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Bookshelf Speakers for Pc use?

slyr114

Member
I have obtained an older Technics SA-EX140 receiver and have hooked my pc into it. Right now i am using some of my older Sharp bookshelf speakers and i was just wondering if it would be worth purchasing some new speakers to replace these or if this whole setup is not even worth it? Is this generally a normal thing to do? the speakers are from this set http://wize.com/home-theater-systems/p423151-sharp-ht-dd5000-theater-system and are only rated at 40w... but they dont sound all that bad. would purchasing something like this work(sound) fine(better) ? http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-B1000-8-Inch-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B000OG88KY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325219639&sr=8-1
 
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I think anything that will fit the space you have for speakers would be at least a bit better than what you are using.

The sony's you have listed get decent reviews. For the cost they would be ok. The pioneer sp-bs41-lr's would be better judging by the buzz on the interent, but they are more expensive.
 
ya thats what i thought, i mean these dont sound baaad but i can only imagine how much better some better speakers would sound, thanks most likely i will get the sonys just to hold me over til i get some more cash for the pioneers... also those pioneers are 6 ohms would my receiver be ok for that?
 
I think it should be fine. 6 ohms isn't too hard of a load to drive. I know my cerwin vega speakers are pretty efficient but they are 4 ohm. I have been driving them since pretty much new with a harman kardon avr 40.
 
Hey Now,

I can recommend the Pioneer SP-BS41-LRs for nearfield use with your PC. I just got a pair from an X-mas sale for less than 100 bucks. They replaced a pair of PSB Alpha Mites, which aren't too shabby. Good extended well defined highs and surprisingly good bass for an inexpensive speaker. Finish is pretty pedestrian, but for the price, it is alright.

I run then SP-BS41-LRs like this:
iMac > USB cable > M2Tech Hiface > dual male coax adapter > Audio-gd Ref5 DAC > Marantz 2275.

I like the sound. Good imaging, nice highs, not fatiguing, solid bass for the nearfield environment. Good luck on your search for a pair of new speakers.

--
Finest kind,
Chris
 
where did you get them for that price? id pick em up right now if i could get them for around 100 bucks, they are 180 on amazon right now sadly :(
 
These Mirage OMD5s are the best sounding desktop speakers Ive had so far. They are excellent at presenting a very wide/deep soundstage even in a very close nearfield listening setup. I first ran across them in this review http://audiophilereview.com/afforda...r-the-best-150-desktop-speaker-ever-made.html. Fit and finish is first rate and when used with a sub Ive never heard better. I run my Desktop and speakers off a Mitsubishi Compact separates system (circa 1978) at 70W
 
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where did you get them for that price? id pick em up right now if i could get them for around 100 bucks, they are 180 on amazon right now sadly :(

Hey Now,

They were on woot.com for $94.99 shipped to me. If they did it once, they might do it again. Keep on the look out for them. I posted over on Head-Fi deal's thread the day they went up on Woot.

--
Finest kind,
Chris
 
i have my sound card connected to an 80s marantz receiver (didn't know what else to do with it), powering a pair of advent/3. sounds ok to me. i don't really use it much for music, though. the occasional CD when ripping or watching youtube videos...
 
My office setup at work is a pair of audio pro allroom sats and a KLH bassbite II subwoofer powered by a mid 90's yamaha receiver. I absolutely love it. Best desktop computer audio I have heard. :music:
 
Looks like a nice little set up there. As far as grills its mostly personal preference. Most speaker grills are designed to not mess with the sound coming out at all. There are some speakers that are meant to have them left on though if thats how they were designed.

If you didn't notice a difference in sound i would say they are fine either way. I leave mine on as i have dogs and cats and it adds a bit of protection. I would rather replace grill cloth instead of drivers.
 
For others thinking about the same question with their pc:
There is nothing wrong with the output from the pc. Get an old receiver and an rca to headphone jack and a pair of real speakers (small bookshelf pioneer cs-51 are super) and listen to music the way it was meant to be heard.
 
I found the digital Toslink output substantially cleaner than the analog out from my PC. I use a Harman Kardon AVR 330 as my DAC and preamp, and that is much cleaner than using the analog out through the 3.5mm to stereo RCA, at least in my case, and I'm an avid counter to audio "voodoo".
 
I have my PC connected to a Pioneer SX-203 receiver driving a pair of vintage Sansui SP-10 speakers. I will never go back to computer speakers!
 
I've got my work PC hooked up to the aux input of a marantz 2230, driving some Acoustic Research Holographic Imaging M5's

if you don't mind used, watch thrift shops, craigslist, etc, for some older advents, small AR's (AR18,18s,18B, the TSW line), or small polks (monitor 5jr, S4, S6)
 
I'd say any upgrade will depend on what your current sound card is. I'm not sure what you're using now, but if it's something like a standard Soundblaster or onboard sound, it would probably be a good idea to start from there and get a better idea of where your current speakers might be lacking.

I'm personally more inclined toward recording interfaces, particularly those from Echo and RME, but stuff like the Asus Xonar series and Creative X-Fi Titanium HD are pretty well-regarded, too.
 
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