M-Audio AV20 / small speakers setup

[addp009]

I need to find a pair of speakers that is of decent quality. The only requirement is that they need to be small. After 2x24inch monitors, I don't have much desk space left. I'm thinking of spending about $100 up to $200. A sub isn't really necessary, but I wouldn't mind one.

I'm thinking of a M-Audio AV20, mostly because of the size. And you guys here said good things about the AV40 but it's kinda to big for my desk. So I'm wondering if the AV20 would be any good.

Another possibility is Augioengine 2's. I would love to have these, but it is a bit pricier...


Also, what sound card would be good to drive the speakers? I suppose I can spend about 100 bucks on one.

 

[criccio]

Audioengine A2's + M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

I guess you could get the AV20's, but I don't think speakers that small are going to benefit at all from a decent sound card. They just can't reproduce sound accurately enough to make it worthwhile.

This is completely my opinion, but If quality sound was at all important to me, I wouldn't let something trivial like desk space get in the way....

Speaker stands.

 

[defaultluser]

Yeah, skip the AV 20s. The problem with the 20s are they are TOO small - they make due with a tiny 2" woofer just to make the speakers smaller. But a 2" woofer can't reproduce midrange, let-alone low-end.

The A2s are much closer to ideal - there's some sacrifice, but the 2.75" woofer should be able to do decent midrange, and the cabinet is large enough to give you some low-end.

But I agree with criccio, you're going to be sacrificing sound quality if you insist on such a small package. Your best bet for absolute ideal sound quality in a relatively small package would still be the M-AUDIO AV 40 system. You can't get around the physics - you need a large woofer for midrange, and you absolutely need a large cabinet to get some of the low-end response.

 

[Impulse]

You can knock off 10-15% off the A2's price with certain codes floating about the net, just Google 'em, I'm sure they're not hard to find. As others said, if you really must go that small.

 

[yujie]

I have the AV30 not bad for its size and much better than the logitech desktop speakers I have before.

 

[addp009]

Okay you guys convinced me on the AV 40. At 6inch wide,I have centimeters to spare. I suppose that's okay.

Just wondering if there are any monitors comparable to the AV40? Or maybe even one with a usb interface or spdif interface?

 

[criccio]

Okay you guys convinced me on the AV 40. At 6inch wide,I have centimeters to spare. I suppose that's okay.

Just wondering if there are any monitors comparable to the AV40? Or maybe even one with a usb interface or spdif interface?

You want something with a built in DAC, that would eliminate the need to a soundcard. The Behringer MS40's have a built in 24-bit/192 kHz DAC and will except a S/PDIF signal directly.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS40

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/MS40.aspx

 

[defaultluser]

You want something with a built in DAC, that would eliminate the need to a soundcard. The Behringer MS40's have a built in 24-bit/192 kHz DAC and will except a S/PDIF signal directly.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS40

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/MS40.aspx

A nice suggestion. My only concern is he might not have the extra space required for these (much larger) speakers, as he was stretching things with the AV 40s. addp009, you'd better check the dimensions before you jump in.

AV 40:
8.75" (H) x 6" (W) x 7.25" (D)

MS 40:
11" (H) x 6 4/5" (W) x 9 5/8" (D)

But if it fits your desk, yeah, you should consider those Behringers.

 

[addp009]

You want something with a built in DAC, that would eliminate the need to a soundcard. The Behringer MS40's have a built in 24-bit/192 kHz DAC and will except a S/PDIF signal directly.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS40

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/MS40.aspx

Thanks for the reply, criccio.
Well, I'd still need a sound card that can output toslink or coaxial out, but I can go for a cheap one (maybe even onboard if it has such outputs).

Between the Behringer and M-Audio 40, would one is more accurate?

 

[st4rk]

I have AV-40's connected to an X-Fi, and I think they are pretty darn small. They sound great too, definitely worth the money. Leaps and bounds greater than that Logitech/Klipsch garbage.

 

[addp009]

What would be a better choice between the Behringer MS40 and the M audio AV40 in terms of sound quality?

 

[jhstuckey]

deleted

 

[criccio]

Well the Audiophile 2496 (a great entry level quality music sound card) is $100. Add to it any number of <$200 active monitor speakers and you have a great 2.0 desktop music setup.

Audioengine A2: $200
M-Audio AV30: $100
M-Audio AV40: $150
Swan D1080MKII: $125
Swan M200MKII: $190 <---- best value for your money, ask me how I know.
Alesis M1 520: $200
Alesis M1 320: $100
JBL Control 2P: $200
Samson MediaOne 3A: $100
Edirol MA-7A BK: $100
Edirol MA-15D BK: $190
Wharfedale DP8.1A: $130
Wharfedale DP8.2A: $150
Behringer MS40: $140 <--- built-in DAC
Tascam VLA4: $150


The list can go on forever. There are so many good quality speakers for computers out there, its a shame that marketing is pushing the plastic crap that Klipsch, Creative and Logicrap sell.

 

[addp009]

Well the Audiophile 2496 (a great entry level quality music sound card) is $100. Add to it any number of <$200 active monitor speakers and you have a great 2.0 desktop music setup.

Audioengine A2: $200
M-Audio AV30: $100
M-Audio AV40: $150
Swan D1080MKII: $125
Swan M200MKII: $190 <---- best value for your money, ask me how I know.
Alesis M1 520: $200
Alesis M1 320: $100
JBL Control 2P: $200
Samson MediaOne 3A: $100
Edirol MA-7A BK: $100
Edirol MA-15D BK: $190
Wharfedale DP8.1A: $130
Wharfedale DP8.2A: $150
Behringer MS40: $140 <--- built-in DAC
Tascam VLA4: $150


The list can go on forever. There are so many good quality speakers for computers out there, its a shame that marketing is pushing the plastic crap that Klipsch, Creative and Logicrap sell.

Thanks for the list! As far as I concern, I think I can row a dice on any of them.

Recently set up a computer in my room and found these Creative Soundworks 4.1 systems laying around. I've been bitching about the sound quality every time I play any music. Muddy bass, highs are distorted, I can't stand them any more.

 

[Impulse]

Samson StudioDock 3i have a built in DAC and USB interface if you really need that feature, couldn't tell you how they sound using that as I've never tried it though, but they're comparable to the AV40 otherwise (slightly better overall imo). They sell for something like $125 at Best Buy too, which is almost comical considering how much better they sound than any of the other $150-300 iPod dock systems they sell (and the SD 3i even have an iPod dock to boot, FWIW).