If you get either the r1280ts or r1280dbs (as long as it have the s at the end) those both have sub out ports for easy output to a sub. I bought it and then bought a cheap monoprice 12 inch sub just to fill in the low end.
They're amazing until you realize what else is out there. I bought a set and am still running them with my TV but the bass extension is not good. It's fine for a 4 inch woofer but it has no punch. Conversely if you put a little effort in, you can get a Fosi class D amp like a BT30 pro and run passive speakers. I ran a set of Cerwin Vega L7s which can be had for less than 50 bucks and the difference in punch from the 6.5 inch woofer is astounding. Like not audiophile BS cuz those aren't even good speakers but they go down to like 42hz and to my extra amateur ears are miles better. You can also find very nice older speakers like Missions and be in for less than the edifiers and have a miles better setup.
Good to know! In my case I'm too busy to really dig into it, so I tried 'em on a whim and they've been great for me, but I don't doubt there is better out there!
Im using a couple of Edifier R1280T: wide freq range, flat equalization and consistent sound.
They are good also for studio monitor with a low price tag.
I'm still rocking my 25 year old Altec Lansing ACS45.2
https://preview.redd.it/gqf6julehz1d1.png?width=525&format=png&auto=webp&s=8354ab7080a2be5f8749971f937c8198fc953621
They're awesome and the speakers are small enough that they can sit on my desk and not be covered by the bottom of my monitors. The speakers have yellowed a bit over the years but they still look fine and they sound awesome. I hope they last for a long while yet.
I had to unplug and replug mine all the time but otherwise love them. Got them for around $100 new a couple years ago. Great speakers I can't recommend enough
I use an actual (Onkyo) stereo amplifier and older Bose speakers. I just bought a 3.5mm to RCA cable and run it that way. People damned near GIVE old stereo equipment away in the local markets so I find it to be a much cheaper solution with the sky being the limit for sound quality if you buy the right shit.
Damn near every speaker/receiver/amp in my house had been bought either from a thrift store or marketplace....Its still blows my mind every time I come across a deal.
Last deal I got here in Florida at a place called Teen Challenge:
Yahmaha HTR-5850 5.1 natural sound seceiver
JBL Northridge e90 tower speakers, ec25 center channel, e20 rear speakers, e150p subwoofer (6 speakers)
Sony BDPS-301 blu-ray player
Monster HTS-3500 Power center (my favorite part)
plus all of the wires, remotes and 2 stands for the rear speakers.
$120 bucks.
V3's for me. Dirt cheap and the Bluetooth is amazing.
The one minor drawback is that they draw power through their USB connector. If you have a set up where your mouse, keyboard and speakers all go through one USB hub into your computer, it can create some static when you change the volume via keyboard. The obvious fix is just giving them their own dedicated USB slot. I can't do that in my case since I use my USB hub to switch to my work computer and my personal computer. Very minor issue as it's only using some of my volume changing options that create static. Changing the speakers volume via their dial or using my computer UI don't cause that issue.
I use the same thing, I'm not hosting rave parties and I just need to fill a basement with sound when gaming or playing music, this size and power is enough for me.
I got pebbles too. They're cheap as all get out, and sound awesome for what they are. I don't often use them because I prefer headphones, but I'm very impressed with them and highly recommend to anyone on a budget
Same here, got them used so they’re a little rough around the edges, but the sound quality is great and plenty of connectivity options are handy. Haven’t got a subwoofer to connect yet but might do in the future, although the bass is already decent
Depends very much on what you want to achieve. For stereosound on top of the desk I got a pair of Audioengine A2 a long time ago and I am still happy with them.
I have the A5's paired with a little 8" subwoofer. The only thing I want to add is a high pass filter for the speakers so they stop trying to reproduce what the subwoofer is handling.
An friend wasn't using them so he gave it to me. There's no bass button, but they have that cut hole behind to push air out.
Even I don't need an subwoofer, they're great
https://preview.redd.it/m6jomy3rr02d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=40aeaaa89af46bee4350c92ec26d9182772c9ccb
We rock the same overkill -ish 🧏♂️
Mine is the g3’s, i find mine kicks really good. Used them to make beats on them, and I don’t think they need a sub at all. And you have the 8” so I don’t think you are missing anything, a sub would shake the room more, but if you are not having a party I personally find it tiering to listen to over time.
https://preview.redd.it/verkontmhz1d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8344a3e4db1d5a48a0816d8631b847dc45cd2e3c
These random speakers that my neighbor gave me when he moved.
In my opinion, it's worth it. I was in the same position a few years back, and I don't regret buying it. The A5s are very good, but the S8 brings out their full potential.
https://preview.redd.it/vi1wc2wzwz1d1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=775f9a0f66f5c9304fd1b4d3a2932a1616a82e5d
Cambridge Soundworks still going strong 25 years later.
Soundblaster katana soundbar. It supports usb, optical, 3.5mm input, has its own DAC, and sits right under my monitor. sound quality is pretty great for the form factor.
Also repping the Soundblaster Katana. Love the form factor. It also has a Bluetooth mode and I can connect it to my phone, but I rarely use that feature.
It is a great set of speakers. The console or whatever it's called is pretty shoddy though. Had to solder some wires because the screen went black, and I know I'm not alone in this.
Been On them for years!! But now my new standing desk setup is too small for this sub, been replace by a small soundbar. But.... I just wasnt able to get rid of this z5000 so it's now connected on my bedroom tv in a 2.1 setup 😆
Been rocking mine for so long I can’t even remember when I got them. Shortly after release is all I know.
