Should I buy bookshelf speakers for the look and of course sound quality over normal speakers

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broidk

broidk

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I am currently looking at the mackie cr4 or the micca pb42x. Should I get one of these or a different pair of speakers for cheaper but no more than $150 or are there speakers that look similar/decent enough that come with a sub. I have a gaming setup and I do love to listen to music(Not a lot of rap) I also like sound quality, I would say I was an audiophile by any means lol
 
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ssddx
the dta-120 isnt a bad amplifier for a hair over $100. pretty strong output power of 40wpc@8ohm and 60wpc@6ohm for the price and it comes highly recommended on the web. we bought one to power a pair of harman kardon thirty speakers in the other room which i was not sure of the sensitivity nor max output on and even on low it powers them well and we have no complaints so far (we have had it about a month). build quality is good just be aware the power brick is as large as the unit itself. it should pair well with any easy to drive speakers like the klipsch kb-15 or others. it likely will still work fine with even lower sensitivity speakers up to decent volume levels but it will drive higher sensitivity models to louder volumes. the...
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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The only way to know is to go somewhere and listen to various speakers. After a certain point sound "quality" becomes subjective and there are too many factors involved: room acoustics, speaker frequency ranges, ear sensitivity, more or less bass, etc., etc..

Likewise looking "similar/decent enough" is also subjective. You know what your room is like and how it is currently arranged and decorated - any plans for future changes?

The trade-offs are sound quality vs appearence vs cost. The first two are subjective, the last quantifiable but then a matter of income/budget.

Prioritize your requirements and pick the product that comes the closest to matching those requirements whether subjective or objective.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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hifi speakers are going to sound better than pc speakers hands down. the big question is if you feel like spending the money on them and if you can live without a subwoofer.

the speakers you listed are good choices.

the av30 or av40 are also decent but there were some quality control issues....
 
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broidk

broidk

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Alight, I feel like I could live without a sub for a while but i've never really listened to speakers without one. Though I don't really listen real bassy music all the time in the first place.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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well do not forget that some (depending on what you buy of course) bookshelf speakers have far more output than pc speakers and can also generally hit a bit lower than pc speakers can so its less of an issue with bookshelves than satelites. still if you want the lowest tones, a subwoofer does that.

also, do not forget you could always go with a pair of passive bookshelf speakers and an external amplifier. the unpowered version of the micca's are nice, pioneer bs22 or klipsch kb-15 icons. the dayton dta-120 would work fine to power them to more than adequate listening volumes (you could also make due with a cheaper amp if you so wished).

also, what you go with depends on your future plans. for instance if you want a 5.1 system eventually... i'd skip out on powered speakers and get a receiver and 2.0 speaker set for now and upgrade as you go. if you want 2.1 you could go either way. if you have multiple input sources (pc, tv consoles, etc) it also makes sense to get a receiver while for one source it really does not. what works for you heavily depends on future plans.

i'm running a 5.1 set of klipsch quintets and subwoofer on a receiver myself.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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For a good even sound with a decent budget, I like the MAudio AV30, they are setup to be more of a budget studio monitor so have a good even sound without trying to show off the bass like some. I have used a set of those for not only my computer, but also for my TV and also as a speaker/amp for my son's electric piano. Another good option is the Logitech THX model speakers or the Klipsh ProMedia. Both have good sound and with some tuning of the EQ and sub settings you can get a very good balanced sound.
 
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L

lodders

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Nov 2, 2015
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I have a pioneer hi fi amplifier and wharfedale delta 30 speakers which I picked up on Ebay for about £100 the lot. All about 20 years old, it still sounds really good.
The amp is stood on it's end behind my monitor, and the speakers are on their side on a shelf just above the monitor.
No PC speaker I have ever heard comes close to the clarity and power of proper hifi sound. I certainly don't need a subwoofer.
 
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broidk

broidk

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Oct 22, 2015
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Any recommended amps that don't break the bank. I tore my ACL so I can't work (Still a high schooler playing sports lol). I feel like I should wait to get speakers and be able to spend a little bit more money, but I have a decent amount of money and was seeing powered ones and I wouldn't have to spend extra. But really the only thing i'd be adding is a sub because this is just gonna be for a PC gaming set up and just music listening.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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the dta-120 isnt a bad amplifier for a hair over $100. pretty strong output power of 40wpc@8ohm and 60wpc@6ohm for the price and it comes highly recommended on the web. we bought one to power a pair of harman kardon thirty speakers in the other room which i was not sure of the sensitivity nor max output on and even on low it powers them well and we have no complaints so far (we have had it about a month). build quality is good just be aware the power brick is as large as the unit itself. it should pair well with any easy to drive speakers like the klipsch kb-15 or others. it likely will still work fine with even lower sensitivity speakers up to decent volume levels but it will drive higher sensitivity models to louder volumes. the physical volume knob is certainly a nice feature but the led is a little too bright (perhaps we need to darken it with a marker so its dimmer).

even the cheap lepai 2020 works for little speakers like the mb42, b652 and similar though its cetainly worth getting something nicer than that for not just output power but also %thd so i'd personally recommend getting at least something like the previously mentioned dta120 or similar.

of course you could always go the powered speaker route if you prefer that too, ultimately its your choice.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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May 27, 2009
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some sections get much more traffic than others. actually i would say that there really is not high traffic in this section but its not dead either. as always, its a web forum so answers might not always be immediate as some people check once a day only.
 
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