Speakers for computer. Bookshelf vs Computer Speakers?

beginnerbuild · Jun 28, 2013

I would like to give my PC decent-quality audio for use as an entertainment system. I'm not going to be rocking the house, just some movies/videos with good audio that provides decent highs and mids and not overwhelming bass.

For this purpose and a price range up to $150, should I consider bookshelf speakers or regular computer speakers?

I have found some used/new bookshelf speakers:
- PSB Alpha B ~$155
- Tannoy HTS 101 (only a pair, not entire system) ~$100
- Dayton audio SAT-BK ~$40 http

/www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-670

As well used computer speakers:
- Logitech Z623 ~$70

What would your suggestion be? Are there more aspects I must consider if I do go for bookshelf speakers (receivers, amps, etc) ?

I'm open to all suggestions! Thank you!

thee_prisoner · Jun 28, 2013

PSB and Tannoy make excellent speakers. I suggest finding used at a local stereo store that sell new/used so you can try out the speakers first.

Also, Paradigm, NHT, Audio Engine, Cambridge Audio, JBL(pro series) and many others but used is the way to go.

How much do you want to spend for a total budget, including the amp? I'm assuming you will just be doing 2.0 for now?

Happy listening, the Prisoner...

dark_lord69 · Jun 28, 2013

Yes, the bookshelf speakers will need amplified audio which means, yes, you will need an amp or receiver to connect the computer and speakers to.

Computer speakers on the other hand have the amp built in, all you would have to do is plug them into power and the computer.

So there is the extra cost of the amp or receiver to consider.
For overall audio quality you WILL get better sound from the bookshelf speakers but the amp will likely eat up most of your budget.

Computer speakers often have issues with the mid-range as typically the speakers are small and come with a sub. This often means you have excellent high range and low range but the middle range often requires a speaker size not commonly found in computer speakers.

Bookshelf speakers are good for highs and middle range and often can't push the bass a sub can.

Honestly, I would just go with a high quality set of computer speakers cause an amp or receiver would eat up most if not all of your budget.

thee_prisoner · Jun 28, 2013

The Dayton's he linked too are decent speakers. Not as good as the Tannoys but with a T-amp, he could do it for less than 150.00. Daytons plus a t-amp he could have sound for about 70.00. Or do something like these AV40shttp://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0051WAM64

bambiboom · Jun 28, 2013

beginnerbuild,

At the time I changed from 2D to 3D CAD and bought a Dell Precision T5400, I also realized that I was listening to music in the office for 14-16 hours per day and barely listening to my main sound system, a very analog vinyl LP and vacuum tube system.

I have always had a good quality (McIntosh / Audio Research / Vandersteen) dedicated sound system in the office, but the results were lost as the speaker placement was so poor- behind me or well off to the sides. So, as I had had very good luck over years with the M-Audio 2496 "Audiophile" MIDI / sound card, $90 then, now about $60, (PCI, not PCIe), I put one (my fourth) in the T5400 and connected that to a Logitech Z2300 system >

http

/www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-2300-THX-Certified-Speaker-Subwoofer/dp/B0002SQ2P2

The Logitech Z2300 is one of their series of 2.1 computer sound systems > two small satellite speakers on wither side of the monitor, a subwoofer under the desk that contains a 135W amplifier, and importantly, a wired remote control that has on/off, subwoofer proportion control, and a headphone jack that mutes the external speaker when the headphones are plugged in. I bought Sennheisser HD 280 Pro headphones (about $100).

With this system, I use either Windows Media Player to play CD's, or stream radio and the results are excellent. With the remote, I can quickly mute when the phone rings, and the Dell SK-8135 keyboard has a remote control that runs Media Player, including transport and volume controls.

My suggestion is to consider the excellent M-Audio 2496 PCI soundcard >

http

/www.fullcompass.com/product/267454.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=CPD1vq-Bh7gCFcWZ4AodRAcA8Q

> and one of the Logitech 2.1 systems with wired remote>

http

/www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_8_12/188-4925730-0480667?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=logitech%202.1%20computer%20speakers&sprefix=logitech+2.1%2Celectronics%2C220

> which have a quite a large price range. You mentioned the Z623 used for $70 and that seems like a good idea. The Logitech Products I've used seem at first to be of moderate quality, but they always work and last longer than I imagine they will. I've used the Z2300 for about four years sometimes having it on continuously for two or three days- never missing a beat. After returning an $80 KVM switch intended to flip between the Dell Precision and my old Optiplex 740, that after hours of fusing and tech support wouldn't work, I bought a $20 Logitech switch - another wired remote, and it worked instantly and always.

It's good that you brought up computer sound, as this site seems focused on graphics and sound is very little considered.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

[ Dell Precision T5400 > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16 GB ECC > Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 / Segt Brcda 500GB > windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > AutoCad, Revit, Solidworks 2010, Sketchup Pro, Corel Technical Designer, Adobe CS4 MC, WordP Office, MS Office ]

thee_prisoner · Jun 28, 2013

For a McIntosh / Audio Research / Vandersteen type setup I would made sure I had good speaker placement. hehe

beginnerbuild · Jun 28, 2013

thee_prisoner :

Thanks for the reply.

