[nuraman00]

Best and most musical in that price range was the m audio monitors. I recommend those or the JBLs.

 
The M-Audio AV32 / AV32.1?
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1193463&gclid=CjwKEAjwka67BRCk6a7_h_7Pui8SJABcMkWRhZtgM3cJNPS7Y09wdOyCc-06yo95oQG_IjR3Dw8zdhoCWLLw_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677682%2C&Q=&A=details

 

[nuraman00]

 
I would NOT pay for a pre-order here because of the shifting restock dates. You could wind up having your money held up for who knows how long.  But... the choice is yours.
 
And for me I might wait until after they get them in and into the market just to see if there are any quality issues before final purchase.
 
My two cents.

 
I agree I wouldn't pay for a pre-order.
 
But they've been in the market before.  I was thinking I could just "hold" them until they're in stock and ready to be shipped, then order them.

 

[Dillan]

   
The M-Audio AV32 / AV32.1?
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1193463&gclid=CjwKEAjwka67BRCk6a7_h_7Pui8SJABcMkWRhZtgM3cJNPS7Y09wdOyCc-06yo95oQG_IjR3Dw8zdhoCWLLw_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677682%2C&Q=&A=details

Those are pretty good for the price. The bx5 and bx8 are incredible though. I sampled probably 10 different monitors and desktop speakers and those were the loudest, had the most punch and the crispiest highs. I prefer a V shaped sound sometimes though.. so you might not like as much.

 

[Jonathan40]

I tried the Bose Companion series at Best Buy a few months ago, and they sounded awesome. Just wish they weren't so pricey..I usually use whatever I find and replace the 1/8" stereo jack with a new one. They are tricky to solder, though - those wires are tiney!

 

[duffy1234]

you guys should check this forum http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/2233954-2-0-bookshelf-compared-wharfedale-philharmonic-chane-musichall-elac-energy-kef.html , one of the most recommended computer speakers are aa philharmonics for under 300$, but not so well known brand

 

[canali]

   
The Hosa CMP-159 cables can be pulled apart, but that connector (1/4") will not work with the Airmotiv 6.
Airmotiva uses XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) connection
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP159-Stereo-Breakout-10-Feet/dp/B005HGM1D6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462489663&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5mm%20to%20trs&tag=viglink20246-20
 
I'm guessing the Belkin 3.5mm to RCA cable might split for about the first 12" (maybe)
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
 
The JBL and Airmotiva come with two separate amplifiers built into each unit.
The 5+ comes with at most one amplifier driving each unit.
Not even sure how discrete the amps are. as the 5+ uses one unit to drive the other unit.
 
The Monoprice 5" studio monitors come with two amplifiers built into each unit
Audio quality wise the Monoprice 5" studio monitors ($170) should be easily at least equal to the Audioengine 5+ ($400)
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605500
 
For less money then the Airmotiv 6 ($500).
You can get Monoprice 5" monitors ($170) and a Monoprice 10 "sub-woofer ($220).
 
If you did get the Airmotiv 6 units, I really doubt you would have any reason to want to return them.

 
 
i've subbed to this thread.....good suggestions here thanks,
 
I am also researching good sound smallish self powered speakers for my laptop
-under US$400 (even lower if better)
-smallish footprint preferred but still very musical, balanced, with enough bass slam to 
not require a sub (will only play at lower to mod levels) as my kitchen table/'desktop' is not large and robust for heavy monsters.
 
prefer wired for sound...not into bluetooth
...for my tidal hifi
 
btw, keg (canada) has promos on the egg and x300a  right now.  https://www.kefstore.ca/index.php/specials/kef-specials-ca.html
 
a colleague can get me a pair of kef x300a for US$383
....and the kef egg for US$300.
 
however, aside from b&w mm1 and the keg egg or x300a,
those monoprice, swans and m-audio products have me interested too.

 

[canali]

also got this from sweetwater...feel free to chip in:
 
Sub $500 the LSR 305's are excellent. If you can swing the extra $100 I would look at the Focal Alpha 50's. 
 
Both excellent speakers but the Focal's definitely win out of the two. 
 
Here are the links:
 
LSR305 --> http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305
 
Alpha50 --> http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha50
 
and when i asked about something smaller (my kitchen table/'desk' is not large)
and yet has good sound:
 
If you went even smaller I would go this direction --> http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/8010A
 
You will lose bass response with a smaller woofer, however these things still kick pretty well.


 
also reading good things on Emotiva airmotiv 4S as offering fab bang for buck

 

[nuraman00]

Thanks for your research, @canali.  I wonder why I stopped getting notifications, I didn't get notifications for the last few responses.

 

[nuraman00]

   
Update, a new response today:
 
+++++++++++++
 
The ASM6s will be back in stock the first week of August. If you would like to purchase a pair, please let us know and we will be happy to take and order and hold until they arrive.
Thank you,

 
Update, Airmotiv's site now lets you order.  It says the ship date is "Ships August 2016.".
 
https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/speakers/airmotiv-6s
 
I will still wait until there's a definite ship date.

