Good speakers for desktop PC - Klipsch R-41M

SkidMarkKing

SkidMarkKing

SkidMarkKing

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Hi guys,

i'm currently looking for some good speakers for my desktop PC.

Have noticed some Klipsch R-41M active speakers local to me for £200, almost new out of the box.

Would you say they are worth it at that price?
 
www.audiosciencereview.com

Klipsch R-41M Bookshelf Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Klipsch R-41M bookshelf speaker. I bought a pair from Amazon for US $149. The retail cost is US $229 but I suspect no one pays that. I always say speaker business is 80% marketing and Klipsch nails that with look and branding of this series of...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com

The usual Klipsch bring sound probably apply a PEQ filter @ 1khz
 
Beware the difference between the the R-41M (passive) and the R-41PM (active). Same speaker hardware but their frequency response is slightly different with Klipsch's built0-in amp having a slight V curve added to it.

I had the R-41PM for about 9 months and they were great. I used them with the optical input for a while and then switched to using the line in from an ifi Zen dac. I also used the bluetooth often which was faultless.

I would highly recommend using something like Equalizer APO to tune them to your preferences. They're obviously very light on bass; there's only so much a 4" woofer can do.
My 41s died prematurely, the shop just refunded me and I upgraded to the R-51PM, which were noticeably better and could probably stand on their own if you're not too worried about bass. I ended up pairing them with a Jamo S808 sub and it was sublime.

It's not a bad price. Be prepared to immediately start looking at buying a sub though...
I sold my R-51PMs and the sub as a bundle for £400 on Fbook if that helps as a point of reference.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys.

May have to hold off for now. Currently in the middle of a home restoration. Didn't realise ide need an amp £100 minimum and a sub ideally, £600/£700+ :(

Years ago I had the logitech 5.1 speakers connected to my PC and loved them, haha.
 
SkidMarkKing said:
Thanks for the replies guys.

May have to hold off for now. Currently in the middle of a home restoration. Didn't realise ide need an amp £100 minimum and a sub ideally, £600/£700+ :(

Years ago I had the logitech 5.1 speakers connected to my PC and loved them, haha.
Click to expand...

You wouldn't need an amp for active speakers.

But yeah for little speakers like that need a subwoofer. I've got a few speakers, smallest is similar to those Klipsch and yeah they're pretty bass light. I use different set of spaekers for the PC they have 140mm woofers they don't need a sub. But I have one anyway :D

Active speakers do have their benefits - typically they are biamped, and actively biamped (crossover before the amplifier) however if the amp fails then you have a useless speaker.

If my PC speakers fail (which they won't, but the amplifier could) I can replace the amp with any avr/stereo amp. Also have more I/O if I need that.

At the moment something like a Wiim Amp would suffice for the system...as PC source would be optical, and that Wiim has a streamer so that saves one input.
 
hornetstinger said:
You wouldn't need an amp for active speakers.

But yeah for little speakers like that need a subwoofer. I've got a few speakers, smallest is similar to those Klipsch and yeah they're pretty bass light. I use different set of spaekers for the PC they have 140mm woofers they don't need a sub. But I have one anyway :D

Active speakers do have their benefits - typically they are biamped, and actively biamped (crossover before the amplifier) however if the amp fails then you have a useless speaker.

If my PC speakers fail (which they won't, but the amplifier could) I can replace the amp with any avr/stereo amp. Also have more I/O if I need that.

At the moment something like a Wiim Amp would suffice for the system...as PC source would be optical, and that Wiim has a streamer so that saves one input.
Click to expand...

Might have a look for something cheaper for the PC. Ideally, I was looking for something around £150 (it's my home office as well).

Once the house has mostly been completed I would like a decent hifi system in the living room.
 
hornetstinger said:
Active speakers do have their benefits - typically they are biamped, and actively biamped (crossover before the amplifier) however if the amp fails then you have a useless speaker.
Click to expand...
Don't know about others but the Klipsches would be easy to convert to passive speakers if the amp died. They're based on their passive speakers to start with anyway. I'm pretty sure the crossover is after the amp so you'd still have that.

