Bookshelf speakers.

iNPUt

iNPUt

iNPUt

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Okay I have a budget of £200 - £250 and want some nice speakers (full setup) for my computer.

Currently I have a X-540's with an Xonar D1 (Dx), I am kind of regretting going 5.1 now and would like a nice set of speakers mainly for music / movies.

I don't really know what I need and I would like to keep my current soundcard, I've heard a few words like amp and some others thrown about, and was also wondering if I will need a sub.

Cheers for you help as you can see I am fairly confused but would like some nice speakers 2.0 or 2.1.
 
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There are 2 options you can go for. The 2.0/2.1 systems that you can get from overclockers or an amp and bookshelf arrangement. - For you're budget, and the fact you already have a decen soundcard you should be looking at an amp and bookshelves. I havn't got all that much knoledge on amps and bookshelf pairing, so you'l have to wait for someone else to jump in. With a decent set of bookshelfs you won't need ( nor really get for that money) a sub aswell. You can get a decent setup for that budget. What do you plan on using the speakers for?

- If it scares you, or you havnt got the space for an amp and bookshelves then you could try the teufel concept b 200 usb. I have them, i have no complaints, very well balanced sound, lacks some low end pounding, however is still able to produce the notes, they go very loud..

Just at a basic level:

The bookshelf speakers are passive speakers, they are not powered in any way except for the signal thye recieve from the amp
Amp: This recieves the audio signal from a device and then "makes it louder" ( im stuggling to think of a more eloquent way of putting it), the amp is essentially what powers the speakers..

The amp and bookshelfs must be matched in a certain way to ensure they recieve the correct wattage, as to not under, or overpower them.

- unfortunately that is my knoledge pretty much exhausted and please correct me if i'm wrong about minor details, however on the whole i'd say thats a very vaige overview
 
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Thanks for that, having a proper look around the net now. I am pretty sure now amp and speakers are the way forward. Will update you if I find anything that tickles my spot :)

Going to go to a store here in oxford tomorrow, get an idea of what to look for
 
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There's a very good thread (think its a sticky) in the hi/fi section of this forum which lists good speakers, amps etc, for all bugdets

I went with a cambridge audio a5 and some tannoy f1 customs, came well under £200 and sounds great
 
Input when you go into the store see if they have Monitor Audio BR-2s you can listen to.

Honestly, they sound FANTASTIC for the money. I heard 30+ sets and although they weren't the best (my fave were a set of B&Ws), for the money they were a steal! Managed to blag them for under £200 in the end, although you will need an amp to :S
 
you can get some wharfdale9.1 and cambridge audio a1 for that price. those are the speakers i have, i use cambridge audio a5 (cant see it available new any more)

new
wharfdales 9.1 - £99 (superfi)
cambridge audio a1 - £80 (richersound) or tannoy f1 customs £99(richersounds)

alternatively richersounds do a deal

Amplifier Cambridge Audio A1
Speakers (Pair) Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 (Black)
MP3 Interconnect Cambridge Audio AUD100 3.5

for just £129

**if this breaks house rule please delete**
 
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Go second hand instead, you will get a lot more for your money. Maybe something like some B&W 602s, or some Quad bookshelves and a Nad or Marantz amp

oh, and sell the X-540's so you have neally £300. Look at spending £150 on amp and £150 on speakers
 
I got a cambridge audio A1 and Tannoy mercury custom F1 bookshelves, the quality is just in another league compared to any PC speaker. I can heartily recommend going down this route.
 
You could check out the Audioengine A5's which is the route I'm taking. Hard to get a pair at the moment though. Just realised my father has an a1 he rarely uses though, hmmm!
 
You can buy an A1 for about £25. They are good amps for the price but are basic and a bit under powered. Maybe look at something like a NAD 3020 or audio fidelity a1 if buying second hand

Someone was even giving away an old NAD 3020 on here a while back
 
Well I ended up getting an azur 340a SE (in black) and Tannoy F1 CUSTOM dark oak, also got the interconnect for the pc and the speaker cable for free 5 meters Ultra 100. Ended up just over budget at £289.

Cheers for you help.
 
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