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Looking for some audiophile advice for new 2.1 setup

561 views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  caenlen 
#1 ·
I am looking to get a new sound system for my computer. Right now I have a 12 inch sub with optical output, but I need a new receiver/amp and new bookshelf speakers. I have an optical output on my motherboard, so more than likely, I will be sticking with that unless absolutely necessary. The sub is powered, so I don't need to worry about that. I think I want something in the 50W per channel area. I mostly listen to heavy bass and deep mids. Clarity on the highs isn't as important, but would not be frowned upon. I can hookup all the equipment myself, just want to get an idea on brands and price. Last time I shopped for audio was years ago, so I just need a bit of a information re-up. Smaller sized equipment preferred. White or wood colored speakers, or something with a more modern/minimalist look ideally.

Any suggestions appreciated!
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawkeye071292 View Post

Under 700 ideally, but looking for something I can keep for a good long while. ie good warranty, etc. If its a bit more, I am flexible.
Vanatoo T1s should actually meet all your needs

They have a sub out line, they come in a cherry wood finish, they are nice and small, good warranty, sound great, and a good bit under budget.
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#5 ·
Matching the volume of the sub to the speakers powered by a separate amp will be difficult. When you turn up the amp, the sub won't get louder and conversely the sub's volume control won't affect the speakers.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tjj226 Angel View Post

Vanatoo T1s should actually meet all your needs

They have a sub out line, they come in a cherry wood finish, they are nice and small, good warranty, sound great, and a good bit under budget.
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Those are really pretty, but the cherry wont match anything I have
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#8 ·
So every time you listen to something it's going to sound different than it did last time you listened to it?
The volume ratio between the volume of the sub and the volume of the speakers should be the same all the time.

Music producers and recording engineers make thousands of dollars to get that ratios just right in the original recording.
 
#9 ·
I've been dealing with a lot of 2.1 systems recently and have been having really good luck with gear from Andrew Jones, I personally run his gear and have been suggesting him for a couple years. He contracts out with different companies, mainly ELAC and Pioneer. For budget systems in mind (700 is budget) and as someone who also listens to blues and other bass heavy music I'd recommend the ELAC B6's which can be found here. They are incredibly well build and are damn impressive for their price, they sound like my 1,400 dollar speakers.

For an amplifier I've been using Denon recently, I've found the output quality is near par with my SoundCraft Expression 3 and you can find the unit I'd suggest here. This amp has room to grow and sounds pretty decent for it's price and has a ton of onscreen features that really let you tune the system, especially if you are using a computer to output you can EQ the crap out of those ELAC's.

B6's produce enough low end that you don't need a sub unless you are going for some something in the rap genre. If you aren't located far from where the speakers will be (10ft) then I'd suggest looking into B5's as well, they don't have as much low end but produce sufficient low end with an added sub and will be better suited for closer listening.

Also: Wattage means nothing...More efficient speakers can use wattage differently. Older style speakers use more wattage due to different type of materials used on magnets and coil winding has become much better and tighter with more precise machines. A well engineered speaker can use 25w and sound way better and create more sound then an inefficient 50w speaker. What you need to look for is the signal/noise ratio and that's measured in dB at W/M.

Example of this is at work I'll use a K12 which at full gain and maximum input will reach 1,000w before clipping, however it'll put out 120dB ish. Another 1,000w from like a JBL speaker can put out 93dB at the same input/output.

Here is more reading material, don't take my word for these speakers.

Also, setting volume of subwoofer to increase with volume increase of mains isn't as difficult as they are making it sound, voltage increases out of the pre-out of the receiver when you turn the volume knob up, this will send more signal to the external amp which will increase volume with proper gain stage setup.
 
#10 ·
I was thinking of a smaller amp like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-X7-High-Resolution-Headphone-Connectivity/dp/B00Q3XLGLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504741660&sr=8-3&keywords=creative+amp

Then pairing it with some smaller speakers like these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OSR1C8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FE9XGVM?psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2

Not those particular speakers, but something small.

