satisfy my needs? I feel that the stereo receiver would need some HDMI inputs for the playstation and an output to the TV? Hopefully someone can help me with this. Here were the suggestions that were given by a previous individual (which, thanks for the previous suggestion! Just want to make sure I am getting everything I need before making a $500 purchase.)
   
   Bookshelf Speakers - Elac B6, $279
   
   Stereo Receiver - Yamaha R-S201BL, $129
   
   Wifi Addition - Airport Express, $49
   
   Thanks!

I'm looking for a mic for gaming that has good quality but also doesn't pick up background noise very well. My first mic was a $10 Zalman mic from Amazon and the quality's actually pretty good. The thing is though if it's quiet where I am then you can hear some background fuzz, or pink noise, or krrrrsssssshhhhhh, whatever it's called, whenever I talk, although not that loud.

Then I found a rather expensive mic that my brother has lying around which is a $100 Yeti mic, and this one would be a straight upgrade to the Zalman except it captures background noise too well. For example if the tv is playing or someone is talking behind me, like from 15-20 ft away, then it can be heard pretty well on the mic, but I don't want that noise to be heard while I'm talking. Especially if, say, someone is vacuuming in the same room, the Yeti mic would add a lot of noise in the background but the Zalman wouldn't pick it up as much.

So is there a mic that has both good voice quality and can also filter out background noises so it doesn't bleed into whenever I talk on the mic?

Hey! I'd like to purchase a receiver, new or used, for under $200. There are two highly rated models on Amazon:

Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver R-S201

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0H88SY?pc_redir=1411312586&robot_redir=1



Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EE18O7W?pc_redir=1411220328&robot_redir=1



So far I just have a set of Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers. I'd like to purchase this receiver in order to play FLAC files from my laptop. In the future I'd like to add a turntable to the setup. I'm okay with not having surround sound.

Also, I'd be comfortable buying vintage if you feel that's a better option. Here's my local Craigslist:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/ela?query=receiver




Thanks for your help!

You're welcome! It was a fun little challenge. One final piece of advice: Spend some time setting up the speakers and the sub correctly. Look up articles on speaker placement and where to position your sub. Proper placement is a night and day difference.

Also consider a pair of these if you get more budget in the future: https://www.amazon.com/IsoAcoustics-1004209-ISO-L8R155-Medium-Pair/dp/B008GOP79G

It's a bit much relative to the cost of your speakers, but isolating them from the desk or whatever makes a big difference. (I actually have a pair that I'll sell you if you're interested)

Good luck! I hope you enjoy what ever system you end up setting up :)

You don't need a Sonos (or Apple gear for that matter), there are much cheaper DIY solutions. A Raspberry Pi + a decent DAC (like HiFiBerry) + VolumeIO software gets you functionality on a par with Sonos for around $100 or so.

You could save a little more money by picking a cheaper integrated amp. The Yamaha A-S500 goes for $400. Amazon has had the Onkyo A-9050 for as little as $300.

You don't necessarily need floorstanders, 2.1 systems comprised of good bookshelves and big bad subwoofers can be sonically more impressive than floorstanders (and cheaper to boot). An $800 sub with $500 bookshelves is very frequently going to be a better choice than whatever $1,300/pair floorstanders you can find.

If you are intent on getting a relatively low-wattage amp (like some of that entry level NAD stuff), I would second the idea of the guy that suggested Klipsch. Their stuff is a good value and is much more efficient than most speakers.

Good luck.

I'm looking to build a semi-affordable home audio system this year. I'm gonna start buying components with my tax money, so it's time to seek some quick suggestions. I am pretty much set on the turntable and receiver. And I have narrowed my speaker options down to 3 final contenders. Basically I need help deciding which of these 3 speaker setups will sound the best for my personal taste (music only, no movies. Mostly stoner rock, doom, classic rock, hard rock, blues, reggae, funk... you know, mostly bass heavy rock).

The turntable I chose is the U-Turn Orbit Custom with acrylic platter and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.

The receiver I chose to go with this turntable is the Onkyo A-9050. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBZFVK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RsWMybSP4ZYZR

Now onto the speakers. My budget is $500 but I can go over a little bit. This setup will be in my living room which is smallish to regular in size. Also, I have hardwood floors if that matters. Sooooo... Which of these 3 setups will sound best with this turntable/receiver???

1. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Bookshelf Speakers ($499 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRYWVG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8EWMyb1SZ3EMZ
   
   
2. Klipsch R-26F Floorstanding Speakers ($279 each, $558 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMDYM6W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sFWMybEGZCMSZ
   
   
3. ELAC Debut F5 Tower Speakers ($279 each, $558 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014GSEPY8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rGWMybR17AP0S
   
   Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!
   

Philharmonic affordable accuracy monitors $200, probably the best speakers for 300 or less. good bass too, you will probably be pretty happy without a sub for a while.

SMSL SMSL Q5 blackQ5 2x50W Amplifier DAC $135, this has a usb dac for your computer and RCA line level inputs for a phono preamp. 50 wpc wont be deafening but will power those bookshelfs well enough.

U turn orbit TT $300 this is really the cheapest TT i would recommend getting. it has a good needle and allows you to make the proper adjustments so you don't destroy your records. i would not bother with the Audio technica. if this is too much, spend that money on a better amp and dac separates.

Art DJPRE II $50 does what is is supposed to do.

Some suggestions:

• Focal Aria 906 ($1500)
  
• KEF R300 ($1800)
  
• Dynaudio Excite X18 ($1800)
  
  While these are all great speakers, they will only sound good if they are powered correctly, and so I am concerned about how well your 10-year-old receiver can power them. In the worst case scenario, you will have to shop for a new amplifier/receiver if the old one doesn't cut it.
  
  So if you'd like a safer and also easier approach (connect directly to PC, no separate amplifier/receiver needed), consider buying a pair of active speakers instead:
  
  
• Genelec 8330A ($1790 per pair)
  
• Focal Shape 65 ($1800 per pair)
  
• KEF LS50W ($2200 per pair) < Yes, the LS50 are also available as powered (and wireless to boot) speakers.
  
  Either way, adding these to the setup at any point would be well worth it:
  
  
• IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R155 Stands ($110)
  
• Schiit Modi 2 Uber DAC ($149) < Only if you go for active speakers which aren't the LS50W

Looking for student-cheap speakers for a small dorm room that will be by the desk/computer setup.

Will be connected to a computer. I enjoy any genre (prefer jazz. Enjoy a good bass tho), and will be used to supplement gaming and movies.

Prefer the budget to be sub or equal to $150.

I've seen these two through some quick google searches for being good options

Edifier R1700BT (a website called lightinthebox has them for $99, but never heard of the site before)

ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System

Are these any good, or are there better options? Will I need anything else besides these to get the most out of them while still being within budget?
Lots of thanks, I'm very new to this

The system gets plenty loud to feel the walls vibrate and fill up the house if I so desire, but I rarely push it. It's great for movies. Edit: forgot to mention that everything comes from my Laptop -> receiver via HDMI.

Fronts: $40

Center: $30

Sub: $80

Rears: $50

Receiver:$40

Total: $240.

My main fronts are Bose Model 31's from the mid 90's. They are front ported with 8" drivers and 3" tweeters. They were absolutely falling apart when my uncle gave em to me so I replaced the woofers with some newer rubber surround ones. They sound surprisingly good for what they are, but the crossover doesn't match the woofer exactly. I've had these things for a long time. $40 for replacement speakers.


The center is this Sony model I picked up from a cousin of mine for $30 when he upgraded. It matches the fronts better than I thought it would, much better than my old center.


I picked up a Cheap Polk Sub last year and it's the only purchase I regret, looking for a replacement. $80.


My rears are Micca MB42's I picked up from Amazon, pretty solid little bookshelf speakers. I spent about $50 on them.


The Receiver is a Denon Avr-791 I got from the same cousin for $40. He was going to just give it to me but he needed the money. One of the HDMI inputs went bad on him and he replaced it with a newer model, this one was collecting dust and now it works perfect for me (minus one input).


I do most of my serious music listening with my Philips shp9500 or Logitech UE6000 headphones.

ATH-M50X are hands-down the best over-ear headphones I have ever used. I wear them every single day on the bus and they do a great job isolating noise. You could buy two pairs for the price of Bose QC25.

