What speakers?

[applebutter]

Hey I'm thinking about buying some new speakers.

I don't want huge speakers I have a small desk with my iMac 27 there is approximately 6 inches on each side.

I already have HK Soundsticks 3 and Klipsch promedia, so I have decent sound already I want a better sound

I'm looking at buying:

1. Harman Kardon Aura
2. Bowers & Wilkins MM-1
3. Focal XS 2.1
4 Bose Companion 5 (I've found these at a pawn shop and I can get them for $150.00)

That pretty much sums it up.

Can I hears recomndations? Based on actual use and not just conjecture...

Thanks

 

[takeshi74]

I already have HK Soundsticks 3 and Klipsch promedia, so I have decent sound already I want a better sound

Define "better". What are you specifically looking for from the new speakers? what's deficient with your current speakers?

 

[kfscoll]

I'm happy with my Def Tech Inclines. The price has dropped dramatically since I bought mine too.

 

[jkim3691]

I'm not an audiophile by any means but I recently upgraded my system after going through the whole standard 2.1 computer speaker systems. I had a really old 2.1 Dell set and then started using a pair of Bose Companion Series II which my uncle had when he passed away. The Bose speakers were god awful and I couldn't believe the $100 price tag on them when I found out. Everything is super muddy on them and they hissed when I had them on and no music was playing. I then bought another 2.1 system from Creative that for $60 wasn't bad. But I figured with the amount of time I spend listening to music I should really invest in something better. I recently got a pair of Audioengine A2+'s and they sound great. The price is a little hefty, but I'm completely happy with my purchase. The sound seems pretty accurate(again, I'm no audiophile) and I feel like the artists are right there in front of me playing the music. Being a 2.0 system and not a 2.1, it does lack the lower frequencies, but I'm probably going to be purchasing the S8 to pair with the speakers down the road. I know this sounds strange but once you hit the higher level quality of speakers it's a different sensation listening to the music. The effects pop out at you like a 3-D television which would be my best analogy.

 

[Silvrbill]

It'll be hard to beat the Focal's.

 

[Destroysall]

Are the Audioengine 2+ too big for you? It's either them or the MM-1 in my opinion. Good luck!

 

[mfram]

I can comment about two of the options: Bose Companion 5, and the Focals. I don't own that particular Focal set, but I do own the Little Bird 2.1 pack.

Between the Bose C5 and Focal (at least the Little Bird 2.1 setup), I think that Focal is the overall better product for a couple reasons. The sound of the Focals is a little more 'warm' to me that the Bose system which is a little more 'boomy'.

I bought the C5 system when it first came out and the feeling on the web seems to be that they changed the subwoofer design (for the worse) in later designs. That would be one concern.

The other concern is the useability of the system. The LB2.1 is a speaker system that can accept multiple analog, digital, and wireless inputs. You can use it for your computer as well as many other inputs. The C5 is primarily designed for USB input only. There is an analog input, but it if isn't attached via USB, the system will go to sleep eventually.

Then there's the sound. Compared to the C5, the Focal system has quite a bit more definition in the higher frequencies. I think the midrange and bass are a little clearer as well.

Finally, sound processing. The Bose system has built-in surround sound processing that's designed to make music sound very good. If you are using them for other things, like Movies or Games, the sound processing might sound a little artifical. There's no way to turn it off. And you have to be sitting in the 'right spot' to really get the effect.

The Focal has no sound processing. What sound you put in is what will come out. If you want to add sound processing on your computer, that's your choice.

The only 'bad' thing I can say about the Focal system is that it's harder to acquire. I have never seen them distributed to stores, I've only been able to buy it online. I can say the Little Bird 2.1 pack is a wonderful sounding system. You will have to take it on faith if that's what you are interested in. But I think it's a very nice sounding higher-end system.

Don't get me wrong. The Bose is still a nice speaker setup. It's the best setup Bose makes that are designed for computers. It's just not as nice as the Focal LB 2.1 setup.

 

[applebutter]

I looked around the www and saw that there were some pretty good options.

I decided to buy the Definitive Technology Incline speakers. Price wasn't too bad.

They should be here tomorrow...

If they don't happen to be what I'm looking for I'll look at the focal speakers next. After that maybe the B&W's the Audioengine could be too large for my space??