As for tuning the sub, I will set it at a decent volume that I generally play music at and leave it. I wont mess with it too much. I dont need like a crazy amount of bass because I am sitting so close to it. It can shake my mouse off my desk turned up. I mostly just use the sub for movies anyway, not as much music right now cause the rest of my speakers suck for audio.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawkeye071292 View Post

I was thinking of a smaller amp like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-X7-High-Resolution-Headphone-Connectivity/dp/B00Q3XLGLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504741660&sr=8-3&keywords=creative+amp

Then pairing it with some smaller speakers like these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OSR1C8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FE9XGVM?psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2

Not those particular speakers, but something small.

As for tuning the sub, I will set it at a decent volume that I generally play music at and leave it. I wont mess with it too much. I dont need like a crazy amount of bass because I am sitting so close to it. It can shake my mouse off my desk turned up. I mostly just use the sub for movies anyway, not as much music right now cause the rest of my speakers suck for audio.
If you want something that's all contained in a package check out these. They are powered and don't require an amp, but you don't have control over the subwoofer. They have no low end but sound incredible. If you have a subwoofer you don't need low end anyway.

Also, everything you've linked is consumer stuff, they make higher end equipment for studio use that is cheaper then consumer stuff and sounds way better
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#12 ·
The answer to this question really depends on your listening style and area. For desktops, and small rooms I really recommend good quality powered nearfield monitors. The Fluid Audio FX8 are modern looking (black speakers set in a white case or all black) coaxial design with very good bi-amplification - 130 watt class A-B. The concentric driver (tweeter mounted in the center of the woofer) makes them much smaller than the usual speakers with 8" woofers They run about $250 each. There's a well written review here at Sound on Sound. I'm not as bass hungry as you perhaps, so I wouldn't use a subwoofer with them, but I know one studio that does. I've heard their pair now a few times, and they seem to be suited to the kind of music you describe.

If you like the look, the relatively new ESI uniK 05+ is much smaller, and probably needs a subwoofer for someone who really likes the bottom octaves. Black case with an gold/orange 5" driver and a flat rectangular folded flat plane tweeter gives them an assertive look. I've heard them now a couple of times in another neighborhood studio where they sit on the owner's desk- for his personal listening. A German reviewer who's well known in pro/am audio circles gave it this review. B&H sells it here in the States.

Finally there are several Senal models in your price range. They are strikingly modern and beautiful looking with a shape that's a bit hard to describe. The smaller models are built with subwoofers in mind. I've heard them in many small studios and like the sound - clean and punchy, never boomy.

I use ancient Event 20/20's at my writing desk, and either newer Emes or truly ancient and now a bit fragile passive Tannoy's at the mixing board. I'd recommend the Event's or the Eme's, but they're a bit pricey, esp. the Emes. Tannoy's current line-up is mostly KRK grade junk. After years of sitting at music workstations, listening to decent quality nearfield speakers, usually driven by well constructed, but very moderately priced audio interfaces, I now find myself very dissatisfied with the typical mid-fi, under $3,000 speaker/receiver systems, whether 2.0 or 2.1. If you want to listen at the other end of a 22ft living room, nearfield monitors aren't the right stuff, but if your listening is going to be desk-bound, or within 8 to 10 ft, I think you'll be able to find great sound with any of these active monitors. On the other hand, while there's some incredibly good high end gear out there, audio engineers tend to make jokes about people who swear by their $100 a foot "high end" speaker cables and their monoblock tube amps costing 5 grand or more. We know how much more important a quality balanced mic cable that sell for under 5 dollars a foot is to the signal chain.

Whatever you buy, good luck, and I hope you enjoy your listening.
 
#13 ·
A B-stock or used pair of Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1s would fit your budget. They are basically a pair of bass cannons with their long-throw drivers. I owned these speakers previously, having compared them to other speakers in their price range and they came out on top for me, before moving up to higher price brackets. And the Sierra 1s routinely come out as the best speakers (in their price range) in speaker shootouts at AVS and previously at an audioholics shootout.



As you can see, their -3db point is 44Hz in an anechoic chamber, in room they should be able to go flat to the mid 30hz range.

Review here:
http://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/ascend-acoustics-sierra-1

Right now Ascend Acoustics is selling them for $678/pair:
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AD&Product_Code=9SRM1PPBS
 
#14 ·
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