Reddit mentions: The best studio audio monitors

We found 1,244 Reddit comments discussing the best studio audio monitors. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 172 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

17. Studio Solutions High Density Studio Monitor Isolation Pads Pair For 5 Inch Monitors

Studio Solutions High Density Studio Monitor Isolation Pads Pair For 5 Inch Monitors
Specs:
Height1.5 Inches
Length11 Inches
Width7.4 Inches
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🎓 Reddit experts on studio audio monitors

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where studio audio monitors are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
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Top Reddit comments about Studio Audio Monitors:

u/jkangg · 1 pointr/buildapc

i5-4690k - If you aren't doing any programming or editing, and mainly gaming, you'll see here that the 4690k trumps every AMD CPU. There is no competition in tier 1 gaming CPU's in the AMD department. AMD uses more, but slower cores, which isn't ideal for gaming. The 4690k definitely has higher base processing speed because of increased IPS performance and faster single cores in general. Also, AMD CPU's are notoriously power hungry and heat up quite a bit more. With some overclocking, you'll be able to hit around 4.5hz on an 8320, which will compensate for a bit, but an OC'd 4690k will still perform considerably better.

CM 212 evo - One of the best CPU coolers in terms of price/performance. You'll be able to hit some nice OC's on your 4690k, even though it probably won't be necessary until later.

Asrock Z97 Extreme 4 - I'm mainly suggesting this mobo because of the great 4690k/z97 bundle going on at microcenter, you can cop them both for around $300. Besides that, you'll be able to hit nice CPU overclocks and SLI. Awarded by tomshardware as one of the best z97 mobos $100-$150

Ripjaws Memory - One of the most popular memory's. Won't be needing more than 8gb, 1600 for gaming, looks pretty nice along with the red msi gtx 970 and $80 is a good price.

840 Evo SSD - one of the best SSD's along with the mx100. Quick quick quick.

1TB WD Blue - It's either this or the seagate 1tb. I personally can vouch for the reliability of WD drives, so I tend to go with them.

MSI GTX 970 - Probably will go down as one of the most iconic cards in pc gaming history along with the 8800gt as a crazy level of price to performance. You'll gobble up any game @ 1080p/60fps, and do more than well in the 1440p resolution. You'd have no problem with 4k resolution with SLI'd 970's. The gtx 970 would eat up 10 GTS 450's for breakfast. Seriously, the performance upgrade you'd be getting with this card will make you get on your knees and praise Gaben.

H236HLbid 23" IPS monitor - If you've never used IPS or 1080p, you'll be amazed by the picture quality and color accuracy of this screen. The best 23" 1080p monitor in the $100-$200 range. The alternative is to get a 1440p QNIX 2710 (MUST BE SINGLE INPUT to overclock to ~96hz) This is a great 1440p PLS monitor for around $350 that can overclock to 96hz, which means you'll be seeing 96 frames/sec instead of the usual 60hz, as long as your system can handle it. Makes a HUGE difference.

Fractal R4 Case - One of the most iconic ATX Mid cases. Can cop for around $80 on sale, lots of HD trays (top rack removable), nice fit, fan speed control, and a slew of over cool features. Other options in the price range - Phanteks Enthroo Pro and the NZXT 440.

EVGA G2 750w PSU - Very high quality Gold standard PSU. I overshot it with this to allow headroom to add another GTX 970 for the build. You can safely SLI the gtx 970's with a high quality 650W PSU, because they take so little power, around 145W TDP. A 650W Gold+ Seasonic or Antec would do just fine.

Find yourself a nice mechanical keyboard with cherry mx switches. I would suggest a cm quickfire or k70. One of the most important upgrades you can make. Once you go cherry mx, you'll have a hard time typing on membrane keyboards. It's an absolute must for me.

Last, but not least try to find a decent headphone and stick on a zalman attachable mic to use as a gaming headset. I personally use an ath-m50, although it's not great for gaming with it's bad soundstage since I listen to music more often anyway. Nice alternatives are the beyerdynamic dt-770 and sennheiser hd 25-1 II.

Speakers - You'll need a pair of speakers for your setup since your monitor won't come with one. I recommend M-Auidio AV40's. They're delicious. If you're looking for a cheaper option, these aren't so bad.

Wow, that was a lot of writing! I know it can be overwhelming picking out parts for a pc, especially if you haven't it in a while. Hopefully you'll find some of this info useful, and good luck!

u/sophware · 1 pointr/Chromecast

No. I love my CCs, but a CCA wouldn't help my bedroom as nicely as my two PLAY:1s have. The fact that I don't have to turn them on, can use them as a clock radio alarm, and can use one app to play Spotify, Play Music, TuneIn, and different accounts is awesome. Also, they sound good.

The CCA doesn't sound at all. For $35, i can add speakers to it (or two of them), I suppose. What would be really helpful for someone who wants to achieve what I have with the PLAY:1s would be to recommend a pair of powered speakers that could connect to one or two CCAs (and sound as good, look nice, and cost less).

I kind-of wish I'd had a CCA before I got a Sonos CONNECT and CONNECT:AMP, but not really. I like having one unified system. I like using the existing nice speakers with the :AMP. I love that I can instantly turn on something throughout the house from an app, with volume fully controlled.

The CONNECT has the same shortcomings the CCA would have (incomplete control of volume and no control of power). I overcame this with a Beaglebone (it's like a Raspberry Pi) that listens for the CONNECT, turns my stereo on, and talks to my stereo to set input and volume. Hopefully, someday soon, a similar workaround will exist to please makers with CCAs. It may not exist today.

With about $1,200 spend (Best Buy open-box and craigslist) on Sonos (I have PLAYBAR, too), I've upgraded my system to be better than my super-rich NYC buddy's system. We both already had a stereo amp and speakers. He added $100,000 of custom home audio and theater project work. Mine works much, much better. As he flails with his in-wall touchpad and things don't always work, I use an app smoothly on my phone. Everything just works, throughout the house.

CCA is awesome. Multiroom is a huge improvement. It is far from "exact same things" status.

EDIT -

Here are some speakers that can be used with the CCA: http://www.androidcentral.com/best-speakers-under-35-use-chromecast-audio. I don't know how good they sound and do not think they look as nice as I like (the Anker's not bad); but, they are inexpensive. For $150, you could have stereo sound in any room.

EDIT 2:

This is an interesting, possibly better option (with the 2.1 choice being interesting as well). http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM1O/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1449856398&sr=8-15&keywords=powered+speaker
Note, though, that it wouldn't be wireless between the speakers and would need a y-adaptor for the input.

Someone else has posted today that the Klipsch KMC1 is a good option, including USB to power the CCA. At $150-$300, it would be good if it sounds more like the PLAY:3 and is better than the PLAY:1.

u/Varzboi · 1 pointr/ThisIsOurMusic

Hey you need overall 3 things:

  1. Gear
  2. A room
  3. Software

    /

  4. Gear:

    -Audio Interface:

    You want a number of channels depending on the type of groups you wanna record and the size of the group. Example: 18 Channels (8 mics) v.s. 2 channels (2 mics)

    -Microphones:

    You want basic versatile microphones and specialized ones for the type of instruments you wanna record.

    Example of basic mics: Shure sm-57 Dynamic Mic and AKG 414 Condenser Mic

    Those two have a fairly transparent frequency response and work for most scenarios but you also want mics that work better for certain instruments because of their coloration or diaphragm or polar pattern.

    -Monitoring:

    You need some headphones like the Audio Technical M50x which are transparent enough and good for the price although you could go a little further and look for Sennheiser HD or some of the expensive AKG stuff.

    -Accessories and cables

    You want good quality XLR cables, two direct boxes like this one and probably a direct box with pre amp like the Avalon U5 (great for sending bass via line, skipping the bass amp part, which can be great for live sessions). Both depend on the type of music you are gonna record of course (first example works for connecting stuff like a keyboard and the Avalon well for bass is great).

    You may want a monitor amplifier like Behringer Powerplay for distributing audio to the players or producers or audience via headphones monitors.

    Also check out EquipBoard to see what gear are other producers or studios using. They have a good database and is good reference.


  5. If you wanna do it like TinyDesk then you wanna have a nice room with good isolation and space for your musicians. Well, mostly for the sound. There are 2 ways of recording live sessions: Either you isolate most of the musicians or you use proper recording techniques and use your mics intelligently to get a good mix before your Mixing stage. You may wanna look for highly directional mics.

    You also wanna look on isolation techniques and architecture if you wanna have good natural reverberation or just have control over what the sound is doing, including annoying neighbors if that’s the case. Look for how to soundproof a room in the internet and try read a little about acoustics if you haven’t.

    You may wanna to set up 2 rooms: a live room and a control room. The live room would be where you record the musicians and have way more soundproofing and the control would just need to isolate enough and allow visual contact with the ppl in the live room. If you go for 2 rooms you may need to set up the ins and outs and pass cables through the wall in a snake cable like this Hosa or this bigger one . The purpose of having 2 rooms is partly because you wanna monitor with speakers not only headphones (as well as having more recording gear there but it only applies to bigger studios). Example Yamaha HS8 x2 or the KRK . Those are fairly priced options and you will get more value out of them if you are the one mixing the music as they can be better references than just headphones.

  6. For software you should consider Pro Tools as is the industry standard. I personally enjoy Logic Pro and there are a lot more options out there some of which are free. If you are not gonna go a lot into mixing and do the post production maybe Pro Tools Ultimate is a bit of an overkill but if you are looking to do the mix you may also wanna get some audio plugins. Look for Waves or Arturia plugins online (most of which is simulations of real hardware) which will give a “better” sound to your mixes if used well. It also depends a little on the genre or type of music you are producing.



    That’s it. I was very broad but I did mentioned some basic equipment you can start budgeting. If you need more details about the basics PM me and can help you a bit more, I’m no specialist on some stuff like exquisite mics but know about a bunch that are generally used. Are you in Vancouver by chance? I can help you in the actual physical setup if you are.

    Cheers.

    Edit: You probably want a powerful laptop or a desktop computer btw but I figure out you already have one.
u/_paramedic · 5 pointsr/hackintosh
(continued from previous post)

The DAYUM Build (AKA The You Spend Irresponsibly Build) ~ $5500

Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor | $554.98 @ NCIX US
CPU Cooler | Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler | $89.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | Asus Rampage IV Black Edition EATX LGA2011 Motherboard | $391.98 @ Newegg
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 64GB (8 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $594.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $229.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $139.74 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $139.74 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $139.74 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $139.74 @ SuperBiiz
Storage | Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $139.74 @ SuperBiiz
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked Video Card (4-Way SLI) | $549.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked Video Card (4-Way SLI) | $549.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked Video Card (4-Way SLI) | $549.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked Video Card (4-Way SLI) | $549.99 @ Amazon
Case | Fractal Design Define XL R2 (Black Pearl) ATX Full Tower Case | $124.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | Corsair AX1500i 1500W 80+ Titanium Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $405.98 @ Newegg
Optical Drive | Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer | $16.98 @ OutletPC
Optical Drive | Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer | $16.98 @ OutletPC
Wireless Network Adapter | Rosewill RNX-N150UBE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter | $11.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.98 @ OutletPC
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.98 @ OutletPC
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $5407.40
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-28 05:09 EST-0500 |

This shit is gonna blow any Mac Pro away. In fact, it'll blow everything away. You better have a backup generator. And you better know what you're getting into smh. Btw, I have no idea whether this is Hackintosh-compatible. Asus motherboards can be tricky but if you're going to invest this much money you might as well invest the time to set it all up. Or hire someone. Whatever. Oh, and still cheaper than a "comparable" (lol, it doesn't compare) Mac Pro by like, $4000. Buy yourself a render farm. Or more than one computer. Or the Apple Store.

RENDER NODE ~ $500

Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor | $104.99 @ SuperBiiz
Thermal Compound | Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste | $6.49 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-H87N Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard | $96.98 @ OutletPC
Memory | G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $61.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $82.99 @ NCIX US
Case | Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case | $78.99 @ SuperBiiz
Power Supply | Corsair RM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $88.99 @ Directron
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $521.42
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-28 05:18 EST-0500 |

Time for the render node! You only really need a processor and stuff that fits with it. I went barebones with this, and stuffed it all into the smallest case I could while leaving breathing room for cooling. You can stack these on top of each other. Better yet, buy an IKEA drawer set and put them in drawers. Remember to carve out the back to allow for air to escape and to manage cables. Voila! Your own render farm, nicely tucked next to your desk.

Disclaimer: I got the render-farm-in-drawers idea from this guy. I saw it on a blog like year or two ago, I had no idea he started a website. Check it out!

RECOMMENDED PERIPHERALS

For video editing, gaming, and general use, I recommend the following monitor because it isn't glossy (fuck glare!), is LED-backlit, has IPS technology for amazing viewing angles and color reproduction, is HDMI-compatible, 1080p, has a fast response time (5 ms), and is relatively affordable (about $160 USD street.)

If you want headphones, check these out. They're great middle-range headphones that are good for music, gaming, and other general use.

If you're doing audio work, I recommend using monitors for accurate sound-reproduction and to avoid coloring your mixes. A ton of people I know swear by these. Remember to treat your room! There are great tips and guides for all genres of music over at r/edmproduction. Don't let the name fool you; they have some great stuff for everyone.

In terms of mice, any will do; I personally recommend this one, though.

In terms of keyboards, use whatever you're comfortable with. I know a lot of people swear by mechanical keyboards, especially keyboards that have CherryMX keys. I personally hate them because I'm far more accurate with chiclet keyboards. However, I plan to change my key caps to some that are shallower/need to be pressed harder to register (I currently have Cherry MX Reds, want to switch to Browns). The great thing about mechanical keyboards is that they are customizable! If you are used to Apple Keyboards, this keyboard should provide a good balance between the feel of chiclet keys and that of a mechanical keyboard.

If you're balking at these prices, you're not alone. Unfortunately, quality products mean shelling out hard-earned moolah. If you can afford it and think it will be valuable to you, I think these products should work well for their intended purposes and have good quality. I have personally used all of these products. Of course, don't take my word for it; look around r/buildapc, r/headphones, and r/edmproduction for more recommendations.

(continued in final post)
u/d3vourm3nt · 2 pointsr/metalmusicians

Hey man....I'll give you a breakdown of everything I own to make music. But you have to be aware, that there is a HUGE learning curve to home recording...and until you get proficient with your DAW and learning about all sorts of settings and how to set up your audio and workflow and what cable gets plugged into where and yadda yadda, you will find that there are days where it can get aggravating. And then once you finally get the hang of it, and you can record something with somewhat ease, you will find that it sounds like garbage, and then you realize you gotta learn all about mixing, and the struggles that comes with.

So first and foremost, just make sure you are aware that even if you had all the money in the world, it's going to take a good chunk of time before you feel comfortable and etc.

BUT,

here is a list of everything that should help you get started.



I assume you're a guitarist yeah?

First off, just buy the full version of Reaper. It's $60. It's worth it.
Also, for drums, I use Steven Slate Drums...The full kit is worth it..but if you want just the $40 version, that will work also.

For an audio interface, the best quality/bang for your buck would probably be something from Focusrite

And then you will need a set of monitors as well....again, the best quality/bang for your buck IMO is a set of these

And then of course you're going to need things like cables, etc.

XLR cables for mics,

balanced cables for connecting things like your interface to your monitors, etc,

get some instrument cables as well if you don't already have some,

A good surge protector as well, can't recommend this one enough, it has rotating sockets so you can fit everything on it.



From then, its just a matter of how much money you want to spend, and what all you want to do.

How do you plan to get your guitar tone. Are you going to mic a cab? If so, look into something like an SM57. If you wanna do it the cheap/free way, be warned you will be dealing with a latency issue. USB interfaces have latency, so monitoring your tone can cause some issues sometimes. You plug in your guitar raw straight into the interface, and throw on some plugins on the track that give you your tone. If you want to hear just a raw, clean guitar, there won't be any latency. But if you want to record while hearing your distortion, the computer has to take your clean signal, process it through the plugins, and then back out to the monitors, so there will be a split second of latency if you don't have things set up correctly and if your pc specs arent up to par..and even so, you never can truly get to 0 latency without spending some SERIOUS money.