They image excellently – even better than cans two or three times their price, such as AudioQuest Nighthawks, Bowers & Wilkins P7, or Sennheiser HD700. ATH-M50X are high-efficiency, too, so they don't need a preamp to make the magic happen (although they do sound better with one).

Their build is quite nice. They don't interfere with my glasses and don't feel heavy. They're at least as comfortable as Bose QC25.

For quality, isolation, and price, ATH-M50X are unbeatable. They're so good they make me want to upgrade to the new M70X.

1. Budget: Depending on the solution - probably no more than 400 euro for a headphone amplifier, or 650 euro for a receiver/amp if that's the ideal solution.
   
2. Looking for: A headphone amplifier, or an AV Receiver that has decent headphone support. Possibly a solid DAC for said headphones.
   
3. Using the gear: I have a desk in the apartment I'm staying. I have a laptop with a single HDMI output port that I currently have connected to my monitor, although I think I could get a HDMI splitter and connect my monitor and HDMI into an AV receiver.
   
4. Gear that I own: I recently purchased the Senn. HD650s. I currently own a FiiO 17K Alpen 2 that I used along with my current headphones (Senn. HD 429 West's) especially when travelling.
   
5. Source input: Laptop: variety of music on the device (FLAC, MP3, Ogg) as well as watching movies/playing games. HDMI out is an option I think, although I can use the FiiO 17K that I own if that's a good solution.
   
6. Willing to buy used?: No. Preferably I'd like to buy from Amazon.de, since I've recently moved to Germany and don't have a way to go collect items from shops - so Amazon.de or some other fast online delivery service.
   
7. Additional information: I do plan on purchasing some speakers in the next few months, so that's why I suggested the AV Receiver route as a potential option, but only if the sound quality is still excellent. I've heard Yamaha, for example, has some decent headphone support (although not sure if I can get a model which is good).
   
   As I said in #6 above, I'd really appreciate it if people could link things I could get online (pref on Amazon.de). Really don't know this city well enough.
   
   If I go the DAC/Amplifier route, I've been looking at the follow:
   
   

• https://www.amazon.de/Oehlbach-Kopfh%C3%B6rerverst%C3%A4rker-integriertem-DAWandler-schwarz/dp/B00MIZR18Y/ref=pd_sim_sbs_267_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=31nUGsyFrGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=ZDHYESK7S2Z8DD5WBJ95
  
• https://www.amazon.de/nationalen-JDSLABS-Objective2-rerverst-NwAvGuy/dp/B00E0DMCO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466607884&sr=8-1&keywords=jds+labs+objective2
  
• https://www.amazon.de/Audioengine-D1-Bit-Premium-USB/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_267_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41J2yqjIuOL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=7FDXYNCRTCTMV41FYAQ3

haha, yeah anything but true audiophile headphones will lead you to be dissapointed from your sennheisers. I think your best bet for the mic is to buy a zalman clip on mic, then attach them to whatever headphones you want to use.

the zalman, from what i've heard provides pretty dang good quality for the price. and if you don't like it, thats only 9$.

I'm looking for speakers at or around $250 to hook up to my Technics SU-Z980. I know you've got the JBLs in the header, but those are powered so I'm wondering if I can get more bang for my buck with passive speakers since I have an amp. I'll be using the speakers for listening to vinyl on my Technics SL235 (I don't have a particular tie to Technics, that's just what I've ended up with). I've been looking at the ELAC B6s but they're a little steep at $280. The B5s are in the same line at a lower price, but I feel like it's a waste to get those and not stretch for the B6 since they're supposed to have noticeably better quality. My only concern is that my amp recommends 8 ohm speakers and those are 6 ohm, and I've heard they can take a bit of power to drive, so I don't know how loud or long I'll be able to play them without overheating my amp. As an added bonus I happen to have a $75 Best Buy gift card - I don't know if they sell anything decent, but if they do I can use that to up my budget a bit. Thanks!

Edit: Who the hell downvotes a question in a question thread?

The Audio Technica is a great turntable! But the build in preamp and the fixed cable would be an absolute no-go for me. So I'd definitely suggest you getting the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. I have the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit myself, and I love it!

As for the preamp: There are lots of great preamp, like the NAD PP 2i, Cambridge 651P or Musical Fidelity V-LPS II, but I think those are a little bit too expensive for you. Maybe you should take a look at this one. It's definitely not the best, but ART usualy has some great value for the money.

Well, it's important to distinguish between headphone types and headphone brands. There are many brands that offer earbud style headphones similar in style to the ones that Apple offers with better sound quality. For example:
https://www.whathifi.com/sennheiser/momentum-m2-iei/review

Personally, I prefer closed back over ear style cans. I've had a pair of Audio technica ATHM50's for years and love them - they sound amazing:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVLUR86

Headphones have been making a big comeback, there are lots of choices. But, if you are listening to the Apple buds that came with your phone, your upgrade money is best spent on a better sounding pair berfore spending on a DAC.

Probably not. There's a handful of amps out there that will drive both, but they're generally pretty pricey. Does your headphone amp have speaker out?

And yeah, a home theater receiver would have a speaker amp.

Bookshelves are generally passive. There's a lot in the $300ish range that are quite nice

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html
http://www.chanemusiccinema.com/chane-arx-loudspeakers/A1rx-c
http://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-DIA101-CHR-WHARFEDALE-DIAMOND-CHERRY/dp/B0079XG53W
http://www.amazon.com/KEF-C3-Bookshelf-Speaker-Black/dp/B001HV9A1G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1410138114&sr=8-3&keywords=Kef+bookshelf

If you've got a DIY streak in you, http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B2031P-Ultra-Linear-Reference-Monitor/dp/B000LQ2ABK/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1410138018&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=behringer+truth+2031p are great - but you need to open them up, redo the seal in some places, add some more acoustical stuffing, and so on.

1. For around $350, go with the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1, widely regarded as one of the best speakers in its price range: http://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-DIA101-CHR-WHARFEDALE-DIAMOND-CHERRY/dp/B0079XG53W review here: http://www.cnet.com/news/wharfedale-diamond-the-best-sounding-350-speaker-on-the-planet/
   
   
2. Use the same basic principle for connecting a subwoofer for a smaller amp as shown in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF6s24fpDkk
   
   
3. Looks good to me. Work on placement, sound treatment to maximize sound quality for your setup.
   
   
4. The turntable and amp can you last you a while. With speakers, you could always spend more and get improved sound quality to the point of diminishing returns. However, I feel most people will be pretty happy with the Wharfedales I recommended. You didn't mention what subwoofer you plan on purchasing, so there's a source for upgrading right there.
   

Strictly speaking, you are in the wrong subreddit - gear for a musician is better asked in /r/audio.

However:

> HT | OMEGA Claro Halo 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card w/ a built-in HI-FI Headphone Amplifier

If your friend is making music, it's reasonably likely that he's at some stage going to record external instruments (or voice). Internal, consumer-oriented sound cards are very nearly useless for this: They won't have a sufficient number of inputs, and their inputs are unbalanced. He is going to want a proper prosumer external audio interface.

There are many to choose from, but here are a few that has been reasonably well reviewed:

• Focusrite Scarlett 18i6, $299.
  
• PreSonus AudioBox 44VSL, $299.
  
  Both of the above have headphone amps, and you can connect instruments directly, and microphones requiring phantom power.
  
  Disclosure: I use neither of the above - I needed a budget option for recording in situation where I may not always have a computer, so I use the Zoom R16, which is also neat because it can act as a very compact control surface.
  
  > Logitech Z506 75 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
  
  No. For making music, he's going to want studio monitors, or something resembling them. The absolutely cheapest option in that department I can recommend is the M-Audio Studio AV40 at $130. I have owned these, and wrote a review here.
  
  However, I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that you're coming from the PC gaming side of things. In which case, you've probably picked the heftiest graphics card you could find. Scale that graphics card back by about $100 - a fast GPU isn't needed for music. Lots and lots of RAM and a fast CPU is.
  
  Either way, my point about scaling back on the GPU is that while I like the AV40's, monitors at around $300 are much better tools for musicians than $130 monitors. I was so happy with the way the AV40's performed, that I upgraded to their big brother, the M-Audio BX5 D2 - but there are many alternatives to it.
  
