Bookshelf 2.0 + cheap amp Vs all-in-one type 2.1s

Tacitus

Tacitus

Tacitus

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Hey everyone,

So I've been tempted to buy new speakers recently for my PC for a number of things. I listen to mostly EDM type music, I watch some films and documentaries, and do a little bit of gaming.

I'm ideally looking to not spend over £200 on new speakers. I'm not sure if I'd be best off going for something like Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s (as I was recommended in another forum) for £150, or Corsair's SP2500s for a little more. Alternatively, I could get a pair of bookshelf speakers like Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s with a cheap amp and maybe a cheap dac. Difficulty is, I've never done this thing before, and no idea how good an amp I need, what I'm looking for in one, and how much better the sound quality would really be.

As said, I've had something of a discussion on another forum, but realistically, can I throw together a system that will beat the all-in-ones listed above for a similar price?

The other option I've been considering is getting a pair of JBL LSR305 speakers and a cable to plug them into my PC, which would run me about £220.

EDIT: I'm not interested whatsoever in headphones.
 
TheVoice said:
I was in a similar predicament a few months back, here's my thread:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18649510

In the end I settled on a set of Q-Acoustic bookshelf speakers and a Topping USB amp/DAC and I've been very happy with it. Bass is slightly lacking, not enough to bother me though.
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Thanks a lot, the amp/dac combo thing seems a good idea, and at £80 isn't too bad either. How are you finding those speakers a few months on? I was looking at the 2020 graphite ones before, but not too sure.

Coming from some Logitech 5.1s (using as 2.1s) I worry the bass will be lacking.
 
My LSR305s arrived today and I've been listening to them for the past hour or so. First impressions are excellent.

Listening to a variety of genres, from rock to EDM to classical, they perform very well. Don't own anything in the same category to compare to, but bass is tight and punchy, without being muddy. Mids are well presented and clear. Treble is crisp and detailed but they don't sound overly bright or fatiguing. JBL has done a good job on these.

Had a quick go with them playing CS:GO, sounded good. Not really much of a competitive gamer so can't comment on that aspect.

Haven't tried a whole film yet, but watched a couple of trailers on YouTube, and they sounded great. Based on the music impressions, I'm sure they would make a film really immersive.

Overall very capable speakers, and if you decide later on that you want more bass there's an optional sub as well. Highly recommended.
 
Studio monitors are certainly an option, take a look at the Samson Resolv SE5.

However some other bookshelf speakers you could look at are the Tannoy V1 and the Monitor Audio BX2 which is on offer for £150 at richersounds.

I'm more of a studio monitor guy myself so haven't tried that many bookshelf speakers but believe they are meant to be more musical thus enjoyable. Personally I find my Adam F5's very enjoyable :)
 
TheDesX77 said:
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That's good to hear because once I factor in the cables I'd need and so on the Wharfedale 121s or something similar + AMP/DAC it'd be very close in price. The simplicity of the JBLs is attractive haha.

How far do you have them from the wall? My desk at Uni isn't the biggest, but is a bit from the wall, my desk at home is wider, but not deeper and is against the wall.

dacads said:
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I did take a look at the BX2s! I think as far studio monitors go though I'm most impressed by what I've seen of the JBLs mentioned above. Thanks for your advice too :)
 
Ok, think I've narrowed it down somewhat.

Monitor Audio BX2 - £150 per pair
Wharfedale Diamond 121 - £100 per pair

Anyone have any views as to which are better? AFAIK they both launched at around the same price.

I think the BX2s look slightly better, but whether they're £50 better is another matter entirely...
 
Tacitus said:
Ok, think I've narrowed it down somewhat.

Monitor Audio BX2 - £150 per pair
Wharfedale Diamond 121 - £100 per pair

Anyone have any views as to which are better? AFAIK they both launched at around the same price.

I think the BX2s look slightly better, but whether they're £50 better is another matter entirely...
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The BX2 will go lower than the 121 in terms of bass response, but I have read that some people prefer the sound of the Diamond 100 series than the Monitor Audios.

There's also the 122 you could look at if you want better bass response than the 121:
http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/wharfe...ZALvYAkzckPJ93jKYtMmazA-KYcojocSGtBoCfY_w_wcB
 
I'd go for the BX2, if it were my decision to make. They were £250 before they were discontinued, so they're a great price at £150.

While the Diamond 121 had a similar RRP to the BX2, I've never seen them on websites for more than £180, suggesting they just would not have sold for their RRP price. BX2 on the other hand have always sold for £230-£250.

Monitor Audio are further up the speaker ladder than Wharfedale, so that probably helps to sell the BX2 at a more expensive price than the 121.

BX2 are probably described as having a more crisp brighter sound, which basically means they have a bit more treble, they also have slightly more bass than the Diamond's.
 
Marsman said:
I'd go for the BX2, if it were my decision to make. They were £250 before they were discontinued, so they're a great price at £150.

While the Diamond 121 had a similar RRP to the BX2, I've never seen them on websites for more than £180, suggesting they just would not have sold for their RRP price. BX2 on the other hand have always sold for £230-£250.