If you have some extra money, I would highly recommending getting something like this eleven rack...I personally use this. You can bypass the latency issue by choosing what you monitor on the interface...do you want to monitor what is coming from the input (the eleven rack) or the playback (the computer) or a blend of both. So essentially i can just listen to my guitar live as I'm recording straight from the Eleven Rack, but i'm not acutally 'monitoring' it in Reaper. By doing so, my guitar doesn't have to travel through the computer and back out, thus no latency. You can really get some great tones out of this thing also...I like to call it the 'Poor Man's AxeFX'. Here's an example of something i'm working on...both using the eleven rack and the steven slate drums, so you can get a sense of the quality of the drums and guitar tone. I have done some slight eq'ing and stuff, but nothing dramatic.

Of course you don't need something like that for guitar, there are plenty of plug ins that are free that can help you with tone.

And lastly, as far as plug ins go, if you dont wanna mic a cab, or use something like an eleven rack, just search on youtube "free plugins for metal guitar" or "free metal guitar plugins" or whatever, and just watch. Youtube is your friend when wanting to learn about how to use reaper and finding plugins. I know for a fact there are full playlists out there to learn how to use reaper properly, from start to finish. So consider looking for those.

For other basic plug ins like EQ, Compression, Noise Gate, etc, I wouldn't worry about those. Reaper comes with like 13 or so of it's own plugins. They honestly are some great plug ins as well, and are all you really need.

Here's a picture of my set up, with all the stuff I suggested in this post.


Hope that helps.

u/niclake13 · 5 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Good monitors are huge. Headphone sound is fine, but you want to mix using unbiased reference monitors so you know what things are going to sound like. Then you make sure it sounds good through headphones, in the car, etc. Even something like these will make a huge difference. If you've got some extra coin, go for something better. I found a pair of Mackie HR842 monitors on eBay for $250 (the old ones, not the new mk2 model). They're amazing.

You don't need more inputs than what you're actually using. If you're trying for a cheap home studio, your Apogee will work just fine. Just switch cables/inputs when you're recording something new.

But anyway. Here we go. What I would buy (of note, these are all Amazon affiliate links):

Mics:

  • Shure SM58 - $100 (for vocals)

  • Shure SM57 - $100 (for guitars/vocals)

  • Sennheiser e609 - $100 (for guitars, so you can double-mic)

  • 20' mic cable - $7.50 (2 for $15)

    Monitors:

  • M-Audio Studiophile AV 30 - $85

  • Auralex MoPAD monitor pads - $44

  • OnStage SMS6000 monitor stands - $100 (if your desk isn't large enough)

    Bass:

  • Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI - $200

    I've been out of the "assorted percussion" game for a while, so you'll have to use your best judgement for that.

    All that I've listed is $744 off of Amazon. You can DEFINITELY find cheap used mics and the Bass DI. Look for Gear Talk: Classifieds on Facebook, for example. This is all stuff that you can use today to get your home studio off the ground and functional. You also have $256 to spend on other stuff that you might need (percussion, surdo, etc.)

    Logic and Pro Tools are built from the ground up to be recording suites. Ableton, while certainly being a live-sound-first option, works just fine. Nothing wrong with getting your feet wet using Ableton, and switching over to a bigger/better suite later. I recorded my first EP using GarageBand before making the transition myself.

    Start with the basics. Start with what you NEED to record, not what you want. While what you already have is basic and not feature packed, it works and will get you in the game. (Related: stay away from plugins until you know how to really mix well with the basic compressor and EQ your recording suite comes with.)

    Hope that helps!
u/Mad_Economist · 1 pointr/CabaloftheBuildsmiths

Oh! You don't need to wait on the other stuff - well, unless /u/DMZ_Dragon says to, but like, nothing on the audio side is contingent on the PC setup.

I'm presently slightly grappling with how the recording and monitoring should work here - on a PC, you'd just route the audio output through your audio interface and live monitor your recording audio through the same device. However, since you want to do voice coms over the console, you'll need to use an input that works with it - which will either be a console-compatible ADC (if these exist at all? I'm not sure if such a market exists) or the normal input.

For a headset with a mic and TRRS output - let's say as an example Kingston's HyperX Cloud, because that's a fairly reasonable headset that's a common pick - [you can just connect it directly to an Xbox one controller so long as it's CTIA, which it should be in 2019] (https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/wired-headset-help). This means you'll only be getting whatever audio the game outputs, however, and you won't be able to monitor your stream mic. [Here is a very rough paint sketch of how things connect in that case] (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/244316047258288128/602717684538540032/unknown.png).

Ideally, then, you'd want to connect your headset to your audio interface/your PC, monitor the game audio (so you can hear what's happening), but connect just its mic to the Xbox. From what I can tell, however - ex [Antlion's support page for their modmic] (https://antlionaudio.com/blogs/faqs/how-do-i-use-my-modmic-with-a-ps4-or-xbox-1) - it looks like normal TRS mic pinouts aren't compatible with the CTIA TRRS port on the Xbox controller (which makes sense). To get around this, you could use [a CTIA adapter] (https://antlionaudio.com/collections/accessories/products/antlion-audio-y-adapter) with just your mic plugged into it. [Here is another very rough paint sketch of how that connection would work] (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/244316047258288128/602718385351950347/unknown.png).

That there will be latency on the monitor audio is also a factor - that is, getting the audio output from your PC's monitoring of the recorded stream may introduce enough delay to be annoying to you. Only you'll be able to figure that one out, however, as I can't find much in the way of data on loopback time for this sort of chain - I recommend getting a headset with a TRRS output, however, to ensure that worst-case you can use the console normally.

Assuming you took my advice on that front, my recommendation would look something like the following:

Headset: A [Kingston HyperX Alpha] (https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Gaming-Headset/dp/B074NBSF9N/) for about $90 which is a pretty decent pair of headphones with a microphone for voice coms, good accessories, and a reasonable price. You can do better in audio fidelity, but given that you want a mic as well, you'd be paying more to do so and facing some somewhat kludge-y options for putting things together - if you do want to allocate more to headphones, just let me know. [This is the aforementioned splitter you'd need to plug the already-split mic output into] (https://antlionaudio.com/collections/accessories/products/antlion-audio-y-adapter).

Speakers: Either a pair of [JBL] (http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/) [305s] (https://www.amazon.com/JBL-LSR305-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=jbl%2Blsr305&qid=1563770412&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1-spons&th=1) for $260~ (also [cheaper] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/JBL/LSR305-Powered-Monitor-115397315.gc) [used] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/JBL/LSR305-Powered-Monitor-115397316.gc)) or a pair of [Behringer] (http://noaudiophile.com/Behringer_Truth_B2031A/) [B2030As] (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B2030A-High-Resolution-Reference-Monitor/dp/B000Q6EHA2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_267_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=P1M0M5HXNZ7C6A61SH0G) for about the same (as before [cheaper] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Behringer/Truth-B2031A-Powered-Monitor.gc) [used] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Behringer/Truth-B2031A-Powered-Monitor-115370730.gc) and you get the higher-end model as well) if you want higher output and waveguide/directivity quality is less significant to you. The JBLs, being rear-ported are better kept at least a moderate distance from the walls, whereas the Behringers are a bit larger and more cumbersome - I'd go the Behringer route myself, but there's something to be said for not buying from plagiarists.

Sub: [Dayton SUB-1200] (https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629?AID=1457483&PID=7112509&SID=45704X1167592Xb49ec94690de9baa7a1d4ac21fc74245&cjevent=f1446ac8ac0811e9805601c10a1c0e13) for $150. I'm historically a bit skeptical of cheap subs, but [Butterworth's Wirecutter review has in-room usable low-frequency output under CEA2010 standards being pretty decent] (https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-subwoofer/#how-we-tested). You might need a bit of EQ (shill for EQualizerAPO as an option there) to flatten in-room response, depending, but the sub seems like a damn decent value for the money.

The budget is a tad bit tight at this point (unless you choose to avail yourself of the used options on the speakers), so for the mic and audio interface I'm only going to throw out some used recs unless you'd specifically like to reconfigure on that front. For the interface, [this Presonus Audiobox] (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Presonus/Audiobox-USB-Audio-Interface-115552996.gc) should work (although Presonus' weird monitoring level knob always struck me as weird...), and an entry-level condenser mic like [this Audio-Technica AT2020] (https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUDIO-TECHNICA-AT2020-CARDIOID-CONDENSER-MICROPHONE-P48-PRO-COMPANY-CORD-2245/113826761993?hash=item1a809a8d09:g:ADIAAOSwCJ9dEBDw) would put you at or above the norm for professional streaming (seriously, why do so many professional streamers use headset mics??).

Depending on the calls you make there, that should sum nearish to 600, but there might be some slack - just wanted to throw this out now since it looks like you're holding off on buying parts on my account, which uh, please don't feel the need, we should be able to get things working with your PC audio wise regardless, so please proceed.

u/SoaDMTGguy · 2 pointsr/Metallica

Alright, here's what I've put together for you:

  1. Turntable: Rega P1 ~$450

  2. Speakers: JBL LSR308 - $500

  3. Phono Preamp: Pyle-Pro PP444 - $10.49

  4. Passive Preamp (volume control): Schiit Sys - $49

  5. RCA-to-XLR cable (to connect speakers) 10' - $9.50

    Total: $1,018.99


    Logic:


    Turntable:

    Rega turntables are some of the best in the world, and their quality extends all the way down the line. I have the step-up mode, the P3, and love it. $400 is roughly the entry point for a "good" turntable, which I think is a solid investment given your budget.

    Speakers

    The JBL LSR series is very well regarded on r/audiophile. They are generally considered to be the best powered monitors on the market. Being powered means you don't have to buy a separate amplifier, saving money. If you want to save some money, you can drop down to the LSR305, which has a smaller woofer. It will not have as much bass power as the 308, but it costs $200 less for the pair (NOTE: The Amazon link is for a single speaker, not a pair)

    Phono Preamp

    You'll need one of these, because the signal coming out of the tone arm on the turntable is very low voltage. The phono preamp brings it up to a level that is powerful enough to be amplified further by the speakers. You can spend more, but you don't need more than the Pyle (I have one at home that I'd honestly mail to you, but Amazon Prime is probably cheaper than the cost of shipping for me :P)

    Passive Preamp

    This is a volume knob and a input switch. That's all. Volume knob because the speakers have the volume knob on the back, and have separate knobs per speaker. Didn't think you'd want to mess with that. Two inputs so you can hook up your turntable and your computer, or your phone, etc.

    RCA-to-XLR cable

    Because the JBL monitors are targeted at pro recording studios, they use "balanced" XLR cables instead of traditional RCA. The reasons for doing so are irrelevant, but you will need an adapter cable.

    If that's too much money

    As I said earlier, you could drop down to the JBL LSR305 (again, link is a single speaker, not a pair). That would bring the total down to $818.99. If you wanted to save money, this is where I would do it.

    Another option is to switch turntables to the U-Turn Orbit. It starts at $179, but I'd definitely add the cue lever for $40. I wouldn't spend more on other options though, not worth the money. If you go this route, treat this turntable as your starter, then replace it later.

    If you tell me your local craigslist, I can look around and see if there are any good deals, but the above is going to be pretty hard to beat.

    By all means, feel free to ask me any and all questions. I love doing this kind of research for people, so it's no skin off my back. I want to make sure you enjoy Ride the Lightning in all it's rifftastic glory :D
u/proxpi · 7 pointsr/audioengineering

I'm going to assume you're talking about electric guitar, and you want to record on to your computer.

We'll go with the simplest/cheapest way (Note, you won't want to run an electric guitar directly into a computer, it'll generally sound like crap)

First off, you'll need a microphone. The Shure SM57 is an industry standard for recording many things, from guitar cabs to snare drums, and more. It's only $100, too! There's a knockoff of that mic, for half the price, that's supposed to be just as good (some people even prefer the sound), the GLS-57. Both of these mics are "dynamic" mics, and either of these mics will work.

You'll need to get a mic stand to place the mic in the proper position on the amp, which is a separate lesson in and of itself.

Next, you need a way to get the mic signal into your computer. The quickest, cheapest, but least featured way to do so would be something like the Blue Icicle. You would plug it into your computer, plug an XLR cable into it, and plug the mic into that cable.

For software, the most basic, and free software is Audacity. It really is pretty basic, but you can plug your stuff in, hit record, and it'll record. If you want something more powerful, check out Reaper. It's really good, and pretty cheap (and has a more or less unlimited trial period if you're that kind of person). It is somewhat complex though, and it'll take a decent amount of time to get comfortable with. If you have a Mac, Garage Band is just peachy.

inally, the last important part is hearing what you're recording. At the low-end, you're probably better off with headphones. I recommend either the Sennheiser HD280s or the less expensive Sony MDR-V6s (mostly identical to their professional MDR-7506s). If you want to get some actual monitors, check out the Behringer MS16s.

Unsurprisingly, you can spend a hell of a lot more money on any of these things. Feel free to ask any questions!

Bonus advice! If you want to record an acoustic guitar, instead of the SM57, you'd want to get a small diaphragm condenser (SDC) mic, like the MXL 603S.

u/Glasgow_Mega-Snake · 2 pointsr/audiophile

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.

u/Edgeward · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I've used Kontakt for some film scoring (I've dabbled in short film scoring) for its great third party plugins. Lots of nice stuff dedicated strictly to different genres and styles of film.
I'd definitely recommend it although it's sort of in the mid price range, you do get what you pay for.
In my opinion I think you're best off upgrading your DAW. For film scoring in particular, ProTools is industry standard and it works wonders and has a plethora of beautiful utilities with a buttload of support for it.
In my experience Ableton Live has worked great too if you're a little tight on the wallet. So you could pick that up for quite a bit cheaper and is still very good.

Ableton's layout and workflow works great for me personally, especially when it comes to the automation timeline, it's extremely easy to sync up any of your cues / effects and you can have the video play on it's own time line within the program.

As far as monitors go you're one hundred percent going to want to invest in a decent pair. Using headphones in place of monitors for mixing isn't ideal especially if you're soundtracking someone else's work.
There are many monitors you can easily afford with your budget that will be considerably better, if you decide to go with Ableton.

So just in my opinion, with your $1000 or so you'd be best off going with:

Ableton Live 9
Standard edition for about $160
or Suite edition (comes with more effects/instruments and features but not entirely necessary as you can buy those down the road)
for $400
-------------------
Pair of half decent monitors, KRK or Yamaha have some that are in the 160 - 250 price range.
I've linked to a pair on Amazon that I used to use that I really liked that are on for $300
KRK Rokit 5 Gen 3 - http://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00FX7MMRO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425278863&sr=8-1&keywords=krk+rokit
-----------------------------
If you opted for Ableton standard edition you should have some money left over to purchase Kontakt if you were still interested. Then pick up some third party plugins and samples along the way.

Hope that helps!

u/jejetteaway · 2 pointsr/reasoners

I have Reason 7 and a Mac Book (13 inch, non retina, 2012). Everything is just fine and projects from Reason 3 can be used with no problem.

When I was buying a Mac Book the retina was like $600 more than the base model so I went with that, and I'm glad I did. You don't need a retina display to make music.

Also I use an external display, so I never even open the Mac (actually I could probably have just bought a mac mini and it would be the same).

So, you're an engineer...be careful - just get a limited rig and then start making music. Do NOT start reading about everything that's available, your engineering brain will take over and you'll never get around to making music - instead you'll just fall into gear acquisition syndrome.

I would also advise getting the following:

A bluetooth Mac keyboard, a blue tooth mouse, and 4 or 8 rechargeable AA batteries (the batteries are key), and an external display.

For monitors a pair of Jbl LSR305. These seem to be the best "bang for your buck" monitors and in online reviews people will not shut up about how good they sound for $150. Avoid Rokits.

As for midi, I'd say get a good midi keyboard and a good set of drum pads. If you want cheap and easy I'd go for a nanoPad2
If you want something a bit more involved (and actually this is what you should get) go for the padKontrol

You'll need keys. Since you say you're a composer you'll need at least 49 keys (61 and 88 are obviously better, and best). When I was buying stuff the MPK49 was pretty much the best thing you could get (except for the pads). The MPK249 is coming out soon and supposedly has better pads, but we'll see.