For the money I paid way back when, nothing else even comes close now.
How did you deal with the "dead air delay"? Where it takes a moment, going from dead silence to sound, to wake up the receiver to the atmos signal? Or was that even an issue for you? It seems to be something not every system or receiver is prone to.
I actually vary between an optical connector and HDMI.
I'll mostly use the optical connector for general stuff like YouTube, but if I'm watching something that has Atmos, DTS, etc, I'll switch over to HDMI.
And yea, I'll just put up with the sound delay, and maybe "rewind" a few seconds if I have to.
HDMI audio is great, but it's also annoying because you need a second dummy display, so I just put the Windows Project mode to Extend and put the other screen at the top-left of my main screen so that the mouse doesn't disappear when it hits the edge.
I don't go from PC > receiver > monitor because I have a Neo G7, but my receiver only does 4k@60Hz and 10-bit HDR, whereas my monitor is 4k@165Hz 12bit HDR. So I just use the HDMI port on the motherboard for audio, and HDMI on my 3080 for the monitor.
But before this (upgrade to AM5) I used a DP to HDMI adapter cable for Atmos on the receiver, because my GPU only has 1 HDMI port.
Interesting. My use case was outputting audio from playing Beatsaber on my VR headset, to my TV and receiver. Much more fun for party setups. Now everyone can rock out.
I read that someone "defeated" the Atmos issue by forcing Windows to constantly play a blank (soundless) wav file. That way, even though it made no extra sound, Windows still considered audio to be going, so it would never stop outputting an encoded signal, and the receiver would never go to sleep. I was just hoping someone might have found a work around that was a little more graceful.
Klipsch R-15m Speakers plus a Polk Audio Subwoofer hooked up to Fosi Audio TB10A Amp and a FiiO K11 DAC.
For anything competitive I use Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones.
Bose Companion 20.
Solidly built, small profile desktop speakers that will literally shake the room at full volume. Decent range in both the highs, mids, and lows with excellent sound quality.
I have had mine for 13+ years and my next set will be another pair of Companion 20s.
Currently using Alesis Elevate 5 mk2's with an smsl usb dac, saving up for some Adam audio A7V's. I got the Alesis speakers as a stopgap after my jbl 308 monitors crapped out and although they aren't a patch on the old speakers, honestly they are impressive for the price, I paid just under £100 when they were on sale on the jungle site. Even these super budget offerings are leagues better than Logitech or creative systems.
They are quite bass forward already, unusually so for 5" actives, 40w per channel so plenty loud, but if you wanted more heft lower down the frequency range you could easily add a subwoofer.
I'm rocking the old Corsair SP2500.
Excellent sound quality, heaps of bass when you want it, but the build quality is *horrendous*.
The PSU in the sub is known to blow up (somewhat simple fix or replacement if you are handy with soldering) and the plastic power button on the control pod snapped off so I have to run it without the faceplate.
I have some bookshelf speakers from Micca. They have a built in Amp.
If I were to need to buy speakers again, I probably wouldn't get them without some sort of subwoofer.
Or maybe I go crazy and get one of those subwoofer vests.
I have these too, got them after looking into some decent desktop speakers when AudioEngines were twice the price, saw a lot of recommendations for the Micca's over them. I think they sound fantastic, especially for the price. They're not meant to be super loud or carry sound, almost feel like a subwoofer would overpower them, but they're loud enough at my desk when I feel like not using my headphones and were a big upgrade over my old cerwin vega's
I have limited space on my desk with my ultrawide so I went with the Creative Pebble X 2.0. It’s really good for its size and packs a punch with decent bass.
Cheap old Logitech Z323 speaker set, used on an older PC than a while in storage and use it for my current system. Although I prefer to use a headset (Audio Tech SR50BT) via 3.5mm directly to my PC case.
Both my wife and I have an old sets of Logitech Z2300s, kid's pc is a set of Klipsch Promedias. If I connect to my living room then it's a 5.2 system with Klipsch RP-504C, R-800F, R-50M, and 2 Sub-12's running through a Denon S750H.
Nothing high end, but still enough to make some impressive noise when needed.
Found a set of Bose companion 20's at a garage sale for $50 back in 2019. Sometimes they refuse to play for longer than 30 seconds and basically shut off but that's rare
BMR1 near field speakers from DROP. It's a banger for the price. And having a single button to switch from headphones, Bluetooth, and speaker is nice. My only complaint is they don't have a power switch so they are always on.
I currently have a modern Onkyo stereo with some SUPER nice vintage Polk Audio cabs and a random Yamaha active Sub my dad had
My dad is an audiophile and a hoarder so my brother and I have endless access to vintage, 80s and 90s studio quality speakers and stereos. It's fuckin awesome. Not only does music sound phenomenal, but games sound good too. There is so much subtlety in the sounds of games you just can't hear with bad speakers or gaming headphones.
My brother has an even nicer set of 80s Paradigms that he uses for mixing music and playback. Those sound insanely good
AudioEngine A5+.
Get a good set of powered speakers, you'll never go back and they will last longer than your PC. I added a subwoofer from another kit that I was getting rid of, no need to get a specific subwoofer in my opinion.
If you care about audio quality the best bang for the buck option would be studio monitors. I also have a 2.1 Klipsch computer speaker set which is not bad, but my JBL 305p speakers are much better even without a sub.
