Corsair SP2500's died; now what?

Bun-Bun

Gawd
Joined
Sep 11, 2003
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They were working fine saturday. Got to work today and found them off which was strange as I don't remember turning them off saturday. Turned them on, control pad powered up and and works fine but nothing from the speakers or sub. Not even a hiss or puff. Dead silence.

Opened them up and found nothing glaringly wrong with them. So...

Order another set of SP2500's or something else? I really like this set, the sub is the best thing I have heard in this price range. I of course dislike the 150hz hole that everyone knows about but it isn't a deal breaker for a set of office speakers.

I have seen Swan M50W mentioned a few places. Look good. But anywhere that ships them to Canada with a good return policy?

Budget $200-$400 though I really want to stay on the low end of that.

Not against buying separates. But I am limited on size. I wouldn't want anything much bigger than the corsair's.

tmUcikT.jpg


That is a Audinst HUD-MX2 dac that will be driving whatever I get.
 
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I have a set of the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's. I like the SP2500 sub a lot more.

And that set is dead as well... stupid cheap electronics.
 
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Not to harp but corsairs reliability is really shitty. I don't think I own one product from them that hasn't been rma'd yet.

If I was you I'd go with some swan m50s.
 
Corsair doesn't make anything. They use good OEM's for a lot of their PSU's. I haven't had any issues with any of their Seasonic based PSU's.

This is the third set of "computer" speakers to die on me. Klipsch promedia 5.1 (which were repaired on warranty), Klispch promedia 2.1, and now these Corsairs.

I like the look of the Swan's but I hate buying speakers without being able to test them first or return them easily. audio insider is $400 to get them here and then if I wanted to ship them back...

I am leaning towards separates right now.

Thinking NHT SuperZero 2.1 (or audioengine p4 if I can get them to Canada without spending a fortune)

A T amp

Dayton SUB-800 or SUB-1200

EDIT:

Found avshop.ca that carries Audioengine. Can get the Audioengine P4 speakers and N22 Desktop amp for $500 shipped.
 
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Yeah. It's a pity Swan speakers are so difficult (depending on your local) to come by these days, I've heard nothing but good things about the M50W.
 
So I tried moving my desk around and pretending I had the P4's.

I think even those would be too big.

So now I am thinking about getting the Audioengine A2's and building a class D 120watt amp to put in the corsair sub and using the sub with the A2's!
 
If you're spending that much, I'd look into the KRK Rokit 5 G3 as well; however, they're marginally higher in price and a bit larger (not as big as the P4 though).
 
so 1st off these suggestions are for used / vintage speakers but realistic made /sold a ton of speakers that are pretty good sounding and are rather small indeed.

you can find either of these on the auction site (mine both where local finds $10pr (ea) )

blah blah some of the smallest speakers I have seen that I can listen to without wanting to smash said small speakers)

Optimus Pro X5


(shown next to rather small NHT SuperZero speakers) and also in pic my Monitor Audio Silver S1's which dwarf the NHT's)


then also these are Optimus Pro-X44AV's (basically the same a Minimus 7's but shielded and ported in back... Minimus 7s are much more common and can be found pretty much always on the auction site.




but the minimus / optimus range can be most excellent for computer speakers usage do to good sound quality and smallish size.
 
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The only other smallish quality monitors I can think of in the same price range (they're marginally more, but with 5 year warranty) as A2+' is the Psb Alpha PS1. Just a smidge larger.
 
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Hmm those PSB seem to be hard to get in Canada. Crutchfield has them but $400 plus shipping.

Wonder which would be better the PSB Alpha PS1 or Audioengine P4 and a amp?
 
If your budget is $400, I personally think you're looking at the wrong type of speakers.

I would start looking at active ( powered ) studio monitors. The KRK ROKIT 6 G3's are new, highly reviewed. It also always you to come back later with more money and add a matching KRK 10S sub.

