2.0 vs 2.1

EdwardTeach

EdwardTeach

EdwardTeach

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I am trying to decide between the Edifier R1600's, the M-Audio Studiophile AV-40's and the Acoustic Energy Aego M's.

The primary use of the speakers will be playing music. I will occasionally use them for watching movies and playing games, but I would typically be wearing headphones for them.

Is the primary benefit of 2.1's going to be in games and movies?
 
The sub is generally thrown in for cheap speakers without any real bass output, I personally much prefer a 2.0 system to a 2.1 system as you'll find a good pair of bookshelves will provide clean bass where as the sub supplied with your average 2.1 system is a messy bass sound.
 
Good 2.0s have more than adequate bass output for most music, although you ideally want a 5" speaker and above if you're listening to anything with a lot of low bass in. A decent pair of active monitors will go down to 50hz ish, and you'll find very little music goes lower than 40hz (subwoofer test tracks, maybe some dubstep), which is more 'feel' bass than 'hear' bass anyway. I'm getting some Focal CMS 50 monitors and they have outstanding bass response for their size, I wouldn't need a sub except for 'effect' stuff, which as you suspect is more rooted in the game and film world. I auditioned them along with a few other choices, such as the CMS 40s which are the smallest offering from that range, and I felt the difference in bass output was enough that I'd rather pay more for the 50's. I listen to a lot of stuff with low bass in though.

Either of your first two choices should suffice as entry level speakers, I haven't heard either but I would try and get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses and pick the one with the sound signature that is more suited to your taste.
 
Related (stupid) question - I have seen the M-Audio's and the Edifiers described as desktop monitors. I presume it is ok to dump them on the floor?

I dont think I have space on my desk which makes me err towards the Aego M's.
 
They're relatively inexpensive for good quality active speakers!

Anyway, you could, but you're basically denying yourself from hearing the speakers properly, since with monitor-type speakers the 'sweet spot' to listen to them is w/the tweeters at ear level and you being sat in an equilateral triangle with them, and it's usually far more localised than with hifi speakers, which are meant to have some distance between them and the listener. Putting subs on the floor is fine because low bass is omnidirectional, but the same can't be said for the other frequencies.

Can you not put them either side of the desk on stands? The AV-40s really aren't very big at all, if you look on the Apple Hardware forum and the 'show off your hardware' sticky thread, on the 2nd to last page there is a picture of them on a desk, they're minnows.
 
Nah you've got plenty of room if you tidy that up a bit, bring the router(?) right next to your monitor, put the 4:3 monitor right next to the big one, move the alarm clock somewhere else and have the speakers at the sides of the desk. Just got to find a home for the lamp then. A dual vesa arm mount that clamped to your desk would give you space too since you could bring everything underneath them.
 
Buy some speaker brackets and mount on the wall, doing so strangely gives the feeling of more room even though it's still blocking the desk.
 
The satellites on the Aego M have no tweeters, which is disappointing. The highs won't be as good as you get with some other speakers. Try and find 2.1 speakers with tweeters if you want to go for a 2.1 system.

The Edifier R1600 are unknown. I haven't been able to find any reviews on them outside of this forum in English. But i saw a Russian review that said they were very good.
 
I think I am going to discount the M-audio av40's as I don't hear very good thing about their quality control and support (have a look at their own forums)

I am also going to discount the edifiers - the only widely available review I can find is by an ocuk employee (Andrew moore), and no offence to him but I would like an independent opinion on them.

I have been reccomended the audio engine a2's (would love the a5's but I think they are too pricey for ms at the moment.)

I am going to choose between them and the aego m's.

I am erring towards the latter, as I am guessing that whilst the a2's will have better overall sound quality they will be lacking in base in comparison to the aego m's.

Anyone know what the warranty is on the aego m's?

I think the audioengine come with a 3 year warranty, which is nice.
 
Woops. :/ Maybe you can get them 2nd hand. Or just increase your budget! This isn't a dig, but I see literally dozens of people on here pay loads of money for expensive processors, graphics cards and monitors, then only want to spend a tiny amount on the sound side of their set up. Good audio is worth investing in!
 
I have the Acoustic Energy Aego M's. Very good quality compared to my previous 2.1's over the years but I do remember them costing a fair bit more.

Recommended and have come up in members market a few times too :)
 
EdwardTeach said:
I think I am going to discount the M-audio av40's as I don't hear very good thing about their quality control and support (have a look at their own forums)

I am also going to discount the edifiers - the only widely available review I can find is by an ocuk employee (Andrew moore), and no offence to him but I would like an independent opinion on them.

I have been reccomended the audio engine a2's (would love the a5's but I think they are too pricey for ms at the moment.)

I am going to choose between them and the aego m's.

I am erring towards the latter, as I am guessing that whilst the a2's will have better overall sound quality they will be lacking in base in comparison to the aego m's.

Anyone know what the warranty is on the aego m's?

I think the audioengine come with a 3 year warranty, which is nice.
Click to expand...

Shame I have the av40's and have had no problems and they sound exceptional for the price. The only slight issue is that at very low volumes you can hear the hum of the internal psu but I suspect that may be an issue with all active speakers.
 
AE A2's are only 1 year warranty. Sadly the 3 year warranty is only available in the US. Thankfully we are not screwed over the price, as they are about the same price in the US.
 
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