 

[iamxLn]

Get Audioengine and add your own sub, they have a sub out. That way you're not getting a bad computer sub.

 

[nuraman00]

   
The Hosa CMP-159 cables can be pulled apart, but that connector (1/4") will not work with the Airmotiv 6.
Airmotiva uses XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) connection
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP159-Stereo-Breakout-10-Feet/dp/B005HGM1D6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462489663&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5mm%20to%20trs&tag=viglink20246-20
 
I'm guessing the Belkin 3.5mm to RCA cable might split for about the first 12" (maybe)
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
 
The JBL and Airmotiva come with two separate amplifiers built into each unit.
The 5+ comes with at most one amplifier driving each unit.
Not even sure how discrete the amps are. as the 5+ uses one unit to drive the other unit.
 
The Monoprice 5" studio monitors come with two amplifiers built into each unit
Audio quality wise the Monoprice 5" studio monitors ($170) should be easily at least equal to the Audioengine 5+ ($400)
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605500
 
For less money then the Airmotiv 6 ($500).
You can get Monoprice 5" monitors ($170) and a Monoprice 10 "sub-woofer ($220).
 
If you did get the Airmotiv 6 units, I really doubt you would have any reason to want to return them.

 
 
Quote:

   
 
Some questions on bi amplification.
 
Is it better only from an dependency / efficiency standpoint?  As in, each driver is more self sustainable, and not dependent on the other.  And, there is less power loss, or loss of another measure.
 
Or, does having a discrete amplifier per driver, directly affect the sound in some way too?

 
 
Bump?  @PurpleAngel, etc.?  Any comments on bi amplification?

 

[canali]

  Thanks for your research, @canali.  I wonder why I stopped getting notifications, I didn't get notifications for the last few responses.

 
probably check your subscriptions settings for email alerts

 

[canali]

   
Update, Airmotiv's site now lets you order.  It says the ship date is "Ships August 2016.".
 
https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/speakers/airmotiv-6s
 
I will still wait until there's a definite ship date.

anyone have these?
the airmotive 4S were a fav or darko in his reviews
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/06/10-bargains-for-the-wannabe-audiophile/

10 stone cold bargains for the wannabe audiophile

 
however the larger 5S looking more interesting just with a bigger woofer

 

[nuraman00]

  anyone have these?
the airmotive 4S were a fav or darko in his reviews
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/06/10-bargains-for-the-wannabe-audiophile/

10 stone cold bargains for the wannabe audiophile

 
however the larger 5S looking more interesting just with a bigger woofer

 
That's a nice article, because it compares bargains across different devices.  I kind of liked that perspective.  Instead of only looking at only speakers, or only DACs, etc., I could sort of imagine a nice bargain setup, using a few different recommendations from that article.
 
As for the Airmotiv, they were recommended or suggested a few times in this thread.  I don't know if each of these people personally have them, but they still could recommended them.
 
Here's their posts, resposted:
 
 
 
 

Well, some of the computer multimedia speaker subwoofers are more toys than subs. What you want to look at is the rated frequency response. And often with the computer multimedia speakers (probably not the Swans, though), they will be overly optimistic.

Whereas speakers like these will have excellent bass response down to about 50hz: https://emotiva.com/products/powered-monitors/speakers/airmotiv-5s.

JBL LSR 305s are good down into the 40hz range: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305. They are generally considered some of the best speakers you can buy for <$500. Pair them with a Focusrite USB audio interface DAC, and you'd have a great setup: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-2i2-USB-Recording-Interface/dp/B005OZE9SA

 
 

   
FWIW, I'd be willing to pay much more for the Airmotiv's than the B&W MM-1 (fortunately they're actually cheaper!).

 
 

   
I had the Audioengine 5, the Airmotiv 5 is much better.
 
P.S. The Audioengine D1 DAC is fine (owned it twice), but I'd personally I'd give this similar, newer, cheaper alternative a try: http://www.amazon.com/Micca-OriGen-High-Resolution-Preamplifier/dp/B01BURJVOC 

 

[nuraman00]

   
probably check your subscriptions settings for email alerts

 
Yeah, it says I'm subscribed.
 
Funny thing is, I didn't change my subscription options, but I started getting alerts again.
 
Ok, I think I figured out what it might have been.  There was an option for sending a notification the first time a thread is updated, but no more until I visit the site.
 
Or there was one for sending a notification every time.
 
I had the former selected.  So when someone posted a reply on 07/09, I must have forgotten about it and not visited the site after that.
 
So then I didn't get any subsequent replies.
 
I changed it now so I get a reply every time.  That way, if I don't have time to view the site right away, but someone else updates the thread later on, I'll get another notification later on, and it will keep me aware of where my progress is in keeping up with a thread.