I even think you can get new open boxed B stock, blemish free 8" for even $400. Call them up. Musicians friend, Sweet Water, Guitar Center. They are not allowed to advertise new stock lower than the suggested manufactures price, so they often time open the top of these boxes, never touching the speakers and sell them as B-Stock. I am not even kidding you. Ask around.

If you're savvy enough, you can start combing craigslist and pickup used KRK speakers on the cheap.

I have roughly $500 invested in a pair of KRK Rokit 8's G2 and a KRK 10S sub. I can promise you my setup along with very high quality flacs ... would stand toe to toe with $10,000 speakers and all for $500 something odd dollars.

$400 is a lot ... aim a litter higher, I think you can do something really good for yourself
 
Well if you want something small but crystal clear with a nice sub, you really should consider these paradigm millenia ct's

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA382VC/A/paradigm-millenia-ct-speaker-system

Yeah I know it's an overpriced apple link but check em out. My local paradigm dealer when I was buying mine in 2011 were selling those things left and right at $475 a set. They are worth consideration if you want small speakers without sacraficing anything.

Otherwise, I'd consider some nice powered near field monitors like krk , jbl , etc
 
My budget for the speakers is ~$250 stretching to $300 tops.

Problem with most active speakers is they are too big for my desk. The size of the Audioengine P4's is perfect (5.5"Wx6.5"Dx9"H), I wouldn't want to go much bigger than that. Also I like the idea of a separate amp as then when it blows I don't have to try and find new speakers again.

All of those sites either don't ship to Canada or are way to high in shipping. I went to long&mcquade locally and they had nothing small enough. I have been checking my local craiglist and kijiji and there is nothing on there other than some low end polk's and energy speakers (that are WAY too big).

I stopped at visions and picked up a pair of Mirage Omni 150's for $270 to try out. These are interesting speakers. Surprising amount of bass, im sitting here listening to Daft Punk and Pendulum without a sub hooked up and not missing. Ok I miss the sub and will hook it back up here shortly but im impressed. And the soundstage is incredible. Something about the mid's is a bit off though. Sounds kinda hollow. But after listening to these for awhile I really start to like it. Then I switch to my paradigm atom's and they sound ridiculously bright. But then my ears adjust to those again. Atoms are clearer on the top end with less low end but soundstage is much narrower. These Omni-150's appear to be not as efficient as rated. I have to turn them up 7db to level match with the rest of my system compared to my paradigms.

But the Mirage are big, I don't know if they will fit. I'm hoping with their weird shape that they will but I might end up taking them back based on that.

I also stopped at Krazy Kiley's and ordered some Klipsch RB-41 speakers for $250. I like Klipsch towers, we'll see how they are in near field.

But now I need a amp for at work.

Oh and the NHT Absolute Zero's look like they would be perfect for me. 5.25" woofer in a smaller package. Only a little bigger than the audioengine P4's. Expensive though. Found one pair on ebay but would be $400 after shipping and exchange.

Still thinking maybe I should just build some speakers.
 
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Well if you want something small but crystal clear with a nice sub, you really should consider these paradigm millenia ct's

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA382VC/A/paradigm-millenia-ct-speaker-system

Yeah I know it's an overpriced apple link but check em out. My local paradigm dealer when I was buying mine in 2011 were selling those things left and right at $475 a set. They are worth consideration if you want small speakers without sacraficing anything.

Otherwise, I'd consider some nice powered near field monitors like krk , jbl , etc

I've seen those. Never heard them in person. Wonder what my dealer would do on them for me.
 
Well if you want something small but crystal clear with a nice sub, you really should consider these paradigm millenia ct's

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA382VC/A/paradigm-millenia-ct-speaker-system

Yeah I know it's an overpriced apple link but check em out. My local paradigm dealer when I was buying mine in 2011 were selling those things left and right at $475 a set. They are worth consideration if you want small speakers without sacraficing anything.