  TL;DR Your friend needs an audio interface, not a sound card, and he need studio monitors, not gamer's toys from logitech.

Ok....I don't think DIY is an option in audiophile, so let's forget that unless you're an absolute genius and have been inventing for B&W or Wilson or something like that but I would assume that you are not.

If you are buying under $300, the recommendations (JBL LSR305) are pretty good monitors to start out with. You can also try http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=m-+av+studio if you're on even a bigger budget...

But for $300, the JBLs are probably the best you can get. May be try to spend an extra ~200 or so for a DAC, that would help a ton if you're using a computer as a source. :D

The ATH M50x is a good place to look. These might not be the best option out there, but I've personally used them and can speak for them; they are really good for the price. It's got a swapable cable, closed earcup, great sound quality, great build quality and they fold up for storage. At $117 USD, they won't break the bank if they do get broken and need replacing. I would feel totally comfortable just throwing them around and being rough with them (not that I would do that intentionally), especially compared to the 598s.

Most people in here recommending stereo setups over surround are giving you the right advice IMO. Investing in an excellent 2.1 system will give you way more pleasure than a half assed attempt at a full surround system. If you ever decide to add surround, it is easy as putting processing in your chain and adding two new speakers.

So for now I would say you should go for something like this:

Source > preamp > 2 channel amp > front loudspeakers & sub

Or if you decide to go with an integrated amp:

Source > amp/receiver > front loudspeakers & sub


For under 300 I would say go with this:


http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-2-Channel-Bridgeable-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320666400&sr=8-1

It is a great power amp and really does not need a preamp. When you have more money you can add another amp for the rears and center and get a preamp.

I'm looking for a simple active speaker that accepts aux input and has a powered USB port. Bonus points for the PlayStation style power cord.

I plan on pairing each speaker with a Chromecast for a full house audio system.

I'm hoping I can get better quality speakers than the typical portable Bluetooth types. I don't want to pay for batteries and waterproofing if I don't need them. I also am trying to avoid the Sonos and Bose types. They seem expensive and come with their own wireless connectivity and smarts that the Chromecast will provide.

[edit]
Here are some suggestions and/or speaker sets I've found in my searches. Let me know which one you would prefer:

• PBX42X - Recommended
  
• Edifier R1280T
  
• Edifier R1700BT
  
• Microlab H21 - USB Charging
  
• Grace Digital GDI-BTSP201
  
  The D. W7 is the only existing speaker in the setup. I managed to get a great open box deal on this for $150.

What's a good sub and amp that would go well with the Micca MB42X?

I was thinking this...


Sub:

• Dayton Audio SUB-1000 10-Inch 100 Watt
  
  
• Dayton Audio SUB-1200 12-Inch 120 Watt Powered Subwoofer
  
  Amp:
  
  
• Dilvpoetry Topping MX3 USB DAC Built-in Bluetooth Receiver
  
  
• SMSL AD18 HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2
  
  (I'm Canadian, thus the amazon.ca links)
  
  For the record, I'm just after the best compact sound, meaning small footprint because I want to be more minimal with space. This is why I'll be getting the micca MB42X's, because they are small and have decent sound.
  
  But I want some bass to help fill it out and obviously something to power. Plus bluetooth is nice, and also being able to program my universal remote is key as I just can have one remote for the tv and then whichever amp I get.
  
  I currently have a big pair or cerwin vegas and a yamaha amp which sound great, but I just want to have a smaller setup.
  
  Cheers and thanks in advance!

The thing about audio is that it's all subjective. It really just depends on what sounds good to you. I have a nice stereo in my living room that I have about $1700 into. That being said, I was going to give the Logitech z623 computer speakers a whirl pretty soon as I'm piecing together a workstation in my bedroom. It's only $115 for two speakers, a subwoofer, and an amplifier. I don't expect it to be anywhere near as clear or as loud as my real stereo, but from what I've heard it sounds like it's a steal for the price. You just need to find something that meets your needs. Don't be afraid to spend more money, because you can always return things if you find out they're not worth the price.

By "colored 3.5mm jacks" do you mean something that RCA cables plug into? A 3.5mm jack is a "headphone" jack and both left and right are output through one jack; whereas RCA splits the left into the white and the right into the red. RCA and 3.5mm are not interchangeable words, but you can easily go from one to the other with adapters.

Anyways... the RCA jacks are probably your best bet. The TOSLINK output is a digital output and you would need a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to switch the digital signal (being transmitted by the tousling cable) into an analog signal (transmitted usually by RCA cables).

You are right by saying that there are a ton of options. It's something that is very useful when trying to personalize your setup to get exactly what you want, but can be very overwhelming at first.

For $1k you are looking at probably having to compromise somewhere. I would suggest going second hand as you will get considerably more bang for your buck. Letting us know where you would make it easier to make suggestions as not everything is available everywhere. If you don't care for bass then you will get better value with stand-mounters. I would just go for a speaker that isn't bright and maybe get an old EQ unit to trim off the top if you find it annoying later.



Basically you are looking at:

Speakers: $350 (i.e. Wharfedale Diamond 10.1).

Amp: $300 (hopefully something decent, second hand with a built in phono-stage)

Turntable: $300 (second hand again)

Stands and cables: $50 (second hand for stands and Monoprice for cables

Assuming that you're used to listening through decent headphones and you're happy with your laptop's sound, you should be good with an amp and can skip the DAC.

Something like this would be a decent basic amplifier and is small enough to be inconspicuous:

https://smile.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-98E-silver-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00NBGECXG/

It would connect to your laptop's headphone jack.

This model would add a subwoofer output, a headphone jack, and Bluetooth input:

https://smile.amazon.com/SMSL-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/

Edit: I would probably go with the second one. Even though the KEFs have excellent bass for bookshelf speakers, you may end up deciding you want a subwoofer. Low bass extension is much easier to do in headphones. On the other hand, with a good sub, low bass is much more physical.

You'll probably want to look into speakers then an amp in that order. Speakers tend to be the most subjective and personal piece of the setup, so get those squared away, then figure out what to drive them with.

For speakers, check out:

• Pioneer SP-B22 ($129/pair)
  
  
• PSB Alpha B1 ($299/pair)
  
  
• Wherfdale Diamond 10.1 ($299/pair)
  
  
• Klipsch RP-160M ($399/pair)
  
  
• Polk RTi A3 ($399/pair)
  
  
• DefTech ProMonitor 1000 ($439/pair)
  
  
• B&W 686 S2 ($499/pair)
  
  
• PSB Imagine Mini ($499/pair)
  
  I'm partial to Bowers and Wilkins myself.
  
  For integrated amps, look at:
  
  
• Pioneer Elite A-20 ($299 on sale right now)
  
  
• Onkyo A-9010 ($299 also on sale)
  
  
• Yamaha R-N301 ($299) or for a bit more A-S301 ($349)
  
  
• Cambridge AM10 ($349 – analog inputs only)
  
  
• NAD C316BEE ($379 – analog inputs only)
  
  
• Cambridge 351A ($399 – USB DAC)
  
  
• Harmon Kardon HK3700 ($349 – USB DAC)
  
  
• Onkyo A-9050 ($399 on sale – includes phono preamp)
  
  
• TEAC AI-301DA ($399)
  
  
• NAD D3020 ($399)
  
  With a simple computer and two bookshelfs setup, I really like the NAD D3020 or its bigger brother, the D7050. The Cambridge 351A is probably one of the better options in this range, however.
  
  Also, you might find you like powered speakers like Audioengine A5+ ($399) and HD6 ($749). AE has a great sound and features a built-in DAC. If you can demo them, see what you think.

I'm looking to buy a nice pair of speakers, preferably audio monitors and I'm looking for a nice sound throughout.
These are some I found and I was wondering on people's opinion:
Been eyeing this for a while
A better version of the same(?)
Doesn't look too bad?
I think my friend had these

Sorry for the weird titles lol but I really want to buy some nice monitors for my somewhat low budget XD

I'v heard those monoprice active speakers are the best value at that price point.

For a DAC, I have the schiit audio modi. I think it is amazing, and is built buy a very serious company. However, at $100, it might be a bit too expensive considering the price of your other components.

If that is the case, then something like
http://www.amazon.com/D3-Digital-Converter-Optical-Toslink/dp/B005K2TXMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380723420&sr=8-1&keywords=DAC

or http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1380723420&sr=8-8&keywords=DAC

might be reasonably as good as the modi at a much more reasonable price.

