Decent speakers for my laptop

LiE

LiE

LiE

Caporegime
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Milton Keynes
I have a small office in my house where I listen to music via inbuilt laptop speakers.

I'd like to get something better and at first I was looking at the simplest solution and getting some Audioengine A2+s to plug and play. I don't need a sub since my room is small and it's a semi house and don't want to annoy the neighbours.

I have done a little more reading and looks like I could get a Yamaha A-S301 and Diamond 9.1s for £280. This does bring me closer to the price of Audioengine A5+ but not sure which will sound better.

They will be sat on my desk next to a monitor and connected to a Lenovo laptop.
 
I'd probably go with a2+ to match room size, but you won't be disappointed with any of those choices.

Maybe worth considering Ruark MR1 too :)
 
Thanks I'll take a look. Noticed the JBL LSR305 are £128 on the rainforest.
 
LiE said:
Thanks I'll take a look. Noticed the JBL LSR305 are £128 on the rainforest.
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That's for one. They can be bought elsewhere for less. Thomann has them for £103 each.

I wouldn't use Wharfedale 9.1's on a desk. I've got some 9.1's, which I have on stands either side of my TV, and they sound great; but when I tried them on my desk as an experiment, I felt they were being held back by the smaller confined space and also lower volume, which is more comfortable when sat in front of the speakers.

Smaller powered speakers I think would be a better choice.

Audioengine A2+ are one option; small size and built in DAC. Must admit though, they're not a speaker I would buy. From my point of view, currently they are too much money for too small a speaker. However, they do have one big advantage if you're going to connect them to a laptop, and that's the USB input. That could be the deal clincher, so to speak.

There are in my opinion better value for money alternatives, such as Q Acoustics BT3 or Steljes NS3. Both have built in DAC and Bluetooth, but the stumbling block is neither have USB input; optical only. Unless the laptop has optical out, you'd need a sound card or DAC as well, which defeats the point of buying speakers with a built in DAC.

For speakers with a built in DAC for use with a laptop, A2+ are likely the best choice for up to £200.

Edifier R1600T III or R1800T III would be a good alternative for around £90 here on OcUK, if you can find a reasonble priced USB DAC to go with them.
 
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Thanks Marsman. I've almost decided on Kanto YU2. They are £150 and have USB/DAC. They compare well to the A2+ and come in cheaper.
 
Thought those are only available in America?

Maybe worth throwing the Presonus Eris E4.5 into the mix, as they're even cheaper ;) and will probably sound better too.
 
I'll take a look at those thanks.

Kanto are now stocked by the Rainforest.
 
Only thing with the Presonus speakers, is you'd probably need to get a DAC as well. Would be a shame to spend £130 on speakers only to use the laptop's audio, which is most cases probably isn't that great.

That will probably add £60 to the total.
 
Marsman said:
Only thing with the Presonus speakers, is you'd probably need to get a DAC as well. Would be a shame to spend £130 on speakers only to use the laptop's audio, which is most cases probably isn't that great.

That will probably add £60 to the total.
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Good call, I think it'd be worth it though :)

At least he won't need to worry about a DAC then.
 
Going to get the Kanto YU2, they also have a USB/DAC.

Just waiting for the matte white to come back in stock.
 
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