And finally an audio interface. I have an Echo Audiofire4 which isn't made anymore (btw it's fucking awesome so if you can find one used, do it). It seems the focusrite 2i2 is the most popular choice among newbies...personally I'd go for something with more inputs. RME and MOTU seem to the best but you'll pay a lot more (though in the long run it's worth it).

I would also say, go slow. There are a ton of cheap midi controllers (like $50-$100) so just get one, see what you like and move on from there. DO NOT cheap out on your audio interface. Your audio interface is the most important part of the whole chain.

So, Reason 7 on a Mac and an external display/mouse/keyboard, some keys and pads, an audio interface, and a good pair of monitors and you're set.

Hope this helps.

u/DZCreeper · 2 pointsr/buildapc
That monitor is 144Hz stock, and it is overclocking up to 180Hz but not all panels may hit that speed. I recommend paying $20 more and getting a 1440p panel that is 144Hz stock but usually goes up to 165Hz.

R5 2600 is a $25 more and gives a nice performance bump.

That CPU cooler is overkill.

Get some faster memory for Ryzen.

The Crucial MX500 is a better value SSD.

Over $300 is too much for a GTX 1060 6GB.

You can get a fully modular and gold rated PSU for $5 more, that also has higher power quality.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor | $199.99 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler | CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler | $34.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | Gigabyte - X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING ATX AM4 Motherboard | $139.99 @ Amazon
Memory | Team - Dark 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory | $159.99 @ Newegg Business
Storage | Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $121.99 @ Newegg Marketplace
Storage | Seagate - BarraCuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $44.28 @ Amazon
Video Card | EVGA - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC GAMING Video Card | $299.99 @ Amazon
Case | NZXT - S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case | $69.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply | EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $69.99 @ Amazon
Monitor | Dell - S2417DG 23.8" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor | $369.95 @ Amazon
Keyboard | Corsair - K95 RGB PLATINUM Wired Gaming Keyboard | $169.99 @ Amazon
Mouse | Corsair - M65 PRO RGB FPS Wired Optical Mouse | $49.99 @ Amazon
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $1731.13
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-04-26 16:03 EDT-0400 |

Those Logitech speakers are junk, same with pretty much everything intended for PC use. Use some decent headphones or studio monitors. You get what you pay for with audio. Keep them a bit away from your wall and desk surface for best sound, this goes for all speakers.

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E - $100.

https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-Eris-E4-5-Powered-Monitors/dp/B00GP56OYA - $200.

https://www.amazon.com/JBL-2-Way-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC - $300 (you need 2)

/r/budgetaudiophile if you want more recommendations.
u/wi_2 · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I am no expert by any means, but even low end producer monitors will cost more than that.
There are some DJ monitors you can get for the money, which should be fine if you are just djing. But if you plan on making music, I'd suggest you way a bit and save up some money to get something like this
https://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00FX7MMRO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1479260183&sr=8-3&keywords=monitor+speakers

They are pretty common and loved as a beginner set of monitors.
Yamaha HS series is also much loved, an upgrade compared to the ones above if you ask me.

You will probably be better off getting some good 2nd hand speakers for now while you save up.

u/wolf39us · 1 pointr/audiophile

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
u/blackjakals · 1 pointr/ZReviews



I would say that the Klipsch is a lot better and worth the extra $216, but then again, you would also need an amp and that would cost you a lot more. You just need to really determine if you want to go the passive route and have the ability to upgrade more down the road or get a simple powered system that will work just fine for what you need and sounds great, but not have the ability to upgrade components.

​

Here a few good options in either category though that would fit your budget:

​

Passive Setup:

Speakers:

Fluance Signature - $269 CAD

Polk S20 - $350 CAD

Elac Debut B6.2 - $343 CAD

Elac Uni-Fi UB5 - $522 CAD (Considered to be just as good as the Klipsch RP-150M)

Klipsch RP-150M - $289 US (plus shipping and taxes to Canada [$unknown])

SVS Prime - $629 CAD (Can’t tell if this listing is for a pair)

Amps:

SMSL AD18 - $174 CAD

Yamaha RX-V385 - $279 CAD

Denon AVR-S540BT - $377 CAD

​

Powered Setup:

Fluance Ai40 - $225 CAD

Fluance Ai60 - $403 CAD

Edifier S2000 Pro - $500 CAD

Vanatoo Transparent Zero - $359 US (plus shipping and taxes to Canada [$unknown])

​

Studio Monitor Setup:

Monitors:

JBL 305P MKII - $440 CAD

Interfaces:

Behringer UMC202HD - $104 CAD

Focusrite Solo 3rd Gen - $159 CAD

Steinberg UR22MKII - $180 CAD

​

The studio monitor setup is one of my favorites. The JBL’s sound amazing on a desktop, but I would not get one without an audio interface with balanced inputs to help reduce noise.

u/applevinegar · 2 pointsr/audiophile

A chromecast audio is all you need for spotify.

Those are pretty good. To power them you'd need an amplifier, but for hip-hop, I'm sure some day you'll want to add a subwoofer, which would kinda force you to get a multichannel amp now (stereo amplifiers aren't able to divide the frequencies correctly between sub and speakers) and a beefy multichannel amp is going to cost you $400: if that's within your budget, then go for it. It's certainly the most convenient solution because an AV receiver allows you to connect anything you might get in the future: consoles, bluray players, chromecast video, turntable (for that you'll need a phono preamp though).

Otherwise I would recommend you something entirely different: 2x JBL LSR308s or Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: they go deeper than those B&Ws with a still great sound quality; and they're powered speakers, which means each has built in amplifiers, requiring no additional gear other than a volume controller for convenience. You would hook up the chromecast to the volume controller with the bundled 3.5mm cable and then run a pair of RCA to 6.3mm TS cables to the speakers, one for each. Done.

For the turntable, you'll eventually get a phono preamp with a switch and multiple inputs like this (but if I were you, I'd stick to digital music unless you inherit a collection).

With these a subwoofer would be less important (because again, they go deeper by themselves), but I'm sure you'd add one eventually: in that case you'd just have to make sure that the sub has high-pass filtered outputs (SVS subs do, for example, and they're good - a high pass filter ensures that the main speakers aren't goint to reproduce the same frequencies of the sub, improving their performance and eliminating the unwanted overlap) so that you could add it to the chain with ease (between volume controller and speakers).

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/buildapcsales

> A DAC/AMP recommendation would also be greatly appreciated, if it requires to fully utilize the headphones that you may recommend.

If you are hooking up directly to your desktop you won't need a DAC. For most headphones you won't need a amplifier either, especially in the <$150 range.

> I want to get myself some audiophile studio grade headphones and I have a budget of anywhere from $0-150

If you are recording anything with a mic while wearing headphones get the Beyerdynamic DT770 80 ohm. M50s are way too bass heavy and will make any mix come out sounding lean on other headphones (except perhaps Beats by Dre or Skullcandy). The DT770 is slightly V-shaped in sound, meaning the bass and treble are slightly accentuated over the mid-range, but this is pretty standard for a closed back headphone.

If you won't be recording anything through a mic while using these headphones get the Sennheiser HD579 or Sennheiser HD598. Either of these will be neutral with great comfort and detail.

The best mixing will always be done using studio monitors (typically 2 powered studio monitors) first, then tested with a nice pair of headphones, and finally a pair of Apple earbuds (if your mix sounds nice on those then they will sound fine on anything). I personally have a pair of JBL LSR305 and would highly recommend them for music listening, but would recommend the Yamaha HS5 for mixing since they are more neutral. If you decide to invest in a pair of studio monitors in the future you will need to hook them up to an audio interface, otherwise they will hiss at you. I use a Scarlett 2i2, but if you aren't using the XLR inputs for instruments/mic then any audio interface will do.

u/Blais_Of_Glory · 1 pointr/buildmeapc

You need WAY better peripherals!

Let's start with the audio. For speakers, you want to go with Micca MB42X (Amazon link) or the newer Micca PB42X (Amazon link). If you wanted to go even better, get the JBL LSR305 (Amazon link) or even the larger/better JBL LSR308 (Amazon link). For headphones, you want to go with Sennheiser PC 363D (Amazon link) for gaming or any of the Sennheiser HD headphones for music. You also will need a DAC for your audio so get a Schiit Modi 2 (Amazon link) or you could setup a Schiit stack which is a Schiit DAC like the Modi 2 and a Schiit amp like the Schiit Magni 2 (Amazon link. Do NOT buy any audio equipment made by a computer company. Buy from an audio company. You don't have to believe me, check out /r/BudgetAudiophile /r/Audiophile /r/Audio /r/Headphones.

For your monitor, you really want at least a 144 Hz 1440 monitor (preferably with G-Sync) since you have a nice GPU. I have the Asus - ROG SWIFT PG278Q 27.0" 2560x1440 144Hz Monitor. Any of these monitors would suit you. I'd recommend checking out the Asus - MG278Q 27.0" 2560x1440 144Hz Monitor.

For your keyboard and mouse, you don't want Razer. For your keyboard, you want a mechanical keyboard. I have a Corsair RGB K65, which isn't made anymore, now it's called a Vengeance K65 which has a Cherry MX Red switch. Figure out which switch would suit your style and go from there. If you aren't sure what the differences between switches are, check out The complete guide to mechanical keyboard switches for gaming and How to Choose the Best Mechanical Keyboard (and Why You'd Want To). Personally, I think the Cherry MX Red is a great all around switch. I use it for gaming and typing. Check out keyboards by good companies like Ducky. You can also check out /r/mechmarket /r/MechanicalKeyboards /r/keyboards. For your mouse, again, there are better mice out there than those by Razer. I use a Logitech G303 because I didn't want a mouse to have a million buttons that I could accidentally hit while gaming. The Logitech - G300S Wired Optical Mouse and the Corsair - KATAR Wired Optical Mouse look good.

Remember to always keep an eye on /r/buildapcsales.

Any other questions?

u/T7S · 1 pointr/audiophile

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.
u/shadfresh · 6 pointsr/electronicmusic

I have a few recommendations for you to get you started:

  1. This book: Music Theory for The Computer Musician , it's a great way to start off if you're unfamiliar with music theory. It gives you the basics and foundation of theory and while showing you how to apply it to various DAWs. It's a fairly easy read and there are quizzes and a CD with examples from the lessons. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

  2. Here are some good subreddits:
    /r/edmproduction/
    /r/WeAreTheMusicMakers/
    /r/abletonlive/

  3. As others have mentioned, there are no shortage of resources online. There's tons of Youtube videos and forums where you can find tutorials.

  4. I also recommend listening/reading up on different types of EDM to give yourself a better understanding of what differentiates each genre. For example, check out the "House Music" wiki. Look at the description and try to understand what the "elements" of House music are: Rhythm structure, characteristic sounds, etc.. Do that for the genres you like first, and then venture to others you may not be familiar with.

  5. Lastly, if you're serious about it, stick with it. Just like anything, the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. Also, keep in mind it's not a cheap hobby or easy (time wise). You can do a lot of basic stuff with you Macbook and Logic (or whatever DAW you prefer) to get yourself started. I would hold off buying much hardware until you are comfortable with basics. If anything I would start off with some headphone and speaker monitors. (the links are to what I'm using and recommend to get started).


    I hope at least some of that is helpful...Good luck with everything!
u/ImaginaryCheetah · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

one stop solution :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-R1280DB-Bookshelf-Bluetooth-connections/dp/B01NCTNZRC/ £119.00

i haven't heard Edifier equipment, but their stuff is well reviewed on amazon.

​

two step solution:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-Eris-E4-5-4-5-inch-High-Definition/dp/B00GP56OYA/ £139.00

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Streaming-Wireless-Receiver-Speakers/dp/B01CZVCYU0/ £19.50

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobsound-MC403-Mini-Bluetooth-Amplifier-4-0-Receiver-Black/dp/B07CHHN9MF/ £54.50

i have Eris e3.5's and they're great. the 4.5's will easily fill your room.

there may be better / cheaper audio source selectors w/blue tooth.

i'm not sure what connection option you mean when you say play using your phone.

with the nobsound selector you can plug your HA into one of the input ports, if your HA has an audio out option?

​

you could go passive speakers w/a small receiver

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wharfedale-9-1-Diamond/dp/B002WJAQY2/

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabaj-Bluetooth-Optical-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B01N10PF4B/

u/Graceful_cumartist · 1 pointr/vinyl

I suggest the Pro-ject pre amp

For speakers I don't know, I have a pair of Audio Pro addon t8's but they seem to be way pricier in US. Basically anything that fits your budget and has gotten favorable review usually is enough to get a nice sound out of your TT.

If you want to save a bit on the pre amp then you might wanna take a look at TCC TC-750, that would also do the trick, it is now for a pretty reasonable reduced price so be quick.

Speakers that I can recommend without a reservation would be these audio engine A2+. They are solid small powered speakers that would do your vinyls justice.

All together the TCC 750 with the A2+ now add up just shy of 300. This would be setup that with your TT will go a long way before a need to upgrade although I would add a sub when you get the chance.

If you want to save more, you could go for these Mackie CR4 but you can't add a powered sub to these, use them for your PC trough USB and don't have an option to add wireless support later. So it comes with a lack of features.

u/KodenSounds · 1 pointr/edmproduction

Sorry for the late reply, I missed the notification.
Those videos were great. Christ I didn't realise how much of a difference it can make.

http://imgur.com/a/QM714 <-- this is a floor plan I've drawn of my room. It's a pretty big room I'd say; for sizes I'd say from door to window (straight line) is about 4m. Height at tallest point is about 2.5-3m. I can't get pictures of the actual room because it's at uni and I'm home now so this'll have to do. Windows are right next to mixing area basically...
I mostly make melodic electronic stuff but with quite a lot of sampled instruments (Kontakt 5). Distance from window/wall can change a little but the monitors themselves probably can't be further than two to three feet away. I still don't fully understand porting but I think I remember me deciding front was better for my setup (although I would love it was explained fully :)

My budget (including audio interface because I have a shit laptop sound card) is around £350-£400 tops. I'm currently looking at the M-audio BX8 D2s for monitors and the M audio M-track 2x2s Is 8inch too big? It is bedroom producing, but I have a decent-ish size bedroom (for England)

Hope that's everything. Thanks so much for your help :)

Edit: room size changes

u/nicklePie · 1 pointr/audiophile

interesting. okay, i'm going to continue doing research but between these two JBLs, would you go with the monitors?

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-3-Way-6-Inch-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B000FYZARY/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header (i've been liking all the reviews on these, but I can't find anything about them on stereophile, this board, or any respected audiophile boards. but all customer reviews seem very positive. do you know anything about them?)

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR308-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00E8CEW7I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TB324VGQQF2BYRQ5K21


and thank you so much for your help, i really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me.

u/Reigamortis_music · 2 pointsr/DJs

I really enjoy the sound quality in the Behringer B2031A monitors. They sound awesome, are great to dj at home with as well as a house party. My friend has a set of these in his studio for all of his live streams/ rehearsing sets. We both love them!

You can grab a them here!

6inch model

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000Q6EHA2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sydneyrae-20&camp=15121&creative=330641&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000Q6EHA2&linkId=b37d06c4ad717ab06b5de6cb306d5645

8inch model

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0002MRCLQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sydneyrae-20&camp=15121&creative=330641&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0002MRCLQ&linkId=bddaeef8b0110c17f7b96271bed631e9

​

Or if you are willing to spend a little bit more per speaker the Yamaha Hs5's are also a good choice, Especially for house parties. Here is a link for those as well..... NOTE these are 40$ off right now with this link!

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00CFOX420/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sydneyrae-20&camp=15121&creative=330641&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00CFOX420&linkId=80babb6f654b8d285db317efc1709ce4

u/laydros · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Samson makes some desktop monitors that feature bluetooth input. I haven't really seen any reviews for them yet. The MediaOne

Take a look at reviews for those and get at least the 4" ones. I can't expect the 3" ones would have much bass response.