I'd suggest used, but small used speakers are usually either hard to come by or craptastic. If you want to post up your craigs list I'd be happy to take a look.

Of new gear I prefer the OSD AP490's with a good subwoofer over any of the other budget gear out there. They do need a big amp to push them after corrected, but so do the miccas. Either way they will both need to be corrected to provide any kind of accurate response.

$100 Dayton Sub

$60 OSD AP490 speakers

$100 Audiosource AMP100

AP490's would be wired out of phase and the sub would be crossed over around 100Hz for the best results.

I would have definitely wagered that my denon had a better DAC than my 1980s sony discman D2 lol. I don't think it's a particularly good discman or anything

I guess my next upgrade will be a better DAC then I'll test again

Check this out at Amazon.com
Audioengine D1 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_nCjaCbDG99E6N

that looks pretty affordable

In the near future of buying some pc stuff and other peripherals, i came across a thought of "which DAC for my dream speakers should i use?" So I plan on getting these sweet puppies:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H0MQYW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=17VDCKL4LO5IJ&coliid=I5C4DPHEWA9D4
But obviously to get the best sound, I'll need a DAC or an amplifier.
Here's some I have in mind:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=17VDCKL4LO5IJ&coliid=I1S7F043SU6CQK
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Y5FRNS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=17VDCKL4LO5IJ&coliid=I1FYZ24Y1G14AO
Help me choose? i want to get a good DAC but I really want to get the cheaper option. HEALP

EDIT: Here's the original thread for better formatting.

http://www.chanemusiccinema.com/chane-loudspeakers/A1rx-c

These speakers are great for the price

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426927052&sr=8-1&keywords=bic+subwoofer

I hear this sub is great for the price.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBZFVK?psc=1

Sweet little integrated. Lots of inputs and a sub output. Should work great with all this.

1. What is your budget?

My ideal spend is listed below. I can probably go to £450 / ~$560

2. What are you looking for?

I'm looking for a beginner-ish set up for use with my PC. This is what I've come up with so far and just wanted some input, see what I can change etc.



Component | Price
---|---
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | £124.00 / $154.99
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X | £128.00 / $159.93
Audio-Technica AT2020 | £89.99 / $112.48
Boom arm and pop shield | £17.98 / $22.49
Edifier R1000TCN 2.0 Bookshelf Speakers | £45.95 / $57.48
Total | £405.92 / $507.71



I'm looking for middle of the road but excellent quality gear. This list was compiled by research and reviews on the best bang for your buck components.


3. How will you typically be using the gear?

Speakers will be next to my monitor so ~arms length away.


4. What gear do you own?

Unfortunately I own a "gaming" headset. It was cheap at the time I purchased it and I never gave it a second thought but now I think is the time to upgrade to a proper set up.

5. What do you intend on using for a source?

The source will be my PC.

6. What material will you be using your gear for?

This will be typically used for every day gaming, streaming, and listening to music through streaming services. I usually wear headphones for very long periods so comfort and lightness are extremely necessary. The bookshelf speakers listed above are only cheap ones for this reason, as I listen through headphones the majority of the time. The music I listen to varies quite a bit depending on the mood, from djent and tech metal, to lounge and soft house.

edit: clarity

So your sennhesier gsx 1200 is currently what is giving you the virtual surround sound. So if you get rid of that amp youll need another amp that offers virtual surround sound, which is pretty limited.

​

In other words if you just switched amps you may not have the ability to do that. unless you changed your headphones as well.

​

Arctis pro headset DTS virtual surround 32ohms

https://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Arctis-Fidelity-Gaming-Headset/dp/B07B32GY9Z/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549572900&sr=1-3&keywords=arctis+pro

​

Audio Engine headphone amp/dac This unit sounds really good and fits perfectly on a desktop. With a 32ohm load it should go plenty loud for you.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&smid=A17IVE6SUAZA2P

​

This unit I've never used before but I've always read good reviews and im sure it could power a 32ohm load no problem. Great price point.

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549573059&sr=1-3&keywords=headphone+amp

​

The Audio Engine D1 and the Arctis Pro should be a solid pairing.

​

​

​

Hey everyone!

I'm looking to spend about $300, but am open to spending up to $500. So between $200-500.

I currently have a AudioSource AMP-100, and am looking for a set of speakers to accompany it. I'll use this system for my computer, which I use to listen to music (typically electronic/indie), watch TV/movies, and game.

I would be willing to buy used, but am generally looking to get the best quality sound I can for the price!

If anyone has recommendations, they would be much appreciated. How would you get the most value out of this situation?

Amp: Start off with a entry-level class D amplifier: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC

DAC: Get something cheap and clean for your desktop's optical out: FiiO D30k: https://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS

Speakers: I recommend Monitor Audio Bronze 2s: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1MRBS2&variation=PWAL

I think you'll be pretty happy with that combo, and that's a great budget setup for less than $500 overall

ISO: Desktop Speakers (2.1 setup)

Budget - $100, flexible

Looks - Don't care that much, but good looks can sway me

Use case - With my computer in a smallish room. Not gonna be blasting music really loud, will game with them. I plan to have these placed on shelves with 11 inches of clearance.

Type - I'm not looking for pure studio monitors or something really flat. I value an airier, wider soundstage over an entirely accurate sound. I do like a sharper lowend to my sound, but I may upgrade with a subwoofer in the future so it's not my focus. Plus for the next few years I will be living with family so I'm not trying to shake my house to pieces.

Features - Expandability (in the future if I add extra speakers to make this a home a

---

What I'm currently looking at:

• Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers
  
  
• Infinity Primus 150, someone local is selling them for $85
  
  
• Dayton Audio B652, someone local is selling them for $35
  
  
• Harman Kardon Soundsticks II/III, can find them from $100 - $140
  
  ---
  
  I am very uninformed about speakers, so please help me out! Thanks a ton

if that's including a turntable then the LSR305's may be your best bet. To achieve a new passive setup that's better than those, you'll need at a minimum this receiver with these speakers, which leaves you with ~ $170 for a U-turn orbit, but still short of a phono stage. I've heard that this is a satisfactory budget phono stage, perhaps you could consider it. I have to tell you though, that vinyl is an expensive proposition, and whilst this is a very decent, even competent turntable compared to the Crosleys and the Pyles, it is built to a price, and you might find yourself wanting to upgrade really soon. If you're willing to go used, you might find more options at a similar price point. New, my recommendation would be to perhaps spend a bit more on the receiver and speakers; and add what's remaining to a turntable fund, save up for a bit and get a nice turntable (that's more of a keeper) and a phono stage.

I just want to listen to music. I could buy the JBL's listed here and be done with it, but I am wondering if they are MUCH better than something cheaper like these M-Audio speakers that have good reviews. Anyone have these or can explain why I should go with one over the other? Thanks.

Hi all!

My current set up is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with a Ortofon 2M Red. Preamp is Pro-Ject brand (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007DB5IDS/ref=psdc_689995011_t3_B000YEK1AQ) and my speakers are Edifier 1280T (https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1280T-Powered-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016P9HJIA/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1QB3B62HWY4MY&keywords=edifier+speakers&qid=1549981297&s=electronics&sprefix=edifier%2Celectronics%2C134&sr=1-3).

I have been pretty happy with this....BUT, what would be the best way to upgrade my sound? Hypothetically, let's say I have between $500-600USD to spend on some way to upgrade.

Thanks for your suggestions!

After further research I was looking at the Edifier R1700BT speakers and they look pretty great, decent price, bluetooth is cool, and the reviews look good. I was also thinking about adding a subwoofer because ya know bass lol. Any thoughts??

Is it better to get an all-in-one desktop solution or a more expensive modular desktop solution?
Right now I just want really good speakers for my desktop. I've been hardset on the Vanatoo T0's, which include bluetooth, usb, optical, and aux in. They're pretty much everything I need in one amazing package.

But on the other hand, I've been looking at near-field studio monitors like the JBL 305P, the Mackie MR524 and audio interfaces like the Mackie Big Knob and other DAC's. The big knob also has an input for a microphone which I might want to use for high-quality recording.

Then there's also buying a desktop amp like the SMSL AD18 paired with an actual pair of speakers.

