best 2.0 speakers for games and music on pc?

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...

Thanks for all you advice so far guys - much appreciated.

The above two suggestions seem the best way for me to go. For information so you can see the space etc. that I have to work with, this is my new setup:

IMG_1468.jpg


As you can see there is nowhere for my to put as sub under the desk due to space - and i dont want to shove a big one ontop of the desk as it wont look right i dont think..
 
PESolution said:
Thanks for all you advice so far guys - much appreciated.

The above two suggestions seem the best way for me to go. For information so you can see the space etc. that I have to work with, this is my new setup:

IMG_1468.jpg


As you can see there is nowhere for my to put as sub under the desk due to space - and i dont want to shove a big one ontop of the desk as it wont look right i dont think..
Click to expand...
5.1 clearly isn't gonna work for your new layout :D

Personally I would go with rids57's suggestion of Topping VX1 USB DAC/Amp, but I would spend a bit more for pair of passive speakers that's even better than the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 (£99.99)- the Wharfedale Diamond 121 (£149.99) for example, or the new series Wharfedale Diamond 220 (£199.95- look similar to the 121, but all-round improvement from the 121), but it would be a bit over your budget together with the Topping VX1.

You could head down your local Richer Sounds (if they have one of their stores near by) to demo some speakers before deciding as well. I myself is considering if I should get the 220 as well :p
http://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/diamond-220/review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21_rqj91_2U
 
Last edited:
I'd be spending less on the soundcard and more on the speakers. Unless I've missed something you could go with a soundcard like the Asus Xonar DS and studio monitors such as the Presonus Eris E5 or Fluid Audio F5

Soundcard currently on offer as well

YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus Xonar DS 7.1 PCI Sound Card OEM £25.99
Total : £30.98 (includes shipping : £4.16).

 
Last edited:
PESolution said:
Thanks Marine - Those speakers seem big though - I kind of want something smaller that can sit on each side of my desk without looking over the top! That was one of the reasons I liked the ones I linked first because they are sooo small (these ones: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-002-AP )
Click to expand...
I see. If you are after something with smaller footprint, you could consider the Q Acoustics 2010i/2020i:

2010i (4 inch mid bass driver):
http://www.whathifi.com/q-acoustics/2010i/review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgVUJWfOP-8

2020i (5 inch mid bass driver):
http://www.whathifi.com/q-acoustics/2020i/review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pKVj96Qj24

The 2010i and Topping VX1 combination at less than 2/3 the cost would probably sound as good, if not better than the Audio Pro - ADDON T8 and soundcard combination.
 
Last edited:
dacads said:
I'd be spending less on the soundcard and more on the speakers. Unless I've missed something you could go with a soundcard like the Asus Xonar DS and studio monitors such as the Presonus Eris E5 or Fluid Audio F5

Soundcard currently on offer as well

YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus Xonar DS 7.1 PCI Sound Card OEM £25.99
Total : £30.98 (includes shipping : £4.16).

Click to expand...

I dont have a spare pci slot so i need a usb one unfortunately
 
Okay I think I'm going to go for the 2010i with the Topping VX1 - my only problem is that I would love to drive to my local riochersounds and buy today but they dont stock the VX1 - is there any alternative that richersounds would stock do you know? or am i better ordering online and waiting?

Thanks
 
How good are those T8 speakers?

What Hi-Fi review aside, can't see many others.

Also, £250 is a lot for those T8's. Audioengine A2+ can be had for £195, plus they have a built in DAC, so no need for a sound card. USB from PC to A2+, job done. Unless you need a sound card for headphone use as well?
 
You can get the T8's for 200, although im swaying towards the topping vx1 now so that in the future when I get better headphones I can run them through that too!
 
I've decided to 100% go with the 2010i and Topping VX1 combination as suggested by Marine. All I need to know now is which cables to buy? Or will they come with the speakers?
 
I think that's a good decision. I use a Topping amp myself with some small bookshelf speakers, and it does a great job.

USB cable aside, you'll need some speaker cable. USB cable may came with the VX1, but the speakers just come by themselves.

Doesn't matter too much which speaker cable you go for. Just don't for anything fancy, because it's a waste of money.
 
PESolution said:
The CAMBRIDGE AUDIODACMAGIC 100 looks good - although £170..

Or the CYPAU-D160 - at £110
Click to expand...
The Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC100's DAC would probably better DAC than the one found on the VX1, and it has Toslink Optical and S/P DIF inputs as well besides USB...however it doesn't seem to have headphone amp, not sure what headphone you using...if you are using some gaming headset, you wouldn't really need a headphone amp anyway as they tends to be quite easy to drive.

It's is however £100 most, so I dunno...

To be honest, I think the Topping VX1 would be more than enough for your need.
 
Last edited:
Last question guys - how many cables do i need. Do I need two for each speakers, so four lengths?

Also im getting confused with the name of the type of cable - they all seem to have slightly different ends and i dont want to order the wrong ones - could somebody link me to some ?

Are they Phono plugs that I want?
 
Last edited:
No, bare end speaker wire. link.

You can add banana plugs if you want, but there is no need as you can get easy access to the speaker rear and amp. The terminals accept both banana plugs and bare wire.

Edit: Sorry, you did ask if you need two cables for each speaker.

No you don't. Just the one run per speaker. The reason some speakers have 4 terminals is to allow bi-wiring or bi-amping. The 2010i has just the two. Originally, I thought they had 4 like the 2020i.
 
Last edited:
Marsman said:
No, bare end speaker wire. link.

You can add banana plugs if you want, but there is no need as you can get easy access to the speaker rear and amp. The terminals accept both banana plugs and bare wire.

Edit: Sorry, you did ask if you need two cables for each speaker.

No you don't. Just the one run per speaker. The reason the speakers have 4 terminals is to allow bi-wiring or bi-amping.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the advice - all ordered :D
 
In answer to previous questions:-

PESolution said:
Okay I think I'm going to go for the 2010i with the Topping VX1 - my only problem is that I would love to drive to my local riochersounds and buy today but they dont stock the VX1 - is there any alternative that richersounds would stock do you know? or am i better ordering online and waiting?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Nothing that small. RS and SuperFi and Hi-Fi stockists in general, don't stock these small T amps. They do some smaller integrated amps than the common size, but none will come close to be as cheap as the Topping.


PESolution said:
The CAMBRIDGE AUDIODACMAGIC 100 looks good - although £170..

Or the CYPAU-D160 - at £110
Click to expand...

Both are just DACs. You need an amplifier to drive the speakers, so that would add extra cost.
 
Marsman said:
In answer to previous questions:-



Nothing that small. RS and SuperFi and Hi-Fi stockists in general, don't stock these small T amps. They do some smaller integrated amps than the common size, but none will come close to be as cheap as the Topping.




Both are just DACs. You need an amplifier to drive the speakers, so that would add extra cost.
Click to expand...

Thanks,

All ordered now anyway - the 2010i's to keep them small and neat on my desk, with the topping vx1 :)

Think ill treat myself to some nice headphones at christmas now i have a decent headphones amp aswell :D
 
PESolution said:
Thanks so much for the advice - all ordered :D
Click to expand...

Nice! :D

One to bare in mind when you go to set them up. Make sure the speakers wires are all connected and no bare ends can touch before you plug the amp into the mains.

The reason is because if the amp is on and the speaker wires touch, it will damage the amp. I think there is info about this included with the amp. Thought it best mentioned, just in case. :)

These amps don't have the protection you get with a full size integrated amp when the wires are crossed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom