PC sound - bookshelves or desktop speakers?

[tenohfive]

I'm looking to get some new PC speakers, mostly for gaming and a bit of background music. I'm not super serious about either of the above but would like a reasonable level of quality. I'm torn between three routes:

1. Whatever Logitech or similar are putting out at the price point as a desktop 2.1 setup.
2. Mini amp - Lepy 2024A or similar plus some bookshelf speakers, Q3020's or 3010's should be in budget.
3. Say 'bugger the sound, give me shiny,' and get some Razer Nommo Chroma RGB speakers that'll sync with my keyboard and make my desktop look like a psychedelic lightshow.

Am I going to notice a big jump up from something like a Logitech Z623 (or the Razers) by going the bookshelf route? Would I miss the sub if I went 2.0?

[tomsugden]

I've got some of these

https://www.harmankardon.co.uk/computer-speakers/S...

They look good and also the sound is very good. The Apple shop was charging over £200 for the same speakers when I bought mine.

[GravelBen]

I've had a couple of older Logitech 2.1 computer speaker setups over the years, compared to even lower end bookshelf speakers the sound quality was pretty rubbish. They are cheap and don't take up much desk space though if thats important. Back then I didn't really know any different, but personally I couldn't go back to that.

Active bookshelf speakers are another option, but might be hard to find something good in your price range.

[tenohfive]

tomsugden said:

I've got some of these

https://www.harmankardon.co.uk/computer-speakers/S...

They look good and also the sound is very good. The Apple shop was charging over £200 for the same speakers when I bought mine.

That's a pretty good shout, if I go the desktop speaker route I think that's the front runner.

GravelBen said:

Active bookshelf speakers are another option, but might be hard to find something good in your price range.

I think you're right on that front, just over budget are the Wharefdale DS2's which I can't find much info on - but being Wharefdale they're likely to be solid speakers.

I am still drawn to the bookshelf idea. And the option to pick up a cheap sub (Yamaha YSTFSW050 is occasionally crops up at £70) at some point down the line gives a bit of future proofing.

My one concern about bookshelves is largely aesthetic - with my desk layout they'd have to go behind the monitor which is a bit scruffy, or on the windowsill behind the desk (which is about 10-20mm lower.) I want the whole setup to look uncluttered. I might take my home cinema speakers (Bronze 1's, they'll be my rear surrounds eventually) and stick them on the windowsill to see how it looks.

If I do go the passive bookshelf route can anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful amp such as the one I've mentioned above? I plucked that out as the first thing I came across getting decent reviews on Amazon.

[Douglas Quaid]

An amp and some floorstanders will be vastly superior to crappy desktop pc speakers and doesn’t have to cost a lot. That’s the way I’ve always done it.

[tenohfive]

Douglas Quaid said:

An amp and some floorstanders will be vastly superior to crappy desktop pc speakers and doesn’t have to cost a lot. That’s the way I’ve always done it.

I would never have thought to go the floorstander route. I scoffed at first - it seems like overkill - but the more I think about it, it does solve some of the issues (such as siting.)
Four downsides I can see (over bookshelves):
1. More power use.
2. Less choice in my budget.
3. Less discreet and would require moving things around.
4. Harder to persuade wifey that it was a cheap purchase.

How far are your floorstanders from you?

Choices wise - there's only one really, it's Tannoy Eclipse 2's for £100 from RS or second hand.

[gmaz]

I went for this 2.1 setup and am very happy with the range and sound. M-Audio is a proper musicians company.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Audio-Computer-Speakers...

I wonder if the 2 speakers may benefit from stands or wall mounts and they seem to resonate a bit on the desk.

[TonyRPH]

Q Acoustics BT3 brilliant speakers, if you can find a pair on sale anywhere.

They have Bluetooth support as well.

2 x 50w so no external amp required.

Built in DAC with optical in.

Bluetooth support as well.

Edited by TonyRPH on Saturday 18th August 15:48

[B17NNS]

I had 3020's on my desk until recently. Cracking little speakers. Add a small USB DAC/amp combo and you're away.

[tenohfive]

B17NNS said:

I had 3020's on my desk until recently. Cracking little speakers. Add a small USB DAC/amp combo and you're away.

This is the most tempting option. Anything you'd recommend on the DAC/amp combo? I keep seeing headphone amps but I'm not sure whether they'd be up to the job?

[B17NNS]

tenohfive said:

This is the most tempting option. Anything you'd recommend on the DAC/amp combo? I keep seeing headphone amps but I'm not sure whether they'd be up to the job?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AD18-Bluetooth-Digital-Decoding-Amplifier/dp/B01M3ULDG9/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1534604135&sr=1-1&keywords=SMSL+AD18

Review here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEooiaet9eQ

I also added a couple of these which improved things quite a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoundXtra-Small-Universal...

[TonyRPH]

tenohfive said:

This is the most tempting option. Anything you'd recommend on the DAC/amp combo? I keep seeing headphone amps but I'm not sure whether they'd be up to the job?

