Goodbye 2.1

Merlin5 · 8 Sep 2010 at 00:18

Wow, talk about being lazy. There was me about to spend £100+ on an Aego M or z2300, when all along my hifi was collecting dust and sitting right next to me. So today I cleaned it all up, relocated the speakers either side of my new desk, and hooked it up to my pc. My god, I forgot how awesome these speakers are. :eek:

I don't need a sub, that's for sure, these things are audible at 28hz on a frequency test I did, they seriously kick butt and shake the floor. It's truly like there's a sub inside the speakers. The top end is nice with good presence, midrange is ok but lacking, but the whole sound is huge. So I saved myself some money. For those interested here's some pics.

http://j.imagehost.org/0324/1_125.jpg
http://i.imagehost.org/0805/2_52.jpg
http://i.imagehost.org/0605/3_35.jpg
http://j.imagehost.org/0311/8_16.jpg
http://i.imagehost.org/0506/4_32.jpg
http://a.imagehost.org/0313/5_17.jpg
http://a.imagehost.org/0707/6_7.jpg
http://j.imagehost.org/0611/7_28.jpg

I've had these separates from new, and that's going back a LONG time. All working perfect. I'm glad I read on here about people who do hifi instead of 2.1 for their pc, it inspired me. What do you think of this hifi out of interest?

Specs are:

Dual CS-503-1 semi auto turntable
NAD 3130 amp
Marantz CD6000 OSE
Yamaha KX-W321 (nice bit of kit, shame it's old technology now)
Studio Power MC150 speakers, rated 120/200w per channel.
Target spiked tripod speaker stands
Target hifi rack with spiked frame underneath top turntable shelf

The speakers aren't really audiophile, more power tbh, but I bought them when I was younger and didn't know much. But, they still sound great to me.

What's interesting is that my amp is 30w per channel, so it's amazing that these speakers do not seem at all underpowered.

Phil2008 · 8 Sep 2010 at 01:27

That looks awsome and Im amazed a 30watt amp can drive 3 drivers, let alone huge drivers. I can grantee that you will never go back to tinny sounding pc speakers, well done for taking the plunge

I upgraded a year ago from pc speakers to av amp, bookshelfs and later on a sub. It was a very daunting and If I never had you guys, I would never of done it. So thankyou guys and heres a pic of my setup aswel

Marsman · 8 Sep 2010 at 10:52

I'm gobsmacked. Why did you not mention you had some decent hi-fi gear in the other thread? The Aego's are indeed good speakers, but nothing beats a decent hi-hi setup. So I don't quite know why you thought about getting PC speakers, unless it was a small discreet space saving consideration?

I feel sorry for all those people who own those cheap 5.1/2.1 PC speakers, and say 'it sounds great for music'. Those speakers have their place sure, but a great music sound? Oh dear.

Glad you decided to give your stereo another go. You can always upgrade the speakers when you have the money to do so, if you wanted, then a more powerful amp after that. Again, another maybe. If you are totally happy with the sound, no need to change anything.

Merlin5 · 8 Sep 2010 at 11:43

Marsman said:
I'm gobsmacked. Why did you not mention you had some decent hi-fi gear in the other thread? The Aego's are indeed good speakers, but nothing beats a decent hi-hi setup. So I don't quite know why you thought about getting PC speakers, unless it was a small discreet space saving consideration?

I feel sorry for all those people who own those cheap 5.1/2.1 PC speakers, and say 'it sounds great for music'. Those speakers have their place sure, but a great music sound? Oh dear.

Glad you decided to give your stereo another go. You can always upgrade the speakers when you have the money to do so, if you wanted, then a more powerful amp after that. Again, another maybe. If you are totally happy with the sound, no need to change anything.

Heh, I know, it seems odd doesn't it.

The reason was mostly laziness.

I hadn't use my hifi for a long time, the speakers were detached and in another room, and the hifi needed some reconnection of various cables. It was just easier to sit here at my desk and consider buying a package. I also forgot how my speakers sounded, and didn't think my speakers would be good enough to not need a sub. And having a sub was appealing. So that's why really. Spending the day yesterday cleaning up each separate, the stands, the rack, the speakers and re-positioning them, was the best thing I've done in a while.

At some point I'd love upgrade my speakers and amp.

I've always wanted floorstanders, but with this setup, I think speakers on stands are better for all cones to reach my ears from where I sit. What speakers would you recommend that aren't ridiculously expensive, are more audiophile, yet have the power of mine?

eddie.baby · 17 Oct 2010 at 17:53

studio power mc150

I remember these speakers well. From the early 90's i think ? they more or less got me started in all this hifi business as an older friend of mine had a set and was totally blown away by them at the time.

The steel grill fin is missing of them but they still bring back some nostalgia looking at them. Retro studio style, I love it. They could be responsible for me buying hundreds of speakers over the years.

They are a little long in the tooth but they are still quite good speakers I should image however If you ever wanted to upgrade them for some real audiophile speakers that are about the same size (and style) get a set of proac studio 100's which are simply breathtaking. ProAc is all I buy these days

thanks for sharing the photos.

I even have and old review here somewhere of the studio power mc150. If I can dig it out ill post it. but im new to this forum so I dont think I can yet.

Scooby_WR1 · 18 Oct 2010 at 18:21

Very nice setup its certainly a hell of a lot better than crappy pc speakers.

Hagar · 8 Feb 2012 at 18:31

Sorry for recovering an old thread but I have the same turntable as the OP, a Dual CS 503-1 and I have a Pro-ject MM/MC phono preamp. I am going to set it up through my Xonar D1 and am looking for a good speaker setup instead of my old DTT 5:1 computer speakers.

I would welcome any input on this on what to look out for. Also what would be a good cartridge assuming styli are not available for the original dual.

andy.

Somnambulist · 8 Feb 2012 at 21:03

Merlin5 said:
Heh, I know, it seems odd doesn't it. The reason was mostly laziness.
I hadn't use my hifi for a long time, the speakers were detached and in another room, and the hifi needed some reconnection of various cables. It was just easier to sit here at my desk and consider buying a package. I also forgot how my speakers sounded, and didn't think my speakers would be good enough to not need a sub. And having a sub was appealing. So that's why really. Spending the day yesterday cleaning up each separate, the stands, the rack, the speakers and re-positioning them, was the best thing I've done in a while.

At some point I'd love upgrade my speakers and amp.

I've always wanted floorstanders, but with this setup, I think speakers on stands are better for all cones to reach my ears from where I sit. What speakers would you recommend that aren't ridiculously expensive, are more audiophile, yet have the power of mine?

What's your budget? The problem with the bigger hifi speakers is they're not meant to be listened to up close due to the driver placement/dispertion. You get the best sound from across the room. That will certainly be the case for floorstanders. For desktop listening, it's a better idea to get an external DAC (preferably with balanced XLR outputs) and studio monitors. They're meant to be listened to in the near-field, usually bi-amped at least and go insanely loud without breaking up (no need to find 'the right' amp). The 5-8in woofer ones tend to start rolling off around 35-55hz but for music very little goes below 40hz and for bass quality > quantity.

Save up and get some Event Opals, Focal Solo 6 BE etc.