Monitor Audio are further up the speaker ladder than Wharfedale, so that probably helps to sell the BX2 at a more expensive price than the 121.

BX2 are probably described as having a more crisp brighter sound, which basically means they have a bit more treble, they also have slightly more bass than the Diamond's.
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Yea those BX2 at £150 is very tempting indeed...I don't need one, but even I want one! lol

But I still have yet to get a stereo amp...still have my newly bought QA 3010 powered by my Edifier S730 lol

I'm debating should I get a Marantz PM6005 for power (though might be overkill), or the Marantz MCR610 for flexibility and features :p
 
Not seen that MCR610 until now. Are you considering it because it has a network connection?

Does it do anything more than the Monitor Audio A100, for £100 less? Network connection aside.
 
Marsman said:
Not seen that MCR610 until now. Are you considering it because it has a network connection?

Does it do anything more than the Monitor Audio A100, for £100 less? Network connection aside.
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Well, firstly it has a CD player, and secondly I think it has a better DAC? Thirdly I can still hook up my S730 sub to it (not sure if I can with the A100), and with the speaker A, B option, such I can for example use my 3010 when sitting at the desk, and can switch to another set of speaker for filling the room (i.e. BX2) while my S730 sub can remain active regardless of which pair of speakers I use. Also I could hook from my Aune T1 MK2's line in to the audio out of the unit.

At least that's what I think anyway.
 
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I own the BX2s, bought them after spending no less than 4 hours demoing pretty much everything RS has at and around that budget - they were, to my ears, the best by some margin.

marine, the PM6005 is an excellent amp and I can commend it highly :)
 
Cookeh said:
I own the BX2s, bought them after spending no less than 4 hours demoing pretty much everything RS has at and around that budget - they were, to my ears, the best by some margin.
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You guys are not helping...RicherSounds is only about 7 minutes walk from my workplace :D

To be honest I have too many speakers as it is lol
 
Marine-RX179 said:
Well, firstly it has a CD player, and secondly I think it has a better DAC? Thirdly I can still hook up my S730 sub to it (not sure if I can with the A100), and with the speaker A, B option, such I can for example use my 3010 when sitting at the desk, and can switch to another set of speaker for filling the room (i.e. BX2) while my S730 sub can remain active regardless of which pair of speakers I use. Also I could hook from my Aune T1 MK2's line in to the audio out of the unit.

At least that's what I think anyway.
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Ah OK, I didn't look hard enough. Didn't see the CD player part. :p

Also good point on the subwoofer. The A100 has no dedicated sub output. I'm always thinking of connecting up subwoofers with speaker level input, so it doesn't matter if the amp that doesn't have line level output.

Marine-RX179 said:
You guys are not helping...RicherSounds is only about 7 minutes walk from my workplace :D

To be honest I have too many speakers as it is lol
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LOL, true.

I might be tempted to go to RS and grab a pair of BX2's, if I didn't have to make a 120 mile round trip to get to their nearest store.

Plus, there's those AKG K612's that TwsT will be getting in that are winking at me! I don't really need them, but it's very tempting to buy nice things I don't really need!
 
TheDesX77 said:
My LSR305s arrived today and I've been listening to them for the past hour or so. First impressions are excellent.

Listening to a variety of genres, from rock to EDM to classical, they perform very well. Don't own anything in the same category to compare to, but bass is tight and punchy, without being muddy. Mids are well presented and clear. Treble is crisp and detailed but they don't sound overly bright or fatiguing. JBL has done a good job on these.

Had a quick go with them playing CS:GO, sounded good. Not really much of a competitive gamer so can't comment on that aspect.

Haven't tried a whole film yet, but watched a couple of trailers on YouTube, and they sounded great. Based on the music impressions, I'm sure they would make a film really immersive.

Overall very capable speakers, and if you decide later on that you want more bass there's an optional sub as well. Highly recommended.
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Glad you like them still umming and ring over tannoys or the LSR rear facing bass port puts me off for my room but everything I've read says they good in pretty much any room set up.
how much did you pay for these?

Should have stock at OcUK shortly :)

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-009-JB&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=1848
 
Do you guys have running normal book-shelve speakers on a desktop where your sitting very close....is the sound still ok? I thought your need near field speakers for desktop use?
 
I have bookshelf speakers on my desk pointed intowards me.

I rarely crank them up though if i want to indulge in high volumes i usually go for headphones. (neighbour friendly).
 
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I find myself leaning back towards the JBLs every day... Everything I read about them says they punch well above their weight and price tag.

On the flip side, I think come September my desk will be flush against the wall (with maybe only enough room to move it back a couple inches max). So I worry it'll mess with the bass since it's rear-ported.

What do people think? Anyone with experience of this type of issue?
 
Depends on the speaker really. Some rear ported speakers don't suffer too much by being close to a wall, whereas others it can have a negative effect. Possible larger more bassy speakers would suffer more. I have some Roth oli speakers on my desk which are rear ported, but being fairly close to wall doesn't really affect them at all.

LSR305 are 5" though, so undoubtedly will have more bass than my 4" Roth's. If you can give them a few inches though from the wall they may be fine.
 
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