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Audio noob needs advice

A

Ahriman4891

Gawd
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
534
OK, I finally decided to treat myself with a nice audio setup. I am in college, and there is not much space, so 5.1 sets are out of the question. I am coming off onboard sound and 7-yr old no-name speakers. Also, I run Linux 95% of the time. So my questions would be:

1) Which sound card would have least problems under Linux?

2) I am thinking of getting Swans M-200. I know there is no sub, but from the reviews, they seem to go down to 35 Hz--I doubt Promedia 2.1, AL 5021 or Logitech Z-2300 will do much better, plus, I don't care about bass THAT much. Also, that's 1 piece of equipment less. Also, their FRC is *NICE* :) But I am open to suggestions.

As you probably guessed, my speaker budget is <$200, and I would really like to get a soundcard for under $100, and, of course, the cheaper the better. But I am willing to spend $180 on Swans as opposed to $140 on Klipsch, if the SQ diff. on a sub-$100 soundcard is noticeable enough. I appreciate your help, guys :)

P.S.
Should I ask my first question in the Linux forum maybe? But I figured this would be the place to start.

P.P.S.
I thought about headphones, too. They will come later ;) but I still want nice speakers.
 
M-200 will EMIT 35Hz, yes, but the frequency response doesn't go NEARLY that far. Frequency response is determined at -3dB points.

I know Linux has drivers for Via Envy24, but I don't know how well they work.
 
dandragonrage said:
M-200 will EMIT 35Hz, yes, but the frequency response doesn't go NEARLY that far. Frequency response is determined at -3dB points.
Click to expand...


Yes I know :) The 55 Hz point is @ -10dB or so, and 35 is @ -15. I do not expect thundering 35 Hz tunes; what I mean is I don't think any of the 2.1 systems will be that much better. (On a side note, aren't subs usu. calibrated to be 10 dB below the sats? So the 55 Hz point is not too bad?) I should have been more clear :eek: Thanks!
 
If 55Hz is the -10dB point, then those speakers are what I would consider terrible. FR is -3dB, not -10dB. Sub/sat sets are calibrated to strike a balance between fairly flat FR and low crossover cost.

They won't come anywhere NEAR a sat/sub setup.
 
dandragonrage:

I really appreciate your replies. You made me think really hard about that purchase... As I said, I don't really care about lots of bass, but at the same time I want the speakers to be adequate.

Just in case:

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/cgi-bin/theaudioinsider/SWM200.html?id=T3QqELuH

The FRC is under "performance" tab. Upon closer evaluation, it looks like pretty much everything from 55/60 to 20KHz is within 6dB of each other and within 3dB of the baseline (which is @ around 87 db). In my previous post, I counted from the highest point on the graph :eek: and was sloppy, too. (told u I am a noob at this). So it seems their claims @ 55 Hz are not totally unfounded?

Any word from the people who heard the Swans compared to Promedias, Z2300, AL 5021? What were your impressions? And what were your sources? I realize that multimedia speakers will not give me live symphonic quality sound, I just want something under $200, with good price/performance ratio, good looking, and with no hiss.

Now, Altec Lansing 5021 speakers seem to suffer from hiss at very low volumes. Also, while I really like the remote the Altecs have (I was going to get them at first), the volume control is digital, and the "steps", from what I heard, are very large. Promedias seem to be very unreliable. Logitechs have lots of punch for games/movies/rap, but they won't be getting much of that. I mostly listen to classic rock/metal, sympho/progressive metal, and occasionally throw instrumental or someone like Bocelli in the mix. Not too much of really heavy stuff, and pretty much no rap/hip-hop at all. Games and movies together will prob. take 5-10% of speakers' worktime. Waiting for more advice :)
 
I wouldn't call any AL speakers high quality.

Yeah, I'd say that's somewhere in the 60Hz area, which is well within the range that 5" drivers do. I really do think they'd need a sub, though. Can you go for like Dayton BR-1s instead? Those are quite usable without a sub and they're pretty compact (bigger than the M-200, but should fit on your desk if the M-200s do). Just note that if you get the BR-1s and you have a CRT monitor, you'll need the shielded version. You'll need an amp, but a Sonic T-amp will do, considering that you can't crank them too much in the dorm anyway. There are other threads about this combo.
 
Hmm...

The Sonic-T amp does not seem to provide very good value--Parts express lists it for $30, but then I need an AC adapter which runs for another $20 (in the "related items" section). So I have $50 spent on an amp of questionable quality (I read some reviews, and they were not too flattering). I think I'd rather get a refurb Onkyo or HK for $80-100 and have a real stereo amp, with source switching (which I can utilize)... but those are big and heavy. I have to think about whether I want that in my dorm room.

These decisions are tougher than I thought. :D

Are there any active near-field speakers/monitors with decent specs for <$200? Any recommentations?

