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Help with my desktop audio

Jun 22, 2020 at 2:34 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 22
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AMONster23

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Hi Guys, so i’m looking for good passive or powered speakers for my desktop. I have a budget of around 700 USD. I was thinking of getting either the B&W 607 , Yamaha HS5 or Klipsch r51pm since these are all on sale. What are your experiences with these speakers? Will mainly use them for music, gaming and movies. Also if i decide to go the passive route what amps/dacs would you guys recommend? If you guys have other suggestions that would be great, but hopefully it’s available here in my country since its harder to come by.

Thanks Guys!
 
Jun 22, 2020 at 6:32 PM Post #2 of 22
I would go Yamaha or B&W.
What are the prices?
 
Jun 23, 2020 at 8:26 AM Post #5 of 22
You have to choose between powered speakers or a passive pair.

Powered speakers will be somewhat of a compromise for the sake of simplicity. Ultimate customization will require a passive setup.

If you go powered, I would recommend something like the Kef LSX if you can find them for $700. In your list, I would get the B&W 607 but if you factor in a DAC, an amp and cables, it will be hard to stay in budget. Also, $320 seems expensive for the HS5, they have a $250 MSRP. Both the larger HS7 and HS8 are under your budget too so think about space you have but also scale and bass you want, specially for movies.

Monitor audio Bronze 2 are getting replaced with a new version so I would recommend them, they are going cheap now. They are also front ported so they are more flexible on placement. They are quite big though and sound quite big as well.
 
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:25 PM Post #6 of 22
AMONster23 said:
400 USD for the B&W and 320 for the yamaha's
Click to expand...
The B&W 607 are passive unpowered speakers, so you would also have to by a speaker amplifier.
So I say to go for the Yamaha HS5.
What are you using for a DAC?
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 2:44 AM Post #7 of 22
bland125 said:
You have to choose between powered speakers or a passive pair.

Powered speakers will be somewhat of a compromise for the sake of simplicity. Ultimate customization will require a passive setup.

If you go powered, I would recommend something like the Kef LSX if you can find them for $700. In your list, I would get the B&W 607 but if you factor in a DAC, an amp and cables, it will be hard to stay in budget. Also, $320 seems expensive for the HS5, they have a $250 MSRP. Both the larger HS7 and HS8 are under your budget too so think about space you have but also scale and bass you want, specially for movies.

Monitor audio Bronze 2 are getting replaced with a new version so I would recommend them, they are going cheap now. They are also front ported so they are more flexible on placement. They are quite big though and sound quite big as well.
Click to expand...
320 USD a pair. Not per piece. Kef lsx here way to expensive around 1.3k usd. I was thinking of getting the b&w 607 for 400 usd but my problem is the amp. Are there any 200 usd amps that would be ok for 607?
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 7:25 AM Post #9 of 22
AMONster23 said:
How’s the sound of the HS5? I have no clue yet. I’m a noob when it comes to audio. What can you suggest? For a good dac or amp for around 200-300 usd?
Click to expand...
Never listened to the Yamaha HS5 studio monitors.
I prefer studio monitors over passive speakers, as no need to have a separate amplifier.
Studio monitors will come with 2 separate amplifiers built in per unit, one for the woofer and one for the tweeter, great for audio detail.
The Klipsch r51pm do not come with 2 amplifiers per unit, instead use a shared amplifier for both the woofer and tweeter.
For a $100 (plus tax/shipping) you can get a Schiit Modi DAC.
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 10:17 AM Post #10 of 22
Oh lol, sorry, didn't notice they were not priced as a pair.

What is going to be your source and do you need desktop friendlier stuff?

For a new $200-$300us integrated amp from a reputable brand, it's pretty much the big Japanese brand that offer stuff like the Sony STR-DH190, Onkyo TX-8220, Yamaha R-S202 or R-N303 as examples. Your local used market options are also good for used but better gear. Those are not desktop friendly gear and don't sport a USB input.

With the B&W, I would tend to get an amp on the warm side.

The HS5 pair plus the Modi DAC is also a great option proposed by @PurpleAngel if you want to go the active route on a desktop and sourced from a computer. I would add something like small stands too in such case like IsoAcoustic Iso-stand or you can fit something.
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 10:21 AM Post #12 of 22
bland125 said:
Oh lol, sorry, didn't notice they were not priced as a pair.

What is going to be your source and do you need desktop friendlier stuff?

For a new $200-$300us integrated amp from a reputable brand, it's pretty much the big Japanese brand that offer stuff like the Sony STR-DH190, Onkyo TX-8220, Yamaha R-S202 or R-N303 as examples. Your local used market options are also good for used but better gear. Those are not desktop friendly gear and don't sport a USB input.

With the B&W, I would tend to get an amp on the warm side.

The HS5 pair plus the Modi DAC is also a great option proposed by @PurpleAngel if you want to go the active route on a desktop and sourced from a computer. I would add something like small stands too in such case like IsoAcoustic Iso-stand or you can fit something.
Click to expand...
What amp do you suggest for the B&W? 200 USD below or lets says 300USD max budget for the amp
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 11:59 AM Post #13 of 22
AMONster23 said:
I think i'm set for the B&W 607 auditioned them earlier today and love the sound signature. Should I get a topping mx3 or an smsl ad18? Since those speaker amps are in my budget for amps for the meantime.
Click to expand...
What speaker amplifier was used for listening (auditioning) to the B&W 607?
 
Jun 24, 2020 at 2:34 PM Post #15 of 22
To me SMSL is lower quality stuff and I would buy something better to drive B&W speakers.
What brands of speaker amplifiers do you have access to?
 
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