Upgrade from Creative T40 speakers

[JasonM]

Any tests to show how much?

I think it'll only be noticeable with test equipment not the human ears, and needs to blind tests

Paul Mcgowan just demoed it on that video, can't you hear the sound change? How much difference depends on the speaker design.

 

[hornetstinger]

Paul Mcgowan just demoed it on that video, can't you hear the sound change? How much difference depends on the speaker design.

Need to see results on paper, with calibrated mic suited for HF

 

[delta0]

I personally wouldn't use big hi-fi speakers in a near field (desktop) setup. I found them overbearing, muddy and overall not very nice to listen to. For PC/desktop listening, and especially for your budget you'll want to chose some smaller but purposefully designed monitor speakers.

A quick look on OcUK and I'd probably be looking at this kind of thing for a low budget PC system.

Edifier R1080BT Active 2.0 Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker Set - Black

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Edifier R1855DB Active 2.0 Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker Set - Matte Black

Order Edifier R1855DB Active 2.0 Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker Set - Matte Black now online and benefit from fast delivery.

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Edifier MR4 2.0 Monitor Reference Speaker System - Black

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They have multiple inputs to cater for your multiple PCs and will be designed to be desktop mounted.

I have no personal experience of these speakers though but have heard other Edifier speakers which have been pretty impressive for the money. Probably a good idea to check out a few Youtube reviews to see how much of an upgrade they are over the T40s.

Great suggestions there. I just ordered a set of R1080bt speakers. Perfect size and awesome audio.

Edit: received the speakers today. Incredible! Not even bedded in and they already sound awesome.

 

[hornetstinger]

These look affordable

DSP8000 XE

Our flagship DSP8000 XE is the first product to emerge from Meridian’s groundbreaking Extreme Engineering Programme; a result of years of investment and research at the extreme edge of audio design.

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[VonScar]

I'm looking to upgrade my T40 speakers which still sound pretty good but I lost the bases for them so they wobble about. I'm tempted by the bookcase speakers with built in amplifiers but there are a lot to choose from. What would you recommend for up to £130 or so?

The other option is to somehow make some space for a 2003 Yamaha RX-V250 + wall mount some large bookcase speakers that I had set up in my old house, but I only really want to do this if £130 are going to be significantly worse than this setup.

For reference I'll have two PCs hooked up to them; a X470 Prime Pro with "Crystal Sound 3" (and tbf the digital output was really clean) and another PC with a Creative Audigy 2ZS, or an X-Fi soundcard.

Playing devils advocate, why don't you look on the bay for second hand bases for your T40's? That way no more wobble.

The reason why I mention this is because I considered a similar upgrade. I got the Edifier 1280 DBS speakers, which had optical, two lines in, blue tooth and a remote. They cost £139.99.

I found the speakers did not live up to online reviews. Optical maxed out at 24 Hrtz, 48 bit from my AE5 Plus soundcard, after that no sound. I think I established that with optical the speakers took over sound duties and my AE5 plus took a backseat. Was not impressed.

I tried RCA, and tinkered with the settings and found that again I was not satisfied with these active bookshelf speakers. Even with bass all the way down and treble up, the vocals were harder to follow than my T40's. Wife complained about the boom.

I also tried the Bluetooth connection, I connected my laptop and found the sound to be erm mediocre. This may be due to my ignorance of some settings here. But I found volume was a lot to be desired. I work from home and plug an RCA into my 3.5 port on the T40's and find them much louder.

The Edifier 1280 DBS speakers are now on their merry way back to the sellers and I am getting a refund.

For clarity, reliability, simplicity I prefer the T40's. Great clear sounds, not much overbearing bass and I can also have one speaker standing in for a headphone stand...A bargain for the £80.00 I spent ten years back.

 

[Tephnos]

Edifier MR4 are the best out of the lot linked a while back.

There is no way an MDF cabinet speaker is going to be worse than the T40 which is a plastic **** box. It sounds like you got used to life with zero low end.

 

[VonScar]

Edifier MR4 are the best out of the lot linked a while back.

There is no way an MDF cabinet speaker is going to be worse than the T40 which is a plastic **** box. It sounds like you got used to life with zero low end.

I would have pay way more for speakers that beat the "low end" T40's. I believe they are Cambridge Audio in disguise.

We each like what we like. And bass annoys my ears.

 

[hornetstinger]

I would have pay way more for speakers that beat the "low end" T40's. I believe they are Cambridge Audio in disguise.

We each like what we like. And boomy bass annoys my ears.

fixed.

What quality speakers have you heard?