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Convince Me I Don't Need New Computer Speakers

post #1 of 14
7/20/11 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 

I'm currently using Audioengine A2's out of my Xonar Essence STX. I'm pretty happy with the sound of them but I know I can probably do a little better. The problem is I'm extremely limited on space and I can't go with anything much bigger than the A2's. I was looking at the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1's but those are primarily USB based and I have no intention to stop using my soundcard. Are there any other speakers with a footprint as small or smaller than the A2's but that sound good enough to warrant an upgrade?

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post #2 of 14
7/20/11 at 7:31pm

Yeah you totally need new speakers. I don't even know which ones, just that you should spend some cash. Right now.

 

 

Half-joking: can you go 2.1 instead of staying 2.0? It sounds like your desktop is short on space, but maybe you can cram a sub below?

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post #3 of 14
7/21/11 at 12:29am
No, you don't need new computer speakers.

You need to step up to a decent pair of bookshelf speakers or floorstanders, if you have the room. Run them off an old receiver - you'll be happy. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #4 of 14
7/21/11 at 8:24pm
Thread Starter 

Well bookshelfs or floorstanders sound nice, but as I mentioned space is limited. My computer desk is against a small section of wall in between two doorways. As far as a 2.1 set up, I've actually been looking at the Swan M50W. The speakers don't look that much bigger than the A2's and I can probably squeeze them on my desk. I would love to get the M200MKII or even the D1080MKII but both of those are just too big.

 

The drawbacks with the M50W are that I would prefer not to have a subwoofer even though I have room for it under my desk. I'm not that much of a bass person to begin with. I can live with it though. And since my sound card has RCA outs I'll need a 1/8" adapter to connect it to the subwoofer. So right now, I'm giving the M50W some serious consideration.

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post #5 of 14
7/21/11 at 9:06pm

Never personally heard these, but they're fairly highly regarded and look great.

 

http://www.scandyna-speakers.com/Products/Minipod.aspx

scandyna_minipod_jubilee.jpg

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post #6 of 14
7/23/11 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the recommendation on the Scandyna. After checking their website I see that they make some great looking speakers. Unfortunately I can't find much in the way of info or reviews for them. They also cost more than I'm willing to spend. In addition to the M50W, I'm also looking at a Cambridge 2.1 system but I've been reading that Cambridge's quality isn't what it used to be. Any truth to that?

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post #7 of 14
7/24/11 at 2:40pm

you could wall mount~  If you have the ability to. 


Edited by ninjikiran - 7/24/11 at 2:42pm
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post #8 of 14
7/24/11 at 4:22pm

get some vintage bookshelf  england made  speakers to replace ur satellite speakers only. you will see immediate difference

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post #9 of 14
7/24/11 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 

Wall mounting is not an option. To re-iterate, I can't go much bigger than the A2's (we're talking like an inch or two).

 

Let's make it simple:

 

 

This one ?

 

M50w%20system%20800.jpg

 

http://swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=5&sid=0&pid=22

 
Or this one?

 

61fB4FQgVsL.jpg

http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com/Cambridge-SoundWorks-Extreme-2.1-Computer-Speaker/M/B004GV0C16.htm

 

 


Edited by zotjen - 7/24/11 at 4:58pm
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post #10 of 14
7/24/11 at 5:50pm

The Swans offer HiVi sound? I don't know if that's good.

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post #11 of 14
7/25/11 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 

HiVi merged with Swan years ago. Since Swans seem to be highly regarded what is it exactly you don't like about HiVi?

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post #12 of 14
7/25/11 at 7:45pm

I would guess anything from Cambridge Soundworks would be a noticeable step in the wrong direction from the A2's. YMMV

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post #13 of 14
7/26/11 at 5:15pm

I had a set of the original Swan M200 for a while.  They were certainly better than the A2s that I had before them.  I have since moved up to bookshelf speakers with a NAD receiver and my wife is now using the Swans on her desktop rig.  If I were you, I'd either go with the Swans (although I haven't heard that model you posted) or find more space and go the route UE suggested. wink.gif

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post #14 of 14
7/26/11 at 9:32pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the input. I actually pulled the trigger on the Swan M50W yesterday. I'll be sure to post some comments when I get them. They seem to be in pretty high demand as some dealers won't have them back in stock until the fall.

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