Question for the audiohpiles here.

[Josquin des Prez]

Alright, after much thinking i've decided to dip into a sound system upgrade. Most of my music listening is done on my computer through mp3s, and i also have a very low end sound system attached to my TV which i sometime use when my roommate is not around. 

I never been fussy about sound quality (probably because i never had the cash for a good system so i subconsciously resigned myself to low end crap  ), but after damaging my hearing it's like a constant struggle between me and my sound system. The problem is that i have a bit of an hard time getting a "full" sensation from sound, a bit like when you are trying to listen tp something over background noise. You can hear it perfectly fine, but it feels like you can't make it out completely. Bumping the volume doesn't do anything to make the sound more "clear", at least up to a point where my hyperacusis kicks in and it starts getting uncomfortable.

Now, since i'm still relatively out of cash, i just need a pair of decent speakers for my PC + sound. Nothing too expensive but still better then the "standard" stuff you can buy on places like newegg.com.

However, once and if i manage to save up (particularly since i'm close for finishing my car payments) i'm planning of getting a real system, with cd player and everything.

Any suggestions so i can get started?

[Harry]

Go to a shop and use your ears, that way you get what you want.

[BorisG]

Alright, after much thinking i've decided to dip into a sound system upgrade. Most of my music listening is done on my computer through mp3s, and i also have a very low end sound system attached to my TV which i sometime use when my roommate is not around. 

I never been fussy about sound quality (probably because i never had the cash for a good system so i subconsciously resigned myself to low end crap  ), but after damaging my hearing it's like a constant struggle between me and my sound system. The problem is that i have a bit of an hard time getting a "full" sensation from sound, a bit like when you are trying to listen tp something over background noise. You can hear it perfectly fine, but it feels like you can't make it out completely. Bumping the volume doesn't do anything to make the sound more "clear", at least up to a point where my hyperacusis kicks in and it starts getting uncomfortable.

Now, since i'm still relatively out of cash, i just need a pair of decent speakers for my PC + sound. Nothing too expensive but still better then the "standard" stuff you can buy on places like newegg.com.

However, once and if i manage to save up (particularly since i'm close for finishing my car payments) i'm planning of getting a real system, with cd player and everything.

Any suggestions so i can get started?

Google for Logitech speakers.

[M forever]

These penguin desktop speakers are awesome, about as high-end and audiophile as it gets. The secret lies in the real penguin feathers. Penguins are engineered by nature to be fast underwater and make very little noise on land because otherwise, the polar bears will come and eat them. So penguin feathers have very special acoustical dampening features which when used as a speaker enclosure padding will suppress unwanted harmonic resonances (and their even more unwanted feedbacks on the cone surfaces) and give you a free clean, freely vibrating sound that will surprise you with its richness and naturalness.

[head-case]

My experience is that distorted sound is the most irritating to the ear, and that pure sound is tolerated at higher volume levels.  You will get better sound from a pair of headphones than from a comparably priced set of speakers.  I'd recommend high quality over-ear headphones (as opposed to the ear "buds" which seem to be the most popular now).   I particularly like AKG reference headphones, which have a little spacing between the transducer and the ear for a more natural sound and feel.  A nice set like this probably deserves a dedicated headphone amp.  Beyerdynamic also makes some great phones.  Sennheiser are supposed to be the best, but I don't like them.

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/akg-k-601.php
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/beyerdynamic-dt-880.php

[drogulus]

    The best pc speakers I've heard in the store were the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's. They're pretty cheap these days.

[M forever]

The M-Audio desktop monitors are fairly reasonable and affordable either. I don't think it makes too much sense to spend too much money on desktop speakers anyway.

And no, M-Audio has nothing to do with the M as such.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I think I saw those at the local Toys R Us.

[M forever]

I think I saw those at the local Toys R Us.

I already know that's where you are shopping for your audio equipment.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I already know that's where you are shopping for your audio equipment.

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of Walmart.

[Gurn Blanston]

The M-Audio desktop monitors are fairly reasonable and affordable either. I don't think it makes too much sense to spend too much money on desktop speakers anyway.

And no, M-Audio has nothing to do with the M as such.