Both the modularity and upgradability appeal to me, but the compactness of the vanatoo's is also so nice.


Any thoughts?

Hi Folks, looking for advice on my possible purchase choices, bare in mind, I'm not loaded-loaded.


a little disclaimer on this one, I am aware bookshelf speakers are better, I am aware an amp is considered better, and I am aware open headphones have better positional audio than closed. Those things considered my choices are based on my location - the living room, my desk is in the living room, and the desk speakers don't have to be amazing since they won't be the primary source.

Sound Card

Strix Raid Pro 7.1 PCIe
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-strix-raid-pro-7.1-pci-e-sound-card-sc-032-as.html

Built in headphone amp, can switch between headphones/speakers with the controller, raid feature, I like their take on simulated surround) Honestly, not looking to budge on the soundcard front, everything else needs to work around it.

Speakers

Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/creative-gigaworks-t40-series-ii-2.0-speaker-system-51mf1615aa003-sp-116-cl.html

Reasons - Space, sounds decent, mostly for casual music/tv/gaming use when others are around, not a big deal, but other similar level suggestions would be appreciated (Also, can these plug into that soundcard? am I missing something?... along with the headphones).

Headphones

**Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50X-Monitor-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1450298700&sr=1-1&keywords=audio+technica+ath


I imagine I could go abit higher on the headphones, need to closed otherwise the mrs would go nuts, and I would hear the TV too much anyway.

Microphone

Not sure what to do here, mod mic? sounds abit poor... can you get desktop ones (with a stand holding it up) that have noise cancellation? I have a mechanical keyboard sooo ;).


Anyways, are these decent choices on a budget? many thanks

Set up help!

Hi everyone,

I don't know much about sound but I'm always about having a good bang for your buck.
I'm moving places and I'm buying a Sony X900E tv for general watching as well as for a ps4. I've read that it doesn't produce good sound and it would be better getting Bookshelf Speakers with a receiver as opposed to buying a soundbar.

Any advice on this product and how to set this up? I'm terrible with setting these things up and I'm not even sure if it's compatible/optimal. Any advice would be appreciated!

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers, 2.0 Active Near Field Monitors - 4" Studio Monitor Speaker - Wooden Enclosure - 42 Watt RMS https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016P9HJIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GVi9AbPT0JN7E

Well shit you aren't kidding about high end. In that case, I'm not the guy to talk to. I've got a set of Audio-Technica ATH-M50s out of a Fiio E10, pretty budget setup compared to what you have in mind.

What I can do is parrot conventional wisdom I've read a lot:

For a headset, the simplest way to do it is simply to attach this to your headphone of choice:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324624189&sr=8-1

Most people desire a large "soundstage" for gaming so that you can use the sound to identify where things are and such, adds to immersion. Conventional headphones to point to Sennheiser open headphones like the HD600.

As far a DAC and amps, I've presonally been lusting after some Schiit products. They're bifrost DAC and Valhalla tube amp together fall nicely in your price range, leaving a nice $300 for headphones.

$300 for 2.1?

Bookshelf speakers: Pioneer BS21

Amplifier: AudioSource AMP100 runs 50w at 8ohm. It will be plenty clear and loud.

Subwoofer: Dayton SUB-100 - 100w powered subwoofer

spend the rest on speaker wire and shipping. You're going to want to plug your source into the amplifier via a 3.5mm to RCA cable. Then wire the amplifier into the subwoofer. Wire out of the subwoofer to the speakers and that's it.

I have the same speakers & subwoofer, but a different amp (similar power rating). It sounds really good if everything is positioned well. Enjoy.

Hi guys, I am looking for some Studio Monitors around $150, First time getting one of those

I don't usually ask for help but recently the speakers of my TV died (I've been using it since 2009) and I am looking for some Studio Monitors around $150 because I only can afford that at the moment.

I have these in mind because I read some great reviews about them and I like the Bluetooth option but I am open to others too.

Some notes is that I have connected the TV to my PC and the new monitors will goo to the PC for music and play the guitar.

I appreciate the help you offer to other people who are not audiophile enthusiastic, I am one of them.

Also I mostly listen to Classic Rock and I am willing to buy used.

I'm going to assume you want to use this for a desktop, gaming setup. If you could stretch out to $200, you could grab the Audioengine A2s, but if you want to operate on super low costs, try this.

DAC + Vintage receiver + Passive (bookshelf) speakers

You can find a good vintage receiver for cheap at thrift stores or Craigslist. Same with the speakers. You could probably do that on less than $100 depending on where you live. If you need help hooking stuff up, message me.

Well, if you were looking for two channel I would do something like either this Yamaha or this onkyo. For speakers that would leave you 150 ea, for something like these wharfdale diamond speakers, which are a part of a larger series so you could expand them in the future to use these for surrounds and get a larger set like the Wharfdale 230's

If you want a surround sound system, you could always just pick a receiver like this Yamaha RX-V379BL or Denon AVR-S510BT

I've settled to buy computer speakers for 100 - 200 range.

Here are the ones I've currently picked out.

Can anyone recommend anything better than these for this price? The reviews here are quite good and making me at ease about these. They have bluetooth as well as a wired option

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016PATXSI/ref=psdc_3236451011_t1_B008M13H4A

But if there is a more prominent company/sound out there I'd be willing to go for those.

What I want

Does anyone have a suggestion for a desktop DAC/AMP system under $200? I live in Toronto, Canada and am willing to buy used.

What I'm using it with/for

I will be using my PC which has a free USB port as well as an optical out. I currently use the AT-M50x, but upgrading to speakers are a slight possibility. I listen to electronic music (mostly lounge), jazz, and play games.

What I'm looking for

Something that looks nice on my desk (so black is the preferable color, but thats flexable), is conducive to possible upgrades down the road, and sounds really nice.

What I've already found

What do you guys think of the Audioengine D1, the Fiio E10K (though it doesn't have optical in), or a used Musiland Monitor 02 US Dragon. This is in order of my preferences.

The first Monoprice ones are self powered, basically an all in one solution. You'd just have to plug them into power behind the scenes when installing.

For everything else you'll be running speaker cable from the speaker to your amp, whatever you end up picking. Cheap bluetooth devices don't tend to survive all that long so I'd put whatever's at the amp end somewhere easy to troubleshoot and/or replace. Given the kitchen environment I'd avoid anything with a lot of cooling holes/vents just in case of spills or sprays. Keystones would make for a nice and neat install on the amp side. Amps are fairly straightforward. The Powernode I linked early is an outstanding value, if a bit large. NAD's D3020 is more counter friendly. If you want to go cheaper there's any number of Chinese brands like SMSL but I can't vouch for their quality.

Cheaper speakers are dicey, I'd just look for a reassuring number of reviews saying that they don't sound like trash. As a bit of an audio snob I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to carving holes in the ceiling to the specific size of that speaker.

Separate Mic! No need to limit your options by only looking at headsets. Get a decent set of cans and get a separate microphone. This is what i did but you can swap out any solid set of cans in your price range. Drop 250 for akg701's Here and get a 15$ 8$ mic, amazing solution if you have the power to drive the headphones. If you are super picky about microphone quality go for a blue microphone.

I also had interference from the analog outputs of my AsRock motherboard. It wasn't always there and very well could have been my video card since that's the component that gets upgraded most often.

My solution was to get a cheap DAC since the audio setup on my PC is not "high end". As has been mentioned by others, DACs do sound different but it requires both (1) the ability to hear the differences, and (2) equipment that allows you to resolve those differences. I bought a FiiO D3 DAC from Amazon for 30 bucks. Output is totally silent (when it's supposed to be) and the sound quality through my ok-quality speakers is great.

That being said, the DAC in my main audio rig is an Arcam irDAC which I've been very pleased with. I paid $500 used and feel it's worth every penny, but I would never buy one for my PC setup because I don't do any kind of critical listening with it and it makes no difference with games.

Hi,
I'm tryin to get a setup for a not so big room (4m x 4m) (13.1 ft x 13.1 ft),

I have the next options for a setup :


- MX3 topping amplifier (50wpc) (120 USD) or SMSL AD18 (80wpc) (180 USD): https://www.amazon.com/Topping-MX3-Bluetooth-Headphome-Amplifier/dp/B075SYC4Z5https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=ADSL+ad18&qid=1563892863&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0



- KEF Q350 (600 USD) or Klipsch RP-600M (700 USD) (local supplier)


My budget is something around 1k USD, I own a FIO X5 II and a soundblaster E5 that I can use as a DAC
Wich option would you recommend me ? Should I invest the extra money into a better amp ? get a new DAC or get a different pair of speakers ?