Otherwise, I'd consider some nice powered near field monitors like krk , jbl , etc

Yeah, I was gonna recommend those too, but I was wary because of his budget.

Highly rated/recommended set, if you're willing to put down the dough.
 
Why not buy a 2.1 amp and wire all your speakers as passives to it? I have seen a few amps that are 2.1 Parts express and madisound have 2.1 plate amps and there are many 2.1 t amps. You will need a pair of crossovers as well due to the speakers being bi amped.
 
Why not buy a 2.1 amp and wire all your speakers as passives to it? I have seen a few amps that are 2.1 Parts express and madisound have 2.1 plate amps and there are many 2.1 t amps.

Cause I want better speakers now lol

I have been thinking of doing that with the sub though. Get a 120w class D amp just for the sub and continue using the sub from the set.

I can get this locally to power some passive speakers.

http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=141&productId=22599&sku=TX8020
 
Perhaps it was just the set i was listening to but the sp2500's sub wasn't very good. The woofer seemed to bottom out before it could get very low. But as i said that could have been the particular set i was listening to.

That little onkyo shoud be good and paired with a subwoofer amp to power the sub. That just leaves the speakers. You could go the DIY route.
 
From my experience it didn't go extremely low. But it got down to 40hz well and trailed off gracefully. No weird port noise and the bass sounds deep and clean. Worth buying the set just for that? No. But I already have it so modding an amp into the box shouldn't be that hard.
 
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What you need to do is get a Dayton 1000 watt plate amp and replace the woofer with a sundown sa-8... :D
 
The Mirage set up.

Got a Onkyo receiver. They didn't have the one I linked earlier in stock. This one can't drive these speakers as nice as I would like. I am taking it back.

cofgqvt.jpg
 
Mirage are nice if you can find em. Love the OMD5s as bookshelves.

Look above, I did find some and they are on my desk.

I just missed a local deal on a Harmon/Kardon Hk3375 For $160. So mad at myself.

Everything else I look at with a decent amp is a lot more money. That onkyo I got (60wpc) is not driving these mirage very nicely. It's going back.

Next closest I can find is http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...el-receiver-vsx-523-k-vsx-523-k/10241688.aspx but I question the amp quality of these cheap AVR's
 
So I went shopping today.

futurshop had the Pioneer I linked earlier as a opened box and I talked them down to $200 taxes in. Pioneer VSX-523.

Then went to Krazy Kiley's and there was a display model Denon AVR-1613 That I got for $275 taxes in.

mNkmjZR.jpg


Let the battle begin!
 
I think I am keeping the Denon. Buddy needs a receiver for some old missions, think im going to sell him the Pioneer since I got such a good deal.

Tried contacting Rythmik about making a 8" bandpass sub but they don't recommend their 8" driver in vented enclosures. So on the hunt now for sub woofer and amp, then to design and build a bandpass box.
 
I think I am keeping the Denon. Buddy needs a receiver for some old missions, think im going to sell him the Pioneer since I got such a good deal.

Tried contacting Rythmik about making a 8" bandpass sub but they don't recommend their 8" driver in vented enclosures. So on the hunt now for sub woofer and amp, then to design and build a bandpass box.

Car audio is where its at. What are your goals for the subwoofer? 8" bandpass? What syle bandpass? Im assuming 4th order like the corsair.
 
Need to do more research but yeah thinking same as the corsair box.

What about amps? Car audio amps need 12-16v supply. Guess I could hack up a PSU.

Oh and im not new to sub box design/building. Here is my second build http://bun-bun.livejournal.com/pics/catalog/8006

216708_1000.jpg


That's in the trunk of my 2007 grand marquis.
 
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Thats a pretty nice box. Specs? Well plate amps come in flavors from 25 watts to 1000 on parts express and no need to hack up a power supply.
 
Can't remember exactly. I think ~7 cu.ft. tuned to 34hz. 4 Memphis Audio PR 10" Sub's powered by a Memphis 1000D (~1300wrms@1ohm).
 
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