Most (but not all) people on this forum set there audio up wrong.
This is the order you do it in.
1) Good nearfield monitors, for example Adam T5V or similar.
2) Then you get desk stands and set the speakers up - spend time setting them up. Speaker setup is critical.
I don't care how much you spend on audio equipment, without speaker setup it's pointless. Imagine a Porsche 911 RS with all it's geo and tracking wrong, it won't handle or drive correct, it's the same with your speakers if there not setup correct! This includes anyone who just places speakers directly on a desk. Speakers should level and area between woofer and tweeter should be near or at your ear level. You can adjust sound by the distance the speakers are apart, aim first to have vocals forward and centre, small distances from wall, and small changes in angle can be critical also.
Same also with a sub, place isolation foam and raise the sub from the floor and it helps the sound.
3) Then some isolation foam for speakers.
Here is the test for isolation foam, when your music is playing, place your hand flat on your desk, if you feel vibration from the desk your speakers are not isolated and your degrading your sound.
4) A reasonably good sound card or DAC. At least a Creative AE5, or one of the better rated Topping DAC's
5) Then some good quality cables (yes they make a difference I'll be doing a thread showing RMAA cable results soon!)
6) The final bit, it's about synergy between all the components, again you can only discover this when doing your setup.
Once everything is setup correctly you will never need EQ, or software sound adjustment, you'll never find yourself reaching to adjust BASS. Games, films, any type of music, once your setup correct your one and only setup does everything!! On my desk setup, and main HiFi the only adjustment I make is the volume control and the on/off switch to the amp(s)!
On the subject of subwoofers, subs should only be used to support the main speakers. They should be invisible and only noticed when the sub is turned off. However once your use to good near field monitors you may find you don't desire a subwoofer, I have a sub under my desk currently not connected as I'm perfectly happy with my studio monitors alone.
Do this and you'll should have very good detailed audio, the above (without sub) can be done for under £600
And for anyone who thinks their mother board audio is good, this the test...
Go and find a late 80/90's separates CD player, something that was good like a Yamaha Natural sound, or Pioneer separates. If you don't own one ask your parents if they still own one. Then back to back test this vintage CD player with your latest motherboard audio. You soon realise how clean and noise free those old separates CD players sound compared to your motherboard audio.
I have a Memorex CD-1650 hooked up though I rarely use it, it's very good but there is no noticeable different between that and say a Spotify song with the highest quality in settings selected.
I always kind of laughed at people who claim it sounds like this or that and they are experiencing some kind of closeness with the original artist, when we get artists doing sound checks in a car...
And this is another problem, car audio is subject to car noise, when in a house this is non existent.
My local cash converters has speakers in stock all the time and nobody buys them. Mission, there some huge floor standing Pioneer's in there, they look circa 1980's. I love the look of them in all honesty but I don't have the room. Each under 45 quid.
There is a whole Denon separate mini hifi system in there, it has been on the shelf for the last 8 months because the price is just so wrong for what is old technology, it is just a brand that carries it.
If I had room I would buy the Pioneer's, not because I think I would get better audio but purely for aesthetic reasons, they are awesome and imposing.
They look close to these I found in a search..
I would love to go larger, it would remove the need for a subwoofer, I don't have floor space which is why the speakers are purposely built to be applied in a small location, the subwoofer I have just brings back the lows lost.
Does anyone here think the lows are over done?
Listen again... Skip to 1:49 and let Killswitch Engage play, listen to the instruments and what instruments are being picked up by the subwoofer.
Now listen to it here...
Now with that comparison, tell me you are not hearing 99% of what is there.
The last increase in quality is literally tiny.
Forgot to add, I use these from Wilko
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-18-pack-30mm-round-foam-floor-protectors/p/0344753
I have 2 stacked in each corner of both speakers, zero noise.