Everything else listed lacks bluetooth, but you could add a standalone bluetooth reciever to any of them.

The M-Audio AV-40s get good reviews, and the Wirecutter calls them the best computer speakers.

Those are active monitors. They will be good for near field, and the amp inside them is designed with the speakers.

If you go passive plus amp you can upgrade components down the road. Maybe get the Micca MB42X and a Topping TP20, or find a good reciever (70s Kenwood, Pioneer, Marantz, Teac, Technics, etc. are great) for super cheap (0-$20) at a yard sale or thrift store or craigslist and get the Panasonic SP-BS22

u/SeaBroom · 0 pointsr/audiophile

Oh wise audiophiles,

Forgive me in advance for any ignorance, this is going to be my entry-level purchase into the hifi world. This is not necessarily a 'puchasing advice' inquiry, but more of a knowledge inquiry on what I need to power my setup. I'm looking at buying KRK Rokit 5 G3s and the Beyerdynamic DT770 250 ohms purely for near-field music listening (no producing, mixing, DJing, etc.) at my PC. I was recently gifted the Xonar DX 7.1 PCI sound card for my rig which I believe is a sufficient DAC for Rokit 5s (correct me if I'm wrong), but I'm unsure if I'm losing some quality by hooking my monitors in with an unbalanced line via an XLR or 1/4" TRS to 1/8" TRS. Further to that, the Xonar DX does not split to mono inputs so I would need an adapter to plugin directly to my soundcard. I do enjoy having an external interface to control my sound devices and a friend suggested I buy a mixer such as the Behringer XNYEX502 as another possibility.

First question: is it worth buying an external DAC/mixer for my Rokit 5s compared to using only a Xonar DX soundcard?

I also understand that they DT770s need an amplifier to be properly used. The recommendations I've researched typically consist of the fiio portable headphone amplifier series or the O2/ODAC JDS Labs combo. I do not need a portable amplifier as these headphones will live at my station and I have separate headphones for portability. The O2/ODAC combo sounds like a great piece of hardware, but at $279, they greatly exceed the price of my DT770s.

Second question: Are there other solutions that I can look into that aren't portable or expensive?

If the O2/ODAC combo is recommended and is worth the price in combination with the DT770s, then I'm perfectly fine making the purchase. Just want to be sure it's not overkill.

Now for the (longshot) third question: Since I'm potentially looking into both a DAC and a headphone amplifier, is there a piece of hardware that can satisfy both in one tool? Seems like I could find a way of mitigating the cost by purchasing a device that could be both a DAC/mixer for my Rokit 5s and a headphone amplifier for my DT770s. If not, is there a stack I could purchase that have similar designs that would look aesthetically pleasing on my station (I'm a fan of clean looking and matching hardware)?

Again, sorry for any groans I may have caused and thank you in advance for your expertise.

u/gomanio · 9 pointsr/pcmasterrace

these mackies are at your limit but they're gorgeous, I use the CR4's(same thing slightly larger) Good balance and clarity, and surprisingly good bass, though you won't get the pounding bass a sub will provide. I feel like that is not a big deal, I get plenty off these speakers for enjoyable movie, gaming and music.

One of my favorite features, they're reversible, you can set them up in either orientation both speakers can serve as a left or right speaker via a small switch on the back.

u/kiwiandapple · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor | $569.99 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler | Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler | $92.99 @ NCIX US
Motherboard | Asus Rampage IV Black Edition EATX LGA2011 Motherboard | $474.98 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | G.Skill Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $164.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $212.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $69.99 @ NCIX US
Video Card | XFX Radeon R9 290X 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) | $489.99 @ Newegg
Video Card | XFX Radeon R9 290X 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) | $489.99 @ Newegg
Case | Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case | $99.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA 1000G2 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $139.99 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
Monitor | Asus PB278Q 27.0" Monitor | $479.99 @ NCIX US
Monitor | Dell P2314H 60Hz 23.0" Monitor | $184.87 @ B&H
Case Fan | be quiet! Pure Wings 2 51.4 CFM 120mm Fan | $11.99 @ NCIX US
Case Fan | be quiet! Pure Wings 2 51.4 CFM 120mm Fan | $11.99 @ NCIX US
Case Fan | be quiet! Pure Wings 2 51.4 CFM 120mm Fan | $11.99 @ NCIX US
Case Fan | be quiet! SilentWings 2 50.5 CFM 120mm Fan | $24.99 @ NCIX US
Case Fan | be quiet! SilentWings 2 50.5 CFM 120mm Fan | $24.99 @ NCIX US
Keyboard | Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard | $91.24 @ Amazon
Mouse | Logitech G400s Wired Optical Mouse | $47.72 @ NCIX US
Mousepad| SteelSeries QcK Mass Mousepad| $12.00 @ Amazon
Headphones | Audio-Technica ATH-AD900x Headphones | $189.49 @ Amazon
Speakers| M-Audio AV30| $80.00 @ Amazon

| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $4067.13
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-23 03:11 EDT-0400 |

My small rationale why I went for these products.

CPU: Beast of a CPU. 6 core, 12 threads. Overclockable. A lot of PCI-E lanes. Meaning your 2 cards will run at 16/16x speeds.
CPU Cooler: Corsair makes great AIO coolers, this one will do just fine. If you replace the stock fans, wich are very loud.
Motherboard: Yes, this is something I often refuse to do. But I did it because budget just doesn't mather and you want to have a motherboard that will work. it's looks amazing, it will work amazing. It got one of the best on board audio that you can get right now. And supports 16/16x PCI-E for the 2 GPUs.
Memory: G.skill makes awesome RAM. RAM is RAM and this one looks great. It are guns! I mean, this is gaming as hell?! No it's not, it performs just as good as any other RAM.
Storage: 500GB SSD of a brand I trust. 2TB HDD as you asked for.
Video Card: 2 R9-290X in 16/16x will give you absolutely amazing fps on 1440p for quite a while.
Case: Aside from case labs. There aren't many case manufactuers that get close to this level of awesomeness. Here is a video that will show you why it's amazing.
Case fans: Place 2 Pure wings in the front as intake, 1 in the rear as intake. Then place the 2 SilentWings on the H100i in push as exhaust.
Power Supply: Went with a 1000W, 80+ gold, full modulair (black cables) & 10 year warrenty. This is a very solid PSU and will deliver more then enough power for the whole system under heavy load.
OS: Windows 8.1 as requested.
Monitor: So I went for a 2560x1440p monitor with an 1920x1080p monitor. This is my current setup and I love it. I use the 1440p for gaming. While I use the 1080p in potrait mode to browse forums, reddit, etc.

Peripherals are all very hard to suggest, if we don't have enough information. So I picked the ones that I find will work in most cases.
But there are a lot of things we need to know before we can suggest the right setup. But anyway, here is the list. No I won't explain to much why I picked them. I did went for these because I think they will work for "most" people. But if you got the time to answer the questions, I will have a better idea if my suggestion will work for you.

Mouse: How do you grip the mouse? How many buttons do you want? I personally use 0 when I play any game.
Keyboard: I recommend to go read about Mechanical Keyboards switch types first. Then after you know wich switch would be for you, you can give me that information. Then my other questions would be, do you want a TenKeyLess? Basicly numpadless keyboard. If you don't, do you want any "macro keys"? This can be helpful in some games, but in my personal experience I never used them when gaming. Only for some text macro's, push to talk, screenshot and other stuff. But not really to use while fighting a boss or anything.
Headphones/Speakers: What music do you listen? Where will you sit when using the headphones, will it be in a loud room? Will you be on your own? Do you need a microphone?

###If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
u/state_verified_jew · 1 pointr/audiophile
  1. £200-300 (UK Based)
  2. Pair of monitors that sound clean, but aren't harsh to listen to. I won't be producing music so I'll take softer sound over clarity (but clarity is still important - as you all know!)
  3. Speakers will be on my desk so pretty near to me. 45cm maybe?
  4. Own a pair of M1 Active monitors but one is broken.
  5. Source will be my computer.
  6. It will be used for all sorts of computer-related things, but music is by far of priority. I listen to mainly electronic music (dubstep, techno, drum and bass) so I want those to sound good, but I do listen to every sort of genre so I wouldn't want MEGA BASS heavy monitors really.
  7. I would preferably like to buy new, and from www.amazon.co.uk

    I checked out the JBL LSR305's as recommended in the stickied thread, but they are £177 for a single monitor, which is a little out of my price range.

    My friend is a sound engineer, he owns and recommends these M-Audio BX8 D2's, what do you think? I also noticed there is a BX8 D3 version - which seemingly is the latest version, for £40 less too. My friend says he remembers seeing reviews saying they're not so good, but I can't find any comparisons.

u/Yupyupokherewego · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

bass isnt thumping or anything but it is quite balanced, and will provide a realistic audio experience. Not gonna shake your whole living room like a real subwoofer but for just casual pc gaming, theyre pretty decent. Otherwise, invest in a pair of studio monitors, which can be pretty cheap for an ok pair and will provide great sound. The actual woofer is larger than most subwoofers on those so they can provide a great range. http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1450658928&sr=1-1

u/living_in_the_future · 3 pointsr/AskBattlestations

Hmm, for $150 I would consider a couple of things.

Perhaps an articulating mount such as the ergotrong: http://www.amazon.com/LX-Desk-Mount-LCD-Arm/dp/B00358RIRC

It clears up desk space and gives your monitor a really cool look as if it is floating. You can easily switch between portrait and landscape and landscape as well. I know some people would immediately dismiss spending so much on a mount, but once you use one you'll see that they are worth their weight in gold.

Another option would be new speakers. Something like these M-audio speakers would be light years ahead of those stock dells: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Powered-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341771746&sr=1-1&keywords=swan+m10

They would be visually much more impressive than the Dells while being much better for music a gaming as well.


I agree with urkiburki, cable management is a great place to start.

u/TactFully · 1 pointr/buildapc

Unfortunately £100 is just around the lower limit of the very-entry level, not really mid-range if we're going to be honest.

The easy solution is M-audio AV-40s. They are 'powered monitors' so the amplifier is inside, all you have to do is feed them signal.

Alternatively, you could go for "passive" bookshelf loudspeakers and an amplifier. The advantage to this route is that you can upgrade the speakers or amp separately (edit: also each individual component is probably at least a bit better than the av40s, and if anything ever fails it can be replaced separately; it's just more flexible overall). There's some extra work involved but it's not difficult..

These Wharfedale 9.0 should be good for the price (the Diamond 9.1 were reviewed by Stereophile and they measure well for the price).

You'll need an amp, speaker wire, and some banana plugs are helpful. Oh, and probably a 3.5mm stereo to 2RCA cable to connect your 3.5mm source(s) to the amp.

How much better are either of these compared to tiny computer speakers like Logitech or Creative etc.? Much better.

u/TrueDiligence · 1 pointr/battlestations

I would recommend staying away from audioengine, there are better options for the price.

$120 - Micca PB42x: These will sounds better than the Audioengine A2+R, but the build quality is not the greatest. These are 'the baseline' for cheap speakers that sound decent.

$200 - PreSonus Eris 4.5: These will provide more bass and sound better overall than the Audioengine A2+R. Build quality is very good on these as well.

$283 - JBL LSR305 + $120 - Scarlett 2i2 + $16 - 2x(XLR to TRS cable): This setup is amazing for the cost. I have been using the JBL LSR305 for quite a while now and they never disappoint. I've heard better, but those speakers are way more expensive. These can be connected directly to your computer through a 2xTRS to 1/8" cable, but I don't recommend it. When I tried that the speakers produced a terrible hissing noise. I recommend the Scarlett 2i2 over other audio interfaces due to its reliability, balanced speaker outs, and great mic pre-amps if you ever decide to get a XLR mic down the road. The cables are needed to connect the speakers to the interface.

u/cunningwatermelon · 2 pointsr/skyrimmods

Sorry for the delayed response: Yeah, step one is to usually invest in a decent cardioid mic and an audio input. Here are the ones I'd recommend for getting started. Good enough quality to be just under professional tier, though capable of producing professional quality sound, but not so expensive as to offer you features you don't need for years to come:
Mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QAUOKS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Audio Interface (to be able to plug that or any other professional mic into [XLR input]): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this is optional but can be helpful to understand the true sound of your recordings, monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QVMBT9/ref=twister_B07NDRK282?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
(either the 3.5 or 4.5 would be totally fine)

Aside from t hose t hings, the only other things you'd need to get set up would be soundproofing foam, either putting panels up around your space, or around the mic itself. Conversely, you could set up inside a closet full of clothes and accomplish the same task for free, cable length and space permitting.

Good luck!

u/kevintorrefiel · 1 pointr/audiophile

~~I'm looking around the internet for studio monitors, not sure if I'm buying yet, so any help would be appreciated. A few things:

  1. Budget is 200 and below. the cheaper the better.

  2. Looking for decent studio monitors. If a computer speaker will do the same or better job, i can deal.

  3. I'll be using them pretty close to me. arms length since i don't really have anywhere else to put them in my college apartment.
  4. No gear, really. I own a pair of Marshall headphones that do the job for casual listening (be warned, glasses users, they aren't very comfortable) and I use a small guitar amp for any listening that isn't off my headphones.
  5. My source is my computer. that's it. I don't have a preamp or anything like that.
  6. I'll be using it for casual listening, some gaming, and producing my own music. As far as what kind of music i listen to, i honestly listen to most everything from electronic, indie rock, rap, jazz, you name it. but not country or dubstep. (sorry...)
  7. Not really interested in buying used right now, sorry.

    I've got my eye one a few cheaply priced options listed here:

    1. Presonus Eris E4.5 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor
    http://www.amazon.com/Presonus-Eris-E4-5-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00EZ1VAMC/ref=sr_1_9?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1422139215&sr=1-9#customerReviews

    2. BEHRINGER MONITOR SPEAKERS MS16
    http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-MS16-BEHRINGER-MONITOR-SPEAKERS/dp/B00181T20O/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t

    3. M-Audio AV 40
    http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AV40

    thanks in advance for any help! truly appreciate it. If you want to listen to what i make, i have a soundcloud and an ep out right now so pm me for that...although the mixing is probably shit cause i'm super new to this 8)~~

    edits: for formatting issues

    Nevermind, i'm just going to get m-audio av40s. 8) Although, new question, would i need a sub with it to get decent bass or will it be fine on it's own?
u/SchroedingersHat · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Another great option is these (nb I think that's an amazon referral link from noaudiophile. I have no association, but he provides an excellent service. I'd recommend reading his reviews for entertainment as much as information). Also note that is the price for one speaker.

Excellent bass (and everything else) for a bookshelf speaker. Note that they are active so you lose some of the benefits of buying passive speakers, but I also don't think you'd want to change or anything.

u/Aranace · 1 pointr/buildmeapc
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor | $199.88 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | Gigabyte - X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING ATX AM4 Motherboard | $139.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory | $209.95 @ Amazon
Storage | Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $99.99 @ Samsung
Storage | Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $59.79 @ OutletPC
Video Card | EVGA - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card | $189.99 @ B&H
Case | NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply | EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $53.98 @ Newegg
Monitor | LG - 24UD58-B 23.8" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor | $270.88 @ Amazon
Keyboard | Corsair - STRAFE Wired Gaming Keyboard | $69.99 @ Amazon
Mouse | Logitech - G502 Proteus Spectrum Wired Optical Mouse | $49.99 @ Amazon
Speakers | Logitech - Z323 30W 2.1ch Speakers | $44.97 @ Amazon
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1489.39
| Mail-in rebates | -$40.00
| Total | $1449.39
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-05-02 13:59 EDT-0400 |

I bumped it up a little to do a little future proofing. This should be able to handle everything you need; games at 4k Ultra Settings @60+fps and some busy FL Studio files. If you wanted to come in cheaper, I would search for a different monitor (unless you are committed to 4k, you could easily save $200 here to just go with 1080p), drop to 2x4GB RAM instead of 2x8GB (If you have LARGE files on FL Studio, you MIGHT need 16GB; dropping would save around $60), and you could probably even get away with the 2GB 1050 instead of the 4GB (would save you $50).

