Speakers

[nibbler]

having got cheap 2.1 speaker sets twice now, and being disappointed both times (too much bass and distortion, poor build quality in more recent set) i'd like to get some new speakers as the right satellite speaker has stopped because the connector snapped off and can't be replaced (this could be my feet's work but either way I need new speakers).


So I've set the budget to about £100 this time and am wondering what to do. Do I forgo the cheap subwoofer all together and just go for a good 2.0 set like the creative t40 series II? Or are the Acoustic Energy Aego Ms a good set for around that price bracket? One thing I do not want is too much bass, I already have the bass dial pretty low at the moment and I can't be doing with thumping when I don't want it (in films for instance).

The other thing is that I might need to be moving these speakers to and from uni by train or aeroplane, should I go for the 2.0 set and, judging by my thoughts on bass, be satisfied with the T40s level?

Any thoughts welcome

[format]

Logitech Z4 have done very nicely for me.

[Smudger]

I've got the T20s and they are superb. I should imagine the T40s are similar but louder. They're 3-ways as well, which should up the bass on the t20s, which I haven't found lacking anyway...

[Rowley]

I have got the T20s too. i have no oportunity for testing t40 but i think they good to.

[darklink720]

I have some harmon kardon soundsticks myself and they haven't disappointed me. Have great bass and look really nice wherever you put them.

[dendik]

Got Logitec X230, basic, cheap and good sound. Would recommend one.

[Zak33]

I know this sounds a bit mad....

but a cheap quality AMP from Ebay (lets say £35), a decent mini jack to phono lead (lets say £5), couple metres of cable (£5 again) and £50 ish quid of proper speakers......

the thing is... the whole lot will STILL be worth same money in 5 years time... so in 6 MONTHS if I was wrong with my advice,,, you could still sell it all.

And with proper speaker stands.. floor stands that you fill with sand, you could possibly widen the space between the speakers too.

[format]

I know this sounds a bit mad....

but a cheap quality AMP from Ebay (lets say £35), a decent mini jack to phono lead (lets say £5), couple metres of cable (£5 again) and £50 ish quid of proper speakers......

the thing is... the whole lot will STILL be worth same money in 5 years time... so in 6 MONTHS if I was wrong with my advice,,, you could still sell it all.

And with proper speaker stands.. floor stands that you fill with sand, you could possibly widen the space between the speakers too.

Got any recommendations specifically?

[krazy_olie]

for simplicity go Audioengine a2. otherwise this amp is supposedly great:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-T-T-A...ht_5190wt_1344 .

Speakers will depend on how much space you got. There are some usb speakers which will be better than using the line out from pc if the sound card is a bit naff

[1stRaven]

I know this sounds a bit mad....

but a cheap quality AMP from Ebay (lets say £35), a decent mini jack to phono lead (lets say £5), couple metres of cable (£5 again) and £50 ish quid of proper speakers......

the thing is... the whole lot will STILL be worth same money in 5 years time... so in 6 MONTHS if I was wrong with my advice,,, you could still sell it all.

And with proper speaker stands.. floor stands that you fill with sand, you could possibly widen the space between the speakers too.

This! Sounds so much better.

[Zak33]

Got any recommendations specifically?

yeah

something like a NAD 3020i
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NAD-3020i-...item2315fbe8e2

maybe some Gale Gold monitors

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gale-Gold-...item415f0b1527

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/atacama-sp...item20be7528b9

I have these very ones.. you'll find something cheaper though.

[pooley]

I have a set of Edifier R1600T Studio Plus 2.0 Monitors and think they may suit your needs.

Being monitors they are small and compact they will be more portable for your uni trips and they are of good build quality.

SQ is also good on these but are not bass heavy probably due to there size, they are also active so have an inbuilt amp in them.

A certain stoke based supplier sells them for £72 so they are within your budget and imo represent great value for money.

[Dareos]

Nibbler, how often are you talking about moving them to and from Uni. Zaks solution is not exactly portable but imo the best sound quality you are liable to get at that price range, and as he says, the solution most likely to retain its value.

Obviously if you are in Halls of Residence then you are moving out every 9 months or so and coming back to God's Country (which God I don't know, one that likes rain I suppose). This solution is not going to be train/air friendly on your travels back your quaint little fishing village on the Clyde.

However, if you are settled in to a flat or house for 4 years or so, then it might be worth either getting a courier to ship this back home (thats saying you come back home and don't spread your wings for warmer, or god forbid, colder climes) or selling the kit on ebay or whatever (or to another student) when that fateful day comes.

Obviously cadging a lift will be difficult and running a car in Cambridge is probably impractical as well as expensive for a student.

Just remember tho, at uni, as in life, he who hath the best sound system, hosteth the best parties!

[Zak33]

Just remember tho, at uni, as in life, he who hath the best sound system, hosteth the best parties!

he who hath the best sound system, findeth someone to pay slightly more than one payeth one self and one goes to next place and one buyest slightly better and upgradeth for nowt.....eth

and gets laid more tbh... proper sounds on a Friday night after dark gets you in the sack...

[snootyjim]

I've got a pair of T40s, and can easily out-bass my requirements.

They wouldn't be a whole lot of use for a home theatre setup in the lounge, but for watching films on the PC and whatever, if I really wanted to there's more than enough punch to irritate everybody else in the house.

Purely for the sake of portability and convenience I would forgo the subwoofer.

[Rave]

Old hi-fi amps can be picked up at car boot sales / Cash Converters / junk shops / local classifieds for peanuts.

I found a perfectly nice Pioneer amp in a charity shop bin! The volume control pot is a bit dirty and so crackles a bit, but it provided party sounds in our dining room for a couple of years before we moved!

As for speakers, they're also very cheap. Just google any potential purchase first to make sure they're realsonably well thought of.