Same here, I just got the M10's after putting up the Z-5500's and I love them. I kind of wish I got them in Black (since I got mines from AudioInsider) but no harm done.
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Best Computer Speakers
- Thread starter pureelite1
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Same here, I just got the M10's after putting up the Z-5500's and I love them. I kind of wish I got them in Black (since I got mines from AudioInsider) but no harm done.
That's funny, in the market place forum I had a pair of new black M10's for sale. Someone in there said that you were looking for them. I tried to send you a PM but I don't believe you accept them.
To get good audio out of a computer you will either be using the optical out (toslink cable) to a receiver or you will be using a usb audio card which can go to a stereo receiver or to a pair of powered monitors. The best quality sound you can probably get with $500 is a decent usb dac and a pair of powered monitors.
On Amazon there are many reviews that M-Audio speakers have questionable quality.
People like their sound, but are wary of their lack of reliability.
Comments?
People like their sound, but are wary of their lack of reliability.
Comments?
Above the $500 budget... But these are the best I found.
http://www.audiopro.com/products/living-lv2/535/
They operate wirelessly... dongle plugs into USB, then you can move the speakers anywhere.
I just couldn't find anything in that price range that totally kicked butt... But I found it extremely difficult to demo anything either...
MM
http://www.audiopro.com/products/living-lv2/535/
They operate wirelessly... dongle plugs into USB, then you can move the speakers anywhere.
I just couldn't find anything in that price range that totally kicked butt... But I found it extremely difficult to demo anything either...
MM
They come in as single speakers. How do you connect them to the computer as a stereo pair?
That's quite an expensive option.
What would you recommend if you were not an sound recording artist/musician but want to listen to music with good sound.
The regular computer speaker doesn't cut it.
M-Audio may be OK, but I heard a lot of negative things about their quality control.
The Apogee One is half the price of the duet and probably sounds great too. That said, the most important factor is your speakers, then the sound interface. I initially hooked my Swans up to the built-in audio on my iMac and was surprised at how good they sounded. Sure, the duet sounds better, but not $600 better - I wouldn't have bought it if I wasn't using it for recording as well.
If you have a USB or Firewire audio interface then there will be two output jacks, one speaker goes to each jack.
If you are driving them with the 1/8th inch output juck on the Mac, then you need a "splitter" or "Y" cable. This is simply a three ended cable. Here is one
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/YMP137
I just wonder if studio monitors are the right thing for music listening. They are built to sound neutral.
But for computer speakers you seem to have the option to either use a horribly sounding computer speaker or studio monitors. (I really don't want to add a receiver to run bookshelf speakers)
That's probably a good idea.
To sink the budget into speakers, use that splitter, and come up with an usb audio interface later.
I agree, but the MW-50s I bought aren't studio monitors. They're extremely warm and creamy... more like powered bookshelf speakers. And like I said, they sound great even with the cheap audio outputs built into Macs, so a sound interface is not necessary - more like icing on the cake.
I'm really interested in these.
Could you provide a link?
Supposing you were talking about a model called Swan MW-50 (which I couldn't find on the web).
http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=443
They're hard to find in stock. I got mine at lockwaresystems.com but I think they're on backorder in most places.
Thanks. They look really nice.
What's the price point?
And can you get them without the subwoofer?
Lockware's price was around $280. I think Swan's makes similar products without the sub, but in this case the sub is integral, as it houses the amplifier and electronics. That said, I wouldn't want this without the sub - it adds incredible depth and warmth to your sound.
Thanks for the input!
Just wonder why it's so hard to get the swans - whereas the stores are full of ducks
Those M50's look stunning. I would be very interested in purchasing a pair, not sure how I'd fit them on my desk but I could make it work. They may have to replace my Bose Companion 3 (Before you say anything, for being compact and what they are they do a great job, take a quality hit for a convenient fit.)
Now where did I leave my Westone UM2's?
Now where did I leave my Westone UM2's?
The Swan M60 5.1 look very nice even if far above the $500 budget. I'm assuming that they don't have toslink though. The descriptions are fairly vague on the inputs so I'm assuming analog.
I'm considering the Marantz NR1501 or Sherwood R-904 to pair with a Mini. $100 left for speakers is a little too slim though if the budget is a hard $500. I started with the same goals of the OP but am very meh on the Logitechs and most HTiaB too bulky/clunky.
Slim HT receivers or 5.1 systems w/toslink that work with a mac without breaking the bank seems to be limited in selection. I guess starting with a slim $400 receiver I can upgrade speakers as I go.
I'm considering the Marantz NR1501 or Sherwood R-904 to pair with a Mini. $100 left for speakers is a little too slim though if the budget is a hard $500. I started with the same goals of the OP but am very meh on the Logitechs and most HTiaB too bulky/clunky.
Slim HT receivers or 5.1 systems w/toslink that work with a mac without breaking the bank seems to be limited in selection. I guess starting with a slim $400 receiver I can upgrade speakers as I go.