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What desktop speakers would you get for your new iMac?

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Love these speakers, Sound quality is great and so clear
 
I have Audioengines and am more than happy with them. Active so you don't need an additional box, better built than your typical logitech crap, and great sound.
 
After auditioning many speakers, I've decided that I'm a 2.1 guy and can't give up my subwoofer. That being said, I like a very controlled sound and nothing overly boomy. So, I have a few sets of the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers. These are one of the best values out there in my opinion.

For my main setup, where the new iMac will reside, I have a set of Swan M50W (http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=5&sid=0&pid=22). To my ears, the sound stage is much broader than the Klipsch, the high end is less harsh, the mids are more pronounced, and the subwoofer more refined. These are hooked up to my current system using an HRT Music Streamer II connected via a high-end USB cable, which I believe provides a much better DAC than what has been built into all of my Macs.
 
I always hook my iMacs up to my Bose radio. Im not audiophile, but it sounds fantastic. So when I receive the new 2012 27" iMac, I will do the same. :)
 
IMO spending $700-1200 on computer speakers is crazy.

Buy a small receiver like a Denon 1613, a badass set of bookshelf speakers like the Paradigm Atoms, and a kickass little sub like an Epik Legend and you will have a system that trounces the computer setup and is fully set to be expanded to 5.1 or 7.1 down the road should you choose to. All done for under a grand tops.
 
I don't consider myself an audiophile but I am a musician with ears so sensitive that I can hear the dead. I used to have some Bose Companion 3s that were given to me about 2 years ago and I think they are garbage. Just like most of Bose's products.

My friend purchased the Paradigm Millenia CT speakers and they are just awesome. I tried them out with several different tunes and I was very impressed. Super crisp sound with rich bass at low and high levels and no distortion or static. The only thing I didn't like was the flimsy remote. I still plan on purchasing them next month. Check them out here:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA382VC/A/paradigm-millenia-ct-speaker-system?fnode=4f&p=1
 
i normally just used the built in speakers .. i used to have the swam m10s but didnt really like them .. i am thinking bout picking up the B&W mm-1
 
Audioengine A2s are fairly nice and relatively inexpensive @ $200, they are pretty small if you don't have much desk space to spare. I love mine.
 
jetjaguar said:
i normally just used the built in speakers .. i used to have the swam m10s but didnt really like them .. i am thinking bout picking up the B&W mm-1
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I would go with B&W MM-1's as well.

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WrrN said:
While not fully pro speakers, these offer a vast jump up from those basic computer speakers that are most commonly sold: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MAudioAV40.html I use them for media creation.

I'm very happy with them, but be aware that they do have a sizable footprint, if that's a concern for you.
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I have those and its terrific and suits my needs for monitor speakers, but i will still go with the B&W MM-1's if I have a spare 500 bucks.
 
Ok so I finally got into a showroom and listened to the FOCAL XS BOOK speakers against the BOWERS & WILKINS MM-1's...

Walked out with the Focal's... INSANELY impressed with them..

http://www.focal.com/en/home-audio-loudspeakers/focal-xs-book.php

Sound quality is amazing!!!! All the lows, mids and highs are balanced so well. These speakers have very very good lows, nice and punchy bass.
Put them against the MM-1's and they lost nearly all bottom. Really disappointing actually..

If you can find a show room with these speakers in it do your self a favour and go have a listen. They will look awesome with your brand new imac as well :)

By far the best 2.0 system I've heard for desktop speakers in the $500 AUS range.
 
NVRENUF! said:
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Love these speakers, Sound quality is great and so clear
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How strange it is to see my speakers in December 2012 as a recommendation for someone to buy given that I got them 6 years ago! :D

Those are some really great speakers, I do not think it is possible to buy better for the price. Those are so good, I mean in 6 years never had any problem, and I still think that if I had to buy now I would buy them again, even knowing that the model is more than 6 years old.
 
mihai.ile said:
How strange it is to see my speakers in December 2012 as a recommendation for someone to buy given that I got them 6 years ago! :D

Those are some really great speakers, I do not think it is possible to buy better for the price. Those are so good, I mean in 6 years never had any problem, and I still think that if I had to buy now I would buy them again, even knowing that the model is more than 6 years old.
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For a $300 set of speaker they absolutely rock..

I removed the centre speaker and just run them as dual Stereo.
but they are sooo powerful and so clear.
I run them as digital input also, so when listening to flacs amazing.. turbo boost them and not a single bit of distortion.


nothing better in that price range.
 
Exactly and only years after using them I discovered that after reaching the full bars for the volume, if I continue rotating they have even higher volume indicated as boost +1, +2, +3 or something similar. I am also using them basically always in dual stereo mode.

I highly doubt that whoever buys this set will be disappointed.
 
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