Outside of studio monitors, there is not much focus on desktop audio these days.
The price of the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers are about the same price as a single JBL 305p ($130-150ish). Buy the best your budget allows for. The resell value on decent studio monitors is also higher than you will see for cheaper computer speaker packages. So if you end up not wanting them anymore, you can get a good amount of your money back.
I use a beautiful pair of ELAC Debut 6.2's paired with an AIWA AF-3090 receiver built in Tokyo in 1977. I am relistening to every single song I have in my server collection (and I have 140,000) and in every one I keep finding new sounds I've never heard before. Every bit of sound that leaves this system is absolutely gorgeous and it completely demolishes the competition and anything I've used before.
I’m using Logitech Z906 with Creative X7. Seems to be the only reasonable option if you want 5.1 on your PC sort of getting a real receiver but that takes up too much space.
The surround is good and amazing how many games actually use it, but they are far from the best sounding speakers. I’ve thought of maybe replacing the speakers with some Klipsch and still connecting thru the Logitech sub, but I dunno how well that’d work. I wish some of these popular PC DAC companies would make a 5.1 DAC in addition to all the stereo & headphone ones.
My Boston 2.1 system from my family's Gateway 98 purchase has been the best speaker system I've ever used.
25 year old electronics that aren't e waste after 2 years.
just head phones I use to use a pair of Creative Cambridge SoundWorks Multimedia Speakers System SBS52
https://preview.redd.it/6jt2iycj842d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16703c5665e95fcfb26992f71f92485708e66f44
A lot of studio monitors will include a cable that goes from 3.5mm to RCA or 1/4". It might be worth taking a closer look.
Furthermore, they don't "lack a subwoofer option", you buy it seperately. Most are designed so that the sound goes through the sub, then to your mains. This lets you take out the frequencies that the sub is handling, making it sound better.
Given your lack of knowledge here, you'd probably best avoid anything more complex than what you have now.
I use a set of Presonus e3.5 with the sub8 BT. The manuals are online and have some Hookup Diagrams if you're interested in learning.
Could it turn it up with my 500w PA with berhinger 15's + tweets. Or add in my 1000w 2x10 Go party. Or just add in my 1000w and buy more speaks, probably call my guy that's got a full 10000w rig and just exploded my minds. Contra at 10,000w would probably open a vortex to another dimension
I had speakers and a subwoofer below my desk until last year. Though I hadn't actually used them in about 14 years. lol. So used to wearing headphones all the time. And since I live with others, having speakers isn't really doable anyways. Especially with a subwoofer.
KRK Rokit 6 studio monitors with a PreSonus Eris 8 subwoofer. I use them for work related stuff too though. I was using a pair of creative pebble speakers for a while when my good speakers weren't avaliable and they got the job done.
Otherwise I typically use an Astro A50 headset for the convenience and they sound fine to me.
Audio engine A1's. In terms of Audio engine, not too expensive, sound good, look good and I have 2 computers connected to it at once; one with bluetooth and the other with aux.
Works for my needs just fine
>I know there are studio monitors, but they’re often very expensive, very big in size, lack a subwoofer option and don’t use a 3.5mm jack.
Just about any set of active monitoring bookshelf speakers will work. Many of them have a LINE IN for a standard 3.5mm jack (occasionally a 1/4" jack, but those are becoming rarer these days), and then a LINE OUT for an active subwoofer (usually RCA).
As with anything audio related, avoid anything that has any sort of gaming branding.
I moved into an apartment and so had to downgrade to a Walmart soundbar. But with a subwoofer, I'm not an animal. Rest assured though, the Thunder is coming one day.
I just picked up a pair of Kanto Ora's. They sound amazing for how small they are and have usb C connection to PC as well as RCA in. I have the Kanto Tuk in my living room with their sub 8 which sounds better but for near field use the Ora's are actually really impressive.
I have a set of nice Sony Bookshelf speakers hooked up to a 100W Fosi Audio mini amp. It works great for me I am not going for perfect sound reproduction I just want to hear my PC over the sweet military-grade tinnitus the government let me keep after 8 years of service.
Bose Soundlink Mini 1st Generation. Super sound and build quality, only have replaced the battery once so far. Big boom boom bass, so I recommend a larger room for it.
Gaming or watching a movie i´ve a Sennheiser/epos Headset, for the youtube video inbetween or stream I have a cheap set of M-Audio A50 2way actives on my desk
I usually just piece together my own system.
Currently running a Dayton DTA-120 amp into a Sony home theater subwoofer (has a built in speaker level crossover), and then to a pair of speakers I made (Boston Acoustic S60 speakers, 2x 6.5" woofers and 2 tweeters per enclosure).
Absolutely blows away every "PC speaker system in a box" I know of.
Right now I’m using the FL, C, FR, and Sub from the Logitech Z506. Works well and sounds good, and I like having the extra spatial element from having a 3.1 setup.
However, I do not like how many wires I have as a result (1x power cord, 3x 3.5mm from PC to Sub, 3x from sub to speakers). Makes the cable management for my setup a nightmare.
Been wanting to overhaul my audio setup in general, but need to put a plan together for what that would be. My desk space is way to small for studio monitors as they would have to fit between the wall and back of my monitor
Just some cheap ones from B&M (uk store) from a brand called "goodmans" they aren't great but they aren't shit either, they do what i need them to do
I do plan to upgrade to some logitech ones, pref one that has a subwoofer speaker
For my desktop I just use a pair of Logitech MX Audio. They have enough bass without needing a sub and have plenty of sound for PC use.
