Audio Equipment

[DarkSilver2]

I think all who visit this particular forum agree that music is a good thing. My question to you gurus, then, is what is the best speaker system to play them with that you won't have to go over $250 for? I have conflicting reports on sets such as JBL's Creature II, Harman Kardon's Soundsticks II, and similar products. What have you found to be the best?

[LeeTom]

No computer speaker setup will ever rival plugging your mac into a real stereo receiver with real speakers.

Lee Tom

[DarkSilver2]

Then what type of stereo speakers do you recommend?

[LeeTom]

Sorry if I sound abrasive, I'm a total audiophile nazi though...
At the very least, I would get something like Polk Audio, B&W, Infinity, etc... $250 isn't really going to step into a really nice pair of speakers, by my definition... maybe $400-500 though.

Lee Tom

[mkrishnan]

Beware though that audiophiles and consumer listeners have different definitions of "sounds good" -- especially for things like pop music, you might find audiophile hw to sound stark -- the fidelity of the reproduction will lack the warmth that is caused by the response curve of home audio hw.

But if you are of the audiophile persuasion, there used to be a really good usenet audiophile faq with lots of good recommendations for affordable gear. If you are willing to limit yourself in certain directions, you can probably get something for close to the $250 you mentioned.

But I can't seem to find this faq with google...anyone know if it still exists?

Might look at something like Now Hear This -- their sb1 set can be had for ~$150 I think, and at least used to be very highly regarded for the price.

http://www.nhthifi.com/2004/products/product_detail.asp?ProductLineID=2&ProductID=11

Oops, that's $150 per speaker. :( But IIRC the faq I'm thinking of had recommendations at many discrete price levels -- what audiophiles had found worth checking out at $150, $200, $250, etc, each with brief reviews.

[DarkSilver2]

Despite any love of music I may claim, the cost incurred by entering college this fall dissuades me from spending over $300 on speakers, however powerful and high end. That is why I set the limit. Also, the audiophile hardware being put forth earlier by LeeTom would be overkill in a dorm room (at least in my small bank account opinion).

[LeeTom]

Yeah, maybe what's best for you would be to get two computer speakers with a sub. Klipsch makes good stuff in that area too... check it out.

Just do me one favor: 2 speakers and a sub max. no surround sound BS. I hate that!

Lee Tom

[mkrishnan]

Cambridge Audioworks is another brand that puts some effort into affordable stuff with pretty good sound quality. I think audiophile is definitely a waste in a dorm room too. ;) Good luck!

Oh, LOL, totally second LeeTom -- if you try to get surround sound on a budget esp., you wind up with five poor sounding speakers instead of two pretty good ones. :(

[DarkSilver2]

Surround sound if for theaters, home theaters if you got $$$$, but not for music. I am curious if you have ever heard of an iSub. I saw it mentioned as I was searching through some of the articles at MacAddict.com, but could find no trace of it on Apple's website. Does it (or did it) exist?

[LeeTom]

iSub did exist, my old roommate had one with iSticks. Personally, I find that matched style sort of tacky. It wasn't the greatest, either.

Lee Tom

[DarkSilver2]

I searched for Cambridge Audioworks and came up empty handed. Do you the website as well, or a product example? By the way, I found the iSub with iSticks on eBay - those things WERE tacky looking (and bore a distinct resembelance to Harman Kardon's Soundsticks).

[brap]

I searched for Cambridge Audioworks and came up empty handed.
That's because they're known as Cambridge Audio (http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/). They make pretty cheap, pretty decent amplifiers - a mate of mine has an A500 and it's pleasant all round, couple this with a pair of mid-range Mission speakers and you'll be sorted. Can't say I have any experience with Cambridge's computery stuff.

I did however get a cheap, though awesome Altec Lansing (don't laugh) ADA885 4ch speaker setup for University. Sadly, they don't make it anymore -- came to around $80US in your silly money :)

[mkrishnan]

That's because they're known as Cambridge Audio (http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/).

Is the same Cambridge that used to make low-price speaker sets? I'm sorry to old-school on you. :( But they don't seem to make what I was thinking of anymore.

This is the one I'm thinking of:

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=0

Are they the same company?

