Need help choosing new PC speakers

fleming222

fleming222

fleming222

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I've given myself a budget of £100 to upgrade my sound setup but I'm not sure what will make the biggest difference.

Currently have Logitech Z323 speakers plugged directly into the motherboard. I've been trying to read up on sound cards and DACs and amps but getting a bit confused and most of the kit being discussed is way out of my budget.

I'll mainly be listening to music as I have a headset for gaming, so I was thinking a pair of studio monitors such as the M-Audio AV32s or Edifier Studio 1280Ts (as they have a remote) and coupling it with a soundcard or DAC such as the Behringer UCA202.

Would this be a better option that getting some more expensive speakers such as the M-Audio AV42s and plugging them directly into my motherboard sound jack?
 
Topping TP30 MK II AMP/DAC and WHARFEDALE
DIAMOND 9.0. A shade over budget.

Or just use the DAC on your mobo and add an amp like the SMSL SA-50.

Speakers are a given @ £40.
 
Wharfedale 9.0s are great speakers. I think they were £100 when they were released around 2004, so £40 is a bargain. I got my mum a pair and connected them to my old amp so she could listen to music from her tablet.

Either powered speakers or separate amp and speakers would have been a good choice, so you wouldn't have gone far wrong with either really.

For powered speakers under £100, I'd have probably leaned more toward Edifier's stereo speakers (1280, 1600, 1800), than M-Audio AV42. The previous AV40 were very good indeed and very often recommended, but I read a comment from someone who has both the old 40's and new 42's, and he thought the new ones are inferior both in build and sound quality. M-Audio's BX5 D2 would be a better choice and are very good, but around £140. Edifier speakers offer very good sound quality without costing a lot of money.
 
Got all the kit and set it up. Pretty happy with the result considering the low cost. Very happy with the Topping AMP/DAC and it's auto-off feature. Clarity is significantly increased over my old speakers however the bass isn't as noticeable, which I suppose is expected seeing as there's no subwoofer.
 
That's the thing when coming from 2.1 speakers, people are used to the bass; and in the case of cheaper 2.1 sets with a cheap subwoofer, over bloated bass. You get better quality and controlled bass from a decent pair of stereo speakers compared to cheaper 2.1 speakers, but it's obviously much less in quantity. People that are used to this over bloated bass tend to have the opinion that more bass is better, even it's from a cheap subwoofer. Personally, I couldn't listen to music from cheaper 2.1 speakers any more. Even with better quality 2.1 speakers, there's a lack of mid range, let alone cheaper sets.

Bass is pretty good with the 9.0's given they've only got 4" woofers. You'd need speakers with larger woofers for deeper bass. Unless you're looking at used speakers, that's not really possible with a £100 budget since Microlab's Solo 6C speakers disappeared from OcUK store.
 
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You could get a Wharfedale sw150 in future if you have the space :)

I really miss a subwoofer but the room would need sound proofing first, and it's small size is also a concern.
 
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