Need some 2.0's (or 2.1's)

.temp · 20 Jun 2011 at 11:34

Hey all

At the moment I've currently got some Logitech Z-5500's in my room. Now they're a brilliant speaker, HOWEVER, I can't enjoy them to their fullest as the walls in my house are pretty thin son my subwoofer is on so low that it sounds nothing like it could. Essentially I don't feel like I'm getting my monies worth out of them, so I've decided to get some 2.0/2.1 speakers (to be honest 2.1's might be a waste of a sub if I can't turn it up too loud).

My friend said he's sell me his M-Audio AV 40 2.0 set for cheap, are they any good?

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MAudioAV40.html

Any recommendations? My budget is up to about £120-£150

ATIorNvidia · 20 Jun 2011 at 12:14

I've heard they sound great, but have a lot of build quality issues (dieing, overheating, sound cutting out etc).... check the M-audio forums.

robin66 · 20 Jun 2011 at 12:28

These are two other options you might want to consider.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-116-CL&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=719

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-003-ER&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=719

I'm using the T40's and finding them great for my needs. Nice mid and high range without the booming base.

Bought the T40's for my PS3 as the optical connection on my Z5500's has died for some reason.

But after testing the T40's on both my PS3 and PC, I'm using the T40's for now on both, as I to had to turn the Z5500's base down a lot for day to day use myself.

Marsman · 20 Jun 2011 at 13:28

AV40's are certainly great sounding speakers. I did consider getting them once, but there is talk of what ATIorNvidia mentioned. Cheap potentiometer being used is a concern. They only have a 1 year warranty, and they have gone up 50% in price over the last 3 years. A 50% price increase still with build quality concerns, is a little off putting IMO. Shame really.

Edifier R1600T's are worth considering.

.temp · 20 Jun 2011 at 17:44

thanks for the input guys

If I bought the M-Audio's from my friend he'd only charge me like £50 for them, but as they're 2nd hand I'd get no technical support at all for them

Are the R1600T's really that good? They're at a very low price point that's why I'm asking

dz1 · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:23

Marsman said:
They only have a 1 year warranty, and they have gone up 50% in price over the last 3 years. A 50% price increase still with build quality concerns, is a little off putting IMO. Shame really.

Many speakers have gone up in price by roughly the same amount due to the devaluation of sterling. You can thank Gordon Brown and the mess he left us in for that. In other countries prices have gone up by much less.

Rroff · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:29

The R1600Ts aren't bad, bass is a little bit underwhelming but thats about par for the course for 2.0 systems of that nature. The amp is of high quality and the sound is clear and nicely balanced.

I'm probably a little spoilt as my friend was a DJ and I've gotten used to much more expensive studio monitors so I wasn't blown away by them but they are a respectable PC sound system.

EDIT: My overall impression was I can't fault them for what they are, but they sound like they are trying to be a bigger speaker in a smaller package.

dz1 · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:31

The AV40 will have better sound quality than the Edifiers but they will have more problems as well, like buzzing amps. If you think you can put up with these kinds of problems then go with the AV40. They are only £50 but their resale value is nearly double that.

Rroff · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:37

dz1 said:
The AV40 will have better sound quality than the Edifiers but they will have more problems as well, like buzzing amps. If you think you can put up with these kinds of problems then go with the AV40. They are only £50 but their resale value is nearly double that.

I wouldn't be so sure on that - the R1600T's have a better frequency response and using larger drivers that utilise the same/similiar technology - the M-Audios are good but I'd be suprised if theres much in it between them and the edifiers. Also similiar enclosure design, etc. that said even the smallest thing can make a big difference in sound quality.

.temp · 20 Jun 2011 at 20:24

is the buzzing on the av40s noticeable? my room isn't the biggest so i'm worried I'll hear it when I have nothing on

dz1 · 20 Jun 2011 at 22:09

The buzzing from the AV40 is not very loud. It is a low frequency buzz you can hear only when the speakers aren't playing any sound. Most people won't notice the buzzing above the sound of their computer fans, but if you have a quiet PC then it might bother you. It bothered me enough to return them and get something else.

Despite this problem, i am thinking of getting them again because of the high quality sound they made. Sound quality is better than any 2.1 system i've had. The R1600T may come close to it but i doubt it will be as good. If it were then experts would have reviewed it by now, but i see no experts reviewing the R1600T as they do the AV40.

Since it's your friend who's selling the speakers it should be easy enough to arrange an audition before you buy them.