Rephrase: What system would you put together?

[hippojam]

Budget: $500

Restrictions:
400 Sq. ft. Apartment (want to keep it simple)
Computer as source (192-320 bitrate music)
Speakers 6 feet away from computer (long cord or wireless setup)
Speakers placed close together (only one shelf if I want them above the ground)
Speakers also used for quality DVD/TV setup

Current System:
Onboard Realtek ALC650 soundcard, line out cord (10 feet) to Bose Wave radio.

What will make these MP3s sound best without bringing out their low quality:

1. A new soundcard?
2. Just new speakers?
3. New speakers and a receiver?
4. An amplifier?
5. An external DAC?
6. Any system, but just with a digital or amplified connection over what I have?

Please recommend to me a set of products for under $500.

Thank you!

[hippojam]

Budget: $500

Restrictions:
400 Sq. ft. Apartment (want to keep it simple)
Computer as source (192-320 bitrate music)
Speakers 6 feet away from computer (long cord or wireless setup)
Speakers placed close together (only one shelf if I want them above the ground)
Speakers also used for quality DVD/TV setup

Current System:
Onboard Realtek ALC650 soundcard, line out cord (10 feet) to Bose Wave radio.

What will make these MP3s sound best without bringing out their low quality:

1. A new soundcard?
2. Just new speakers?
3. New speakers and a receiver?
4. An amplifier?
5. An external DAC?
6. Any system, but just with a digital or amplified connection over what I have?

Please recommend to me a set of products for under $500.

Thank you!

[Geoffcin]

Budget: $500

Restrictions:
400 Sq. ft. Apartment (want to keep it simple)
Computer as source (192-320 bitrate music)
Speakers 6 feet away from computer (long cord or wireless setup)
Speakers placed close together (only one shelf if I want them above the ground)
Speakers also used for quality DVD/TV setup

Current System:
Onboard Realtek ALC650 soundcard, line out cord (10 feet) to Bose Wave radio.

What will make these MP3s sound best without bringing out their low quality:

1. A new soundcard?
2. Just new speakers?
3. New speakers and a receiver?
4. An amplifier?
5. An external DAC?
6. Any system, but just with a digital or amplified connection over what I have?

Please recommend to me a set of products for under $500.

Thank you!

I use and recommend a high quality computer speaker system.

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=spk_multimedia&item=k1pkm24e

Although I'm using the S300 instead of the MC300, this system is similar to my setup.

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/images/gold/full/k1pkm24e.jpg

It will BLOW you away if you've been used to hearing cheap computer speakers.

Of course if you want something that will do multi-channel then this might be your thing;

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=spk_multimedia&item=l1gig750

I've yet to hear this system, but I can vouch for the quality of the manufacturer.

[bacchanal]

Yeah, for mp3 use the onboard audio will be fine. Some new powered computer speakers will be a big improvement. I would personally recommend Swans over Klipsh or Cambridge Soundworks, but those are three names that are worth looking at for computer audio.

These will rock you:

Swans M200 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836136102)
Klipsch ifi 2.1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119108)

and yeah, those MW 213s look pretty impressive!

[hippojam]

The reviews are glowing but let me ask you this...would you use those for watching DVDs on a widescreen TV, too? I need one set of speakers that will do both.

[noddin0ff]

duplicate post deleted

[markw]

It in itself encompases a tuner/amplifer (or receiver) and speakers all in one unit. You can't replace any one part. It's all or nothing.

[noddin0ff]

How about this suggestion? (You can do better used. But this is all factory authorized dealer)

Receiver
ONKYO Home Theater A/V Receiver TX-SR302B REFURBISHED $100
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4038387
(I've bought refurb from JandR before)

Main Speakers
Paradigm Titans (2) ~$230
http://www.paradigm.com/Website/Sit...erformance.html
(you would have to locate a Paradigm dealer. You can find many speakers in this price range, depends on preference.)

Add a Sub
Dayton 10” Subwoofer ~$100 (currently on sale)
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/show...tnumber=300-632

Total $430. If you spend more, try to improve the mains.

[topspeed]

What will make these MP3s sound best without bringing out their low quality:
Therein lies the problem. On a decent rig, MP3's sound like crapola if your using normal (128) compression. Apple's AAC format sounds better at all bit rates, but that's another thread alltogether.

For speakers, you'll need to audition as much as you can until you find one that suits you. I'd budget around $300-$350 for your mains. Athena, Epos ELS3's, and Paradigm Titan's are popular choices. If you can wield a soldering iron and screwdriver, you might also seriously consider Ed Frias' AR.com kit from madisound.com. Kexodusc is a member here and IIRC, he thinks they blow away the Titan's. You might try PM'ing him as speaker building has become somewhat of an obsession with him. One good thing about initial three are that each has a matching center channel that you can purchase as funds become available.

