best 2.0 speakers for games and music on pc?

PESolution

PESolution

PESolution

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So I've had my trusty z5500's for years and year now but after a desk change i no longer have space for the subwoofer and so want to change to 2.0 speakers.

What are the 'best' to go for without getting silly on price - happy to pay up to say £250.. if that's even necessary.

p.s. - am i best to buy an amp for pc and then buy 2 'bookshelf' speakers like these: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-002-AP

or can i just get one with aux / digital input straight from pc?
Thanks

pes x
 
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The bookshelf speakers you've linked are active, so have an amp built in.

Decent speakers start a lot cheaper than that though, the Edifier R1600T III is very good (I have the mk.II) and has the benefit of being front ported so can be pushed back close to a wall.

If you have a bit more space behind (8" or so) then the Microlab Solo 6C is a good choice too and should produce deeper bass due to the larger woofer.
 
rids57 said:
The bookshelf speakers you've linked are active, so have an amp built in.

Decent speakers start a lot cheaper than that though, the Edifier R1600T III is very good (I have the mk.II) and has the benefit of being front ported so can be pushed back close to a wall.

If you have a bit more space behind (8" or so) then the Microlab Solo 6C is a good choice too and should produce deeper bass due to the larger woofer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. So the ones I linked- or any other 'active' speakers which have an amp built in - how do i link them to my pc? The connections i can see on the back of them are different to the ones on my pc... I'm currently using the rubbish onboard soundcard of my asrock motherboard.

God I know so little about the audio side of pc's it's embarassing
 
How exactly would you have your setup ? I ask as you have mention an amp , which would indicate to me you have space somewhere.

Also ... take a look at :-


Audioengine A2 Powered Desktop Speakers

Highly regarded
 
It's worth bearing in mind that unlike your Z5500 which would take Digital signal directly, the new 2.0 speakers you would probably be getting would be connected via the 3.5mm/RCA cables...and since you are connecting via analog, your speakers sound quality could held back by poor quality DAC, such as those are with the onboard sound of the motherboard (they will make good speakers sound crap)....so you might want to get a soundcard, which would have a much better DAC.
 
A problem I have is that I crossfired two triple slot graphics cards, so I no longer have any space for even the smallest of PCI soundcards - I did have a soundcard previously but had to remove it when i added the second graphics card :(

I guess I would need speakers which take a digital signal like Marine has suggested...

Or a little amp/dac that takes my digital input from motherboard soundcard and then makes it better / that connects to pc from usb? Now i think about it - would the little mini ampos / amps that people get for headhones be good for 2.0 speakers too? Something like this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-000-EA&groupid=702&catid=2852&subcat=2856
 
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First post says he is trying to get away from a subwoofer as he doesn't have space.

Asus Xonar U7 external USB sound card (£70) plus Edifier R1600T III speakers (£95) = job done for £165
 
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Another option would be something like a Topping VX1 (£80) amplifier and a pair of Wharfedale 9.1 passive speakers (£100) which would give a great sound.
 
rids57 said:
Another option would be something like a Topping VX1 (£80) amplifier and a pair of Wharfedale 9.1 passive speakers (£100) which would give a great sound.
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I just looked up the Topping VX1...would the USB input mean OP would be able to get the audio via digital signal through USB, rather than through AUX input connecting to the crappy onboard sound of the motherboard via analog?
 
space is why I suggested the Edifiers, as they are front ported (so can be pushed back), quite compact and sound good.
The Diamond 9.1's are also front ported so the same can be said of them.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
I just looked up the Topping VX1...would the USB input mean OP would be able to get the audio via digital signal through USB, rather than through AUX input connecting to the crappy onboard sound of the motherboard via analog?
Click to expand...

Yep, it has a built in DAC so could bypass the mobo audio entirely.

My two suggestions:

Asus Xonar U7 USB sound card + Edifier R1600T III active speakers (Total = £160)

or

Topping VX1 USB DAC/Amp + Diamond 9.1 passive speakers (Total = £180)
 
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rids57 said:
Yep, it has a built in DAC so could bypass the mobo audio entirely.

My two suggestions:

Asus Xonar U7 USB sound card + Edifier R1600T III active speakers (Total = £160)

or

Topping VX1 USB DAC/Amp + Diamond 9.1 passive speakers (Total = £180)
Click to expand...
I myself have started to look more and more at passive speakers recently, and active speakers have one fundamental issue- they are aimmed more at general usage, and doesn't really have much option beyond the £100 price point...whereas for passive speakers, there is a huge range of sub £200 speakers and some very "bang for bucks".

Take the Wharfedale Diamond 121 or Q ACOUSTICS2010i for example they would probably match the Audioengine A5+ (active) at nearly half its price? So Going for the Topping VX1 would probably offer far more future upgrade options than a soundcard would for the future I guess?
 
Well you could always split it even further and go for something like a Schiit Modi or ODAC and then use a straight amp such as the TP20. That way you can upgrade the DAC and Amp separately.
 
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