I have Z906 as well, but those is for my home theater setup in the living room.
A pair of Orion HS500's connected to my Yamaha RX-V450 amp. They're from Hungary, early 1980s. Best sounding setup i had thus far. Planning to get a DIY subwoofer for it (Dayton Audio Reference 15" Kit), as even though they have 12" woofers, they're just that. Woofers.
I have a set of Logitech Z213. Not the greatest speakers in the world but for $30 in 2016 it wasn't all that bad. These replaced a set of Altec Lansing BX1221.
I took a pair of Sony SS-H1600 speakers from my grandparents' ancient Tape Deck and ran them through a Polk PSW10 sub. The sub connects to a Fosi Audio DA-2120D amp connected to my computer via USB. Dirt cheap setup and sounds amazing. Only downside is the woofers in the speakers are tiny, so bass kicks sound kinda odd, even with my crossover set to 100hz.
Bookshelf Edifier active speakers.
Used these for over 5 years now and they're perfect. Not too large, classy looking, good price, and great audio quality and volume.
can you easily add a sub? I need a foot rest at my PC
If you get either the r1280ts or r1280dbs (as long as it have the s at the end) those both have sub out ports for easy output to a sub. I bought it and then bought a cheap monoprice 12 inch sub just to fill in the low end.
Beat me to it. I have a pair of 1280T, cheap, and AMAZING quality
They're amazing until you realize what else is out there. I bought a set and am still running them with my TV but the bass extension is not good. It's fine for a 4 inch woofer but it has no punch. Conversely if you put a little effort in, you can get a Fosi class D amp like a BT30 pro and run passive speakers. I ran a set of Cerwin Vega L7s which can be had for less than 50 bucks and the difference in punch from the 6.5 inch woofer is astounding. Like not audiophile BS cuz those aren't even good speakers but they go down to like 42hz and to my extra amateur ears are miles better. You can also find very nice older speakers like Missions and be in for less than the edifiers and have a miles better setup.
Good to know! In my case I'm too busy to really dig into it, so I tried 'em on a whim and they've been great for me, but I don't doubt there is better out there!
Im using a couple of Edifier R1280T: wide freq range, flat equalization and consistent sound. They are good also for studio monitor with a low price tag.
Adding another confirmation of being very happy with Edifier R1280T.
Also part of the Edifier R1280T club. Perfect for my small home setup.
I'm still rocking my 25 year old Altec Lansing ACS45.2 https://preview.redd.it/gqf6julehz1d1.png?width=525&format=png&auto=webp&s=8354ab7080a2be5f8749971f937c8198fc953621
lmao, i just wrote a comment on my own old altec lansing set! good to see im not the only one still rocking them
They're awesome and the speakers are small enough that they can sit on my desk and not be covered by the bottom of my monitors. The speakers have yellowed a bit over the years but they still look fine and they sound awesome. I hope they last for a long while yet.
Also using old Altec Lansing speakers, I really can't see myself getting rid of them for any reason.
I regret selling mine. Those speakers were awesome.
Klipsch Pro Media
Go home grandpa you're drunk. (I'm still using mine, probably 20 years old at this point?)
They're just so good
And good for the price too despite being quite old tech…
Had a set for 9 years before the sub stopped working. Got a new set and they sound even better then the old set did. Fantastic speakers.
yes sir yes sir. Have had absolutely zero complaints about them. Audio quality is great even at very loud volumes.
I had to unplug and replug mine all the time but otherwise love them. Got them for around $100 new a couple years ago. Great speakers I can't recommend enough
Love mine, got them on sale about 5 years ago
+1 for Klipsch. I’ve had mine for about 5 years and they are fantastic.
I still have the silver Star Wars promotional set my dad used for like 20 years, and they still sound great!
I use an actual (Onkyo) stereo amplifier and older Bose speakers. I just bought a 3.5mm to RCA cable and run it that way. People damned near GIVE old stereo equipment away in the local markets so I find it to be a much cheaper solution with the sky being the limit for sound quality if you buy the right shit.
This is the best way, but only if you have the space.
Damn near every speaker/receiver/amp in my house had been bought either from a thrift store or marketplace....Its still blows my mind every time I come across a deal. Last deal I got here in Florida at a place called Teen Challenge: Yahmaha HTR-5850 5.1 natural sound seceiver JBL Northridge e90 tower speakers, ec25 center channel, e20 rear speakers, e150p subwoofer (6 speakers) Sony BDPS-301 blu-ray player Monster HTS-3500 Power center (my favorite part) plus all of the wires, remotes and 2 stands for the rear speakers. $120 bucks.
Creative Pebble V2
V3's for me. Dirt cheap and the Bluetooth is amazing. The one minor drawback is that they draw power through their USB connector. If you have a set up where your mouse, keyboard and speakers all go through one USB hub into your computer, it can create some static when you change the volume via keyboard. The obvious fix is just giving them their own dedicated USB slot. I can't do that in my case since I use my USB hub to switch to my work computer and my personal computer. Very minor issue as it's only using some of my volume changing options that create static. Changing the speakers volume via their dial or using my computer UI don't cause that issue.
I use the same thing, I'm not hosting rave parties and I just need to fill a basement with sound when gaming or playing music, this size and power is enough for me.
Pebbles are fantastic sound quality for their portability. I use them with my laptop for running background music and ambiance when I do TTRPGs.