The Q Acoustics BT3 have a 50W per channel amp and DAC built in.

Makes like a lot easier than separate amps and cables everywhere...

[tenohfive]

TonyRPH said:

The Q Acoustics BT3 have a 50W per channel amp and DAC built in.

Makes like a lot easier than separate amps and cables everywhere...

I looked but pretty much dismissed them as they're like hens teeth. The only ones I can find for sale are £400.

[tenohfive]

B17NNS said:

tenohfive said:

This is the most tempting option. Anything you'd recommend on the DAC/amp combo? I keep seeing headphone amps but I'm not sure whether they'd be up to the job?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AD18-Bluetooth-Digital-Decoding-Amplifier/dp/B01M3ULDG9/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1534604135&sr=1-1&keywords=SMSL+AD18

Review here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEooiaet9eQ

I also added a couple of these which improved things quite a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoundXtra-Small-Universal...

That's my entire budget, without even the speakers unfortunately. I didn't mention it in the OP but £150 is my upper budget.

[Crackie]

tenohfive said:

I'm looking to get some new PC speakers, mostly for gaming and a bit of background music. I'm not super serious about either of the above but would like a reasonable level of quality. I'm torn between three routes:

1. Whatever Logitech or similar are putting out at the price point as a desktop 2.1 setup.
2. Mini amp - Lepy 2024A or similar plus some bookshelf speakers, Q3020's or 3010's should be in budget.
3. Say 'bugger the sound, give me shiny,' and get some Razer Nommo Chroma RGB speakers that'll sync with my keyboard and make my desktop look like a psychedelic lightshow.

Am I going to notice a big jump up from something like a Logitech Z623 (or the Razers) by going the bookshelf route? Would I miss the sub if I went 2.0?

https://www.musicstore.de/en_GB/GBP/Mackie-CR5-BT-BlueTooth-5-Multimedia-Monitor-Paar-/art-REC0012351-000

https://www.musicstore.de/en_GB/GBP/Alesis-M1-Acti...

[B17NNS]

tenohfive said:

That's my entire budget, without even the speakers unfortunately. I didn't mention it in the OP but £150 is my upper budget.

Sorry, didn't realise. RS have some actives within budget. I've not heard them though.

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/active-speakers...

[clockworks]

I've got Denon microsystems on 3 computer/TV setups (study, workshop and kitchen/diner) and a JVC microsystem for the main bedroom TV. Most of these were picked up secondhand on eBay.

For speakers I'm using a pair of Quad L-ite surround speakers in the study, Denon/Mission bookshelves in the workshop, JVC speakers with the JVC amp, and a Monitor Audio stereo ceiling speaker in the kitchen. These little microsystems are up to the job of playing music and TV very acceptably, without resorting to subs. The later models come with USB slots and bluetooth, as well as a couple of analogue inputs for the computer and the TV.

£150 should get you a decent Denon with its original Mission-built speakers.

[kingston12]

A lot depends on how much desk space you have or are willing to give up.

I have got a pair of the Q-Acoustics BT3 as a kitchen system and I think they are great, but they’d be far too big for my desktop. A shame as they’d be an easy 2.0 system.

I had a Bose 2.1 for years. When it broke I went for Ruark Audio MR1s paired with a cheap B&W sub and it was a huge upgrade in sound. They were still a bit big on my desktop so I replaced them with B&W MM-1s which I found at less than half their (crazy) original price. They are great, but need to be paired with a sub in my opinion.

[tenohfive]

clockworks said:

£150 should get you a decent Denon with its original Mission-built speakers.

They start at about £190 without speakers for something like the DM41. The only cheap microsystems I can find are some Pioneers with no specs on the speakers etc for £60. I'm only checked 3-4 sites (including RS, who are usually competitive) but I can't find anything at that price.

Crackie said:

https://www.musicstore.de/en_GB/GBP/Mackie-CR5-BT-...

Too many stories of CR4's and CR5's failing for my liking unfortunately - Amazon is full of poor reviews of their reliability. They look good in other regards.

anonymous said:

[redacted]

They're north of £200 to start. Chuck in a DAC and that's over £100 over budget.

kingston12 said:

A lot depends on how much desk space you have or are willing to give up.

This is disconcertingly true.
I've just popped a single MA Bronze 1 on my desk. It's a small speaker (by bookshelf standards) but it takes up a big chunk of desk. Whilst I can just about live with the real estate bookshelves would take up, the layout means that there's nowhere sensible to put the second speaker - the edge of the monitor (lined up with the keyboard tray) sits on the edge of the desk. I can't move it to accommodate a speaker without sitting wonky.

I don't like it but actives or passives might be moot if I can't fit them somewhere.

I'm seriously considering the floorstander option as it's cheaper than half-decent bookshelves plus speaker stands - anyone got Tannoy Eclipse 2's? And could I run them off a mini-amp putting out 20W each?

Much as 'proper' speakers sound like the better audio solution practicality may well necessitate something like the Soundsticks.

[tenohfive]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It can be the best value in the world. It's still £100 more than I've budgeted so it's not an option.