My plan is to invest into the setup another 1k USD the next year, this is just the begining of something great.


Thanks a lot

also, In terms of budget Preamps... People seem to like these in the budget category: https://www.amazon.com/ART-Audio-DJPRE-Turntable-Preamplifier/dp/B000AJR482/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484609169&sr=1-1&keywords=art+pre

Then you can pretty much use any receiver/amp. Plus you're not tied to whatever you get right now, you can always upgrade the amp without needing a new pre. I'd troll craigslist for a really good quality receiver that probably has no resale value because it doesn't have HDMI inputs. You can probably find an old Onkyo/Denon flagship from the 90s/2000s for next to nothing that has an excellent amp.

Hey all. I've been rocking some Dayton B652s for years and they sound fine, but I'm realizing that with my massive record collection, I could be really hearing things a lot better if I upgraded my


Here's the view spun around in my computer chair of my speakers (circled in red): http://imgur.com/a/696Rx


These speakers are to pair with my Turntable (Pioneer PL-518X) and Receiver (Pioneer SX-790)


I'm thinking about these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014GSER6O -- If you have a better suggestion for the price (200 is sadly my budget at this moment), please don't hesitate to let me know!


I just am not sure if the positioning of my speakers is ideal (they're slightly pointed towards me. If you're facing them, my bed is to the right of me and I point them in that direction if I'm listening to music in bed
Gear is my weak point of knowledge and therefore I come to you, the experts. Thank you to anyone who can help.

A lot of places to start but Craigslist it for your speakers and receiver. My receiver I got free from a buddy, and the speakers I found on craigslist. Ask folks here whether ones you're eyeing are worth buying. The Project Debut turntable I bought new and I think it's a worthwhile purchase. The receiver either needs to have a "phono" setting, if not you will need to buy a pre-amp like this https://www.amazon.com/ART-Audio-DJPRE-Turntable-Preamplifier/dp/B000AJR482

Looking to replace my 4 channel integrated amp used for music and home theater.

My Rotel RA971 is on its last legs, though it performs wonderfully otherwise. I use the two extra channels to power two rear speakers for "surround sound". With that in mind, would it be better to get a receiver, which is meant for surround sound? Does a receiver do surround sound better than a 4 channel amp?

These are the two I'm comparing right now, suggestions are welcome:
http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-NR1504-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B00BLZDKX2
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-9050-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B009JBZFVK

I am looking for a cheap set of speakers for my dorm room. I have checked out the miccas and they seem like a great option. My only reservation is that I may sometimes want bluetooth connectivity for parties and such. With that in mind, will this set of speakers be that much of a downgrade in comparison?
What would I be getting with Miccas that I would lose with this set up?
My room is only about 115 sq ft., will either of these be a good fit for that?

I'm in the same boat. Definitely not an audiophile or anything but I would appreciate a good set of cans for some jams. I'm seriously considering the Audio Technica ATH-M50x considering the overall positive reviews. However....they apparently leave you wanting just a tad more bass. I'm mostly into metal/death metal while dabbling into everything else every now and then (thank you spotify).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVLUR86/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Well, you only have optical audio out, i don't know if your TV's remote controls the volume of this output or not, but hopefully it does. what you need is a DAC for optical audio, something like the Fiio D3 would probably do just fine (and could be powered by one of the USB ports on the TV) then you just need a pair of RCA to TRS cables like this connecting the a5+ would be pretty much the same, just use normal RCA cables instead of RCA to TRS

I currently own Logitech Z623 speakers and the left speaker is about to go out.

I want to know if I should get a new set of speakers (similar to the ones I currently have), or get two new studio monitors for my situation.

Details:

• I do not mix or create any music myself, but I listen to wide array of genres.
  
• I suppose I enjoy a little more bass than most people. I do have my sub from my Z623's. Could I use that with two monitors?
  
• my desk is in a medium sized room
  
  Not sure what other details to add. Thanks for any help!

I'm going to purchase a pair of KEF Q150 speakers and I'm looking for a good receiver/amp recommendation.

The inputs will be from my computer which has a sound card and also USB of course and from my TV which has optical and 3.5mm output.

For now I'm not going all out and don't need anything that is capable of surround sound, more speakers or bluetooth. Mainly just want the speakers to sound the best I can for something under $250. I'm assuming I'll want a built-in amp for the receiver as well.

EDIT: What does everyone think of this receiver? Onkyo TX-SR383

Hi,
I have Edifier R1280T speakers which have 2 sets of RCA Inputs.

I have 3 sources of audio: a turntable, a chromecast audio, and a Roland Quad-Capture.

I'm wondering how I can connect all three sources to the two inputs (2 white, 2 red) on my speakers. I tried RCA Male to Dual RCA Female but the sound was very quiet.

Would RCA piggyback cable work or would I just have the same issue?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

When I was at college I had the Logitech Z-2300 for the same purpose music, movies, and youtube videos and things. And they were excellent with great sound. Although you cant buy them anymore I would assume the newer system from them would be similar, These. They would compare to the Klipsch, a buddy of mine on my floor had the klipsch and both were excellent.

I would get a pair of koss ksc75, possibly the best value in portable audio. It meets your requirements with it being cheap, comfortable to wear in different positions, and comes with volume control. It even has a lifetime warranty if you ever do break it.

For the mic, just get a separate clip-on like this zalman.

As xtc_pwned said, those tape outs won't be affected by the Pioneer's volume (or most likely it's EQ/tone stage too). The record jacks are basically a monitor of whatever source you have selected on the receiver.

As for an amp, it'd be helpful to know what you're feeding it with. I only see one set of cables running into that receiver from your pics, so if you're not using the Pioneer's am/fm tuner or phono pre-amp, you might be able to get away without using the Pioneer at all.

With the bookshelf B&Ws and trying not to break the bank, I'd suggest something like this. A friend of mine has the AMP-1 (older? similar model) that I found to perform well with even a bit larger speakers, he had it powering a set of Wharfedale Sapphire SP-87s (3-way floorstanding towers). After those later became mine I've seen it perform very well powering a set of AR-5s and also Dahlquist DQM-9Cs.

edit: can't type.

Ideally your amp should have MORE wattage than the speakers. So i would go higher.

Also, i would consider spending a little more money and not to buy the ultra cheap stuff. It will last you longer and you will enjoy it more because it sounds better.

Yamaha makes very good sounding amps/receivers for not a lot of money. This receiver for example gives you 100W and you can connect your computer, speakers, subwoofer and more.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1457623254&sr=1-3&refinements=p_4%3AYamaha

I'm looking to get some speakers for music and films in my bedroom and also for small parties in a small kitchen. At the moment I'm using some beyer dt770 with a fiio e11 as a speaker which isn't bad for myself, but when there's a few people in one room I'm always wanting more.

In my room they'll be playing music off a PC with an integrated soundcard but in the kitchen it'll have to be laptops and phones l, unless I can use the e11 also.

I've seen the recommended cheap setups but I just wanted to know if these m audio mv40 would be recommended ?

M-Audio Studiophile Av40 - Home Studio Monitor Speakers https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051WAM64/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_0y-Dub0JYVT87

What the u/astrnght_mike_dexter said is correct.


The recever is decent, good enough for this price range.
A good stereo system will always sound better than a mediocre surround system.


$500 will get you some really nice bookshelf speakers.


https://www.amazon.com/Wharfedale-Denton-80th-Red-Mahogany/dp/B00RDMZJ9U
https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Uni-fi-Bookshelf-Speaker-Black/dp/B01CRYWVG2
https://www.amazon.com/Acoustics-Concept-Bookshelf-Speakers-Gloss/dp/B00D8XYH32/

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Premiere-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B07G3D2C8S/

https://www.amazon.com/SVS-Prime-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair/dp/B00PASUMV4/

https://www.amazon.com/Dali-Oberon-Bookshelf-Speakers-Walnut/dp/B07H2N5CNT/

https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Audio-Bronze-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002LPTH92/

https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q150-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B071P6KQZX/

Hey, thanks so much... this look perfect. I've got a few more questions if you don't mind. What does active mean? And also, how difficult would it be to add a subwoofer to this setup? Finally, do I need to get anything else to make these functional?