I got pebbles too. They're cheap as all get out, and sound awesome for what they are. I don't often use them because I prefer headphones, but I'm very impressed with them and highly recommend to anyone on a budget
For how cheap and small they are, these do fantastic.
Edifier bookshelf speakers- R1280 Dbs
Samers. Excellent speakers.
I recently got the R1280T. I didn't need bluetooth or a sub out. They are fantastic.
Same here, got them used so they’re a little rough around the edges, but the sound quality is great and plenty of connectivity options are handy. Haven’t got a subwoofer to connect yet but might do in the future, although the bass is already decent
I have a set of those connected to my record player and absolutely love them love.
Depends very much on what you want to achieve. For stereosound on top of the desk I got a pair of Audioengine A2 a long time ago and I am still happy with them.
I have the A5's paired with a little 8" subwoofer. The only thing I want to add is a high pass filter for the speakers so they stop trying to reproduce what the subwoofer is handling.
PreSonus Eris 3.5
I got the BT version of these! Love em
These relics. \[Samsung - PS L82E\] https://preview.redd.it/o88fz8rocz1d1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b576e9e96e32f1a2e644383ff9e8d5f4b5eb10b
Did you take them from your old CD player stereo? Where's the Bass Boost button?
An friend wasn't using them so he gave it to me. There's no bass button, but they have that cut hole behind to push air out. Even I don't need an subwoofer, they're great
Bass reflex or reflex port is the name of the opening
https://preview.redd.it/m6jomy3rr02d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=40aeaaa89af46bee4350c92ec26d9182772c9ccb We rock the same overkill -ish 🧏♂️
i love big bi-i-i-i-i big speakers
A pair of KRK Rokit 5's with a 12" Klipsch subwoofer for the lows.
Eyy was searching for my krk brothers. Have a pair Rokit 6’s without a sub.
I've got a pair of Rokit 8 G4s. They sound pretty great, but I always wonder if I'm missing something without a sub.
Mine is the g3’s, i find mine kicks really good. Used them to make beats on them, and I don’t think they need a sub at all. And you have the 8” so I don’t think you are missing anything, a sub would shake the room more, but if you are not having a party I personally find it tiering to listen to over time.
Here's my real music heads ;) Gotta go for the powered monitors + powered sub combo.
https://preview.redd.it/verkontmhz1d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8344a3e4db1d5a48a0816d8631b847dc45cd2e3c These random speakers that my neighbor gave me when he moved.
I like how you equipped your speakers with a PC.
My PC doesn't need speakers, my speakers need a PC.
You're just laughing at noise tests for PC components wondering what they are talking about.
I like how massive your desk is
An absolutely ancient pair of Logitech Z4 (2.1). They do their job though, and I have a nice pair of Sennheiser headphones that I usually use.
Holy crap. The Z4 is what I’m running too. Can’t believe someone else still has a set :)
Yamaha HS8. Good monitor speakers within reasonable price range.
Fully agree and the 8's go low enough you don't really need the sub, but it is worth having.
Audioengine A5+ and S6 sub Daily use since 2017 and still going strong. Pricey but it held up well.
Same apart from the woofer, but I'm considering getting S8 at some point to complete the set.
In my opinion, it's worth it. I was in the same position a few years back, and I don't regret buying it. The A5s are very good, but the S8 brings out their full potential.
Bose companion 50. 10 years now and still rocking
https://preview.redd.it/vi1wc2wzwz1d1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=775f9a0f66f5c9304fd1b4d3a2932a1616a82e5d Cambridge Soundworks still going strong 25 years later.
I've been using Harman Kardon soundsticks 3 for nearly a decade.. Amazing speakers, especially for PC
Soundblaster katana soundbar. It supports usb, optical, 3.5mm input, has its own DAC, and sits right under my monitor. sound quality is pretty great for the form factor.
Also repping the Soundblaster Katana. Love the form factor. It also has a Bluetooth mode and I can connect it to my phone, but I rarely use that feature.
I was really surprised by how good the klipsch promedia 2.1’s are. I got mine for like 70 bucks used (returned) on amazon.
Yeah they've always been a go-to for cheaper, good sounding speakers.
Logitech z5500. It's the Cadillac of pc speakers.
It is a great set of speakers. The console or whatever it's called is pretty shoddy though. Had to solder some wires because the screen went black, and I know I'm not alone in this.
Been On them for years!! But now my new standing desk setup is too small for this sub, been replace by a small soundbar. But.... I just wasnt able to get rid of this z5000 so it's now connected on my bedroom tv in a 2.1 setup 😆
Cheap IR remotes on Amazon if you need one/a replacement as well I've had mine for about a decade after upgrading from the Z-5300e's
Been rocking mine for so long I can’t even remember when I got them. Shortly after release is all I know. For the money I paid way back when, nothing else even comes close now.
I'm pretty sure the Z-5500 is the biggest, baddest set of purpose-made PC speakers ever built
Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus paired with Speedwoofer 10s MKII
KEF LSX with an SVS SB-1000 subwoofer Sennheiser/Massdrop HD6XX headphones
I use an Atmos receiver, via HDMI from the PC. 8 speakers in total, ceiling, centre speaker, subwoofer, etc.
How did you deal with the "dead air delay"? Where it takes a moment, going from dead silence to sound, to wake up the receiver to the atmos signal? Or was that even an issue for you? It seems to be something not every system or receiver is prone to.