As for the keyboard/mice/speakers. I'm a snob about speakers and don't care for mice and keyboards. I would rather do some nice headphones and cheaper/basic mice/keyboard.

# EDIT:

I double backed, removed the peripherals and doubled down on some other things. If you truly want a machine that works for both, I would recommend adding some nice Studio Monitors, Open Back Headphones, a Mechanical Keyboard, and then a basic mouse with a few bells and whistles.

I really like this combo Ryzen + Mobo. There is also a Ryzen 2700 variant too if you do want to go all the way with the CPU. Again I'll say you could do 2x4GB RAM and not notice any issues.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor | $199.88 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | MSI - B350 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard | $77.39 @ Newegg Business
Memory | G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory | $209.95 @ Amazon
Storage | Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $99.99 @ Samsung
Storage | Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $59.79 @ OutletPC
Video Card | EVGA - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 3.0 Video Card | $229.72 @ OutletPC
Case | NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply | SeaSonic - Platinum 400W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply | $95.64 @ Newegg Business
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1072.35
| Mail-in rebates | -$40.00
| Total | $1032.35
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-05-02 23:32 EDT-0400 |
u/ZGriswold · 1 pointr/audiophile

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.

u/Daynebutter · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey guys, my old set of Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers just died. I've been out of the loop on speaker technology for a while so I need some advice. I don't do production and I only play games and listen to music, but I do enjoy good quality sound. I also enjoy bass but I could never use the Klipsch at full capacity or it would blow out my eardrums lol. These speakers would be on a desktop, and I'd say my budget is $200 but I'll splurge a little more if the product is worth a premium.

That said, it seems like another set of Promedia's or the Logitech Z623 are the popular gamer choices, but then I looked deeper and saw that some users recommend powered speakers instead.

I'm not really sure where to start with those, but below are some recommendations based on what I've researched. How could I compare these speakers apples to apples? I'm a noob when it comes to audio knowledge.

M-Audio AV42 (Couldn't find AV40 in stock):

https://us.amazon.com/M-Audio-Reference-Speakers-Professional-Immersive/dp/B00X741TB0/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

M-Audio BX5 D3

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-BX5-D3-Production-Recording/dp/B01J66YEU0/ref=pd_sbs_147_img_0/132-9931273-2241557?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J66YEU0&pd_rd_r=a50dceed-5410-46e7-b3cb-7bc6bdce1686&pd_rd_w=01y28&pd_rd_wg=BjCZY&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=Q2B9PDF9JMV364Q4W38E&psc=1&refRID=Q2B9PDF9JMV364Q4W38E

PreSonus Eris E4.5

https://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-BX5-D3-Production-Recording/dp/B01J66YEU0/ref=pd_sbs_147_img_0/132-9931273-2241557?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J66YEU0&pd_rd_r=a50dceed-5410-46e7-b3cb-7bc6bdce1686&pd_rd_w=01y28&pd_rd_wg=BjCZY&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=Q2B9PDF9JMV364Q4W38E&psc=1&refRID=Q2B9PDF9JMV364Q4W38E

u/ctfrommn · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

£50 wont get you anything but low end PC speakers. If you can get up to the £75-100 range there are some options.

The best Ive seen in the UK for ~£50-ish would be.....

Edifier R1010BT - refurbished

Creative T20 - actually pretty good sounding PC speakers, but not like real powered bookshelves.

Options improve with the next tier up. Honestly anything under $100 new isnt going to sound great, in most cases.

u/BeardedAlbatross · 5 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Alright, your TV has RCA outputs and the option of fixed or variable output through there. If you wanted you could just grab two JBL LSR305 and connect them with RCA to TRS cables. Probably $450 total but would sound much better than the miccas. Go into your TV audio settings and select variable audio out. This way you can change volume through your TV remote. Just set the amp on the back of the JBL speakers to 8 or so and never touch them again.

If you want to go the passive speaker route for upgradability then you can grab a stereo receiver like this Yamaha for $200. Just plug your TV in with RCA cables. This allows you to spend an extra $100 on speakers. You'll save even more money if you look through your local listings for a used receiver. If you like the Klipsch sound you can go for these. Otherwise look through your local listing for a good tower speaker that you can afford. I was going to recommend the Pioneer FS52 but a pair of those would go over your budget. You can try pairing them with a cheap SMSL amp, but I would be worried they would distort a tad early.

The best sounding setup out of the box would be the JBL LSR305, but it's also the least upgradeable setup.

u/urgentmonkeyiii · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

The yamaha hs50m are a great pair and there is a difference between them, but not too noticeable for small bedroom producers, but you can find a pair pretty cheaply on juno.co.uk or ebay, but you can also look at the JBL 305, they are better than the hs5 or hs50m and are far cheaper. The yamaha's are good, certainly the hs7, but they are very expensive as your are paying for the company and the aesthetics, (from the legendary NS10s). The hs5 are missing bass and you would need a subwoofer depending on the music you produce, whilst jbl have a really good bass for the price.
Also, check the closest guitar center or shop with studio monitors you can try, and test the ones you are interested in and see from their. Also a good thing to note that the jbl 305s are compared to the hs7's.

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/yamaha-hs5-powered-studio-monitor-speakers-black/493243-01/

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-Monitor-Interfaces-Laptops/dp/B00JFN3KLY/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1456837997&sr=1-2&keywords=jbl+305+pair

u/BobaFettThicc · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Ok.

If you want to pursue good audio I recommended the PreSonus Eris 3.5, they are good budget studio monitors. For headphones, I would recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm version. These are very good headphones for the price. Then I would pair the Beyerdynamic headphones with a good Audio Interface like Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) it's a good budget audio interface that doesn't break the bank. For a microphone, a Blue Yeti USB mic will do well. However, if you want an XLR microphone, which is better btw. A well-rounded XLR microphone is the Audio-Tecnica AT2020.

u/Drekavac_6 · 1 pointr/buildmeapc
Right now, prebuilt is probably your best option. The - wait till GPU prices go down - is pretty rough because there is no way to predict when the shortage will be done. However, if you really want to get into PC building, you can set up alerts on nowinstock.net to catch GPUs at MSRP. Since you're brand new at this I'll assume you need keeb, mouse, monitor, speakers (I'd recommend a decent entry level headset over speakers) included in the budget. Here is an alright prebuilt option for 1440p gaming: HP Omen and a 1440p monitor. Also I'd strongly recommend picking up an SSD to switch windows over to and keep your games on the stock hard drive.


If you are ok with being patient and putting in some work to catch GPUs in stock I'd go with the below. Went with a non overclockable CPU since its your first time and I'm assuming it is a gaming focused build. If you also wanted to get into streaming I'd switch to an [AMD 1600])https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mV98TW/amd-ryzen-5-1600-32ghz-6-core-processor-yd1600bbaebox) and the Asrock b350 pro4 motherboard. Went with a 1440p monitor because of the price range but you could also go with a high refresh rate 1080p(I personally would go with the 1440p option for the IPS panel's better colors since there are only TN panel 144hz 1080p panels) but that is down to personal preference. As far as Windows goes, Paul's Hardware on youtube did a good video on that subject - just search his name + windows. EDIT: monitor in this list has speakers that can get ya by watching youtube or whatever, headphones are waaayy better for gaming tho - But if you must have speakers - I'd probably go with the Mackie CR3's or the Logitech z623

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor | $189.87 @ OutletPC
CPU Cooler | CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler | $34.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | ASRock - Z370 Pro4 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $127.88 @ OutletPC
Memory | G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory | $169.99 @ Newegg
Storage | SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $74.40 @ OutletPC
Storage | Seagate - Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $59.79 @ OutletPC
Video Card | EVGA - GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB Video Card | $450.00
Case | Fractal Design - Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case | $86.99 @ SuperBiiz
Power Supply | EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $106.88 @ OutletPC
Monitor | BenQ - GW2765HT 27.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor | $299.00 @ Amazon
Keyboard | Corsair - K66 Wired Gaming Keyboard | $59.99 @ Amazon
Mouse | SteelSeries - Rival 310 Wired Optical Mouse | $54.89 @ Amazon
Headphones | Kingston - HyperX Cloud II 7.1 Channel Headset | $92.00 @ Newegg Marketplace
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $1806.67
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-08 18:56 EST-0500 |
u/Bach77 · 1 pointr/audiophile
  • Thanks Tom, that is helpful.
  • I am based in Spain, but I'll probably buy online from Amazon.es or Thomann.de (because local stores carry little stock and have no listening room or anything like that while background noise is generally too loud). If I buy online, I can try them out at home (and return them if I am not satisfied). I can even order multiple sets and only keep the winner). The problem is, of course, that I do not even know what candidate system(s) I should order...
  • When you say 'with an integrated amplifier', do you mean so-called 'active speakers', with an amplifier in every speaker? So, no separate amplifier needed? Does that also imply that they are wireless? How would I connect the iPod (old clickwheel type, without wifi or Bluetooth) to such speakers? Should I get a more modern iPod/iPhone?
  • It should not be bass-heavy of course, but I would appreciate sufficient bass (for contrabasses and so on to really kick in when they do). So floorstanding or bookshelf+woofer seems to be the route to go.
  • Could you recommend any types/brands/models? (I would rather opt for 'proven success' than 'latest'.)
  • How about the JBL LSR 305 that is 'recommended' in the purchase thread (without amplifier, suggesting they are active?)? On Amazon, I get two hits, both saying it concerns a studio monitor, but one is just the speaker cab, and the other seems to be some kind of bundle with an EON? See the links:
  • https://www.amazon.es/JBL-LSR305-Monitor-de-estudio/dp/B00DUKP37C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467138541&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+lsr305
  • https://www.amazon.es/Jbl-LSR305-monitor-estudio-biamplificado/dp/B00TZW9BJK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467138541&sr=8-3&keywords=jbl+lsr305
  • Not saying this should be it, but if this is good, really good, it seems a bargain.
  • Kind regards,
  • Ruud
u/Anergos · 1 pointr/buildapcforme
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor | £233.94 @ Scan.co.uk
Motherboard | MSI H97 Guard-Pro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard | £76.34 @ Amazon UK
Memory | Mushkin Blackline 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory | £120.64 @ CCL Computers
Storage | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | £90.00 @ Aria PC
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | £53.94 @ Aria PC
Video Card | Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card | £103.99 @ Amazon UK
Case | Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case | £69.99 @ Ebuyer
Power Supply | Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | £46.43 @ CCL Computers
Optical Drive | Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer | £10.46 @ Aria PC
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) | £69.99 @ Ebuyer
Monitor | BenQ GW2765HT 60Hz 27.0" Monitor | £294.01 @ Amazon UK
Keyboard | Logitech K120 - UK Layout Wired Standard Keyboard | £9.13 @ Amazon UK
Mouse | Asus UX300 Wired Optical Mouse | £21.04 @ Amazon UK
Speakers| Behringer MS16 Personal Monitor System| £49.08 @ Amazon.co.uk
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | £1248.98
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-31 19:13 GMT+0000 |

CPU: Intel's i7 at 3.6GHz. You will gain from the extra 4 threads, the budget was not enough to get the 5320k which is a 6core/12thread beast.

Motherboard: Relatively high end H97. Has a displayport output, we'll talk about that in a minute.

RAM: 16GB of fast RAM

Storage: 250GB of SSD and 2 TB mechanical.

Graphics: I've added a 750ti 2GB just in case you use CUDA in Premiere. If you don't have a use for it, you may remove it and save some budget. I've taken care to selecting a motherboard with displayport to support the 2560x1440 monitor.

Case: Great case with support for many drives. Looks modern and will fit any working environment.

PSU: Corsair's 450W gold rated CSM PSU.

Optical: Some people still use it.

O/S: Windows 7 as per your request.

Monitor: Good 27" 2560x1440 monitor. AH-VA panel. Has built-in speakers, will come back to that in a moment.

Keyboard/Mouse: Good budget keyboard with a decent mouse.

Speakers: I do not know the requirements of your work. I've fitted the best speaker set I could get with the rest of the budget. It's out of stock at the moment, but the monitor has built-in speakers to use till they restock. If you don't really care about that and simply want a typical set of speakers that will just do their job, add the logitech Z130 which sell for 15.14 pounds of off amazon.co.uk.

------------

>If you know any companies that will build it for us for a good price and offer a warranty, it would be much apreciated

This build will cost £100+ more if you buy it pre-built, will probably have some less-than-stellar components. All the parts carry warranty that ranges from 2 years to lifetime.

----------

Feel free to ask me any questions.
u/PotatoJo · 2 pointsr/makinghiphop

Pssst JBL LSR305 with all the cords ya need. Who knows how effective the wave guide really is, but if you wanna change the way you perceive sound and music, these are generally agreed upon as one of the best monitors in it's price range. I have em on some hockey pucks and they're fucking fantastic. Here's a pretty good review of em.

Edit: As for the room, don't sweat it. Better to have proper monitors than not. Build up slowly.

u/the_blue_wizard · 2 pointsr/audio

That is very very lean for a GOOD Audio system. Personally I don't like the typical computer (Logitech, Creative Audio, etc...) 2.1 speaker sets. If you want a good system get full sized bookshelf speakers like these -

Edifier R2000DB - Walnut - $250/pair -

https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R2000DB-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B01CDU3IAI/

5" bass driver, very good power, Analog and Optical In, Bluetooth capability, and a Remote Control.

The are more basic, but good quality Studio Monitors that would fit your needs.

The KRK Rokit 5 are very popular, but $299/pr but with fewer features -

https://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00FX7MMRO/

Mackie MR5 MKII are also considered good at $299/pr -

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-MR5mk3-5-Inch-Powered-Monitors/dp/B00EUISUGE/

In this style of speaker you want at least 5" (130mm) bass driver. Some are available in 6.5" and 8". But that is our decision to make.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2pfwukoW2Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7zWz6kKm4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uhvI5HKos0

u/mrtimeywimey · 1 pointr/audiophile

This is the setup I am saving for. I don't have near the amount to spend on it, but it's a goal of mine to save enough. I want to set up a Turntable>Integrated Amp>Speaker station. Here it is:

U-Turn Orbit Plus ($309.00 USD) Or even a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon.

Mies i100 Integrated Amplifier ($312.18 USD) OR Marantz PM5005 Integrated Amplifier ($499.00 USD)

JBL LSR305 ($290.72 USD)

I'm thinking about spending $1,000-$1,500 which would be ideal for me. I really don't want powered speakers though, so can anyone recommend some passive speakers for around the same price? Any other suggestions would be nice.

Cheers!

u/shotofbourbon · 1 pointr/vinyl

> Ah, the Logitech computer speakers!

Yeah, I originally bought em for my computer but I wound up using them for my TV since they have optical and seem to work really well. I wouldn't mind an upgrade to a better home theater system eventually...

> Edifier 1280T

Actually it was PreSonus Eris E3.5: https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-Eris-E3-5-Professional-Multimedia/dp/B075QVMBT9

I was being very impatient, it was midnight and as you can tell from my original comment disappointed that I couldn't try out my new record player, so I placed an order on Prime Now for the best set they offered and had them set to deliver in the morning. haha

So far I like them. They're a good starter speaker set at the very least. Especially since Amazon sent me two boxes of them for some reason.

u/KINGCLVN · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

What are people's opinions on the Mackie CR3 and CR4 reference monitors? I'm on a very tight budget ( I don't want to spend more than $150 on a pair of monitors) and they seem to be a fairly decent pair for my first monitors. I have read that they lack low end (bass), but I'm not too worried about that. I would be using them in a small room for production, and also for my turntable.

Mackie CR Series CR3 - 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ahRyybK966713

Edit: New question, since the Mackie CR3's are clearly not a good pair of cheap reference monitors.

  1. What's a good pair of reference/studio headphones for production/mixing that are cheaper than $150 (or $200)?

  2. What's a good pair of speakers/monitors that would be used strictly for listening to music with my turntable?

    Thanks for the input, I know nothing about monitors/speakers/headphones so all advice is greatly appreciated!
u/rabidfurby · 3 pointsr/audio

Basically, there's two components to think about. An amplifier takes power and audio input (as stereo RCA plugs or a 1/8th inch jack) and outputs amplified audio (almost always as binding posts or clamps for speaker wire). Speakers take amplified audio as input (again, as binding posts/clamps for speaker wire) and make noise.