Thanks so much

I'm planning on getting this sub here. I already have 2 bookshelf speakers and a small amp. My question is what is the best relatively cheap amp/receiver that I can buy to support this sub and the two bookshelf speakers I already have? I'm using these speakers for my computer. These are the bookshelf speakers here Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049P6OTI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0049P6OTI&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwpuresimula-20
+
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IUIV4A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009IUIV4A&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwpuresimula-20

This is propably the best you are gonna get. In that pricerange, if you stick to needing a sub, you will not have anything that anyone here would recommend. If you don't care about that your best bet is to just listen to some systems at your local electronics dealer

Well deciding on a amp can be tricky. You could get something like a Onkyo A-9050 or a Yamaha A-S301BL which would save you a fair bit of money while still getting a sturdy high quality amp. Hopefully someone else can give their two cents on it, since I don't listen a lot to records.

$100 can get you a 2ch receiver or integrated amp with a phono input pretty easily on the used market. It's a bit harder to find something new in that price range. Alternatively, you can get a cheap Behringer PP400 phono preamp and a set of powered speakers. If you're looking at powered speakers that don't have a volume control then you might use something like the ART DJ Pre instead since it has a gain control that you could use as master volume. Once you have that, you can use a pair of Emotiva or JBL studio monitors.

If you must buy new then a Yamaha R-S300 is in the ballpark.

I would allocate my resources differently. The speaker is going to have the most impact on your sound and should be where you are spending more money to get better results. Look at emotiva's flex amps to save some cash, or even audiosource. You can get a separate phono preamp with the art DJ Pre II if you need it.

So, that leaves you with $300-$800 for speakers. I would consider (in roughly ascending order of price):

Chane A1rx-c

Warfendale Diamond 10.1

Dali Zenzor 1

HTD Level Three Bookshelf speakers

Aperion Intimus 5B

SVS Prime book shelves

PSB Imagine XB

Bowers & Wilkins 685

Aperion Verus Grand Bookshelf

Golden Ear Aon 2

If you are open to adding a sub, you could consider a 2.1 package from Hsu: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/value2pkg.html
(or you could go with a cheaper option on this list above and add a SVS SB1000 sub to cover the low end)

Towers: Chane A3rx-c, HTD level Three Towers, or Klipsch RF-62 II (or slightly up or down the Reference II line; you could even consider Klipsch's reference II bookshelf speakers) if you don't mind the brightness (I don't care for Klipsch personally, but some folks love em).

Well, that's the least you could spend. Honestly, you'll be much happier if you take the money you have now, add to it for 6 months or so, and by yourself something like this and these.

Hi everyone,
I am planning on setting up a 2.0 or 2.1 system for my new apartment. My budget will around $550 dollars and am primarily thinking of floorstanding speakers. I will primarily be using this by myself for listening music but also needs to double as a home theater for when people are over. As of now, I'm thinking about this setup-
Yamaha r-s201 - $150
Pioneer SP-FS52-LR $100 ea.
So in all, I'm looking to see what you guys think of my set up. I have significant room in this budget and am very open to any suggestions. If you think a more expensive set up is worth it then please let me know! I appreciate any suggestions or critiques.

Alright. I am so sorry that I'm being annoying..

how do these

SONY SS-B1000

compare to these

Dayton B652 $42.50

Micca MB42 $59.95

Micca MB42x $79.95

What is the best bang for your buck?

Could you put the speakers in Best to Worst?

I plan on gettin the Lepai 2020A+ unless there is a better amp for the price and then adding a Power Supply Upgrade

(ISO-L8R155 Medium)[https://www.amazon.com/IsoAcoustics-ISO-L8R155-Medium-Acoustic-Isolation/dp/B008GOP79G]

The Medium is the one you want. There about a 2 cm hang-off front to back and maybe 3-4mm hang-off side to side.

One of the most immediate improvements I noticed. Took care of any muddiness I was hearing.

With my chair height, my ears end up sitting slightly lower than tweeter level at the shortest stand height of the isoAcoustics. They provide a pair of wedge inserts (in two different heights) to allow you to tilt the speakers base platform.

I have mine set to where the rear portion of the stand is elevated by about 7 mm (smaller of the two wedge inserts) compared to the front portion. Lines the tweeters right with at ear level in my listening position. It's great.

Hey all! Looking to set up a basic, relatively cheap 2.0/2.1 (built-in subwoofers) sound system for a living room projector, primarily for use with an Xbox One. Doesn't need to be very loud or huge on audio fidelity, but after taking a look at the subreddit I've got the following parts list, but I wanted to make sure everything looked correct with the DAC and how it would work with the Xbox.

• Micca PB42X Speakers
  
  
• Which are connected via a pair (one per speaker) of 2RCA audio cables to
  
  
• A FiiO D3 DAC
  
  
• Which is finally connected to the Xbox One via an optical audio cable
  
  Thanks for the advice/help!

I use a yamaha 375 in 2 channel mode mostly and think it sounds fine. But those elacs are quite beastly and will flourish with more clean power. Whether you will notice any difference depends in lots of things. Amps only distort when they get pushed too high so you may be fine in a normal room. If this is your first setup I'm sure you would be satisfied.


But you can certainly afford the audiosource amp 100 and a small dac in this range if you want to go this route.

http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6

Looking into ordering the Micca MB42 (non X version) from Amazon (international shipping), as they are 40% off at the moment.

Any reason I should not do this? The absolute cheapest recommendation is the MB42X, but I'm not an audiophile so I'm a tad unsure (I just want a really good sound and a solid price vs performance ratio).

Also, is there a next level up contestant? I don't mind spending the money (Up to $500), as I'm all about bang for the buck.

Cheers!

Depends a lot on your budget, I'm going to assume you are looking at the cheaper end. A popular set is the audio-engine A2 speakers for about $200. The m-audio av-40's are also supposed to be quite good ($150).

I personally use the micca speakers and a small T-class amp for my computer speakers and am very happy with them, you can get those for somewhat cheaper than the two above, if you don't mind the extra cords.

Sounds like your new amp doesn't have an integrated Phono Preamp, you had your TT connected to the "PHONO" input on your old amp, correct?

You are going to need a phono pre, so in a way, yes, adding a preamp with a phono stage, or purchasing a standalone phono pre (the Art DJ Pre II is a popular cheap choice), will resolve your issue. For more expensive phono preamps, I would head over to /r/vinyl and see what they say.

If you leave the Impedance set on the '4 ohm' selection, play the amp for an extended period of time and see if it heats up. Because the speakers themselves are only 8 ohms, you should not have a problem.

Does the receiver have a tape monitors in/out? that would be the way to hook up an external EQ, that way you can punch the EQ in or out to your liking. Personally, I haven't hooked up my external EQ in over 5 years, they just impart distortion.

If you want a DAC to simply bypass your onboard analog and don't need any amplifications (since you have the receiver) try the FIIO D3

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-D3-Digital-Converter-Optical/dp/B005K2TXMO

It's cheap and guys around these parts that have them say they do a great job

I am looking to choose the best budget pre-amp of these 3 (or similar suggestion) for my vinyl setup:

1. Music hall PA 1.2 phono pre-amp
   
2. ART DJPREII Phono Preamplifier
   
3. Fosi Audio P1 Tube Pre-amp
   
   I currently have the Music Hall PA 1.2 (came with the TT) but I'm open to selling it and buying a cheaper, better pre-amp. Not particularly impressed with the power or sound, and the blue light is blinding. Glad it came with the TT and wasn't purchased separately on my own dime.
   
   

   SETUP:
   

   
   TT: Debut Carbon Esprit SB (DC) w/ Ortofon Red
   Receiver: Yamaha RX-V379 (no built in pre-amp)
   Towers: Klipsch RP-280F x2
   Center: Klipsch R-52C
   Surrounds: Klipsch R-14S x2
   Sub: Klipsch R-150 SPL 15"

Speakers Edifier R1280T

I just recently built a new PC and got an expensive monitor so I have already broke my bank/budget with those. Monitor speakers suck so I want to buy a set of good speakers for Games,movies and music.

