2.1 Hi-Fi suggestions?

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 09:49

2.0 Hi-Fi suggestions?

Hi, i am going to return my Creative X-Fi Fata1ty, the return should be about £145, also, i will be getting my EMA soon, so thats £245, so any suggestions on some good 2.1 gear for that price, also maybe a cheap but good sound card in that price too?, or maybe i can stick with my Intergrated AC97 audio and it will sound better with 2.1 than my z5500 would sound with the x-fi?

squiffy · 16 Dec 2006 at 10:58

£275 will get you a active 2.0 speakers and a new soundcard, something like the M-Audio Audiophile 192 and a pair of active M-Audio speakers? The M-Audio cards apparently offer superior sound quality to Creatives. Read up on X-Fi crackling before you buy one. If the speakers are large enough you don't need a subwoofer for music, especially if you're right next to the speakers like a PC system (I own several subs, and several speakers of different frequency response). I've had to use the tone controls on my amp to cut out 1/4 bass from my B&W 601's (PC audio setup) as they're too bassy. You can always add a subwoofer later on.

You won't be able to buy a stereo integrated amplifier/2 speakers/subwoofer and soundcard for £275, at least not anything classed as "Hi-Fi"

£85 for M-Audio 192, plus M-Audio Studiophile DX4 £100 or M-Audio BX5 a £160

I haven't heard those M-Audio speakers though.

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 11:05

Sorry, i did not mean 2.1, just 2.0.

I want a nice set of bookshelve speakers, an amp for them that can be used with possibly more speakers and a subwoofer later on.

My first subwoofer for Hi-Fi will be the BK Monolith, so thats got its own power supply.

I would prefer to use Ebay, and possibly get some B&W's

squiffy · 16 Dec 2006 at 11:09

Ok, but £275 is pushing it. I usually recommend £275 per component! Although £275 will buy you amp and speakers.

I don't think much of B&W myself, have you heard them? They get loads of awards which baffles me so they're hyped up a lot.

Since you're looking at second hand it's going to be difficult to win the auction, as everything now seems to sell for silly prices. Can't get a bargain

A Rotel or NAD will do

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 12:17

Whats wrong with B&W, Dr.EM reccomended them to me, they dont seem bad.

I thought i might of been able to get something thats at least a lot better quality than my Z5500 for music and also can go preety loud, i would like some standmount speakers that can throw out quite a lot of bass, just enough to go with the music at a ncie level, and the B&W speakers that Dr.Em has seems to be good.

I have decided to return the X-fi abd buy 2.0 Hi-Fi because my Z5500 is really annoying me, it dont seem good for music now, too much treble, vocals are too quiet etc..

Dr.EM · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:11

Yeah, I reccomended B&W 602 in particular (that I have) since they have very good bass output for standmounts (which is important to you). They will sound a lot better than Z-5500's for sure. I agree, try to get a Rotel or NAD amp. Since you like high levels, try to get a Rotel RA971 as this has good power output and often goes "cheaply". For the card, the M-audio 2496 is an obvious choice.

I don't expect you'd get those components for under £275. I was suggesting last time to look for much older speaker models like B&W DM220. I don't know how good they are by todays standards, but i'm betteing they are pretty decent and should fill your bass requirement. However, if you plan to get a sub then you'll be looking at different speakers all together. I'm looking to find ones with strong bass, but if you plan to add a sub this becomes less important and you'd look for ones which excel in clarity

squiffy · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:12

There's nothing wrong with B&W, I just feel for the same money you can buy better speakers. Go and have a listen to a few speakers from various speaker companies.

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:58

Ok, any reccomendations, throw sound card out of windows, i will be able to cope with my intergrated sound for now, i expect them to be better quality still than my z5500's.

daz · 16 Dec 2006 at 14:17

What are you aiming for with this system?

Volume?
Bass?
High quality sound?

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 14:42

Volume, Quality and bass if possible, when i say bass, i mean just good enough so its at the right level for the music, i dont want no bass so i am missing something from the music.

squiffy · 16 Dec 2006 at 14:54

Amount of bass will depend on room/closeness to the speaker.
I've found B&W bass to be a bit boomy & uncontrolled.

You really need to go and have a listen as it'll depend on the above, and your hearing.

willhub · 16 Dec 2006 at 22:13

Do you know if any of these big shopping centers like the one in shefflied, leeds of manchester will have good places for speakers, as then i will go in and demo some.

Also on a note about bass, since i fell through the floor in the loft and made a hole in the ceiling in my room, i have had to move into a really small room, and in this small room, the bass from my z5500 is not as loud as when i wa sin a room 3 times larger than it :s, i thought it would be louder a lot louder :s

squiffy · 16 Dec 2006 at 22:21

Shopping centres won't have "Hi-Fi" retailers but just Bose junk. Hi-Fi shops are usually away from the high street down corner streets. There's the large discount audio retailer but really it's just high sales, so expect sales push and not advice.

Have a look what hifi/HT retailers are in your area.