M,
Are you recommending those? I mean, have you heard them? Or are you reading the specs and making an inference? I would like to perk up my desktop system a bit, and those do seem to be a good choice.



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Now playing:
Mozart - L'Archibudelli - K 487 #10 Duo for Winds in Eb

[M forever]

My first recommendation is of course the penguin speakers. If you don't like these, I would go for the M-Audio. No, I didn't just make up what I said about them. A friend of mine has them. They are OK, but again, they are only meant to be desktop speakers, they are not a replacement for "real" speakers. I will probably get them myself when I get to MA. "More speaker" wouldn't make sense to me on the desktop. I haven't heard the Klipsch, but as good as Klipsch speakers can be, they are just too small and then you have subwoofer to deal with. I may be wrong, but from experience, speakers which are that small just have too many problems, however much they tweak them to sound OK. Especially for "classical" material I don't think that is an option.

[Gurn Blanston]

My first recommendation is of course the penguin speakers. If you don't like these, I would go for the M-Audio. No, I didn't just make up what I said about them. A friend of mine has them. They are OK, but again, they are only meant to be desktop speakers, they are not a replacement for "real" speakers. I will probably get them myself when I get to MA. "More speaker" wouldn't make sense to me on the desktop. I haven't heard the Klipsch, but as good as Klipsch speakers can be, they are just too small and then you have subwoofer to deal with. I may be wrong, but from experience, speakers which are that small just have too many problems, however much they tweak them to sound OK. Especially for "classical" material I don't think that is an option.

OK, well, I looked hard at the penguins and decided to give them a miss. But the M's seem like a reasonable choice. I wasn't implying, BTW, that you were making it up, but I know that you know enough about audio to read the specs and draw some conclusions from that which are likely to be valid. I can't.



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Now playing:
Schubert D 956 - L'Archibudelli - Schubert Quintet in C for 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos D 956 1st mvmt -  Allegro ma non troppo

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I already know that's where you are shopping for your audio equipment.

Then he's a genius, right?

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

When you switch to a decent CD player with good headphones, you will definitely hear a great improvement in sound quality. Not only will the instruments sound richer, fuller, you will be able to hear a whole new level of detail that your computer / mp3 system is not able to resolve. Look at Stereophile's recommended components on their website. They have a budget category which you may find very useful. Listen before you buy. Take a few CDs that you are very familiar with when you go shopping. Listen to them on different CD Player / Headphone combinations and buy the one YOU like that YOU can afford--not what the salesman tells you you should like. Some (many) high-end salesmen are very snooty, obnoxious, and will imply (if not tell you outright) that you are going to get crap sound quality unless you do (BUY) exactly what they say. If salespeople are not willing to work with your budget, shop elsewhere.

Speakers are better of course, but they need to be properly set up in an appropriate room for them to be worth your investment. Otherwise, headphones will probably be your best bet, and you will be able to save money by not having to buy an amplifier.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Oh yes, and you'll want a turntable too!

Here's what I use:

[Josquin des Prez]

I forgot to mention, i cannot use headphones, even at low volume. It's just too uncomfortable for me, not sure why. Too close to my ears i guess.

[longears]

Josquin des Prez says:
"i just need a pair of decent speakers for my PC + sound"

Do you mean "sound card?"  What do you use now?  You can go to an M-audio card, but even a pretty cheap soundblaster live ain't half bad.  And Newegg rocks!

[pjme]

You don't have to spend a fortune. I bought (Danish) DALI speakers ( in combination with Arcam CD player and NAD tuner).Works fine for me.

http://www.dali.dk/int/

Peter

( do try to find some info/price/names before you go to a shop. Far too much is on offer and it is very difficult to choose. Take a CD with you, with music you know well - go for a certain price range and compare. )

[andy]

    The best pc speakers I've heard in the store were the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's. They're pretty cheap these days.

I second this suggestion. My roommate had a pair of these and they are definitely the best computer speaker I've heard, so long as you don't crank up the subwoofer to max like most people.

Also, it would really help to know you budget. If you want truly high end, you're going to have to spend a lot... but a really nice sounding system can be had for around $1,000, but sounds like you don't want to spend that much. Upgrading from mp3s to a CD player would help quite a bit too, the old adage 'garbage in, garbage out' is valid in the audio world.