Desktop Sound < £150?

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Soldato
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Currently running Edifier 1600Ts off onboard (asus supremefx2015). Had to throw all my PCI soundcards in the bin due to motherboard upgrade. Was listening to a few tunes last night, I must say, it wasn't unpleasant by any means. Not hi-fi or anything, but motherboard manufacturers have definitly moved forward in this area. Amazing for the cost, when you think about it.

That said, if I had £150 to throw at a 2.0 desktop audio setup, what should I be looking at? Mainly gaming and listening to music (normal quality) I prefer to use speakers, but occasionally use cheap headphones when necessary. I'm after clarity and balance at low to mid volumes. In other words, good sound that won't wake the kids and annoy the wife!
 
^ The UD-H01 doesn't have any amplification built in, and would leave no money for speakers? ( I am taking the OP's 2.0 audio setup comment)

But if it is a 2.0 speaker setup, I would recommend getting a Topping or SMSL DAC/AMP and a set of popular bookshelf speakers.

If your budget is as close to £150 then:
QAcoustics 2020i - £79 @ richer sounds
Topping VX1 - £81 from the rain forest (DAC and AMP combined with headphone out)

Other options are the SMSL Q5 Pro AMP/DAC (£95 for a little more output), and there are a raft of bookshelf speaker options..

Of course, you could always spend a little more on the speakers, so you could go to Richer sounds and audition the various options and decide what suits you.

THe next level up would be a better amp/dac
-Teac A-H01 (different to the UD-H01 as it has an amplfier built in)
- Monitor Audio A100 (Wireless, more power, but USB is not windows compatible)
These are currently £150 in Richer sounds

Then some speakers to chose
 
Last edited:
Demon said:
^ The UD-H01 doesn't have any amplification built in, and would leave no money for speakers? ( I am taking the OP's 2.0 audio setup comment)

But if it is a 2.0 speaker setup, I would recommend getting a Topping or SMSL DAC/AMP and a set of popular bookshelf speakers.

If your budget is as close to £150 then:
QAcoustics 2020i - £79 @ richer sounds
Topping VX1 - £81 from the rain forest (DAC and AMP combined with headphone out)

Other options are the SMSL Q5 Pro AMP/DAC (£95 for a little more output), and there are a raft of bookshelf speaker options..

Of course, you could always spend a little more on the speakers, so you could go to Richer sounds and audition the various options and decide what suits you.

THe next level up would be a better amp/dac
-Teac A-H01 (different to the UD-H01 as it has an amplfier built in)
- Monitor Audio A100 (Wireless, more power, but USB is not windows compatible)
These are currently £150 in Richer sounds

Then some speakers to chose
Click to expand...
OP has a set of Edifier 1600T Plus already, which are active speakers...so he only need DAC, not stereo amp.

I have the Edifier 1600T myself, and I can say it's almost on par with my Q3010.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
OP has a set of Edifier 1600T Plus already, which are active speakers...so he only need DAC, not stereo amp.

I have the Edifier 1600T myself, and I can say it's almost on par with my Q3010.
Click to expand...

LOL.. missed that! a good point.. if he doesn't need amp/speakers, then the UD-H01 is a great dac, I am not sure it has a headphone amp of note in it, since it's stated power out on headphones is only 45mW @ 32Ohms, but unless he needs to drive high impedence headphones, or very demanding ones, I'm sure from all accounts on here it's great..
 
shame as i noticed these the other day :)

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/acoustic-energy-aego-m-2.1-speaker-system-black-sp-000-ae.html

SP000AE_17633_800x800.jpg
 
darreny said:
He says 2.0 desktop setup so I'd be inclined to think speakers and amp
Click to expand...
I don't think OP implied he's gonna put away the Edifier 1600T at all...from what he said he's only focused on talking about not longer able to use soundcard due to motherboard upgrade, so I would think he just something to like an external DAC for putting his speakers back onto the right quality level. Besides, as I mentioned earlier the 1600T is up there with the Q3010 audio performance wise.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
I don't think OP implied he's gonna put away the Edifier 1600T at all...from what he said he's only focused on talking about not longer able to use soundcard due to motherboard upgrade, so I would think he just something to like an external DAC for putting his speakers back onto the right quality level. Besides, as I mentioned earlier the 1600T is up there with the Q3010 audio performance wise.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback! Im open to all options actually. You raise an excellent point though, If the Edifier 1600Ts are good enough (and I'd welcome feedback on those in comparison to say £80 passive bookshelves), then all I'm missing is a half decent DAC. If we go down that road then I'm wondering if there's really going to be much difference between an external DAC like the Teac, and a £50 sound card such as the Sound Blaster z?
 
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