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This is my new studio monitor setup. I got tired of pc speakers and wanted more of a budget audiophile solution. The few main reasons I chose studio monitors instead of bookshelf/receiver speakers is because SM's in general are far more neutral sounding and designed specifically for near-field use(most of them). Bookshelf/receiver route is geared more towards far field listening. I could never get any bookshelf to sound right, and I went through like 5 brands all with mediocre results. Another reason IMO that I think SM's are better is because most SM's are self bi-amped with decent amplifiers and it makes the overall footprint much smaller. And the final reason is because they are built like tanks!!! They have virtually no cabinet resonance and are built really well, but at the same time are also quite heavy.
Anyway, here is the equipment list:
Front Mains: Alesis active m1 520 - I paid ~185 shipped for these new. 75w rms bi-amped, 5" woofer, 3/4" tweeter, plays down to 56hz. Pretty average as far as studio monitor standards, but pretty crazy in pc standards
Soundcard: Asus Xonar Dg - Great for the price, got it for $27 shipped. Best part about this is the bass management. I got it to give a .1 signal to the sub in 2 channel mode. The sub I use has a direct/unfiltered line in that I can now control directly from the Asus software and control the crossover from 50-250 in 1hz increments as well as the sub volume. I set the crossover to 60hz.
Subwoofer: Energy 8" ES-8 100w RMS. I picked up locally for $65 used. -3db point is 29hz, great for a pc setup.
I altered those omnimount speaker stands, they provide a 7" lift to put the tweeters of the monitors at ear level. Great improvement in soundstage!
I bought a set of XLR to 3.5mm 10ft cable for i think $13 shipped and hooked it up directly to the green port of the dg, and ran a 3.5mm to dual rca and plugged one of them to the back of the sub into the unfiltered rca input.
Overall I'm very happy with the outcome. The whole thing minus the stands cost me ~$290.
I have been only listening to flac files since setting these up.
Anyway, here is the equipment list:
Front Mains: Alesis active m1 520 - I paid ~185 shipped for these new. 75w rms bi-amped, 5" woofer, 3/4" tweeter, plays down to 56hz. Pretty average as far as studio monitor standards, but pretty crazy in pc standards
Soundcard: Asus Xonar Dg - Great for the price, got it for $27 shipped. Best part about this is the bass management. I got it to give a .1 signal to the sub in 2 channel mode
. The sub I use has a direct/unfiltered line in that I can now control directly from the Asus software and control the crossover from 50-250 in 1hz increments as well as the sub volume. I set the crossover to 60hz. Subwoofer: Energy 8" ES-8 100w RMS. I picked up locally for $65 used. -3db point is 29hz, great for a pc setup
. I altered those omnimount speaker stands, they provide a 7" lift to put the tweeters of the monitors at ear level. Great improvement in soundstage!
I bought a set of XLR to 3.5mm 10ft cable for i think $13 shipped and hooked it up directly to the green port of the dg, and ran a 3.5mm to dual rca and plugged one of them to the back of the sub into the unfiltered rca input.
Overall I'm very happy with the outcome. The whole thing minus the stands cost me ~$290.
I have been only listening to flac files since setting these up
.