[brap]

Are they the same company?

No. I'm just retarded. :o

Sorry - honestly didn't make any connection between Creative and decent quality audio (always known those setups as Creative and not Cambridge Soundworks - my mistake). It has been a while since I last heard one of their efforts, but TBH last time it was fairly dire.

[mkrishnan]

Honestly didn't make any connection between Creative and decent quality audio. Although it has been a while since I last heard some of their speakers...

OMG, last time I bought something from them, they totally weren't a part of Creative. :o

They got their start with Henry Kloss designing their speakers. At least at that time, they were supposed to be pretty good. Who knows now though....

[adamjay]

since i use a Mac in the context of making music... i'm always listening to music through Studio Monitors... My Tannoys are nice, but pricey for consumers... i'm also using the M-Audio BX8's but they run about $400-$500

however, M-Audio makes a 2.1 system thats real nice... if i needed something in sub-$250.. i'd definitely get these

http://www.studica.com/products/product_detail.cfm?productid=9507
$240

best of all, its expandable. for another $140 down the road, you could add 3 more of the satellites for a 5.1 system

if you want more power. the BX5's are $270 a pair, and run at 75 watts x 2 (self powered of course), which is about 3 times the volume.

M-Audio markets this to the small home / project-studio guys and gals.
The Garagebanders if you will...

[yuc7zhd2]

Most of the people here could and have given excellent audio suggestions. With enough cash you can buy some really great stuff. I understand your cash problem though, I have the same problem. I'm not too picky, so I just use a good set of shure studio earbuds when I'm recording to my powerbook. If you want 5.1 and you have a powermac with digital audio out you could go for a cheap surround set up and get decent sound, and have a home theater for your dvds to boot. I don't recommend it as great quality (but its cheap), so if you have a g5, and want something decent for under 250 sony makes some cheap ass surround systems. They're not spectacular, but they're decent, and you stay on budget. I'm sure other brands make similarly priced products, but I've got the sony and its been alright.

[Spizzo]

since i use a Mac in the context of making music... i'm always listening to music through Studio Monitors... My Tannoys are nice, but pricey for consumers... i'm also using the M-Audio BX8's but they run about $400-$500

however, M-Audio makes a 2.1 system thats real nice... if i needed something in sub-$250.. i'd definitely get these

http://www.studica.com/products/product_detail.cfm?productid=9507
$240

best of all, its expandable. for another $140 down the road, you could add 3 more of the satellites for a 5.1 system

if you want more power. the BX5's are $270 a pair, and run at 75 watts x 2 (self powered of course), which is about 3 times the volume.

M-Audio markets this to the small home / project-studio guys and gals.
The Garagebanders if you will...

I agree, get some studio monitors.

[Redboy]

I picked up a pair of Paradigm Titan .v3's a few years back for just under $250 I believe. I did a bunch of research, listenned to a lot of speakers, and these were by far the best sounding speakers that I found anywhere close to that price range.

Here's a review from an earlier version:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_3/paradigm-titan-speakers.html

and a more technical review, also from '99:
http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/titan.html

I think they have a new series that has replaced the Titans, which I would look at if I was looking for new speakers.

[jbembe]

since i use a Mac in the context of making music... i'm always listening to music through Studio Monitors... My Tannoys are nice, but pricey for consumers... i'm also using the M-Audio BX8's but they run about $400-$500

however, M-Audio makes a 2.1 system thats real nice... if i needed something in sub-$250.. i'd definitely get these

http://www.studica.com/products/product_detail.cfm?productid=9507
$240

best of all, its expandable. for another $140 down the road, you could add 3 more of the satellites for a 5.1 system

if you want more power. the BX5's are $270 a pair, and run at 75 watts x 2 (self powered of course), which is about 3 times the volume.

M-Audio markets this to the small home / project-studio guys and gals.
The Garagebanders if you will...


I currently have the harmon/kardon soundsticks that are decent, but have a major flaw: if you don't sit right in front of them, the sound isn't as clear or crisp. The clarity will change if I'm sitting back and slouching in my chair or sitting up straight, so I am constantly angling them toward my head, which is annoying. How do these compare? Maybe I can sell the harmon/kardon on eBay and try something better!