Active or powered speakers just means that you're buying the amp and the speakers integrated as one unit. M-Audio AV40s are a good example of this. Scroll down and you can see a picture of the back of one speaker. Power cord, RCA inputs, and speaker wire output to the other speaker.

Passive/unpowered speakers mean you're just buying the speakers, and you need to buy an amp separately. A good example of this is the Micca MB42x and Lepai LP-2020. Again, look at the back of each one to get an idea of how they're connected.

If you want simplicity, go for a pair of powered studio monitors. However, what you trade off with that is upgradeability - because monitors are integrated all-in-one, you can't easily add to them later on.

If you want to go the component route, I'd recommend a 2.1 amp (meaning it has outputs for 2 speakers plus a subwoofer) such as the Lepai 168HA. Add in some unpowered bookshelf speakers like those Micca MB42x, and you've got a great system for less than half your budget. Depending on how much room you have on the floor near your desk, you can also add a subwoofer, either now or at some point down the road. The Dayton Audio SUB-800 for example is small enough to fit under a desk pretty easily, and would still be within your budget.

u/Zeriepam · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Hi, want to ditch out my crackling 30 bucks PC speakers and want to buy really budget-stuff for music listening and sometimes plugging to TV. My budget is around 150 USD. ( I know i can't get anything outstanding for this, so at least decent. )

JBL 305P MkII are great, everyone says, but.. they are expensive for me + overpriced in my country as hell, ordering them from Amazon is no help, cus VAT.

Micca PB42X can't be shipped to my country, maybe different website is a solution.

​

I can get Q Acoustics 2020i for 120 USD in my country

or PreSonus Eris E3.5 for 115 USD.

​

I want consumer speakers for listening to music, enjoyable, not monitors ( if they are not boring, then yes.)

Should i get one of these i mentioned ? Or try to ship Micca PB42X from another website, it's still gonna be pricey, because of the VAT, they are not sold in my country.

​

I am poor, but i love music.

( Should i save up more and buy the JBL 305P ?, is it worth ? like long-term investment ? )

​

Thanks

u/hairsketchcompany · 1 pointr/recording

I couldn't agree more with /u/SativaGanesh 's comment below. I'll add that when you start learning to record, your focus should be on signal flow, gain staging, microphone technique, and learning how to edit and mix audio. Until you have a handle on the basics, a tape machine won't be beneficial to you. And when you DO have a handle on the basics, consider getting an internship at an analogue studio. If you're sharp and likeable, you'll probably have an opportunity to learn how to use a tape machine and console.

Here's what I suggest for your home setup. You can get a perfectly usable interface for around $150. That apparently comes with Pro Tools, but Reaper is a full-featured DAW that sounds great and supports most plugin formats out there. It's $60 for a full license. Here is a perfectly adequate microphone made by Rode. (Or if you can spend $600 go for the K2, it's awesome.) These speakers are halfway decent and will get you started on the right foot.

u/sharkamino · 2 pointsr/vinyl

The new X version Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is on sale for $69. The only upgrade for it is from the stock conical to elliptical LP Gear CFN3600LE stylus $29.

Behringer Headphone Amp is a cheap option to use for earbuds. Or Behringer U-Phono adds a USB output.

If you only have a small room, PreSonus Eris E3.5 $99 speakers have a headphone jack or look for larger speakers for a medium size room or larger.

Better headphone amps start around $100.

Better turntables with adjustable tracking force and a better cartridge:

  • Teac TN-300SE sale with coupon code SPIN is on and off every few weeks to bring the price to $129. Set an alert for "Teac TN" or "turntable" at SlickDeals.net. It's value is about the current $189 sale price compared to better turntables over $200.
  • Monolith by Monoprice Turntable with Audio-Technica AT100E $205. It adds auto stop and possibility a bit better speed stability. Watch for a Black Friday Cyber Monday sale. It has gone down to $169 a few times and $149 once.
  • A worthwhile step up is the Fluance RT82 $299. It has auto stop and than an optical speed sensor controlled servo motor for lower wow and flutter and speed variation and the speed never drifts. Pass on the older RT81 that lacks the speed sensor since the Monoprice is a clone of it for $45 less. Add a phono preamp if not using it with a receiver with a phono input.
u/binlurking · 1 pointr/audiophile

As soon as I move out I am getting the JBL LSR308 for my living room.

I have their little brother the LSR305 on my desktop and the sound is amazing. With LSR308 you would have very similar sound, but it has a bigger woofer and would be more effective at filling a 12x12 room. The LSR308 reach deeper in the bass as well. They are less than 200 each on amazon right now, be sure to buy 2 as they do not come in a pair.

Edit: I use my lsr305 at the desk as well as sitting on my bed 7-8feet away and they do a great job.

u/Benkosayswhat · 1 pointr/audiophile

Beginner here. I'm not sure if this is possible, but I would appreciate your help.

I have 2x JBL 305P MkII . they are hooked up to my computer in my bedroom.

Then I have a wireless bluetooth speaker in my bathroom.

Then I have a tv with a soundbar in a living room.

Then I have two other bedrooms with speakers not hooked up to anything yet.

Is it possible to have all of these play at the same time? Or to say, just have one or two rooms at a time playing? Can this be accomplished with amazon echoes or chromecast audios? If so, how? I have no idea what I'm doing. Happy to spend money, but I don't really want to wire up my house.

Also happy to paypal someone a little bit of money to consult for me through this.

u/mooselover801 · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey everyone!

I'm hoping to find some help in picking out some new studio monitors for my home studio that will also double as a stereo system. So I'm basically looking for a wide and flat frequency response as well as a pretty large sweet spot.

I'm trying to stay near the $300/pair price range,if possible, and I've narrowed it down to these possibilities:

M-Audio BX5 Carbon,
Behringer Truth B1030a,
JBL LSR305,

I haven't personally heard any of these, so I'm curious to see if anyone has an opinion on what would be best for my use case. Thanks!

u/AdmiralBarackbar · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I have a question about studio monitors. I'm looking to get a pair and my buddy has the Rokit 5s which sound amazing but are out of my price range. What are some good, self-powered monitors with clear sound and good bass? Are M-Audios any good?

Thanks

u/GramboLazarus · 10 pointsr/realdubstep

IMHO: A subwoofer isn't optional when it comes to dubstep. You'll be missing all the low-end (which let's be honest, is why we're all here) if you omit a decent sub from you set up. As far as amps (I call these receivers) go, you'd probably be best off visiting your local pawn shop or anywhere you can get pre-owned electronics and picking something up. I got mine for under $100CAD and it has power to spare. For ease of set-up I'd suggest finding something with dedicated subwoofer outputs on the back. As for speakers, these or these will do right by you. Personally I use this subwoofer, and it has the juice to have my entire house shaking. Wires are pretty much standard in my experience as long as you're talking about a simple home listening system. These wires would do fine for your needs. If you want a proper listening experience dont use bluetooth speakers, and dont skimp on a subwoofer.

Hope that helps, my dude!

u/Submersed · 10 pointsr/battlestations

I bought them about 4 years ago for ~$375/ea, and love them to death. I was into producing for a while and these were an excellent set of reference monitors for that. However, I also have to acknowledge them as listening speakers. Truly a very high quality and great listening experience for nearly any genre.

I've never paired them with a subwoofer, for the sake of avoiding noise complaints, but I'm sure that would add to the listening experience quite a bit as well. One downside is that they tend to have some static / odd high pitchy noises that you only hear when nothing is playing. From what I've read, this is related to ground loop isolation, and easily resolvable, it just hasn't bothered me enough to do anything about. You can read more about this here.

Compared to the Rokit's, which I also demo'd prior to purchasing the Yamaha's, I felt like the Rokit's had a bit of artificial tonality to them that I just wasn't interested in. My goal was to have a great reference for my mixes, and I felt like the Rokit's had their own little touch.

Back to the Yamaha's, I'd reference the Amazon Reviews. The price looks great on Massdrop. $313.68 is the lowest price Amazon has ever had.

u/csm725 · 25 pointsr/buildapc

All these recommendations of Logitech and Corsair (and Altec, etc.) speakers on what claims to be a knowledgeable forum really hurts, guys. You wouldn't recommend a $100 Logitech keyboard over a CM Storm, so don't do the same here.

Now to answer your question, OP:

A Xonar DG and M Audio AV40s will be a killer combo for a nice clear sound that extends into low frequencies very well for the price (great bass). I highly recommend it. Now a sound card isn't necessary, per se - you will have audio without it; but the improvement from onboard to a cheap sound card is immense. Go for it! I've recommended this setup to tens of people, and I used it myself until I upgraded my sound card, and it's really amazing bang for the buck and sound.

Hope this gets to you :)

u/Du6e · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

> I would like to have a great soundsystem. I'm moving to a place where I'll be able to blast music without annoying any neighbors. I keep seeing Creative Soundblaster and ASUS Xonar soundcards but I don't know if they're worth the extra bit of cash. So I'll take your advice on this sort of thing.

The Soundblaster and Xonar are garbage.. especially for what you're doing. Do you already have some sort of audio interface to connect your guitar / mic?

A good set of studio monitors are going to take a decent chunk out of your budget as well, I'd lean towards something like a couple KRK Rokit 5 G3's. But, I'm far from being an expert in higher end audio so you would be better off asking over in /r/audiophile sticky.

So all that being said, if you don't have anything you're probably looking at about $600 - $800 (cad$) in audio gear and about $1200 for a PC.

u/MiEsAmericano · 3 pointsr/vinyl

My setup is literally two pieces of equipment. It seems expensive, but if you sell some textbooks to amazon, you can easily knock about a hundred fifty bucks off the total cost. This isn't audiophile equipment, but it's solid, it's a good place to get started, it's relatively cheap, and it'll sound a million times better than whatever you'd get at best buy or urban outfitters for the same price.

Speakers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0051WAM64/

Turntable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002S1CJ2Q/

Of course, if you can, go vintage.

u/Arve · 5 pointsr/audiophile

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.
u/ThienPro123 · 1 pointr/audiophile

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



u/raistlin65 · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

If you like to pump your bass, then I recommend the JBL LSR 305 for $89 each. https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR305-First-Generation-Powered/dp/B00DUKP37C/

The LSR305 are studio monitors that compete well in overall SQ with the best powered speakers <$500. IMO, they have better midbass and deeper bass extension than many other speakers their size. For example their lower end rated response is 43hz for their 5" drivers vs. 60hz for those Edifiers with the smaller 4" drivers. I think realistically, they have solid 50hz performance (and likely the Edifiers would be more like 70hz).

Tons of professional reviews for those speakers as they have been popular for years.

You would need to also purchase a special cable to plug it into your computer: https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP-159-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B005HGM1D6

u/abcMF · 1 pointr/needforspeed

> In 2015 every location sounded very different in it's acoustic resonance and echo

i can tell you payback does it better, in payback the reflections (echo and reverb) change based on relation to the objects around the world, where as 2015 it was region based rather than object based like Payback is, than again they could have just set a lot of region based reflection points across the map to make it sound like its object based (the reason i say this is because back fires sound different in alley ways, parking lots, next to buildings, next to mountains, next to canyons, and they also seem to change based on the distance from those objects so if a building is on your right, you will hear that, where as in 2015 it seemed like it was a question of if you were in the city or in the mountains or whether you were in a tunnel or not the only thing 2015 did better was that it had audio obstruction for AI vehicles, but in payback it sounds like your opponents engine sounds go straight through cliff faces, which is unfortunate, but hey, its no big deal). which i prefer the object based reflections over the region based reflections because it sounds more realistic, its a detail i never got to hear until i got my speakers in recently. id recommend you buy these Mackie CR3. its what im using for my gaming set up and they do their job quite nicely and are also quite cheap. you just have to make sure your TV has red and white audio out ports i can say just by listening through these Mackies the sounds in payback are better than 2015 apart from the turbos. im a bit of an audio nerd so its really easy for me to pick up on a lot of details most people miss.

u/TheEchoFilter · 1 pointr/audiophile

Getting ready to purchase the JBL LSR305's as recommended. I like to have higher quality systems at work, but I wanted some decent sound for the house computer.

Aside from these Breakout Cables, is there anything else I need / can do to improve the sound (that's worth the effort?) I just plug this straight into my Mobo's audio jack right? Would a dedicated soundcard make a significant difference? Would a USB to DAC to Breakout cables be worth it? If so any recommended DACs for these speaks? I'm mostly only familiar with headphone setups

Fyi I already have a lot of high quality source music so I'm mainly just talking about the hardware

u/VOldis · 1 pointr/audiophile

Should use google man.

Sound Dynamics was a decent Canadian company in the 80s.

Klipsch synergy is their lowest line, I wouldn't bother.

The KG 1.5s are good for the money.

The JBL setup only has one speaker. I dunno how good they are. JBL's newest line of LSRs is super well regarded. The wave guide on the tweeter is the same as their super flat $10,000 m2s. https://www.amazon.com/JBL-LSR305-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00DUKP37C/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1468809717&sr=1-2&keywords=jbl+lsr
You wouldn't need an amp either.

The Bowers and Wilkins are great for the money. I would get these. At that price they would be gone in less than an hour in boston.






u/DJThorough · 4 pointsr/Beatmatch

KRK RP8 gen2 -> http://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP8G2-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B001A6IGDG

KRK RP8 gen3 -> http://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP8G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00EO7Z9YM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_267_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51%2BILc6cLkL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=15BDC5CR7AYQB7DWBC5Z

Yamaha HS8 -> http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HS8-Studio-Monitor-Black/dp/B00DCYMVB2

All of these will get the job done, as far as practice at home goes! They're great monitors for the cost. (Look for used if you want to save some cash, obviously.) I haven't personally heard the Pioneer's you've mentioned, but the general rule is: larger cones allows for more bass extension, ie. a more complete, accurate frequency response. Adding a sub can be useful but becomes tricky when you want to place everything within your room and still attain a complete AND accurate frequency response. Either option will work but I'd suggest a pair of beefy studio monitors. Best of luck!

u/rpbtz · 7 pointsr/vinyl
  1. Yes, it's a good entry-level turntable and is easy to both use and set up.
  2. If you want speakers you can hook up straight to your turntable without any extra equipment you'll be looking for powered/active speakers. The Micca PB42X should be pretty decent, and the M-Audio Studiophile AV 30 should be alright as well. If you plan on getting a power amp or a receiver (so you can use passive speakers) you could look into the Pioneer SP-BS22, the Polk T15, or the Micca MB42X.
  3. Nothing if you buy powered speakers. For passive speakers you'll need either a receiver or a power amp.
  4. Radiohead - Kid A
u/IHeartThe80s · 5 pointsr/vinyl

Others will fill in the details, but the basic answer is, you'll need three more pieces of gear:

  • Preamp (to boost the turntable signal to line level)

  • Amp or tuner (to boost the signal to speaker level)

  • Speakers

    An inexpensive (though perhaps temporary) option is to buy a pair of powered speakers (like these perhaps: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Powered-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64/), which will combine the amp and speakers. But you'll still need that preamp (these are inexpensive and start at about $40).

    Edit: Just saw your post elsewhere about hating Beach Boys' Smile. I love it but am curious about your dislike (and about who's forcing you to listen to it). As a Beatles fan you should know that they were fans—and rivals—of the BB's; the two groups inspired one another circa '65-'67.
u/mathcrunk · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey, I'm looking to buy the JBL 305s for sale on Amazon today. https://www.amazon.com/JBL-305PMKII-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC
I want to pair them with a turntable and also have the ability to play music from a phone or computer via a 3.5 mm input without switching cables constantly.

Would something like the Mackie big knob monitor switcher be a good choice to switch inputs and control volume? Or would going with a more traditional receiver and passive speaker setup be a more expensive but better choice?
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/mackie-big-knob-passive-monitor-controller/j49165000000000?cntry=us&source=3WWMWXGP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA597fBRCzARIsAHWby0G-V7o4TGThzlno4Sr-vVLEXdk9NW0ydvlKt3Erlv8BX20Wu0TqFaIaArPmEALw_wcB

I'm also looking for a turntable but this JBL deal is what I want to buy first, and what I need feedback on if active monitors are the right choice for me.