On a total budget as of right now is $150 including the amp/receiver. But the receiver I will buy used, so as long as you can name me some quality receivers to look out for, I will be happy. Yes I will just be doing 2.0 for now, BUT in the future I would definitely add more speakers if I see fit. In the future, I also would like to switch the audio system between the computer and the TV if that's possible!

I'm leaning more towards the Daytons speakers, because they are cheap and I'm not an audiophile picking at every frequency response. I'm not looking for particularly loud speakers, just loud enough to fill up a 10 meter by 5 meter room.

So more suggestions for speakers please if you have any! And how about some quality budget receivers??

beginnerbuild · Jun 28, 2013

bambiboom :

beginnerbuild,

At the time I changed from 2D to 3D CAD and bought a Dell Precision T5400, I also realized that I was listening to music in the office for 14-16 hours per day and barely listening to my main sound system, a very analog vinyl LP and vacuum tube system.

I have always had a good quality (McIntosh / Audio Research / Vandersteen) dedicated sound system in the office, but the results were lost as the speaker placement was so poor- behind me or well off to the sides. So, as I had had very good luck over years with the M-Audio 2496 "Audiophile" MIDI / sound card, $90 then, now about $60, (PCI, not PCIe), I put one (my fourth) in the T5400 and connected that to a Logitech Z2300 system >

http

/www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-2300-THX-Certified-Speaker-Subwoofer/dp/B0002SQ2P2

The Logitech Z2300 is one of their series of 2.1 computer sound systems > two small satellite speakers on wither side of the monitor, a subwoofer under the desk that contains a 135W amplifier, and importantly, a wired remote control that has on/off, subwoofer proportion control, and a headphone jack that mutes the external speaker when the headphones are plugged in. I bought Sennheisser HD 280 Pro headphones (about $100).

With this system, I use either Windows Media Player to play CD's, or stream radio and the results are excellent. With the remote, I can quickly mute when the phone rings, and the Dell SK-8135 keyboard has a remote control that runs Media Player, including transport and volume controls.

My suggestion is to consider the excellent M-Audio 2496 PCI soundcard >

http

/www.fullcompass.com/product/267454.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=CPD1vq-Bh7gCFcWZ4AodRAcA8Q

> and one of the Logitech 2.1 systems with wired remote>

http

/www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_8_12/188-4925730-0480667?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=logitech%202.1%20computer%20speakers&sprefix=logitech+2.1%2Celectronics%2C220

> which have a quite a large price range. You mentioned the Z623 used for $70 and that seems like a good idea. The Logitech Products I've used seem at first to be of moderate quality, but they always work and last longer than I imagine they will. I've used the Z2300 for about four years sometimes having it on continuously for two or three days- never missing a beat. After returning an $80 KVM switch intended to flip between the Dell Precision and my old Optiplex 740, that after hours of fusing and tech support wouldn't work, I bought a $20 Logitech switch - another wired remote, and it worked instantly and always.

It's good that you brought up computer sound, as this site seems focused on graphics and sound is very little considered.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

[ Dell Precision T5400 > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16 GB ECC > Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 / Segt Brcda 500GB > windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > AutoCad, Revit, Solidworks 2010, Sketchup Pro, Corel Technical Designer, Adobe CS4 MC, WordP Office, MS Office ]

Very detailed response, thanks.

After some thought I think I want my speakers to be multi use. So in the future I would like the set of speakers to be used for both the computer and the TV. In that case, I don't think computer speakers would suffice. So scratch the computer speakers, sorry

.

thee_prisoner · Jun 28, 2013

If you are doing 2.0 for now. The Daytons and a cheap t-amp would work fine. No reason to spend money on a receiver. If you go the Tannoys or PSB which are much better speakers, you would need a better t-amp. Something in the 50 watt range like this http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-383

Then again some used speakers and a used receiver(or t-amp) would be a better value.

musical marv · Jun 28, 2013

beginnerbuild :

I would like to give my PC decent-quality audio for use as an entertainment system. I'm not going to be rocking the house, just some movies/videos with good audio that provides decent highs and mids and not overwhelming bass.

For this purpose and a price range up to $150, should I consider bookshelf speakers or regular computer speakers?Look at a pair of Boston Acoustics good value for the money and decent sound.

I have found some used/new bookshelf speakers:
- PSB Alpha B ~$155
- Tannoy HTS 101 (only a pair, not entire system) ~$100
- Dayton audio SAT-BK ~$40 http

/www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-670

As well used computer speakers:
- Logitech Z623 ~$70

What would your suggestion be? Are there more aspects I must consider if I do go for bookshelf speakers (receivers, amps, etc) ?

I'm open to all suggestions! Thank you!

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