P.S.
I guess I can go over the budget, too. I can spend $300 or so, but only if the item provides REALLY good value :)
 
Well, let me ask you this. How do typical stock front speakers in most cars sound to you? Enough bass? If so, the M-200s might be fine. (compare amount of bass only, not the quality from them!)

Otherwise, I'd suggest either getting them and a sub (even if it's 6.5"), a kit with a sub (Logitech, etc), or getting the BR-1s and a receiver - you can try a Panasonic XR55/XR70 for something slimmer than an Onkyo/HK (unless you got an HK DPR series, but those are a lot more expensive)
 
You almost convinced me to go the BR-1 + receiver way. :D

Onkyo 8011 costs $90 + $17SH in JandR, refurbed.

CircuitCity has it for 130 new, free shipping.

I am still thinking :D

Any comments on the receiver?
 
I heard they (Onkyo) are very honest about their ratings, which is great by me as I am not into the Watt-measuring contests.
Just a question: Do you have the BR-1s? Or have you heard them live? How are they for near-field listening? Remember, I am in a dorm room, and cannot sit 3' away from them, it's more like 1.5'. Do they have to be a certain distance from a wall? (e.g. it's recommended to place Swans at least 6" from a wall, it just occurred to me that I would have to move the table some).

<edited for spelling and clarity>
 
I do not have the BR-1s. Actually, I'm in the process of designing/building my own speakers using an Adire Audio Extremis, a CSS WR-125s, and a Vifa XT-19 (which, unfortunately, is a little bright, but hopefully I can make it a little better in my crossover)

This does raise a point in that the BR-1s are indeed rear vented so you can't put them right at the wall, but you don't need that much room behind them... I'd say 4" would be fine, or even less if they're not parallel with the wall.
 
Ahriman4891 said:
OK, I finally decided to treat myself with a nice audio setup. I am in college, and there is not much space, so 5.1 sets are out of the question. I am coming off onboard sound and 7-yr old no-name speakers. Also, I run Linux 95% of the time. So my questions would be:

1) Which sound card would have least problems under Linux?

2) I am thinking of getting Swans M-200. I know there is no sub, but from the reviews, they seem to go down to 35 Hz--I doubt Promedia 2.1, AL 5021 or Logitech Z-2300 will do much better, plus, I don't care about bass THAT much. Also, that's 1 piece of equipment less. Also, their FRC is *NICE* :) But I am open to suggestions.

As you probably guessed, my speaker budget is <$200, and I would really like to get a soundcard for under $100, and, of course, the cheaper the better. But I am willing to spend $180 on Swans as opposed to $140 on Klipsch, if the SQ diff. on a sub-$100 soundcard is noticeable enough. I appreciate your help, guys :)

P.S.
Should I ask my first question in the Linux forum maybe? But I figured this would be the place to start.

P.P.S.
I thought about headphones, too. They will come later ;) but I still want nice speakers.
Click to expand...

Ok, Linux and sound cards....

Supported Cards and Info Here

Has far as speakers - I really could tell ya get this or get that - but speakers are a personal sound choice... but I will say this the 3 spkr system I currently have HAS no headphone jack...
 
Ahriman4891 said:
1) Which sound card would have least problems under Linux?
Click to expand...
My AV-710 works just fine with stock alsa, with alsa-latest and with alsa-cvs. Set up dmix and rejoice.

 
Well, guys, thanks a lot for your input.

I gave it some thought. Since I am looking at spending more than originally planned, and I don't want to mess with soldering here in college, I will probably postpone the purchase till x-mas break. I may as well do the Dennis Murphy crossover mod in that case. Plus, I plan on getting a laptop. Depending on how that goes this semester, I will see what I can spend on speakers.

If there are any other suggestions, please keep them coming.

P.S.
Just for kicks, here are the specs of my current Nicole SoundDigit 202 speakers:
Type: 1-way
Driver: *FULL RANGE* 3" :eek:
Impedance: 4 Ohm
Frequency responce: 50 Hz - 20KHz (Do I even need the Dayton BR-1s? :D )
THD @ 1KHz: under 0.5%

I am not lying, that's what the sticker on the back says :D

Well, again, thanks for the help. Especially dandragonrage :)
 
Ahriman4891 said:
2) I am thinking of getting Swans M-200. I know there is no sub, but from the reviews, they seem to go down to 35 Hz--I doubt Promedia 2.1, AL 5021 or Logitech Z-2300 will do much better, plus, I don't care about bass THAT much. Also, that's 1 piece of equipment less. Also, their FRC is *NICE* :) But I am open to suggestions.
Click to expand...


Do you know where you can buy the Swans M-200 from? I've been looking lately but I haven't found anywhere that still sell them. Thanks and sorry for the (kinda) OT question.

-fool
 
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