The space is a living room that opens into a dining room and a kitchen behind it.

Thank you!

u/Hyperdistortia · 1 pointr/Guitar

Thanks for the information.
I've read shaky things about the 2i2, but I don't have enough knowledge to know just how bad/applicable to my case they are.
Could you tell me in detail why you'd prefer that Behringer audio interface over the 2i2? They both look great and in my price range.

Also, could you recommend some studio monitors to works as my cabinets?
Do you think a pair of PreSonus Eris E4.5 would be good for djent/modern metal, jazz, classical tones?

I'm using a Strandberg Boden 7 Standard if that helps.
https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-Eris-E4-5-Powered-Monitors/dp/B00GP56OYA

u/homeboi808 · 2 pointsr/hometheater

If you are talking about this Vizio model, then it will be adequate. Vizio also sells it with a wireless subwoofer and two wired surrounds for $230.

If you want true bookshelf speakers (much better quality sound), you can get these Micca's for $120 or these Mackie's for $150. Those are powered monitors, meaning they have an amp inside so you just plug and play (you need speaker wire to connect the two speakers together). It also allows future upgradability to a subwoofer if you use RCA splitters from the tv. These will sound much better than any soundbar in the price range and will give you better stereo seperarion. However, if you want sub-bass (bass you feel), you will need a subwoofer. So, you could always get one down the road.

To summarize:

A. $150 for better than tv speakers.

B. $230 for decent 5.1 .

C. ~$120-$150 for much better than tv speakers. Subwoofer addition also possible.

EDIT: If you normally have people sitting at a large angle from the tv (say 45° and lower, 90° being directly in front), the soundbar option is more suited for that, as it has a center channel speaker (stereo would have dialogue coming from both, obviously, so if you are at an angle, the closer speaker will hit you sooner and louder).

u/UnfrozenCavemanLaw · 1 pointr/googlehome

Bam, Mackie CR4s

$149 and a $25 Chromecast audio and you have the best bang for your buck audio setup possible for a smart home. Much better than the dinky Sonos speakers you can get for the same price. You could also go with the smaller CR3s as well.

I also have a pair of Realistic Minimus 7s hooked up with an Amp that has another chromecast audio. They're fantastic but the Mackies are a better plug in play setup that I've recommend many times when people see my setup. I'm not the only one too, this Amazon Review is basically everything I've said.

u/AbrahmLion · 1 pointr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

I can find only fragments of the other thread you're referring to, but the TS-to-RCA cable is legit. It's not an adapter or coupler or anything like that. It certainly won't be the best connection option, but again, it works (it wouldn't damage the audio interface or the speaker), and it would cost far less than a pair of new monitors.

I looked at those speakers you have (or had). They're these? Those are more like bookshelf speakers, not active studio monitors. And $400 for the pair? You can do better than that for less money.

The JBL 305P monitors are another popular choice. They cost $150 each, and taxes/shipping could push the cost of the pair past your $300 budget. But both the Presonus and JBL monitors are fine choices.

u/eitsss · 1 pointr/audioengineering

I just purchased a pair of Mackie CR4 4-Inch studio monitors and a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50s.

My goals in mind:

  1. Listen to music
  2. be able to play my USB midi keyboard monitors/headphone
  3. play guitar through through the monitors/headphone

    I was wondering what a good DAC setup would be for this?

    Would something like the Desktop Konnekt 6 be a good recommendation as a 2in1 setup ? Because I have no clue where to begin if I were to have to seperate the two.

    Would I just need an external DAC for the monitors and a headphone amp for the headphones? How/Would I need to connect those two together to make them run smoother?

    So this is what I'm considering:

    Desktop Konnect 6

    And these are the two pieces of equipment I am trying to find the DAC setup for.

    Mackie CR4 monitors

    Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

    Thank you so much if anyone here is able to help!

    Would like to keep the budget in the Price range of the DAC I listed above
u/chestwoundssuck · 1 pointr/hometheater

Wow you are awesome thanks again. And to Just clarify I could get three of the LCR's and just use two as R/L and then the third as the center. I noticed almost everyone referred to the ones in your link as "centers." Or should I look into these http://www.amazon.com/America-FH-65B-Bookshelf-Speakers-6-5IN/dp/B002ISTP8K/ref=pd_sim_e_1 as the R/L and then the LCR as the center. I read your posts on zeos and I saw you recommended these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051WAM64/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051WAM64&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwpuresimula-20 for bookshelves...is that only for gaming. I honestly am thinking that a 2.1 or 3.1 (with center) is a better setup then a 5.1 for right now.

u/DieselWang · 1 pointr/audiophile

Up to a certain point, yes, you'll be able to tell if, like you said, you're a music lover and crave good sound. As stated in the OP of this thread, try pushing your budget to around $250 - it would get you something like these, which, depending on what you were listening to before, could be a vast improvement in sound quality: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR305-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00DUKP37C

If you're willing to wait for a sale, sometimes they go for $200 a pair.

u/alish2001 · 1 pointr/audiophile

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

u/MankYo · 1 pointr/audiophile

... So that the designers can match the unique characteristics of the drivers in the enclosure with non-linear responses of a network of caps, varistors/log pots, inductors, etc. in a controlled way, for the user to tune the speaker to the listening space and equipment with better results and less effort.

This $100 "Sonart 10" 300W Powered Active Subwoofer" calls the adjustment "frequency":

https://www.amazon.com/Sonart-Powered-Subwoofer-Front-Firing-Surround/dp/B07KN3MQKZ

This $150 JBL LSR 305 calls the adjustment "Boundary EQ" and "HF Trim"

www.amazon.com/JBL-305PMKII-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC/

The $1,250 Verus III Grand Tower Speaker has an option called the "treble mod" which is probably a $3 resistor and/or capacitor in a $$-$$$ plastic case:

https://www.aperionaudio.com/products/verus-iii-grand-tower-speaker

The $3,600 Dynaudio Xeo 30 Floorstanding Speakers have adjustable active digital crossovers:

https://www.dynaudio.com/home-audio/xeo/xeo-30

Several of the $$$$-$$$$$ Infinity IRS speakers use an outboard device dedicated to adjusting low-pass and high pass filters, and other related settings:

https://tmraudio.com/product/tmr-1172

There are also plenty of good speakers that don't have on-board adjustable crossovers, into which the user can throw whatever EQed signal is desired.

u/SedateApe · 2 pointsr/ffxiv

First off, make sure you have a decent soundcard. My laptop's soundcard is balls so I use an external audio interface -the difference is huge. If your soundcard isn't up to snuff, look at grabbing something like this. You can get them used (or other versions) for cheaper, and they're a good utility to have around. You can also look for simple USB DAC (Digital to Analog Converter).

For speakers, if you want really good sound, look for powered speakers, they have built in amps to drive them so that you don't need to worry about an external amp hanging out on your desk. I use reference monitors, these have an excellent frequency range and soundstage that's hard to produce with a two-way desktop speaker otherwise. These are what I use currently, and you'd be hard pressed to find something cheaper that can produce the same sound. Also of note are the Rockit 5's at about the same price point. These are pretty future proof, if that's your thing. The next step up from a setup like this would be a sizable chunk of money more.

Of course, this is just my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt and all that. This focuses largely on clarity of sound, frequency range, and small footprint at this specific price range. There are certainly other setups that use subwoofers, forgo DACs, etc.

This setup will, at the very least, blow the Klipsch speakers you have listed out of the proverbial water, but the extra cost is there. If you have the money, I'd buy better speakers now, rather than upgrade in the future when you decide yours aren't doing it for you anymore.

u/BreakDanceRobot · 1 pointr/audiophile

Halp!

I found a JVC L-A55 Direct Drive Turntable and am looking to get the best sound possible for $500-600, I don’t know if I should spent the money on speakers, or speakers and a new cartridge, or some other combination.
I’d also like to connect the speakers to my television if possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I have no idea if I need an amp, please don’t judge me too harshly.
These are the speakers I was looking at, if that matters.
Thank you again!

Polk Audio Signature S15
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LVWWZS0/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Polk Audio RTI A1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V2UBS8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2

Klipsch R-14PM
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075JRF295/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Q Acoustics 3020
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TR7I1EY/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3EWOB9ML2A8ST

JBL 305P MKII 5"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BZ6QS6M/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_14?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A25IRTXJ3Y3DFH

u/kuraimusic · 1 pointr/edmproduction

KRK's are good because you can find them used for cheap online due to their popularity. Yamaha HS series is well respected and has a flatter response, will probably translate better on other systems.

But I've been seeing fantastic reviews on the JBL monitors, I'd check these out aswell.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-305PMKII-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543356952&sr=8-3&keywords=jbl+monitor

The six inch model also happens to be on sale.

u/Folthanos · 3 pointsr/audiophile

For desktop listening I'd recommend nearfield monitors, as they're designed for exactly that listening environment:

u/tmccoy00 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

You could just buy a cheap amp if the speakers are actually any good?

But on the issue of powered monitors, I'm using a pair of M-Audio BX5d2 Monitors that I really enjoy as great value for money.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-BX5-D2-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B005F3H6Q8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417295700&sr=8-1&keywords=bx5d2

I notice the 8"BX8's are almost the same price at the moment as the 5" BX5's - making them probably the better choice for added bass.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-8-Inch-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B005F3H6MC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417295700&sr=8-2&keywords=bx5d2

u/BaronDuke · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Hey there, I was told to post my question here, so here it is.

What are some good alternatives to the Audioengine A5+ speakers? Under 400 dollars.

I like the audioengines because they're small and they have a nice classy reserved look to them. But I hear they aren't the best and I could do better, for cheaper.
It's been suggested I pick up the Rokits over here:
http://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5G3-NA-Generation-Powered-Monitor/dp/B00FX7MMRO/ref=pd_cp_MI_1
They're much cheaper than the Audioengines. The thing is that they're hideous. The yellow ruins them for me.
Also the Audioengines seem to come with all the cables, a remote and a front volume knob. Not sure the Rokits have any of that.
Alternatives would be within 400 dollars. Preferably less.
Unless I pick up an amp and bookshelf speakers, but again, I have no idea what's good.
Note I'm not looking for any big boomy bass. I just want the music to be clear, and sound much better than what I've heard before. Which have been a pair of Beats my brother bought me (I know they are overrated, but he gets a huge discount on them).
I also know that Audioengines are desktop monitors, but I'd be using them to fill a small living room kitchen combo (16' - 2" x 18' - 8"). Source is a turntable. Maybe the occassional iPod or laptop.

u/2ndRatePianoPlayer · 3 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Hello! I have a noob question for my setup that probably isn't relevant enough to warrant its own post but it might be simple enough that you could answer real quick.

I just bought these studio monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E and have the top left L and R inputs connected to my Scarlett 2i4 audio interface (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q) in the balanced inputs 1 and 2 on the back right with TRS cables, but now I don't know what to do to actually be able to get my computer to "recognize" them and use them in my DAW or otherwise be able to control them through my audio interface. The monitors themselves work fine because I can still use them with the auxiliary cable plugged directly into my laptop, but that is a temporary fix because then I can't use my audio interface to control them. No idea what to do and I feel so dumb!

Any help would be huge. I'm using a PC with Windows 10 and my DAW is Reason 10 if that helps at all. Thanks!

u/gnome_where · 1 pointr/buildapc

The A2 looks more feature rich. In particular it has a built in DAC. Also looks like you can RCA out from the A2 which means you can more easily connect an external subwoofer. With the DAC you have the option to USB into the A2. Depending on your motherboard sound chipset, or if you have a sound card, this by itself is a plus for audio quality. Since the A2 has a 2.5" woofer it's usually used with a small like 6-8" subwoofer.

The Edifier has 4" subwoofer meaning more bass response. It would be more of a hassle to connect a subwoofer. Also, you're depending on your MOBO or sound card for digital to analog conversion. IMO, 4" is on the upper side for near field listening. If you're gonna be sitting back watching movies it might be just right.

An alternative, from a trusted audio brand:

Mackie CR Series CR3 - 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hGwqzb3W4HN9B

u/boyschoicemusic · 1 pointr/shareyourmusic

Ya its two of us! I have these speakers for mixing and for $100 i think its one hell of a deal makes a big difference.
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481917632&sr=8-1&keywords=mackie+monitors
I (Matt) use MASSIVE and Jake uses MASSIVE and Sylenth so you can definitley get good sound out of that VST just keep experimenting!
As for the new song work on that percussion more especially the kick drum using compression to help it stand out. The drum rolls are sick tho! And the filter cut after the drop is done really well too! That lower synth that you can clearly hear at 1:07 is prolly my fav in the song very dark sounding. The higher "drop" synths make it sound kinda big room but you shoudl try a track without them soon because you're getting really good tones with other synths especially in your intros! Lets keep in touch its great sharing music with you!

u/djdementia · 2 pointsr/edmproduction

First off - no it's not pointless using standard PC speakers or whatever headphones you have. Your first 1yr / ~500 hours or so of producing is simply learning anyway. At this point you might be figuring out if this is the right hobby for you, a career, or just a passing interest. If doing this doesn't hold your interest then there wasn't much point buying expensive gear just for this.

You don't even need an audio interface to begin producing electronic music from within a DAW. You probably do need one if you are going to record vocals or other instruments though.

Go with what you got for the first year if you are on a tight budget. If you find yourself loving producing you'll find a way to save up for the gear you need.


-----
$33/£25 Superlux HD 681: http://www.amazon.co.uk/P-Howard-HD681-Superlux-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/

$80/£78 Sony MDR 7506: http://www.amazon.co.uk/SONY-PRO-MDR7506-Headphones-closed/dp/B000AJIF4E/
(The UK price seems like it's pretty high compared to US - maybe shop around?)

$100/£72 Sennheiser HD280pro: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD280pro-Closed-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B000065BPB/

I don't really see any studio monitors less than $250 USD that I'd personally recommend. Anything in that price range is pretty junky and you'll want to upgrade in < 1 year. My lowest cost recommendtion for monitors is JBL LSR 305 $122/£120: http://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-LSR305-Active-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00DUKP37C/

u/drsteve103 · 1 pointr/synthesizers

You'll want something like this:

BEHRINGER XENYX Q802USB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O517IC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Finmzb3WQNQN5



And a pair of something like these:

Mackie CR Series CR3 - 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KdnmzbVDQGXFN

You can spend a lot more money but those or something like them will do, and allow for some expansion later. Also the USB out will let you record straight into Garageband. Get a mixer with some effects, and it can be part of your complete sound.

Have fun!

u/Andy_Legend · 1 pointr/audiophile

Ah yes, they are! Thanks for the suggestion. Seems like a lot of people are making great comments how the lsr305 are. Amazon has them at 132.23 a speaker for those interested! http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Professional-LSR305-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00DUKP37C

Have you personally compared the two?

u/joebacca121 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Well your motherboard has a built in audio controller which is generally considered pretty good (unless you plan on doing high end audio work, e.g. audio production/mixing). These are quite good studio monitors in my experience for $100. They’re an active/passive pair so you plug your inputs into the back of the active speaker which will act as an amp and send signal over to the passive one. Basically this means you won’t have to buy an external DAC/amp to use these. I plan to buy myself a set in the near future as the cheap Logitech pc speakers I’m currently using are pretty not awesome.

u/ButterMilk116 · 2 pointsr/Beatmatch

Here's a few solid choices:

Presonus 3.5"

Mackie 3" (I have these and love them, though I kind of wish I got the 4" version)

Mackie 4"

Also keep in mind there is a bluetooth version of each of the Mackie's if that appeals to you. Mackie's customer service was good to me too. My CR3's started going out randomly around the time the 1-year warranty was about to expire and they sent me new ones for free. I've had the new ones for over a year and they're still going strong.

u/ClusterCucc · 0 pointsr/makinghiphop

You could drop all of that on Pro Tools or Ableton, but without some peripheral gear I'd say start with Logic. It's one of the more affordable industry DAWs and will leave you quite a bit of cash to grab some other essentials.