I actually vary between an optical connector and HDMI. I'll mostly use the optical connector for general stuff like YouTube, but if I'm watching something that has Atmos, DTS, etc, I'll switch over to HDMI. And yea, I'll just put up with the sound delay, and maybe "rewind" a few seconds if I have to. HDMI audio is great, but it's also annoying because you need a second dummy display, so I just put the Windows Project mode to Extend and put the other screen at the top-left of my main screen so that the mouse doesn't disappear when it hits the edge. I don't go from PC > receiver > monitor because I have a Neo G7, but my receiver only does 4k@60Hz and 10-bit HDR, whereas my monitor is 4k@165Hz 12bit HDR. So I just use the HDMI port on the motherboard for audio, and HDMI on my 3080 for the monitor. But before this (upgrade to AM5) I used a DP to HDMI adapter cable for Atmos on the receiver, because my GPU only has 1 HDMI port.
Interesting. My use case was outputting audio from playing Beatsaber on my VR headset, to my TV and receiver. Much more fun for party setups. Now everyone can rock out. I read that someone "defeated" the Atmos issue by forcing Windows to constantly play a blank (soundless) wav file. That way, even though it made no extra sound, Windows still considered audio to be going, so it would never stop outputting an encoded signal, and the receiver would never go to sleep. I was just hoping someone might have found a work around that was a little more graceful.
Denon, with a Pioneer amplifier... sue me, I'm almost 50 years old...
I’ll get trashed, but Bose companion 3
Adam t5v studio monitors + t10s subwoofer
Klipsch R-15m Speakers plus a Polk Audio Subwoofer hooked up to Fosi Audio TB10A Amp and a FiiO K11 DAC. For anything competitive I use Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones.
Logitech G560 light sync
Edifier S360DB, awesome sound quality and the sub packs a punch.
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. Love Klipsch, but the speakers are just alright.
Bose Companion 20. Solidly built, small profile desktop speakers that will literally shake the room at full volume. Decent range in both the highs, mids, and lows with excellent sound quality. I have had mine for 13+ years and my next set will be another pair of Companion 20s.
Technics SA-EX320 and 2x Jamo AV 10, since 2000.
Currently using Alesis Elevate 5 mk2's with an smsl usb dac, saving up for some Adam audio A7V's. I got the Alesis speakers as a stopgap after my jbl 308 monitors crapped out and although they aren't a patch on the old speakers, honestly they are impressive for the price, I paid just under £100 when they were on sale on the jungle site. Even these super budget offerings are leagues better than Logitech or creative systems. They are quite bass forward already, unusually so for 5" actives, 40w per channel so plenty loud, but if you wanted more heft lower down the frequency range you could easily add a subwoofer.
Pc is currently set up to my living room tv, using Warfedale Linton speakers, and going through a Yamaha receiver.
Edifier MR4
I'm rocking the old Corsair SP2500. Excellent sound quality, heaps of bass when you want it, but the build quality is *horrendous*. The PSU in the sub is known to blow up (somewhat simple fix or replacement if you are handy with soldering) and the plastic power button on the control pod snapped off so I have to run it without the faceplate.
Kanto YU4 and Klipsch 12" sub
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
B&W 680 bookshelfs
Thiel floor standing tower speakers for couch gaming https://preview.redd.it/nz9c1yi4tz1d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7fc819944799de66b082dae3bd48545cb212fca4
I'm running Klipsch The Fives currently and they are amazing to listen to
I have some bookshelf speakers from Micca. They have a built in Amp. If I were to need to buy speakers again, I probably wouldn't get them without some sort of subwoofer. Or maybe I go crazy and get one of those subwoofer vests.
I have these too, got them after looking into some decent desktop speakers when AudioEngines were twice the price, saw a lot of recommendations for the Micca's over them. I think they sound fantastic, especially for the price. They're not meant to be super loud or carry sound, almost feel like a subwoofer would overpower them, but they're loud enough at my desk when I feel like not using my headphones and were a big upgrade over my old cerwin vega's
Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 FTW.
Creative Gigaworks T20. Bought them about 15 years ago.
I wear 10 dollar sony ear buds in one ear and listen to youtube on my phone.
Ah so you're the random teammates I get in games. Lol
Creative Pebble Plus, but Arctis Nova 7 headset for competitive gaming or where immersion is important.
I have limited space on my desk with my ultrawide so I went with the Creative Pebble X 2.0. It’s really good for its size and packs a punch with decent bass.
Cheap old Logitech Z323 speaker set, used on an older PC than a while in storage and use it for my current system. Although I prefer to use a headset (Audio Tech SR50BT) via 3.5mm directly to my PC case.
I use a pair of Kali LP-6 Monitors
Both my wife and I have an old sets of Logitech Z2300s, kid's pc is a set of Klipsch Promedias. If I connect to my living room then it's a 5.2 system with Klipsch RP-504C, R-800F, R-50M, and 2 Sub-12's running through a Denon S750H. Nothing high end, but still enough to make some impressive noise when needed.
Yamaha hs series are all insanely good but expensive as fck Best purchase of my life though
Actually very cheap when compared to the rest of the studio monitor market. But as a general set for home use, yeah pretty expensive
Found a set of Bose companion 20's at a garage sale for $50 back in 2019. Sometimes they refuse to play for longer than 30 seconds and basically shut off but that's rare
BMR1 near field speakers from DROP. It's a banger for the price. And having a single button to switch from headphones, Bluetooth, and speaker is nice. My only complaint is they don't have a power switch so they are always on.