SkidMarkKing said:
Might have a look for something cheaper for the PC. Ideally, I was looking for something around £150 (it's my home office as well).
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Audiophiles will turn up thier noses but Edifier has a good range of options. Their R1280 series are pretty good all-rounders and the MR4s are good if you're going to be adding a sub.

 
Really appreciate the replies guys.

If I purchased the Klipsch R-41M speakers, how much would a suitable amp cost? (Don't mind second hand)

Alternatively i'm also looking at the Edifier R2180DBs (A sub can be added to the DBs version)
 
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SkidMarkKing said:
Really appreciate the replies guys.

If I purchased the Klipsch R-41M speakers, how much would a suitable amp cost? (Don't mind second hand)

Alternatively i'm also looking at the Edifier R2180DBs (A sub can be added to the DBs version)
Click to expand...

Active speakers don't require and amplifier, as they're inside the speakers

PASSIVE speakers do require a amplifier these start about £25, to about £200,000
 
If you just want an amp you would easily get something decent for well under £100.
DAC/Amp (let's you just plug USB straight into your PC) - the Loxjie A30 is the generally recommended budget option at about £130.
My £180 Topping MX-5 does well but it's maybe more bells & whistles than you're looking for and it's an older model now - there's probably something better for the same money by now.
 
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I wouldn't put too much into small amps that can also power a passive sub. Passive subs are rare at the budget end and a tiny amp like that wouldn't have the power needed anyway.

CheapAudioMan recommended the Douk A5 amp (£87) or the Fosi Audio ZA3 (£120). The latter has a dedicated sub out for an active sub. The Douk has a line out which could be directed to a sub, but just double check that it outputs to the speakers and line out at the same time.

P.S: The ZA3 has a matching DAC in the form of the ZD3 which is similar money. A nice little pairing for future upgrades.
 
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SkidMarkKing said:
Hi guys,

i'm currently looking for some good speakers for my desktop PC.

Have noticed some Klipsch R-41M active speakers local to me for £200, almost new out of the box.

Would you say they are worth it at that price?
Click to expand...

I would probably not buy those speakers, I will explain why.

Some active speakers are produced 'cheap', so they have one amp contained in one speaker, then there is passive crossovers. The give away is one speaker has a speaker cable going from one speaker to the other. Now if your on a low budget such as some of the cheaper Edifiers it's ok, however spending £200+ it's not, not for me anyway. That said if you listen to them, and get them for a bargain price then go for them, but be aware there a compromised design.

The correct way to make an active speaker, is an amplifier for each driver. In this setup there is an electronic cross-over in each speaker. When you have an amp for each driver the sound is normally cleaner. A good active monitor at reasonable money is the Yamaha HS5.
 
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Admetos said:
I would probably not buy those speakers, I will explain why.

Some active speakers are produced 'cheap', so they have one amp contained in one speaker, then there is passive crossovers. The give away is one speaker has a speaker cable going from one speaker to the other. Now if your on a low budget such as some of the cheaper Edifiers it's ok, however spending £200+ it's not, not for me anyway.

The correct way to make an active speaker, is an amplifier for each driver. In this setup there is an electronic cross-over in each speaker. When you have an amp for each driver the sound is normally cleaner. A good active monitor at reasonable money is the Yamaha HS5.
Click to expand...

interesting, never thought of that, but it makes sense. Should really be four conductors, either in proprietary connector or two pairs of bananas to the slave speaker
 
hornetstinger said:
interesting, never thought of that, but it makes sense. Should really be four conductors, either in proprietary connector or two pairs of bananas to the slave speaker
Click to expand...

Active speakers like the Yamaha HS5's for example, are more tricky to setup for a consumer, as you must have an interconnect going over to each monitor. Then you will need a DAC, or an audio interface.

I just wanted to make SkidMarkKing aware there are different ways to implement active monitors, he should still buy the Klipsch R-41M's if he likes then, and especially if buying for a good price.

​

 
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