I am not a huge audio enthusiast. I just want good sound quality for day to day use. I really wanted to avoid those crappy plastic subwoofer speakers like Logitech ones for 30 dollars BUT at the same time I dont want to buy individual pieces and put together an audio system or spend a lot. I really dont want to go through the hassle of assembling an audio system. I would prefer a simple plug and play.

A good compromise was the Edifier R1280T. It has built in amp with power , Volume control and a nifty remote that I like. I even like the color scheme and aesthetics of the speaker. I think this is good enough for me as I wont even be able to appreciate or tell the difference between speakers that are more expensive. What do you guys think? Or Am I being stupid and just wasting money.

Bookshelf + amp is superior in most cases. You can put together a surprisingly good system for less than you might expect.

Topping MX3

https://www.amazon.com/Topping-MX3-Bluetooth-Headphome-Amplifier/dp/B075SYC4Z5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=166D5IZJK77NB&keywords=topping+mx3&qid=1554818532&s=gateway&sprefix=topping%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2

Fluance Signature

https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-Signature-Bookshelf-Surround-HFS/dp/B01A5UB4JU/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1NTZKFDZTIGK6&keywords=bookshelf+speakers&qid=1554818711&refinements=p_89%3AFluance&rnid=2528832011&s=gateway&sprefix=bookshelf%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-8

So... you don't need something hardcore "audiophile" but you want decent controls and some bass.

A Logitech 2.1 system like the Z623 would probably be ideal, then. And that'll only set you back $100 USD.

So I'm by no means a hobbyist. In fact, as of today I just purchased my first pair of ELAC bookshelf speakers. Over at r/buildapcsales, people were raving over these speakers for the price. So I bit! The problem is I know next to nothing about how to set these things up.

​

I know I need Banna plugs, speaker wire and an amp (and a sub ^(ill probably buy a) ^(Polk) ^(later)). I will be using these with my new PC I'm building currently. I'd also like to be able to run my echo do (mainly for Alexa functions and streaming music) through this system.

​

I have a few amps in my cart atm via Amazon.

​

• Dayton Audio DTA-2.1BT 100W Class D 2.1 Amplifier with Bluetooth and Power Supply $88.75
  
• SMSL SA50 50Wx2 TDA7492 Class D Amplifier + Power Adapter $66
  
• BT20A Bluetooth 4.2 Stereo Audio 2 Channel Amplifier Receiver Mini Hi-Fi Class D $76.98
  
• Lepy LP-2020A Hi-Fi Digital Amplifier $24.39
  
• SMSL AD18HiFi Audio Stereo Amplifier with Bluetooth 4.2 Supports Apt-X, USB DSP Full Digital Power Amplifier 2.1 $130.49
  
  So if I'm planning on sync devices via the echo I don't technically need Bluetooth receiver in my amp, right? What about if I have a Bluetooth in my motherboard? I'm not sure if there's a difference between devices like keyboards and audio devices with Bluetooth.
  
  ​
  
  Thanks for the Help Experts,
  
  u/rnplyr1985

Hi, I have a pretty dumb question, but I'm planning on buying this preamp:
https://www.amazon.com/ART-Audio-DJPRE-Turntable-Preamplifier/dp/B000AJR482/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1483815402&sr=8-8&keywords=preamp
And connect my turntable and two active speakers, how can I connect two speakers to the preamp? It only has one phone input and one RCA output? Thanks for reading!

what about LSR308 are they good too? will I benefit somehow?

I am thinking about getting http://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS/ for my spdif pc
thanks

Hello, I'm looking for some new bookshelf speakers for my desktop. I have a dac/amp combo already for my headphones so I want some passive speakers that can plug into them.

I found these 3 speakers and were both regarded pretty good. Does anyone know difference in quality between these 3 speakers?

Kanto YUMI

Dayton Audio B652

Micca MB42 Non-X

Also, what's the difference between the Micca MB42X and the non-x? Is it a big difference?

This is the best you're going to get, from r/Zeos, "2.1 System Options/Ideas":

The cheapest possible 2.1 option will put you at $130:

• $20 Lepai LP-2020A Literally the smallest and cheapest amp you can buy
  
• $50 Micca Motion MB42's (Best for Near Field Desktop Setups!)
  
• $60 Monoprice 8" Sub Requires some special setup because of the limited speaker level pass-through.
  
  If you ditch the sub and go for a 2.0 system, you can get it for $70. Both those options are without speaker cable though, which I'd recommend you get from monoprice for $15.

Hey all,

Considering buying desktop speakers to replace my harmon kardon sound sticks for my PC.

So far i've narrowed it down to 2 sets. I already have a desktop amp and all so i'm good there...i hope...


My options are,

Pioneer SP-BS21-LR 80-Watts RMS 2-Way Speakers http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MEWZE4/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=18V7A25BWVMGD5B34BG6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

or...

Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers with 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IUIV4A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=18V7A25BWVMGD5B34BG6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846


I mostly listen to Electronic music with the occasional hip hop. I also play games quite a bit and watch movies. This set up would be for my computer in my bedroom.

Additional equipment i have currently is the Aune T1 with the Bravo V2...maybe V3...

Thanks in advance!

Any other suggestions welcome but i'm hoping to stay around $50 for the speakers.

This thing looks promising. I'm a fan of Yamaha receivers.

This one also looks like an option. Onkyo is a pretty solid brand.

There’s always the used market. Otherwise, something like the SMSL AD18 would be adequate, not really any worthwhile better products in the $250 range, and the popular entry level Yamaha/Onkyo stereo integrated amps are $350.

well it only happens when im playing games, so maybe its coil whine or whatever. and ya the headphones and speakers work fine on other* devices. and i tried plugging in my earbuds directly into my sound card and the same thing, whining while playing games. do DACs even help with this? i had some guy over on pcmasterrace a while back tell me it does and recommended this is it any good?

The Micca MB42 is probably as cheap as you can go for decent sound. $60 for the pair. Keep in mind that they are small, with small woofers, so they don't dig that low. http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&srs=2529892011&ie=UTF8&qid=1383070299&sr=1-1&keywords=micca

If you want more low end, you can look into the Dayton Audio 8" subwoofer for $90. That puts you at $150 for the system. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-627

Edit: Of course, you can just go with the Micca's and understand that they have limitations. Not too bad for $60.

In my opinion, this is as cheap as you can get if you want reasonably good sound. It should be a huge improvement over what you have.

Or am I better off getting this...http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453771289&sr=8-1&keywords=Yamaha+R-S201BL+2-Channel+Stereo+Receiver or http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=pd_sim_23_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41YSwYSkIjL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1RAGD6MM77XX0AREKDSV

Or am I good with what i"m getting? Of course I have the pre amp ready.

Depends on your budget. You'll probably do better than the built in electronics if the turntable by getting an external phono preamp and a USB interface to your computer.

I work in a studio where I've had to do this before for installed background music. Frankly our setup is overkill if we were doing just digitizing vinyl – custom preamp into a full ProTools HDX system. You can find some good preamps and stereo interfaces for <$100 though. Follow directions that come with the preamp for grounding.

Some quick finds thanks to google:
Preamps
ART DJPRE II
Berhinger PP400
USB Interface
Berhinger UCA202


One thing I highly recommend though: the last thing before you hit record in audacity, clean the record. Find a kit on amazon and follow the directions to avoid damaging the record. This will get rid of any dust and improve the quality noticeably. At my studio we do this even if the record is new, and it does make a difference.

Edit: fixed bad links

I can only recommend Audio Technica from personal experience. But they're pretty damn good. These are only $170 and I fully recommend them.

I also have the ART DJpreII preamp which is still, in my opinion, noticeably better than the internal preamp. The Mani was a nice step up from that, though, though.

I upgraded to the NAGAOKA MM (MP) Cartridge MP-110 cart, and could not believe the difference for only ~$100. I highly recommend it.

you should consdier getting a DAC. DACs are fantastic. Mine died, and i was going straight from the PC to the stereo, and it sounded like straight up butt. Once I got a new DAC it was a friggin revelation.

if you want to go cheap, a fiio D3 will serve: http://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1405281051&sr=1-14&keywords=fiio+dac

after that, i would recommend a Schiit Modi: http://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Convertor/dp/B00CICPN0K/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1405281149&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=schiit+dac

it keeps going up from there (i personally run an emotiva xda-2 which is in the $250 neighborhood).