Namely, I would suggest monitors (over headphones) with isolation pads. The M-Audio BX5 D3 are a decent and affordable introductory set of monitors.

Besides that, I'd get an audio interface, a humble MIDI keyboard, and a decent microphone. Respectively the Focusrite Scarlett Audio Interface, the Akai MPK Mini, and the AT2020 Microphone are my personal favs.

All of this should run you less than $1000, and is a great rudimentary setup to start making some tunes. Have fun! :)

u/stillincontrol · 1 pointr/audiophile

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.

u/Grummond · 4 pointsr/audio

As it's for a computer you need active speakers. That just means they have a built in amplifier so you just need to plug them into your source (in this case the computer) and there's no need for any additional equipment to power them.

These are a pretty good buy in that price range. I've used them for 5 years or so and they have surprisingly good sound quality. Probably the best at this price point:

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398030452&sr=8-1&keywords=m+audio+av40

u/masamunecyrus · 1 pointr/GoodValue

I'd recommend you check out /r/zeos. It's US-specific, but the same rules are going to apply.

Ideally, your setup for computer audio should be:

> Computer -> Digital-to-Analog converter -> Amplifier -> Subwoofer -> Stereo Speakers

But you're on a budget. We can skip the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and just assume your PC's built-in audio-out does it good enough. We can also skip the subwoofer and just spend your money on a cheap amp and bookshelf speakers that aren't terrible.

The cheapest amp I can find for you is the Lepai TA2020+. I'm having a hard time Googling any cheap, UK-equivalent to the Dayton Audio B652's (very cheap, not-horrible US speakers) because Google wants to return me US-centic sites, even on Google.co.uk. But, you can try and look around.

Alternatively, you can just bite the bullet and buy a pair of these. They're powered and come with cables (review), and they are excellent speakers. It's a little over twice your budget, but they'll probably last you way over twice as long.

edit: After some more Googling, I have these super-cheap budget alternatives.

u/Ironicfist · 2 pointsr/buildapcforme

I would like to add music production hardware to this list. Since OP is gonna use it for making music, good speakers and a sound card are a must.

I recommend the UR22 sound card. It connects via USB to your computer has 2 ins and 2 outs and comes with pre-amps, which is perfect for the home studio (unless you're recording several tracks at once for drums). The UR22 comes with the Cubase 6 software, which is what I personally use. The Pro Tools Sound card is really expensive and harder to find. If you already have software you can still use the UR22. My only complaint is that the preamps are a little on the low side, but they get the job done on a budget, not really a big deal.

https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR22MKII-2-Channel-USB-Interface/dp/B017MVUAHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465770351&sr=8-1&keywords=ur+22

As for audio monitors, I really like the Mackie CR3s. You can get a pair of these for 99, which is great on a budget and still produce high quality sound. Monitors can get really pricey and take up a lot of space, if you want something of a higher quality you'd have to buy each on separately. Also get 2 1/4" cables to go out from the sound card to the audio monitors.

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR3-Creative-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=zg_bs_11974991_1

u/Old_Man_Smell · 1 pointr/vinyl

Ah I see. Looks like you can make some HUGE improvements within your budget.

First you need a pre amp. I used this one for a while and found it to be very good especially considering the price:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PP999-Phono-Turntable-Pre-Amp/dp/B00025742A/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458143345&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=phono+pre+ampo

Second, you'll want new speakers. The easiest and least expensive route would be to go with powered speakers. For $99 these little guys put out very balanced sound and will make your flip seem like a toy:
http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458143493&sr=8-1&keywords=mackie+cr3

As for putting it all together you will need only basic red/white male end RCA cables, no silly adapters:
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-102869-Premium-22AWG-Cable/dp/B002JTV7UM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458143790&sr=8-1&keywords=RCA+cables+monoprice

~$130 all together.

u/mattSER · 1 pointr/audiophile

Maybe a pair of powered speakers + a decent CD player?

Speakers:

https://www.amazon.com/JBL-LSR305-Studio-Monitor/dp/B00DUKP37C

https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/speakers/airmotiv-5s

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-15PM-Powered-Monitor-Black/dp/B01A7J534G

Teac CD Player:
http://www.teac-audio.eu/en/products/cd-p1260-83873.html



The Klipsch and JBL will excel with rock music. The Klipsch are the most expensive but have lots of features(remote, bluetooth, subwoofer preout, phono input, etc).

The JBL are the best value, but you'll need RCA>TRS cable and some sort of preamp to easily control volume.

u/the_hamsterman · 9 pointsr/audiophile

I've always found that those systems with the subwoofer rely too much on the sub, which makes everything boomy. Others might have different experience, but i'd suggest going with something that is just 2.0. In that budget, i think you could find the m-audio av30 or something similar.

Another idea is to get a Dayton DTA-1 and a set of Dayton B652 speakers. I have this in my bedroom right now and it is perfect for music. Very well balanced..

If you do want that subwoofer, people on here have said good things about the klipsch promedia 2.1 set, which is a little over your budget, but you might be able to find used/refurb deals online.

u/panserbj0rne · 4 pointsr/macsetups

Came here to recommend that. Surprisingly good bass out of such a tiny speaker but still great accurate sound. Not overpowering.

If those are out of budget, the M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 are good.

u/DJ_Kenny_Fox · 1 pointr/DJs

I found a set of M-Audio BX-8's on amazon for just a bit over what your 300 dollar budget... Fantastic powered monitors, and lets be real here, whats more important to you, good sound or flashing lights?

They're not going to be powerful enough to play out with, but you'll get great sound out of them for every single practice session...

Current BX-8's on Amazon

u/Rahikeru · 1 pointr/audiophile

First time posting here. I'm thinking of moving from a 2.1 speaker setup to monitor speakers. Right now I have a Microlabs FC330 setup (16 watts), and I'm looking to buy a pair of Mackie CR5BT speakers (50 watts). I plan on using them for my desktop PC but since it has Bluetooth, I could use my phone or laptop with them, probably. Is this a good purchase? There's a cheaper version that uses 4" drivers, and I want to know if it's worth going for the full 5" drivers for around £50 more.

There's also an alternative: PreSonus Ceres C4.5 BT. Apparently Mackie have a good reputation, so I thought I should ask in a sub where people understand sound and sound quality.

Also, do I really need a subwoofer? Would these monitor speakers serve me well compared to my old setup? Thanks in advance.

u/WarWizard · 2 pointsr/AskBattlestations

Picked up a pair of these for the office; and so far I've been pretty happy. I haven't cranked them up or anything -- mostly background noise...

but they seem to fit your reqs pretty well.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B071YV97LK

u/dirtyrottenrascal · 1 pointr/makinghiphop

The Presonus monitors are actually pretty good. I know a couple people that love theirs. If all you can afford is $200, then go for it. If you are able to save up another $100, then consider this JBL 305 package. I actually just ordered this package myself for the vinyl room after A/B testing monitors at Guitar Center.

u/CToxin · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

I currently use

Speakers: M-Audio AV30 Good speakers. Just don't turn them all the way up or you will go deaf.

Headphones: Audiotechnica M40x REALLY good headphones. The best you can get for about 100 USD. 'Nuff said.

Mouse: Steelseries Rival Good mouse. Feels nice, moves nice, no problems. The software on the other hand is shit and I haven't gotten that to work since I first used it. No fucking clue what the fuck is wrong.

Keyboard: Coolermaster Storm Quickfire Rapid w/ Black keys Good keyboard, feels nice, works well.

u/MOODYS_BOOTYSMOOTHIE · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

I would go one of two ways:

If you want a more accurate reproduction of sound for your personal listening environment, look into studio monitors. They will be more focused on clarity and use better components, like active crossovers. If you will ever be into any type of audio/video editing or really enjoy the finner detais, this is the ideal road.

This for example:
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484435931&sr=8-2&keywords=studio+monitor

If you just want something good, but louder and with more low end, look into a 2.1 setup. more consumer based. ~50-100 would be enough to satisfy you since it seems you primarily use headphones.

Random example:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Watts-Multimedia-Speakers-980-001203/dp/B0151K2AB0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1484436731&sr=8-5&keywords=logitech+2.1

u/funtimegotime · 7 pointsr/makinghiphop

So I would suggest the JBL 305's. Same price just a better monitor. $130 is for one monitor. Check amazon as I found my JBL 305's for $123 a piece. There are a few ways to hook these up to your PC. The easiest and most efficient is to hook them up to a Audio Interface. Another way is to get a 3.5mm to TRS cable.

For general listening these are fine, I use my JBL's for music production and youtube watching. My JBL's get pretty loud and these are the smaller monitors so the bigger you go the louder they get.

JBL 305 $135 each

u/sk9592 · 2 pointsr/buildapc

IMO, the best 2.0 speaker set for under $100 are the Mackie CR3:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Studio-Monitor-3-inch-CR3/dp/B00KVEIY4E/

If you don't mind something larger and more expensive, the Mackie CR4 fills in the bass a bit better:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Reference-Multimedia-CR4-Pair/dp/B00KVEIY4O/

If you want to go with 2.1 instead, you can't go wrong with the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. These speakers have been around for 15 years and are still one of best 2.1 computer speaker sets:

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Pro-Media-Certified-Speakers/dp/B009L1NY0M/

u/AdventurerSeth · 2 pointsr/WeAreTheMusicMakers

Personally, I agree with /u/tysonification but if you are truly intent on buying some monitors at that range then I'd recommend M-Audio AV 40s. I've heard some pretty tight tracks that have been produced using them (though that says more of the producer than the speakers themselves).

u/AverageJoeAudiophile · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Without knowing where you are located, Amazon UK is your best bet.

These 3 would be good starting points.

M-Audio-BX5-D2 £138.00

M-Audio AV 40 £89.00

Presonus Ceres 4.5 £119.00

if you can stretch the budget a little bit these JBL's will be great.

JBL-LSR305 £116.63 each

u/Teerhand · 1 pointr/audio

hi, first you wanna check where the speakers are standing, in corners or closer than 15cm to a wall is a bad idea with the cr4´s. if that doesn´t help get an equalizer, either as a program if your using a pc, or an analogue eq between dac and speakers and tune the lower frequencies to your liking. but i guess with better placement your results should be much better.

on that note get speaker stands, or at least some foam wedges, those improve sound quality a lot

​

https://www.amazon.com/Studio-Solutions-Density-Isolation-Monitors/dp/B01FGCC2FM/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_lp_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=48E5ZKGMRGWYA1A553FE

u/jreed17 · 2 pointsr/hiphopheads

thanks man, I just found some for $146 on amazon and they have crazy good reviews. I might try them out soon, appreciate the help.


here's a link for anyone interested

by the way, do you need a audio receiver to hook these up or do they have an amp in them?

u/bengeek12 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR3-Creative-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E

A lot of clarity and clean sound, Studio Monitor Mix, and they can get very loud without any distortion.
I got them when i went to college and theyve been great ever since, well worth the 100 i spent to get them

u/Brocktar · 2 pointsr/ZReviews

I have no experience with either of those, but they are both powered monitors so no need for a separate amp.
A good sub usually starts at about $100 and there is some extra restrictions in your options if you are trying to sub out from powered monitors instead of un-powered speakers/amp
That being said I just looked up the JBL LSR 305 and it looks like it is 22€ more than your budget. These powered monitors are great and I don't feel like I need a sub.

u/KingJoopIII · 1 pointr/vinyl

r/audiophile recommends the JBL 305 mkII active speakers.

I would try to listen to this and take it from there.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-Professional-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543073436&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=jbl+306p&dpPl=1&dpID=41fc1u-32OL&ref=plSrch#&vs=1

If you're looking for passive speakers, mind you will need a decent amp to power them.

I own an Audio Technica lp120 record player with a Denon AVR X1100-W receiver and Bowers & Wilkins 685 s2 speakers.
I am very happy with the speakers. I recommend these if your room isn't too big.

I will be upgrading the cartridge to a Nagaoke MP110 in the future and I will be looking for a decent phono preamp as well. I would like to have more warmth in the sound. Perhaps tubes, but no decision has been made.
Someday I would like to upgrade the amp as well.

u/hopla353 · 2 pointsr/vinyl

So I'm looking to get into the vinyl game and am looking at buying my first turntable. I've found some good deals on Craigslist for the Audio-Technica AT-LP120, so I'll go with one of those. Now, I own M-Audio AV40 speakers (link here) that are currently hooked up to my computer.

My question is how can I have both my computer and the turntable using these speakers?

Also, will I need anything besides the turntable to the speakers? I know they're active, so that should be enough correct?

Thanks for the help!

u/sampsans-ape-spray · 2 pointsr/vinyl

The Mackie CR4 Active (Powered) speakers hit that price point ($150)

http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR4-Pair-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4O

I bought them for my turntable set up (U-Turn Audio with built-in pre-amp).

In my opinion, for $150, they sound pretty damn good. Alas, with 4" woofers, you may not get all the bass you'd like. I'm considering adding a subwoofer down the road.

That said, I'd definitely recommend these for starters. My only complaint about the speakers is the bright green rings they put around each of the speakers. Didn't really go with my decor. So I painstakingly masked the speakers so I could paint the rings red (to match the turntable).

I think Mackie could make a few bucks by making the rings replaceable and selling different colors.

u/Thehappypine1 · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

I'm learning to record and mix my own music. Mostly full band type stuff. guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and auxiliary instruments. Does anyone have experience with the PreSonus Eris 3 3.5 Studio monitors? They seems like a good starter pair. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. My budged is $250 for a starter pair. Hoping these become secondary monitors as my needs and experience grow.

https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-Eris-E3-5-Professional-Multimedia/dp/B075QVMBT9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=studio+monitors&qid=1550255055&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-2

u/jarrcckk · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Potentially lacking a tad of bass, but these are a great shout, very popular with students and staff on my course: Yamaha HS-5, you might also want to try the folks over at /r/audioengineering

u/delakern · 1 pointr/ericprydz

M-Audio AV40 Studiophile powered monitors. They have a front/rear aux input, very portable, great clean hard hitting sound. One of the best dollar for dollar purchases I've ever made less than $200 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64

u/drebin8 · 6 pointsr/buildapc

These are the Bose speakers I have

Here's a set of speakers that are better for half the cost

These blow away the Bose speakers and cost a bit less

By the way - check out /r/audiophile - I'm not an audiophile, but that's what a few guys from over there recommended. The Audioengines would probably be your best bet, though if your budget is $150 get the second one. I haven't used either one so I'm not speaking from personal experience, just what's been recommended to me.

u/jtxhd · 1 pointr/macsetups

I was thinking about a Bluetooth speaker or a short soundbar.. but a good one would be $75-100. Then I came across these beasts for only $99.. PreSonus Eris 3.5. Tons of amazing reviews on YouTube and Amazon. Might pull the trigger.

https://www.amazon.com/PreSonus-Eris-E3-5-Professional-Multimedia/dp/B075QVMBT9

u/thePhysicist8 · 1 pointr/pcmasterrace

This. It won't shave a ton off your build, but it's a start. Even if you want to look into some higher-end audio equipment later down the line, you'll be much better off with a cheap external dac/amp.

Also, I might suggest against going for those speakers. You'll get a more neutral, higher quality sound out of some studio monitors. By comparison, those Logitech speakers are more "commercial" speakers -- they sacrifice accuracy and soundstage for an inflated bass and muddy highs/mids. They're about as hi-fi as a pair of Beats by Dre.

If you want to shave off some money: Alesis A1

If you want to spend a bit more: M-Audio Studiophile AV 40

I prefer headphones, but It's a purely personal call. If you want to go that route, the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x or ATH-M50 would probably be a good place to start.

u/jdawgweav · 2 pointsr/audiophile

For reference, most people around here just wouldn't consider $129 expensive. Most people around here probably aren't going to have very much experience with small plastic speakers in this price range.

However, there are lots of people here who listen to a lot of music at their computer and there are lots of solutions for that ranging from $100 to $10,000. If you're looking for an inexpensive speaker solution for a computer, these are a pretty good option. Cheaper than the T40 and will likely sound better.