Two speakers from Apple.com

[khan0721]

Hi guys, I have a question about two speakers from Apple.com.
The two speakers are;

1. M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Speaker System
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TM097ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0MA&mco=MTA4MTUyNDU

2. Harman Kardon SoundSticks II
http://store.apple.com/us/product/T9078LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0MA&mco=MTA4MTUyNTY


My question is simply which one is better?

Since I don't know anything about speaker system, I can only think of a couple of criteria;

Overall sound quality,
Build quality.

The website has specs and everything.
Price for both are similar and both have good reviews.

Thank you very much guys!

[khan0721]

Anyone? Please?

[blackraven]

If you don't care about bass then go with the M-Audio's. The freq response only goes down to 85Hz. The HK's use a sub and claim 44Hz as the bottom end.

[khan0721]

Thanks blackraven!

O, so the biggest difference is HK has better base, and everything else is pretty much the same? I see..

But would you mind telling me the advantage of M-Audio? You recommend me M-Audio and I'm curious what features are better over HK.

Thanks!

[nightflier]

The HK is too dependent on the sub to give the desktop speakers much to listen to. Think of it as a Bose system, once you take out the sub, it's pretty much thin and tiny sounding. The M-Audio doesn't try to patch over that shortcoming and just gives it to you straight. Not as apple-flashy, to be sure, but probably better sound quality all around. Anyhow, lots of bass badly done will just muddy up the sound - you're better off getting speakers with good mids and trebble which is where 90% of your music's sound will be coming from. By the way, if you're listening to compressed files, that goes double.

[khan0721]

Thanks nightflier, that helped a lot!

[blackraven]

What Nightflier said!!!!!

[Feanor]

Hi guys, I have a question about two speakers from Apple.com.
The two speakers are;

1. M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Speaker System
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TM097ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0MA&mco=MTA4MTUyNDU

2. Harman Kardon SoundSticks II
http://store.apple.com/us/product/T9078LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0MA&mco=MTA4MTUyNTY


My question is simply which one is better?

Since I don't know anything about speaker system, I can only think of a couple of criteria;

Overall sound quality,
Build quality.

The website has specs and everything.
Price for both are similar and both have good reviews.

Thank you very much guys!
Agree with 'Flier and BR: the M-Audio's will whip the Karmon's butt for sure.

Don't expect the HK's sub to add much bass deeper that the M-Audio. Not to mention that the M-Audio will play much louder if that's a concern.

[Ajani]

I use M-Audio BX5a with my laptop and find them to be really good value for money... I've never tried the Harman's though... But if I was buying blind, I'd go with the M-Audio...