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Wanted: advice on bookshelf speakers. Polk 30 Monitors? Sony SS-B3000? Dayton B652? M-Audio...

post #1 of 21
1/12/12 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 

I've been using Logitech X-540s for years and they've served me fairly well for gaming and tv/movie watching purposes, but musically they don't cut it. I have some 555s for music, but sometimes I'd rather not wear headphones (especially since the 555s are too small for my head -- as a separate note, any advice on making them looser? I've stretched them out overnight many times but they always revert back).

 

So I'd like to get some bookshelves and an amp. My budget is around $150 absolute maximum, but I'd prefer to pay around $100. The amps I'm considering are the Dayton Audio DTA-1 and the Lepai Tripath Class-T. I'll probably just go for the Lepai since they both have good reviews and it's cheaper, unless there's some reason I shouldn't. Do they both have headphone hookups as well?

 

The bookshelves I'm considering are the ones I listed in the title, though I'm open to other ideas within my price range.

 

I've got an ASUS Xonar DG in my computer and I also have a Sansa Clip+ mp3 player. I listen to a lot of metal, some very extreme, but also electronic, classical, hip-hop etc. Bass isn't really important but I wouldn't want an excessively thin or muddy lower end.

 

Thoughts? Much appreciated, this site is awesome.

 


Edited by Ensiferum - 1/12/12 at 10:49pm
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post #2 of 21
1/13/12 at 6:24am

The difference between the amps is power output, the dayton is 2x30watts rms into 8ohm the lepai is 2x8watts rms into 8ohm , it depends how much volume you want and the lepai might not be able to drive larger speakers like the sonys so well.

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post #3 of 21
1/13/12 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRG1990 View Post

The difference between the amps is power output, the dayton is 2x30watts rms into 8ohm the lepai is 2x8watts rms into 8ohm , it depends how much volume you want and the lepai might not be able to drive larger speakers like the sonys so well.



where did you find those specs? The specs I found show the lapai to be 2x24watts into 8 ohms @ 10% THD which is very close to the dayton's 2x30watts into 8 ohms @ 10% THD

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post #4 of 21
1/13/12 at 12:16pm

Here http://fr.aliexpress.com/product-fm/455680486-5PCS-LOT-TA2020-Class-HiFi-AMP-Power-Stereo-Amplifier-Lepai-LP2020-Mini-Digital-Car-Amplifier-wholesalers.html , also 10% thd is very audible disortion the 0.1% is a more realistic spec

  • 0.1% @ 10W 4ohm
  • 0.1% @ 6W 8ohm    + a few watts before 1%thd so it's about 8watts @ 1% thd

 

The dayton is

Power Output:

 

 

50 watts RMS x 2 into 8 ohm

Total Harmonic Distortion:

 

 

<0.01% @30W

<5.0% @50W    

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post #5 of 21
1/14/12 at 2:59am
Thread Starter 

What about speakers? The title cut off the M-Audios btw, they were the AV40s. They're powered though, so I wouldn't need an amp? Or maybe it wouldn't hurt?

 

 

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post #6 of 21
1/14/12 at 3:07am

If you wanna stick to 2.0 all the way i would avoid both the passive B652 and active AV40 as both are too thin and offer almost nothing on the lower end. Among the passives the B652s are also the least efficient

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post #7 of 21
1/14/12 at 3:53am
Thread Starter 

Cool, so would you recommend the Polks or Sonys or any others?

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post #8 of 21
1/14/12 at 5:47am
Thread Starter 

I do have the sub from these X-540s if there was a way to hook it up to some speakers, but I never really turn it up beyond like 1/5 of the way, so I assume a decent 2.0 setup would work.

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post #9 of 21
1/15/12 at 1:53am

Another option is the used market and classic/vintage gems can always be fished out

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post #10 of 21
1/15/12 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 

yeah I've been watching CL but I live in a rural place and there's not much available, or it's really expensive :(

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post #11 of 21
1/16/12 at 9:41am
Thread Starter 

Well hmm, I don't really know what I'm doing but I'm leaning toward the Polk 30s right now. I can get em refurbed off ebay for $90 shipped.

 

Not quite sure if they're better than the Sonys or the newer version of the AV40s or not...

 

edit: looking at these as well:

 

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-DV62si-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00006JPDI/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1326737351&sr=8-10

 

pretty good reviews.


Edited by Ensiferum - 1/16/12 at 10:11am
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post #12 of 21
1/16/12 at 11:45am

I don't think 150 is a realistic amount for passive+amp/receiver.  Used or not.

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post #13 of 21
1/16/12 at 11:48am

Well, for front main and rear surround channels, I recommend finding some vintage Bose 301 Series II's and picking them up. For the center channel, a good Klipsch or JBL center channel, and a good JBL, Klipsch, or Cerwin-Vega subwoofer.

 

Although the Sony SS-B3000, SS-B1000, SS-CN5000, and SA-W2500 are good choices too.

 

Then for the AVR: some recommendations are the Sony STR-DH500 (which I currently own and use) or STR-DH510 5.1-channel AVR's, or the current STR-DH520, and STR-DH820 7.1-channel AVR's. In addition to Sony, Onkyo, Denon, Pioneer, Harman-Kardon, and Marantz make some great AVR's as well, just the Sony's have the best quality for the price.

 

Also, if you go that route, might be a good idea to check what digital audio outputs your sound card has, as the only problem with the DH500, is that it doesn't support surround decoding through the HDMI inputs, you have to use a separate optical or coax digital audio in. With the DH510 and newer, surround can be decoded through the HDMI.

 

There's my two cents on the matter. Whatever you decide to ultimately go with is cool too. :)

 

 

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post #14 of 21
1/16/12 at 11:49am
Thread Starter 

Does that mean you think the speakers I'm linking aren't very good?

 

Because there seems to be a number of them to choose from, and I'll probably get the Dayton Audio DTA-1 amp...

 

I just want a good upgrade from my Logitech 540s for music and I really can't afford more than that budget. :(

 

Hmm, I can't make up my mind with so little info on what these actually sound like, so I think I'll just go for the Sony SS-B3000 (probably because of your mention HP). They seem pretty well-received.


Edited by Ensiferum - 1/16/12 at 11:53am
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post #15 of 21
1/16/12 at 11:51am

Nope. I'm just recommending stuff, I'm not dissing anything. And the B3000's are a great choice. And also, since the B3000's are actual home theatre surround or stereo speakers, you're going to need at least a decent 2-channel stereo receiver to drive them.


Edited by HPuser9083 - 1/16/12 at 12:00pm
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