To drive them, my first thought was to get a good integrated, but then I see you want to use it as an eventual HT as well. You'll need an entry level avr from Yammie, Denon, Pio, or H/K, which are the usual suspects. Pick the one that has the features that are important to you (i.e. DAC's, room eq, processing) Don't get sucked into watt ratings as you'll never hear the difference between a 50 wpc and 60 wpc receiver. Spearitsound, audioadvisor, or audiogon (used) are always good places to browse around.

Hope this helps.

[Geoffcin]

The reviews are glowing but let me ask you this...would you use those for watching DVDs on a widescreen TV, too? I need one set of speakers that will do both.

I was using a CSW Microworks on my TV up until I changed over to a receiver. It works so much better than the onboard speakers it's not funny.

[swicken]

No ones brought up how much onboard sound sucks yet.
As far as the sound card goes, even a Soundblaster Live would beat the pants off of that. Cheap isn't always bad. DEFINATELY replace the sound card. It's doing the work of processing.

I'd say replace that then get a simple 2.1 set (I wouldn't suggest the Klispch ifi though, unless you have an ipod you want to plug in)....

I would however suggest the Klipsch PM2.1, they're waaaaaaaaaaaay less expensive then the ifi and sound better on a computer.

Or, if you want to go sorround sound for movies, the PM5.1s are nice too.

[Geoffcin]

No ones brought up how much onboard sound sucks yet.
As far as the sound card goes, even a Soundblaster Live would beat the pants off of that.

Wow, didn't even look at his soundcard. The onboard soundcards suck. My advice is now to get a Audigy 2 Value card for 39.99;

http://techbargains.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=4103184/sort_type=price

And the CSW MegaWorks 215 for $230 from Ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:FSEL:US:1&Item=8719174811

It's a second but comes with a full warrentee.

[hippojam]

yeah, looks like i'll need a new sound card (someone mentioned the av-710 is better than the audigy?), and i think some decent 2.1 speakers would fit my needs (the csw or paradigm atoms seem to the consensus). maybe an airport express since i'm going to put them over by the TV which is 6 feet away from the computer and that long cord probably doesn't help the signal.

someone mentioned the orb speakers...are they a fraud or the real thing? anyone have experience with them?

anyone have experience with the airport express?

someone also mentioned the JVC combined DVD/Receiver, but i've got a great DVD player and I'm wary of all-in-one electronics. they usually don't do either well...but it's tempting to save that space.

[hippojam]

so that brings me to a new question...or set of them:

1. would good headphones attached to my computer playing MP3s sound better or worse than my Bose playing a CD? If the headphones won't sound better, then i guess i should get a speaker system instead.

2. will a better sound card improve both headphone sound and speaker sound? is it necessary in all cases?

[Mike Anderson]

Bypass the sound card altogether. Get yourself a Squeezebox:

http://www.slimdevices.com/index.html

These things kick ass. MP3s sound fine.

[bacchanal]

Therein lies the problem. On a decent rig, MP3's sound like crapola if your using normal (128) compression. Apple's AAC format sounds better at all bit rates, but that's another thread alltogether.

I hear this all the time, but after buying some active monitors (samson r6a) for my computer I'm not so sure. Most of the mp3s I have are at least 192 or 256. I thought they would sound pretty bad on the monitors, but the general improvement of the monitors more than made up for any slightly detectable artifacting or volume loss from the compression. I wasn't going from some $30 computer speaker system either. I was previously using the Cambridge soundworks Megaworks 510D 5.1 system. My opinion: mp3s on more accurate (better) speakers = better sound!

[bacchanal]

2. will a better sound card improve both headphone sound and speaker sound? is it necessary in all cases?

A good soundcard is going to make a rather small (but noticable) improvement in your sound.

Good speakers will make a huge difference in your sound.

M-Audio 5.1 revolution is a good soundcard (as good or better than audigy2). About $80 at newegg.com.

By some active monitors or high quality computer speakers.

or

Save up a little more and start investing in a good home stereo system.

[infamo]

My current setup consists of this, Realtek onboard audio(using the optical output on that), to Onkyo TX-LR552 receiver, then to a Sony SA-WX700 and the satelite speakers from my logitech z5300s. Dont be mistaken that its a sony sub so it will be terrible, i test drove this at circuit city with a infinity ps12 sub and the sony won hands down(i know its hard to beleive) and was $120 cheaper. This whole system cost be about $400-$500.