What are the top three best audio systems for the Mac?

[hajime]

AC power adapter vs. USB power adapter

Thanks for the replies. What are the pros and cons of speakers that are powered via USB?

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Thanks for the replies. What are the pros and cons of speakers that are powered via USB?

I wouldn't touch them with a 10 ft pole. How much power is available off the USB bus and what's the point of using it? Who is going to make quality speakers for it when even "PC" speakers are usually junk? Now a USB sound card can do the job (including surround) using conventional speaker connections (if they're powered speakers, I'd want to use a regular outlet; wireless OTOH may or may not be handy or a good idea). There are also firewire audio interfaces (I use one with my MBP for recording), but it may be overkill for what you need (most of them have multiple inputs as well as multiple outputs but are often surround compatible as well).

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 setup I mentioned has a real powered sub and for ~$140-160 you cannot go wrong for a small to medium sized room. It also lets you put the sub out of the way (mine hides in the corner of my "L" shaped desk which also reinforces the bass since it's in the corner of the room) and thus the satellite speakers take up no more room than cheap PC speakers without a sub. The pair in question is connected to my PowerMac audio/video server in my den and they sound great. I have another pair of PM2.1 speakers connected to an Airport Express receiver in my bedroom and again, it sounds great (wipes out Bose clock radios for the bedroom!)

You could use any number of normal stereo speaker systems with a computer and there are a lot of choices out there. I have Apple TV connected to $2000/pair Carver AL-III ribbon speakers (with custom active crossover) in my upstairs music room and a 6.1 channel PSB sat with DT sub system ($2800) in my home theater room downstairs. The sound is phenomenal. It's no different connecting ATV than a computer. Audio out is Audio out; it's only whether it's digital out (e.g. Toslink or HDMI) or analog (RCA or Mini-RCA).

 

[aki]

Thanks for the thread - very useful!

So I am thinking I will get Audioengine A5+ and probably the FiiO D5 (so cheap, why not) for sound for my 2011 iMac. (And maybe the AS8 sub one day.)

I'm wondering, are there any extra cables or connectors I will need to get it working or is everything "out of the box" usable (iMac->FiiO D5->A5+)?

Thanks again for lending all your expertise, really really helps.

EDIT: Actually reading around it seems like a cheap DAC isn't much better (if at all) than the iMac onboard sound anyway; so may as well skip the D5 and just use A5+?

 

[Pharmscott]

Since nobody has mentioned it, this is a cool (and cool looking) way to boost the sound range and it's <$100.

http://twelvesouth.com/products/bassjump/

I use these at work and they sound great. They're more than enough for a laptop.

http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-GigaWorks-T20-Series-II-Speakers/M/B001RNOHDU.htm

 

[Geminist]

Thanks for the thread - very useful!

So I am thinking I will get Audioengine A5+ and probably the FiiO D5 (so cheap, why not) for sound for my 2011 iMac. (And maybe the AS8 sub one day.)

I'm wondering, are there any extra cables or connectors I will need to get it working or is everything "out of the box" usable (iMac->FiiO D5->A5+)?

Thanks again for lending all your expertise, really really helps.

EDIT: Actually reading around it seems like a cheap DAC isn't much better (if at all) than the iMac onboard sound anyway; so may as well skip the D5 and just use A5+?

Although the FiiO does some pretty good budget portable amps, I'm not so sure how good they are with DAC and it might be worth reading some reviews. You could save the money on the FiiO and get a better DAC later.