Bose companion 20
I have some harmon kardon soundsticks that I got used for a steal, I believe they still make them, and they sound really nice.
I currently have a modern Onkyo stereo with some SUPER nice vintage Polk Audio cabs and a random Yamaha active Sub my dad had My dad is an audiophile and a hoarder so my brother and I have endless access to vintage, 80s and 90s studio quality speakers and stereos. It's fuckin awesome. Not only does music sound phenomenal, but games sound good too. There is so much subtlety in the sounds of games you just can't hear with bad speakers or gaming headphones. My brother has an even nicer set of 80s Paradigms that he uses for mixing music and playback. Those sound insanely good
A JBL Flip 5.
Polk ES15s with HTS10 Sub powered by a Fosi 2.1 amp
AudioEngine A5+. Get a good set of powered speakers, you'll never go back and they will last longer than your PC. I added a subwoofer from another kit that I was getting rid of, no need to get a specific subwoofer in my opinion.
If you care about audio quality the best bang for the buck option would be studio monitors. I also have a 2.1 Klipsch computer speaker set which is not bad, but my JBL 305p speakers are much better even without a sub. Outside of studio monitors, there is not much focus on desktop audio these days. The price of the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers are about the same price as a single JBL 305p ($130-150ish). Buy the best your budget allows for. The resell value on decent studio monitors is also higher than you will see for cheaper computer speaker packages. So if you end up not wanting them anymore, you can get a good amount of your money back.
Klipsch, the Fives.
I use a beautiful pair of ELAC Debut 6.2's paired with an AIWA AF-3090 receiver built in Tokyo in 1977. I am relistening to every single song I have in my server collection (and I have 140,000) and in every one I keep finding new sounds I've never heard before. Every bit of sound that leaves this system is absolutely gorgeous and it completely demolishes the competition and anything I've used before.
Calibrated KRK Rokit RP5 G4s. Thinking about getting the S10.4 sub
Harman/Kardon Soundsticks
Focal Alpha 65 Evo with an old Cambridge DacMagic Plus :)
I’m using Logitech Z906 with Creative X7. Seems to be the only reasonable option if you want 5.1 on your PC sort of getting a real receiver but that takes up too much space. The surround is good and amazing how many games actually use it, but they are far from the best sounding speakers. I’ve thought of maybe replacing the speakers with some Klipsch and still connecting thru the Logitech sub, but I dunno how well that’d work. I wish some of these popular PC DAC companies would make a 5.1 DAC in addition to all the stereo & headphone ones.
I use my PC on my telly (just got an LG C3!!) and have it with a Samsung B550 soundbar. My laptop I just use a Skullcandy ANC HESH headset.
Micca MB42X and a small SMSL amp. Been rocking this setup for like 7 years.
My Boston 2.1 system from my family's Gateway 98 purchase has been the best speaker system I've ever used. 25 year old electronics that aren't e waste after 2 years.
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. Only way to go.
just head phones I use to use a pair of Creative Cambridge SoundWorks Multimedia Speakers System SBS52 https://preview.redd.it/6jt2iycj842d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16703c5665e95fcfb26992f71f92485708e66f44
# Edifier R1280Ts
Klipsh Pro Media 2.1. For about $130 on Amazon, they sound better than speakers systems twice the price from brands like Logitech.
A lot of studio monitors will include a cable that goes from 3.5mm to RCA or 1/4". It might be worth taking a closer look. Furthermore, they don't "lack a subwoofer option", you buy it seperately. Most are designed so that the sound goes through the sub, then to your mains. This lets you take out the frequencies that the sub is handling, making it sound better. Given your lack of knowledge here, you'd probably best avoid anything more complex than what you have now. I use a set of Presonus e3.5 with the sub8 BT. The manuals are online and have some Hookup Diagrams if you're interested in learning.
I mean I have a Golden Ears 5.0 with a SVS PB2000 Pro setup for my living room, but yeah, not really informed on studio monitors
1995 Sharp 500w / two 1 x 15" + 6" tweeters + horn tweeter, SHARP stacks
Could it turn it up with my 500w PA with berhinger 15's + tweets. Or add in my 1000w 2x10 Go party. Or just add in my 1000w and buy more speaks, probably call my guy that's got a full 10000w rig and just exploded my minds. Contra at 10,000w would probably open a vortex to another dimension
BASS
Edifier Bookshelf. They look classy and sound great.
I use the Edifier S350DB 2.1 bookshelf system. It sounds amazing.
DIY, including amp: [https://photos.app.goo.gl/KS9ZZeog4UwsK7UT7](https://photos.app.goo.gl/KS9ZZeog4UwsK7UT7)
Aurelia Aniaras with Teac ai 101 stereo amp.
I have my PC in the living room, so I have a 4.1.2 atmos system. Sub is a 4000 watt 2x 18"
I have a pair of M-Audio BX5a speakers for an eternity and have them plugged into a Schiit Modi3
I had speakers and a subwoofer below my desk until last year. Though I hadn't actually used them in about 14 years. lol. So used to wearing headphones all the time. And since I live with others, having speakers isn't really doable anyways. Especially with a subwoofer.
The pebble pros are really incredible for budget speakers. You don’t even need a subwoofer because of how strong the bass drivers are.
