[godofcookery]

I'd like to see if there is a good 2.0 speaker set w/ a built in Headphone Amp.  I currently use a pair of Behringer MS40s, but its been a few years, and the right speaker sounds... off. Plus, I am not a big fan of the headphone amp in it.  Any suggestions?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I'd like to see if there is a good 2.0 speaker set w/ a built in Headphone Amp.  I currently use a pair of Behringer MS40s, but its been a few years, and the right speaker sounds... off. Plus, I am not a big fan of the headphone amp in it.  Any suggestions?

 
Monoprice 5" studio monitors, $170.79 (pair, no headphone jack)
(no built in headphone jack)
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605500&seq=1&format=2
 
There is also the JBL LSR305 studio monitors, $260 (pair, no headphone jack)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/998214-REG/jbl_lsr305_sr305_5_2_way_powered.html
 
FiiO E10K ($76) comes with a separate line-output, for speakers.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1064785-REG/fiio_e10k_fiio_e10_usb_dac.html
 
I'm going to make a guess(?) that there is very little market for quality studio monitors, that also come with a built in headphone jack.

 

[godofcookery]

   
Monoprice 5" studio monitors, $170.79 (pair, no headphone jack)
(no built in headphone jack)
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605500&seq=1&format=2
 
There is also the JBL LSR305 studio monitors, $260 (pair, no headphone jack)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/998214-REG/jbl_lsr305_sr305_5_2_way_powered.html
 
FiiO E10K ($76) comes with a separate line-output, for speakers.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1064785-REG/fiio_e10k_fiio_e10_usb_dac.html
 
I'm going to make a guess(?) that there is very little market for quality studio monitors, that also come with a built in headphone jack.

 
 
Thanks, it certainly seems like there is not much of a market for it.  I guess I will just go w/ a pair of Audio Engine A5+ or something. At least they have the volume control on the front. do you suggest the JBL over those at all? (mostly for games and movies and music.)

 

[cel4145]

The LSR 305 are generally considered as good or better than the A5+.

Look into the Monoprice desktop amp: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=120&cp_id=12008&cs_id=1200801&p_id=11567&seq=1&format=2

Has pre-outs that you could use with any powered speakers, and a decent headphone amp.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

The next stage on from multimedia speakers such as you already have is generally to separate out the control and connection components into am audio interface and replace the single stereo amp and passive crossovers in the speakers with an active crossover and individual amp for each driver. You probably want to improve build quality and reliability as well.
 
The Audioengine A5+ you mention are essentially the same as the Berhingers but better put together. For the same money (at least where I live in Europe) you can go down the audio interface and active monitor route I mentioned above. The interface will have a headphone out and separate volume controls.
 
The obvious recommendation keeping within budget and retaining most existing features would be JBL 305 and a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2.
 
We need to know your current source(s) and used connection method(s) as well as what you might want in the future to narrow down the interface choice further.
 
Alternative speakers at the same price might include KRK Rokits if you like an exaggerated bass sound. Other people think it's worth spending a little more for the extra precision of Adam, Eve or Focal monitors.

 

[godofcookery]

So currently I use my desktop for music and movies.
 
SBZ -> Magni 2 Uber -> MS40 / ATH-W1000Z

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

O.K. Thanks for the updated info -- but now I'm a bit confused.
 
If you already have a headphone amp with alternative line outs why are you using the headphone out on the MS40? And come to think of it since you have a soundcard why feed the digitally equipped Bellringers with an analogue signal?
 
Anyway, the advice given above in the post above still stands. You could manage without the audio interface for now by using the Schitt preamp functionality if you are currently skint but sooner or later you will need a proper interface.

 

[godofcookery]

So I JUST got the Magni recently an a headphone amp. The Behringer digital interface seemed to have a weird buzzing noise no matter what the source I used, so I stopped using it some years back.  when I made the thread I had just the behringers, and I really wanted to try out a proper amp, and the magni w/ the preamp functionality seemed like a good first jump.