Active monitor speakers or mini amp with passive speakers?

[MrJim]

I've just upgraded my PC sound card to an Asus Xonar DGX, & now I really need to upgrade my PC speakers to get the full benefit. I'm currently using a very cheap 2.1 speaker system. Rather than go for another similar system, I'd like to go for a higher quality 2 speaker system. I've identified two main options:

1) A pair of active monitor speakers, like these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-Stud...&keywords=av40

or

2) A mini digital amp & a pair of passive speakers, like these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Topping-TP21...Mini+Amplifier

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...0/whar-9.0-blk

Cost-wise there's really not much in it, so I'm curious to know what opinions other people might have? My main uses will be for listening to a wide variety of music, PC gaming, & a bit of audio-video editing too.

[DanceswithUnix]

I ran an old hi-fi amplifier on my PC for a while, outputting into a pair of old Mordaunt Short MS10 speakers. Fantastic sound quality, but all too easy to leave the amplifier switched on and I realised that on standby that thing consumed more power than the PC, so I went back to cheap "good enough" speakers.

Did sound very very nice though

Perhaps a more up to date amplifier would draw less power at idle than that old 30W/channel class AB Pioneer unit from the 80's, but that is what I had. The speakers were a bit bulky for the room they were in as well.

[MrJim]

I remember the MS10s, they were a bit of a classic model in their time. I'm not sure what the power consumption of the mini amp is, but being a digital one, it won't be huge - I noticed it comes with a 14V external power 'brick'. The speakers I'm considering are about the same size, but just about manageable for the size of my desk.

[MrRockliffe]

Wharfedales sound miles better than the AV40s if powered correctly, well they do just sound better. We use the AV40s at my college and they're pretty terrible.

I can't comment on the amp you've suggested - I heard the diamonds in my local richer sounds hooked up to a denon amp I belive it was.

It's not the amp that's making the difference here, it's the speaker.

[MrJim]

Wharfedales sound miles better than the AV40s if powered correctly, well they do just sound better. We use the AV40s at my college and they're pretty terrible.

I can't comment on the amp you've suggested - I heard the diamonds in my local richer sounds hooked up to a denon amp I belive it was.

It's not the amp that's making the difference here, it's the speaker.

That's interesting about the AV40's...all the review's I've seen have been very positive. I'm in two minds now!

[MrRockliffe]

Maybe I'm comparing them to speakers that are made to sound good rather than ones to analyse sound - I'm sure the AV40s do this well, in fact they do (although not very good stereo imaging and slight lack of bass). For media consumption, I much prefer the diamonds.

[Lowe]

When done right actives are far, far superior. In this case, they really won't be - and those T amps are surprisingly good so long as you have a good psu. Go for that and the Diamonds.

[Zak33]

if you had the space .. wouldn't it be a good idea to get a second hand basic NAD amp from ebay?

Lowe would tell you what to look for I think... I have an integrated NAP amp and it's stunning... it'll be same money as that Topping amp I think

[Zak33]

gotta lol at the Amazon spec on those M Audio speakers

Technical Details
Item Weight 6 Kg
Product Dimensions 18.5 x 15.2 x 22.4 cm
Item model number 9900-65140-00
Scale Length inches
Country Produced In china
Speaker Count 2
Output Wattage 20 watts
Colour Screen No
Speaker Diameter 4 inches
Wattage 15 watts

so... awesome ability to create 20 Watts from 15 drain...

I've just ordered 1,000,000 pairs.. will run a power station from them and be rich

[RobbieRoy]

gotta lol at the Amazon spec on those M Audio speakers
so... awesome ability to create 20 Watts from 15 drain...
I've just ordered 1,000,000 pairs.. will run a power station from them and be rich

Lol! Also noticed the disparity of inconsistent measurement units...

[dacads]

I'd try and stretch to the Diamond 9.1 if possible.

As for the AV40s I previously owned a pair and wasn't disappointed at all, as stated bass isn't their strongest point but they are crystal clear and a pleasure to listen to.

If you can stretch a little then the BX5 D2 would also be a better prospect.

[MrJim]

Thanks for all the comments. I did look at the Diamond 9.1 speakers, but they're twice the price of the 9s, physically larger, & I think the mini amp would struggle to drive them too. I'm thinking I might wait until the sales & see what else is available. The JBL Control 1 monitors look good & are really quite small, which is handy as space is at a bit of a premium on my desk.

[MrRockliffe]

What is it you want out of them? Is it for media consumption, or sound analysing?

[MrJim]

What is it you want out of them? Is it for media consumption, or sound analysing?

My main uses will be for listening to a wide variety of music, PC gaming, & a bit of audio-video editing too.

...

[MrRockliffe]

I've got a pair of Harman Kardon Soundsticks III. I'm very please with them,great bass response and fantastic sound quality. Highly recommended for what I use them for - media consumption. I've not used them for analysing audio, but they're very precise and sound very German, if you get what I mean?

[krazy_olie]

The amptastic (http://www.amptastic.com/) models are good, they're now built in the UK and a bit costly, though. The ta2020 tripath chip is generally considered the one to go for
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008VOPQK..._n52rub05VY9R7 for example (which I believe the amptastic is based off)

I was using an original model in to some kef q100s (probably a bit big and expensive) to good effect. Some Wharfdales or Tannoys should do a solid job.
There's some nice active/multimedia stuff, often with nifty features (on board DAC, bluetooth streaming etc) in the £3-400 mark (q-acoutstics, audioengine, Philips...), no idea what it sells for second hand but worth a look? I haven't used my audioengine a2 in ages but they're great little things, very sweet and enjoyable. There's a 5" active and 4" passive version of them.