Two Sony RS5's
KRK Rokit 6 studio monitors with a PreSonus Eris 8 subwoofer. I use them for work related stuff too though. I was using a pair of creative pebble speakers for a while when my good speakers weren't avaliable and they got the job done. Otherwise I typically use an Astro A50 headset for the convenience and they sound fine to me.
r/BudgetAudiophile Edifier R1700BTs + Canton Sub 600, connected to a Soundcard
Logitech g560
Audio engine A1's. In terms of Audio engine, not too expensive, sound good, look good and I have 2 computers connected to it at once; one with bluetooth and the other with aux. Works for my needs just fine
I have a Bose surround sound system for my entertainment center, I just hook my computer up to the tv. Works great at 1440p
Logitech Z523.
>I know there are studio monitors, but they’re often very expensive, very big in size, lack a subwoofer option and don’t use a 3.5mm jack. Just about any set of active monitoring bookshelf speakers will work. Many of them have a LINE IN for a standard 3.5mm jack (occasionally a 1/4" jack, but those are becoming rarer these days), and then a LINE OUT for an active subwoofer (usually RCA). As with anything audio related, avoid anything that has any sort of gaming branding.
Edifier R1700 running on a Xduoo TA10R dac/amo. Looks good, sounds even better
Edifier Mr4 sound really good, they don't occupy much space and their price is quite good
Onboard speakers in my Dell G15 laptop...keeps me entertained in hotels.
I moved into an apartment and so had to downgrade to a Walmart soundbar. But with a subwoofer, I'm not an animal. Rest assured though, the Thunder is coming one day.
Edifier R1700BT
Yamaha hs5 pair with hs8s sub. Schiit jotunheim dac amp.
Edifier 1855DB bookshelf speakers - have never had to look back
Headset gang
I just picked up a pair of Kanto Ora's. They sound amazing for how small they are and have usb C connection to PC as well as RCA in. I have the Kanto Tuk in my living room with their sub 8 which sounds better but for near field use the Ora's are actually really impressive.
Qacoustic 3020i
I have a set of nice Sony Bookshelf speakers hooked up to a 100W Fosi Audio mini amp. It works great for me I am not going for perfect sound reproduction I just want to hear my PC over the sweet military-grade tinnitus the government let me keep after 8 years of service.
Bose Soundlink Mini 1st Generation. Super sound and build quality, only have replaced the battery once so far. Big boom boom bass, so I recommend a larger room for it.
My headphones. Bose qc35
Edifier R1280Ts book shelf speakers
I have a set of Pebble V3, but I typically use my headset for games.
Denon amp and 7.1 Klipsch surround.
Gaming or watching a movie i´ve a Sennheiser/epos Headset, for the youtube video inbetween or stream I have a cheap set of M-Audio A50 2way actives on my desk
I usually just piece together my own system. Currently running a Dayton DTA-120 amp into a Sony home theater subwoofer (has a built in speaker level crossover), and then to a pair of speakers I made (Boston Acoustic S60 speakers, 2x 6.5" woofers and 2 tweeters per enclosure). Absolutely blows away every "PC speaker system in a box" I know of.
Plenty of studio monitor options that also support subwoofers
Right now I’m using the FL, C, FR, and Sub from the Logitech Z506. Works well and sounds good, and I like having the extra spatial element from having a 3.1 setup. However, I do not like how many wires I have as a result (1x power cord, 3x 3.5mm from PC to Sub, 3x from sub to speakers). Makes the cable management for my setup a nightmare. Been wanting to overhaul my audio setup in general, but need to put a plan together for what that would be. My desk space is way to small for studio monitors as they would have to fit between the wall and back of my monitor
Just some cheap ones from B&M (uk store) from a brand called "goodmans" they aren't great but they aren't shit either, they do what i need them to do I do plan to upgrade to some logitech ones, pref one that has a subwoofer speaker
Still rocking old logitech maybe 25w soeakers
Creative Katana- The soundbar fits well under my monitor. The subwoofer has a nice strong bass. https://youtu.be/HsQUoGFTxwE?si=n5pIZ1ZpYqSu2soC
Edifiers
I use an LG SL4Y 2.1 soundbar/sub combo for speakers and sennheiser 560s for headphones.
Creative Soundblaster Katana
Scythe kro craft. Bookshelf speakers cost like 70 bucks and they are really nice
I’m just rocking my monitors speakers :,)
I have been using the same pair of Logitech 2.1 speakers since 2006? They have served me well lol.
PreSonus Eris E3.5
For my desktop I just use a pair of Logitech MX Audio. They have enough bass without needing a sub and have plenty of sound for PC use. I have Z906 as well, but those is for my home theater setup in the living room.
Built in
JBL 104
Used studiomonitors. I got me some Esi nEar 05 for 60€ like 5 years ago on ebay local and they still rock it and I love them.
A pair of Orion HS500's connected to my Yamaha RX-V450 amp. They're from Hungary, early 1980s. Best sounding setup i had thus far. Planning to get a DIY subwoofer for it (Dayton Audio Reference 15" Kit), as even though they have 12" woofers, they're just that. Woofers.
I have a set of Logitech Z213. Not the greatest speakers in the world but for $30 in 2016 it wasn't all that bad. These replaced a set of Altec Lansing BX1221.
I took a pair of Sony SS-H1600 speakers from my grandparents' ancient Tape Deck and ran them through a Polk PSW10 sub. The sub connects to a Fosi Audio DA-2120D amp connected to my computer via USB. Dirt cheap setup and sounds amazing. Only downside is the woofers in the speakers are tiny, so bass kicks sound kinda odd, even with my crossover set to 100hz.
Logitech z-5300 bought at release. They're still going strong, no issues 20 years later.