[AhhHoNG]

Was looking at the BX5a but found out it doesnt have a central volume control. u have to adjust volume at the bak of each speaker so unfortunately i have to cancel this off my list. I do not have a AMP/DAC and plan on using my soundcard. Then i look at the Swan MKII and found out its not available in singapore. argh so what other alternatives do i have other than the AE5?

 

[vinnievidi]

If your computer has a remote or keyboard volume controls (like the Mac lines) then you can keep the BX5a volume up and control the system volume via the remote or keyboard.

 

[AhhHoNG]

I heard its not advisable to control thru the windows volume? and yeah my keyboard can control the volume
 

 

[dfkt]

Nice thread, Xombie11. Have you considered giving Adam speakers a try? They're some of the best I've heard (A5 and A7, that is). And they're made in Germany, built like a tank.
 
http://www.adam-audio.com/en/pro-audio/products

 

[Dalamar]

Quote:

I heard its not advisable to control thru the windows volume? and yeah my keyboard can control the volume
 

I wouldn't worry about windows volume too much unless you're taking it under 50%. If you're obsessed with bit-perfectness, don't use it, but imo you won't hear a difference.

 

[AhhHoNG]

I have done some  research and discovered some good active bookshelves below 500.
 
Markie MR5/8
 
KRK RP5/6 GEN 2
 
Behringer 3030A 3031A
 
JBL LSR2325P
 
 
wonder if these few are better than the Audioengine 5. I am looking for something better than AE5 but it as to be 300-400 price range for a pair.

 

[The_X]

Sorry, I sort of have to nitpick here...
Quote:

They must be active and self-powered, as subs are big, bulky and often overpowering.

What?  A subwoofer has nothing to do with being active/self-powered.  If you don't mind getting a receiver, there are lots of options out there for bookshelf speakers.
Quote:

 Due to the weak internal amp, they cannot get very loud without the use of a soundcard or USB DAC; as such, their potential is wasted if you are planning to use them alongside a notebook or your desktop's onboard sound. 

What does a sound card or USB DAC have to do with loudness?
 
Thanks for the recommendations though!  But I think you're a bit confused.  For my apartment, I just use a Yamaha stereo receiver and a pair of B&W 686's.  The 686 list at $480 I think, but you could probably find a good receiver and the 686's for under $500 on the used market.

 

[Dalamar]

Sound cards can have a higher output than some other devices, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_level
However, that can just make it easier for the amp/speakers to go into clipping I believe. Higher end soundcards and almost all dacs are 2 vrms.
 
You will be fine with the BX5A, just adjust the volume digitally in Windows. If your sound card's output is not 2 vrms then it will probably be 3-6 decibels lower in max volume than one that is.

 

[Xombie11]

Sorry, I sort of have to nitpick here...
What?  A subwoofer has nothing to do with being active/self-powered.  If you don't mind getting a receiver, there are lots of options out there for bookshelf speakers.
What does a sound card or USB DAC have to do with loudness?
 
Thanks for the recommendations though!  But I think you're a bit confused.  For my apartment, I just use a Yamaha stereo receiver and a pair of B&W 686's.  The 686 list at $480 I think, but you could probably find a good receiver and the 686's for under $500 on the used market.

Haha, sorry about that initial sentence. It used to be two sentences, one explaining my want for an active set of speakers rather than a passive set with an amp, the other expressing my disdain for subs. I combined them into one sentence, using 'as,' and one sentence that really makes no sense when you read into it.

Regarding my comment about the Swans, I standby the volume issue. For more information, please see my thread here: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/501233/dac-for-macbook-swans

Btw this thread is in for a major rehaul, which I'll do shortly.

 

[ccbass]

As for the BX5a no having a central speaker control.....
 
Many monitors are meant to be controlled by a mixer console, with volume control there, however since most of us don't mix/have consoles, I'd buy the TC Electronic Level Pilot.
 
Completely passive, uses a high quality Bourns Pot, and is completely balanced.  If you're not using a DAC, then....
 
Assuming you are using a 3.5mm out...
 
3.5mm TRS/Y-cable unbalanced XLR out > Level Pilot > BX5a
 
You would set your volume on your computer to 100% then use your level pilot for volume control, and set your BX5a to where ever you like.  I found dead center on the volume knobs is perfect for me.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

 
http://www.adam-audio.com/en/pro-audio/products/a3x/description
 
New  ADAM A3X. These are nice. Just within budget, similar size (1" taller) than the AV40, go down to 60hz flat (+/-2dB), biamped (25W+25W+25W+25W) and come with a 5 year guarantee. balanced XLR or phono - with phono volume control on one controls both.
 
Very flat and accurate frequency response. Forensic level of detail. Do poor sources no favours. Which you'd expect.
 
edit : they are not smaller than the AV40. They are in fact 1" taller. thx to xombie11 for the correction.

 

[Dalamar]

Getting a volume knob is a total waste of money. All it does is reduce the signal. If the volume won't go loud enough to begin with the knob won't help at all. What a block-worthy post.
 
If your volume goes loud enough - then you can use windows or foobar volume with no sq loss at all. Replaygain scanning in foobar helps a lot for tracks that are super quiet and nowhere near peak, as well as songs that are way too loud.

 

[loveholic]

Adam A5 or Quad 11L/12L active(a little over $600 for a used pair for the 12L's) or NHT M-00.

 

[loveholic]

Quote:

Getting a volume knob is a total waste of money. All it does is reduce the signal. If the volume won't go loud enough to begin with the knob won't help at all. What a block-worthy post.
 
If your volume goes loud enough - then you can use windows or foobar volume with no sq loss at all. Replaygain scanning in foobar helps a lot for tracks that are super quiet and nowhere near peak, as well as songs that are way too loud.

Getting a volume knob isn't wasre of money if your DAC doesn't have pre-amp function.. I had to use a pre amp for my Dyn MC15's to finally get the sound qualified for my ears.

 

[Xombie11]

Are these really smaller than the AV40s? I find that hard to believe.
 
They do look quite interesting, however. I'd like to try them out. 
 
Quote:

 
New  ADAM A3X. These are nice. Just within budget, smaller than the AV40, go down to 60hz flat (+/-2dB), biamped (25W+25W+25W+25W) and come with a 5 year guarantee. balanced XLR or phono - with phono volume control on one controls both.
 
Very flat and accurate frequency response. Forensic level of detail. Do poor sources no favours. Which you'd expect.