Some sound ! Advice please :)

[MaDMaX**]

Ok, so currently have an Alienware 15 R3 laptop , and to start with I’m planning to use it as a desktop I.e staying in one place, I have bought a wall mounted desk and plan to game on it using keyboard n mouse connected to the laptop , which in turn will be connected to a wall mounted monitor that does nor have any speakers,

to add to this I have a dvd/Blu-ray player the my wife wants to use to play her yoga videos on the monitor

so I need a way of being able to have sound to play my games and her videos !

i appreciate I need speakers, and have looked at pc pairs and also a sound bar, just wondered if there is anything that can be used in conjunction with the above,

I don’t need it to make toast or tea, so realistically my budget is max £100 for a thing that can connect all the above and put out some reasonable sound,

to be honest I have some gaming headphones so if I really want to feel in the gaming mood I can use them, so just need something for daily stuff and her yoga ‍

 

[Marsman]

I suppose it depends on what audio outputs the DVD/BD player has, but I would have thought that even most budget ones would have at least optical.

If it has RCA audio out, then you could get some stereo speakers with dual analogue inputs to connect to the player and laptop; or, if it has just optical out, then speakers with optical input and analogue for connection to the laptop. Stereo speakers with optical input do tend to cost more though.

A soundbar with optical and analogue input is another option.

 

[MaDMaX**]

I suppose it depends on what audio outputs the DVD/BD player has, but I would have thought that even most budget ones would have at least optical.

If it has RCA audio out, then you could get some stereo speakers with dual analogue inputs to connect to the player and laptop; or, if it has just optical out, then speakers with optical input and analogue for connection to the laptop. Stereo speakers with optical input do tend to cost more though.

A soundbar with optical and analogue input is another option.

it’s a sammy K8500 4K player, and has dual hdmi for separate sound, and an optical out, so looking for something with an optical and 3.5mm input from the laptop. And maybe with a headphone socket ?? Or would I be better connecting headphones direct to laptop ?

 

[Marsman]

Headphones are usually better connected to the laptop or PC in question. Most speakers that do have a headphone output, tend to be cheaper ones and it's usually a cheap afterthought convenience. To be honest, I'm not sure there is much available with optical and headphone output for £100 anyway. Soundbar might possibly be more likely, but I'm not sure how many will have a headphone out as well.

In the way of stereo speakers, there doesn't seem to be much choice that have optical input for £100. If you can stretch to £120, there's Edifier R1280DB. They have dual RCA stereo, optical and Bluetooth inputs. There's cheaper R1280T for about £90, but they have just dual RCA input.

You could have course get something like the R1280T with 2x analogue inputs and get a cheap SPDIF optical DAC to go between the player and speakers. I suppose it depends whether paying the extra for Bluetooth as well, would be useful to you.

If you'd prefer a soundbar for something more compact, there's a JBL Bar Studio for £100 which has optical, analogue and Bluetooth inputs. You'll likely get better sound and more bass from the larger Edifier speakers though.

 

[MaDMaX**]

Thanks for the reply
Appreciate all your help

Edifier R1280DB Seem decent enough will look at reviews and work out if they are worth it,

ive seen the Edifier E25HD these have the connections I need, and do look the dogs !

Also the Logitech Z906 but these are quite expensive and 5.1 so might be over kill ,

appreciate both are above my limit, but I might have to raise it

 

[JasonM]

Presume these are going on a desk, you should also get some small speaker stands and isolation foam.

Speaker stands and foam can make a cheap speaker out perform a far more expensive speaker thats just placed on the desk. When people place a speaker directly on a desk, it's like driving a car with the tracking wrong and the bushes worn out!

The Edifiers are best for the money, however there is better if spending more. The Edifiers the cabinet has some vibration, also the tweeters are a little harsh. Then again there budget and still the best in that price range. I use to run Edifiers but changed to Yamaha desktop speakers, but your looking at double the money. Yamaha desktop speakers were more precise, and the tweeter softer, with better cabinet construction.

 

[MaDMaX**]

Presume these are going on a desk, you should also get some small speaker stands and isolation foam.

Speaker stands and foam can make a cheap speaker out perform a far more expensive speaker thats just placed on the desk.

The Edifiers are best for the money, however there is better if spending more. The Edifiers the cabinet has some vibration, also the tweeters are a little harsh. Then again there budget and still the best in that price range. I use to run Edifiers but changed to Yamaha desktop speakers, but your looking at double the money. Yamaha desktop speakers were more precise, and the tweeter softer, with better cabinet construction.

which Edifiers are you on about the 1280’s or the E25HD’s ,

the desk is mounted to the wall and folds away but there is still a plinth for the speakers to go on. I haven’t fitted the desk yet, so not sure what size that plinth is, if it’s not depth enough then I may have to wall mount the speakers as well ,

 

[JasonM]

which Edifiers are you on about the 1280’s or the E25HD’s ,

the desk is mounted to the wall and folds away but there is still a plinth for the speakers to go on. I haven’t fitted the desk yet, so not sure what size that plinth is, if it’s not depth enough then I may have to wall mount the speakers as well ,

Edifier R1600T's however all the Edifiers will be similar in that price range. As said Edifiers are best for the money, however there are better speakers for more money.

Re stands, it's important to position the speakers so to form a triangle with the listener (you) at the third point. For this you need to point the speakers in, you also need the speaker tweeter at ear level (or there about). Other factors you need to sit the speaker away from hard surfaces (including distance from wall) else you will introduce echo. The isolation foam cuts vibration and tightens up the lower end.

Putting the speakers on the wall introduces issues as lack of distance from the wall introduces vibration, also the sound can't propagate correctly. The Edifier R1280DB are at least front ported that means they can be placed closer to a hard surface compared to rear ported speakers.

It sounds a bit academic, however if I had to choose £100 worth of Edifiers + stands + isolation. Compared to double the price speakers alone, I would take the Edifiers + stands + isolation every time. Often on these forums you see people talking about very expensive speakers that are just placed on the desk, people don't realise they are compromising the speakers they have invested in.

This video explains the important of stands, however you don't need the expensive stands he's selling. Gear4Music sell some £25 stands, and isolation foam is £10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGNdJ3xI-6w

This video also very good, as it explains why the speaker should not be near a wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRAkN_UjLc