Separate amp + speakers vs. all-in-ones

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

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I suspect I know the answer to this question, but I'll ask anyway...

Has anyone here changed from using standard PC speakers (ala Logitech, Creative etc.) to a separate amp and speakers (ala Hifi stuff)?

If so, is it worth it?

I was a little disappointed with the Creative speakers I bought from here a while ago, hoping they would be reasonable (can't remember the model, but ~£70 for a 2.0 set - interestingly no longer stocked here).

I run a decent HiFi system (NAD + Dynaudio) and budget cinema (Denon + Celestion) but had not considered doing the same for the PC (budget + space reasons I guess).

I mainly use my PC for games (Creative X-Fi card) but appreciate decent quality sound.

Any experiences gratefully received.
 
For serious listening to music, seperate amp and speakers are so much better, but for games it is less clear, as a sub-woofer is important.
As Occooler says, try it and see if you think it is worth it !
A decent soundcard for stereo may be worth thinking about - the only one I know of is the M-Audio Delta 2497, which you ought to be able to pick up from the 'bay' for £50 or so second hand.
 
I've gone from onboard sound (with ASDA speakers that upmixed to 5.1 from stereo)

to a xonar DS (£40) and sumvision 5.1 speakers (£30) and it is tons better, despite being the cheapest going.

I used eax 3 on 5.1 speakers and now can't stand plain stereo for gaming, If you found a £70 set of 2.0 speakers to be lacking, you may be a lot more discerning that a lot of people, or me at least. So my advice is pretty much defunct.
 
Have you considered a set of active nearfield monitors.

They'll be flat and much more analytical but IMO are better for PC use.

Whats your budget?
 
My Logitech Z-5500s recently died and I was going to buy another set. After reading a few threads on AVForums I decided I wanted something better.

I decided to get the Jamo A 102 HCS 5 5.1 Speakers with the RX-V465 receiver. Not audiophile grade stuff but sounds much much better than the Logitechs (music is the biggest improvement).

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=5027893
http://www.jamo.com/na-en/products/a-102-hcs-5-description/





(the messy cables have since been tidied up)

http://tchan4.com/blog/2009/07/30/new-desk-new-chair-new-speakers-new-av-receiver-same-pc/

-

My next purchases will be a 24-inch monitor and an SSD for my PC. They will have to wait until christmas time as the above setup has burnt a hole in my wallet.
 
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I went from a 5.1 sony ht setup to b&w 601 speakers, nad c320bee amp and a maudio 2496 soundcard. Best upgrade I've ever done. The speakers are quite large with a 6.5" driver such provides plenty of bass for games and movies. Music is where they are the best.
 
Unless you are thinking of ground loop issues which are pretty unusual and I have never experienced any using various monitors etc.
 
Get an old amp and hifi speakers, unlike PC speakers they last for years and the old stuff isn't horrible quality.
Just test it with your hifi setup then judge for yourself whether it's worth it.
 
I have an Onkyo 606 hd receiver powering Kef 3001 7.1 speakers and it is a hell of a lot better than the creative s750thx speakers I had before. Separates are always superior, but far more expensive.


SG201156.jpg


SG201157.jpg
 
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I've always wanted a separate amplifier, but they've never been economical for me

Look at all the buttons on that sucker!

doctor who on the tele as well! :swoon:
 
Went from logitech 5.1 setup to a pair of Missions, qed cables and a decent amp (Naim)...
Best upgrade you can do!!! World of difference.
I also run a Project Headbox headphone amp and a pair of Sennheiser HD 555 headphones... Again, simply awesome!

:)

Do it, you wont look back, and will probably wonder why you didnt do it sooner.

Sam
 
Occooler said:
I've always wanted a separate amplifier, but they've never been economical for me
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Just get an old one, computer technology advances at an incredible rate however sound technology is pretty slow. I just inherited a JVC AX-2 which was made about 1980 and has the same THD as a PCIe Creative Xfi Xtreme Audio card.
Also note that if you're using an internal sound card there's no point looking at the top end stuff, a cheap Cambridge Audio amp and Tanoy F1s will still surpass anything Creative or Logitech has ever made.
 
Yes. I went from Megaworks 550 (5.1) that cost £180 to an amp and speaker setup that cost about £150. The difference was incredible. I have come to the conclusion that all pc speaker setups are pretty rubbish and if you buy second hand amp/speakers then you are laughing.

I challenge someone to find a better pc speaker setup than my Marantz amp that I paid £55 for and my B&W 603 s1 I paid £90 for. Then a £5 cable and £10 on speaker wire

So a £160 PC speaker setup
 
Guest2 said:
I challenge someone to find a better pc speaker setup than my Marantz amp that I paid £55 for and my B&W 603 s1 I paid £90 for. Then a £5 cable and £10 on speaker wire
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That's a great setup for the price, the only way you'ld get better is if you bought second hand.
Second hand is definitely worth a look, i just managed to order some used A900s for £60 off on amazon :)
 
markop2003 said:
That's a great setup for the price, the only way you'ld get better is if you bought second hand.
Second hand is definitely worth a look, i just managed to order some used A900s for £60 off on amazon :)
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The amp is around 10 years old but still sounds very good (Marantz PM68) The speakers should have gone on the bay for a lot more but i was waiting for the buy it now to appear then snapped them up

P1070219Small.jpg
 
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