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Best possible music speakers for $200.

TSE

TSE

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 25, 2007
4,079
3,730
St. Paul, Minnesota
I am getting a completely new computer setup, and I want to get some new computer speakers.

What are some great looking, but the best sounding, computer speakers for under $200? I would prefer 2.0, but I would also consider 2.1. Nothing over that! Too little room in my dorm! :p
 
Go look at some micro home studio monitors like M-Audio. They will sound better than your average "PC speakers" and have as much bass as many 2.1 units with tighter bass to boot.
 
http://audioengineusa.com/

I was at an electronics trade show in New York a couple years ago (I'm in the home theatre business) and got to go around a bunch of rooms looking at different products from different vendors. Came across Audio Engine. Never heard of them before the trade show, but was blown away by their demo. Two tiny little speakers producing great quality sound and a good amount of bass for their size. I ended up buying a pair of speakers to use for my own computer.

I bought the A2, which is what I heard at the demo. They have a stereo RCA input, and also a headphone mini input if you'd like to hook up your MP3 player or anything else temporarily. The A5's are bigger, and also have a USB port for charging an ipod, or anything else really. They produce more bass due to the larger driver, but I was happy with the amount of bass I heard at the demo coming from the A2's.

Audio Engine also has an excellent customer support system. After about a year or two of owning my A2's, the power supply crapped out. I sent them an email stating that my power supply went bad, and they responded quickly and simply just asked where I would like the new PS shipped to, no questions asked, free of charge.

I got tired of crappy $20 PC speakers, so I spent the $200 on A2's and couldn't be happier.
 
If you want 2.0 I would go either with the Audioengine A2 or the BX5a from M-Audio which with a bit of searching can be found for around $200. Both systems are of great quality and provide excellent sound.
 
Just wanted to second (third) the Audioengines. A couple of months ago I got a pair of the A2s; they're amazingly good for such small speakers: really crisp and clear. Of course, the A5s are apparently even better - and if you want to spend a bit more, you can get them in bamboo, which is very pretty....
 
I have a pair of Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks. Great value at $135.
Link HERE
 
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I always assumed the HK's were form over function. Are the recommendations based on experience or reviews?
 
TSE said:
I am getting a completely new computer setup, and I want to get some new computer speakers.

What are some great looking, but the best sounding, computer speakers for under $200? I would prefer 2.0, but I would also consider 2.1. Nothing over that! Too little room in my dorm! :p
Click to expand...

For $200, you can get some rubbish speakers, or you can get some excellent headphones.
 
Klipsch Promedia 2.1

Or something nicer if you can manage to get it cheaper/within your price range. Don't get Logitech 2.1's-- they sound horrible compared to other systems.
 
imahawki said:
I always assumed the HK's were form over function. Are the recommendations based on experience or reviews?
Click to expand...

I actually own the "Sticks"... Our 27" iMac serves as the second TV for my wife and I. We have a 13 year old and we prefer him in the main living area when he has friends over. So I use these to watch TV/Movies, listen to music, etc... I think they sound great for the price.
 
I think the key is to NOT get internally amplified speakers.

You can get leaps & bounds above all cheapish computer speakers by buying a small reciever off craigslist and then get a beatiful pair of monitor / book shelf speakers.

You can get a terrific second-hand reciever/amplifier from someone who's retiring their equipment in the chase for 3D, latest HDMI processing,. etc. This gets you strong, honest amplification (more than just volume btw) and better DAC capabilities than integrated amp w/ speaker's I've seen.

On the subject of the speakers - note that bookshelf is just a form factor - the size might be right, BUT some book shelves might sound best a dozen feet away form the source.

Monitors on the other hand, are design to be listened to close up - which is what you want.

Do some homework - read up on reviews, etc. I would take a look at KEF. There are some discount places selling at huge dicounts and you can just barely get into KEF for $200 if you seek them out. They feature tech similair to the world class THIEL speakers that put the tweeter and mid in the same plane - which I think would help keep the sounding great.
 
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scott911 said:
I think the key is to NOT get internally amplified speakers.

You can get leaps & bounds above all cheapish computer speakers by buying a small reciever off craigslist and then get a beatiful pair of monitor / book shelf speakers.

You can get a terrific second-hand reciever/amplifier from someone who's retiring their equipment in the chase for 3D, latest HDMI processing,. etc. This gets you strong, honest amplification (more than just volume btw) and better DAC capabilities than integrated amp w/ speaker's I've seen.

On the subject of the speakers - note that bookshelf is just a form factor - the size might be right, BUT some book shelves might sound best a dozen feet away form the source.

Monitors on the other hand, are design to be listened to close up - which is what you want.

Do some homework - read up on reviews, etc. I would take a look at KEF. There are some discount places selling at huge dicounts and you can just barely get into KEF for $200 if you seek them out. They feature tech similair to the world class THIEL speakers that put the tweeter and mid in the same plane - which I think would help keep the sounding great.
Click to expand...

Many monitors are self powered, saving you from having to find a spot for an A/V receiver. These aren't PC speakers per se, more designed for very small home studios.
 
agreed hawk. There are self-power speakers that are of reasonable quality - I shouldn't have have that such a blanket statement.

However, if the budget is $200 total, I would guess that the internal amp in units of this price range would usually be a pretty low quality component - manufacturing cost of maybe $10?

That's why I was thinking using a better second hand reciever might be a good direction to consider.

Here's the KEF's I was referebncing above. My only experience with the brand is with an in-ceiling unit, but all in all, the KEF's impressed me.
http://www.accessories4less.com/mak.../4-Bookshelf-Speakers-2-way-black-pair/1.html

and if money's a little less tight: http://vimeo.com/23029168 :p
 
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