Speaker Placement - Studio Speakers

Bryan Kortez · 18 Jun 2015 at 20:01

I am currently using a Bose SoundDock for my PC. It gives great sound, but I don't really get a left and right feeling due to the position of it in my room.

I have been looking at some Studio speakers and was wondering how they would sound if they where placed on the floor underneath the desk, as I don't have much space due to several 27" monitors.

Or would I just be better off going for something like the Corsair SP2500 and have the 2 speakers sat on my desk and the sub placed on the floor?

rids57 · 18 Jun 2015 at 20:17

To get the best stereo sound you need to have the speaker's tweeters at the same level as, or angled up towards, your ears. Putting them under the desk would result in muffled and indistinct highs and mids and a very poor sound stage.

If you are stuck for space then a sub under the desk and two small satellite speakers to cover mids and highs would be your best option.

Bryan Kortez · 18 Jun 2015 at 21:24

Hmm. Maybe be best off waiting until I move into a bigger room and get a bigger desk to support Studio Speakers.

Any idea on how a good branded £250ish studio speakers would compare to the SP2500?

TwsT · 18 Jun 2015 at 21:49

if you had the space to set them up properly they would blow the sp2500 away unless you're a bass hungry nutter

currently umming and rring over two speaker sets myself

JBL LSR305 or tannoy reveal 502 both come in around £200 for a pair.

dacads · 18 Jun 2015 at 21:52

You could get some small monitors and a cheap sub, would blow them away in terms of audio quality and not far behind in bass either

Bryan Kortez · 18 Jun 2015 at 22:08

I'm not all about the bass

Might hold off then as I might be moving sometime this year and will have more desk space to work with. Only got a 1.5 meter long desk, but a prodigy case and 2 27"s use a bit of space

I would probably go with the Tannoy, not a big fan of JBL, makes me think of "Boy Racers"

TwsT · 19 Jun 2015 at 00:17

Yeah sadly jbl have that. But they make a lot of the pa speakers in stadiums. So they aren't all boy racer haha

Can you pull the desk from the wall a bit and put some bookshelf speakers on stands?

That or consider a dual monitor mount to give you some more desk space

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 10:37

This is my current setup. Already got the monitors on separate monitor stands.

I am considering going back to an ATX setup to create more desk space and allow for SLI, but I think my current GTX 970 ITX version will look silly on an ATX board.

TwsT · 19 Jun 2015 at 10:43

ahh i see nice rig but you would probably be better off with a 2.1

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 10:46

Thanks. My other option I guess is how about a 5.1 setup? I could just use it as a 2.1 or 3.1 for the time being, then when I get the other room sorted, setup a good 5.1 system.. Any recommendations for that?

TwsT · 19 Jun 2015 at 10:56

trying to think we don't sell a 5.1 set up that really kicks ass anymore.

Logitech's prices are just crazy.

And I can't get the edifier ones anymore S550D I think they were called

What about the razer soundbar all reports suggest it's pretty good Sadly I haven't had a chance to play one myself.

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 10:58

I did notice that when I looked. Any reason for OCUK not selling a good 5.1 system? Has the demand for 5.1 worn off now and most people go for surround headphones instead?

TwsT · 19 Jun 2015 at 11:32

can't get my hands on one at a good price.

I picked up some EOL Edifiers at christmas which flew off the shelves.

Liek I said I'm not paying logitech prices a competitor is selling the Z906 for £710 I can buy 30 cheaper units and make more margin in the time it will take to sell 1 of those.

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 11:52

Yeah, Edifiers are a good make. I like some of their Studio speakers too.

Definitely logic there. Can't imagine someone spending that sort of money on a PC surround. You may as well just go for a good TV surround setup.

Marine-RX179 · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:00

I've been using the Edifier S730 2.1, and replaced the stock satelites with a pair of KEF CODA 7 bookshelf speakers.

While the KEF no doubt sound a lot better than the Edifier's satelites, but because of their size and sitting close to them within arm's reach distance on the desk, I cannot help but to feel that I'm not getting the proper feel for the soundstage as it is too in my face (as bookshelf size speakers is best when you listen to them at distance rather than close proximity).

Now I'm considering replacing the KEF with a pair of CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MINX MIN21, which can deliver big sound at small size, and can be placed at further back than my pair of KEF.

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:12

Ahh ok, that's worth noting.

What kind of sound card do you use, or do you drive them just off your onboard?

Marine-RX179 · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:23

Bryan Kortez said:
Ahh ok, that's worth noting.

What kind of sound card do you use, or do you drive them just off your onboard?

I have the Asus Essence STX, but now prefer to use my Aune T1 MK2 Tube DAC/Headphone Amp more, as not only I find it sounds better than my STX, but the capability to use different type of tubes change the sound flavour and soundstage is also interesting and provide more control on theways of listen to the music.

Looking at the picture of your desk relative to the size of your BitFenix cased, I think a pair of bookshelf/monitor speakers would taking up at least 1/3 of the depth of your desk, so I really should think they good idea. I mean I am having issue with just one 23" monitor with my KEF, and keep thinking to myself "why doesn't my desk has more depth!!!!???....it's only gonna be even worse for you with your two monitor.

I think the recommendation of 2.1 by TwsT for your use is a really good suggestion.

But to be honest, with your two 27" on the desk, I think you probably should consider head down the headphone path rather than speaker's...

Oh and I forgot to mention, I have also the Corsair SP2500 (lol), and even for that it sound much better at a distance than when I am sitting close to it at the desk XD

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:39

I'll have a look at what I can come up with.

The headphone path might not be a bad idea.. Could spend some money a pick up a nice pair of 5.1 headphones.

Marine-RX179 · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:49

Bryan Kortez said:
I'll have a look at what I can come up with.

The headphone path might not be a bad idea.. Could spend some money a pick up a nice pair of 5.1 headphones.

The Asus Strix 7.1 has pretty good review and they cost only around £150, but with 10 drivers on the headphone they are a tad on the heavy side of 450g (if I remember correctly). They are supposed to be great for surround for gaming and movies (with surround sound, explosions and effects being the main focus), but the reviews also says that for music while they are capable (it uses both the front drivers and the sub drivers for stereo contents), for stereo contents they will not be able to compare to a proper pair of stereo headphone (i.e. £100 Beyerdynamic DT770).

So it's depending on do you priortise surround, or stereo.

If you still want to go for speaker, may be the Razer Leviathan is worth thinking about, considering your environment and you'd be able to slip the soundbar under your monitors:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-038-RA&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=165

Review here:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/peripherals/2015/04/01/razer-leviathan-review/1

Also since it will take digital input, you can get away with not having a soundcard/DAC as well.

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jun 2015 at 13:03

That sound bar might be a good shout actually. I'll have a check into the reviews