Computer Speakers VS Stereo Speakers

[xternal]

Well I got sick of my computer speakers not being loud enough so I bought a cord from radio shack and hooked my computer up to my stereo system. So instead of 2 altec lansing speaking and a dinky sub, Its blastin on two 12" floor home speakers and a boss sub. SOOOO much louder

As for quality I really dont know because I didnt compare the 2.

Has anyone compared the quality of the two?

 

[Laforge]

First off [and if you read my posts in this forum, you'll understand how odd it is for me, of all people, to say this, but...]

volume != quality

However. - Your dinky little altec lansings probably produce better quality at the same decibel level. - I.e. at 50 decibels [which may be "7" on your volume knob] you will get better quality sound than 50 decibels [which may be "2" on your volume knob] on your "big ass speakers"

Now.. if your "big ass speakers" are some really nice brand, say B.A., B&O, etc.. -- Then the reverse is probably true.

Keep in mind, it's, a lot of the time, a placebo effect. You expect the newer solution to be better, so, it *is* better..

But bring a friend in "blindfolded" and say "which sounds better" while producing the same "quantity" of sound, and he may have a different opinion.

There are actual sound quality monitors that you can get, but.. they aren't really needed unless you wish to be working in some sort of professional capacity.

Listen to the SAME song, at the same QUANTITY of volume [what I use is "blackened" sorrow" by metallica. - I adjust my speakers so that at the 5.0 second mark, I can "just start to hear" the sound that's coming in, louder and louder. That's how I know my speakers are at the same "volume" - Rough test, I know.. but it works for me. Keep in mind, that the 5 second mark "just loud enough to be audible" and the actual song volume are about a 500% difference. This is how I found out the "center" halfway point on my yamaha receiver was "-16 dB" and not, as I thought, "-30 dB"

 

[Newbify2]

Yes, pretty exciting that you can hook a sound card up to a receiver and produce sound out of "real" speakers

 

[Pinipig523]

Well, considering I dont know what kind of speakers you have (your larger ones)... it would be kind of hard to tell which is better. Of course, your floor speakers can play a lot louder, but louder does not mean better.

"Has anyone compared the two?"

Perhaps not yours, but I have compared mine. My current setup vs. my old Klipsch Promedia 4.1 and there is NO comparison. Of course, we are looking at a huge price difference, too. So there are always trade-offs.

 

[BO(V)BZ]

I'd say that I've done a bit of comparison with my system [in sig] vs a computer system [Klipsch 4.1]

...I'd definitely say that there's a weeee bit of improvement there

I'd be willing to guess that you're probably getting bette SQ from the floorstanders, unless they are a totally crap brand. By virtue of better cabinets, larger volume, and more woofer area, you'll be getting less distortion by having more piston area, so less cone movement. Also, your floorstanders have a dedicated tweeter, which many computer speakers lack.

Laforge: 50dB is really quiet. With my tube amp, the lowest SPL I can get with my kinda music is about 65-70 [it has a stepped attenuator, so I don't have infinite variability]. I'd say that listening at 75dB on both setups would be a good plan to determine differences. However, if he's interested in simply playing louder all the time, he might as well make the comparison at 85dB. Who cares if the Altecs sound better at lower volumes if they break up at the levels he wants to play?

 

[stunna]

I'd say that I've done a bit of comparison with my system [in sig] vs a computer system [Klipsch 4.1]

...I'd definitely say that there's a weeee bit of improvement there

I'd be willing to guess that you're probably getting bette SQ from the floorstanders, unless they are a totally crap brand. By virtue of better cabinets, larger volume, and more woofer area, you'll be getting less distortion by having more piston area, so less cone movement. Also, your floorstanders have a dedicated tweeter, which many computer speakers lack.

Laforge: 50dB is really quiet. With my tube amp, the lowest SPL I can get with my kinda music is about 65-70 [it has a stepped attenuator, so I don't have infinite variability]. I'd say that listening at 75dB on both setups would be a good plan to determine differences. However, if he's interested in simply playing louder all the time, he might as well make the comparison at 85dB. Who cares if the Altecs sound better at lower volumes if they break up at the levels he wants to play?

the less amount of cone movement = less distortion?

 

[Pinipig523]

Usually, with less movement, there is less distortion. The cone keeps its integrity better and, at the same time, will not alter the air within the cabinet as much.

 

[BO(V)BZ]

the less amount of cone movement = less distortion?

That was a fairly general statement, and I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I'd say yes. It's easier to move a weight a small distance than a large one, and that lack of control is what contributes to THD. Note that most of my knowledge on this subject is from subwoofers, but I don't see why that wouldn't carry over to midrange drivers at least.