HiFi Audio Setup Thread

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Any of you wise hifi guru's wanna help curate a speaker setup for my new desk, and pc?

PC Build:
MSI 4080 Trio
NZXY H9 Flow Case (BIG!)
i7 14700
Aorus FV43"

Budgeting ~$400
I'm open to a passive arrangement with a DAC/AMP. The desk is a 2" douglas fir, polished & planed, and fit into my lil desk nook. THe monitor eats up alot of the real estate, but the desk is deep, with a lil shelf I built behind it, with some black shiplap surround. Aesthetically, I'd prefer darker wood speakers.

Off the hop, my elementary hunt brought me across;
Kanto YU2
AudioEngine A5+
Edifer?

Appreciate the wisdom...

Here is what I would do



Speakers

https://www.acclaim-music.com/kali-a...-db-black.html

Wall mounts:

https://www.primecables.ca/p-370483-...bles#sku383238

[cam_wmh]

Appreciate the suggestion, as they seem the business. May I be so pedantic, that I don’t love the look of them?

Is there similar with a dark wood enclosure?

[calumniate]

I think most monitors are quite ugly!

Here's another option (Adam Audio).. you'd have to buy 2 so $400 as well:
https://www.long-mcquade.com/117213/...oaAlOQEALw_wcB

For wood grain you'd probably have to go with passive speakers, but would likely blow the $400 budget as anything wood grain around that price would be more or less a joke

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Appreciate the suggestion, as they seem the business. May I be so pedantic, that I don’t love the look of them?

Is there similar with a dark wood enclosure?

If you already have a receiver/amplifier, the passive Kef Q150 is a pretty good entry-level speaker (in the audiophile world) and is being cleared out at prices that haven't been seen in the post-COVID era.

https://ca.kef.com/products/q150-bookshelf-speaker

[cam_wmh]

Sweet, how about a DAC/AMP? I'm holding out hope DoubleF chimes in too, as his posts are usually quite in-depth and informative.

[calumniate]

Then you need to revisit your budget I think if you're talking DAC/AMP + speakers at $400 for anything pleasing

Welcome to the slidey ramp of audio!

[DownInFlames]

Edifier has nice looking speakers. I don't know if they sound good but they will fit your budget.

https://www.amazon.ca/Edifier-S1000M...%2C252&sr=8-12

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Any of you wise hifi guru's wanna help curate a speaker setup for my new desk, and pc?

PC Build:
MSI 4080 Trio
NZXY H9 Flow Case (BIG!)
i7 14700
Aorus FV43"

Budgeting ~$400
I'm open to a passive arrangement with a DAC/AMP. The desk is a 2" douglas fir, polished & planed, and fit into my lil desk nook. THe monitor eats up alot of the real estate, but the desk is deep, with a lil shelf I built behind it, with some black shiplap surround. Aesthetically, I'd prefer darker wood speakers.

Off the hop, my elementary hunt brought me across;
Kanto YU2
AudioEngine A5+
Edifer?

Appreciate the wisdom...

What sound outputs do you have on your PC sound card?
Which output are you intending for use for sound output? (ie: 3mm, optical, bluetooth, HDMI etc.)

What is your intended usage of the sound set up? (ie: Movies, gaming, music, various etc.)

I am assuming the speaker are not going to be shared with something else. So... seriously, what's your MAX sound budget for this PC?

Edit: and what sound quality are you aiming for?

Because there's a few primary constraints:

$400 budget I'm not sure you're going to get much better than headphones all in.

You'd have to double check the output power of the sound card for the PC. Depending on the situation, a DAC/AMP alone for analog/digital etc. stuff will eat up the $400 before you reach sound output (ie: Speakers, subwoofers, headphones etc.).

[Fuzz]

Get some vinyl wrap and make them whatever wood grain you want. Or a nice set of sundowner stripes.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

What sound outputs do you have on your PC sound card?

No soundcard.

MSI Z780 has; SPDIF, USB-C, Bluetooth, onboard Realtek ALC4080, and 5 - 3.5mm "HD" audio connections

Spoiler!

Which output are you intending for use for sound output? (ie: 3mm, optical, bluetooth, HDMI etc.)

Not sure, I can easily cable the speakers

What is your intended usage of the sound set up? (ie: Movies, gaming, music, various etc.)

Prioritizing quality of gaming experience. This lil office nook (5'x6'), is adjacent to a family room where I have a separate sound system.

I am assuming the speaker are not going to be shared with something else. So... seriously, what's your MAX sound budget for this PC?

Ideally, $400.

Edit: and what sound quality are you aiming for?

Above average in the least. It does not need to pound/be loud. It's a small space.

Because there's a few primary constraints:
$400 budget I'm not sure you're going to get much better than headphones all in.
You'd have to double check the output power of the sound card for the PC. Depending on the situation, a DAC/AMP alone for analog/digital etc. stuff will eat up the $400 before you reach sound output (ie: Speakers, subwoofers, headphones etc.).

I have a couple gaming headsets, and will explore headphones later on too. For now speakers are my aim.

[edslunch]

I have a very old, very beat up pair of Celestion Ditton LB12s that sound great. I’m looking for an amp to hook them up to my computer and mixing setup (not using them for mixing, just validation). Input will only ever be line in from an audio interface. Speakers are 8 ohm 70 w rated.

Can anyone suggest decent amps (ideally not receivers) that are generally available used?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

No soundcard.

MSI Z780 has; SPDIF, USB-C, Bluetooth, onboard Realtek ALC4080, and 5 - 3.5mm "HD" audio connections

Spoiler!

Not sure, I can easily cable the speakers


Prioritizing quality of gaming experience. This lil office nook (5'x6'), is adjacent to a family room where I have a separate sound system.


Ideally, $400.


Above average in the least. It does not need to pound/be loud. It's a small space.



I have a couple gaming headsets, and will explore headphones later on too. For now speakers are my aim.

$400 MAX. Gaming as priority. Speakers>Headphones... Hmm...

I'd probably suggest to investigate a sound bar with a 3.1 channel or higher via HDMI or optical output?

The centre channel will help greatly with the spatial sound or dialogue of gaming and movies and the built in sub is good too. It should be an easy all in one set up and all you need is HDMI or optical output to it (assuming no weird PC settings stuff). I think a 5.1 bar with 3D surround sound so you don't need speakers in the back to get the surround sound would be really good for what you want, but I doubt those drop down to $400 on Black Friday?

Bookshelf speakers I'd pursue if it's more for music. Similar price bookshelf vs sound bar, speakers size on bookshelf should be bigger than sound bar. It'll still be good sound for gaming and movies, but some people claim movies are really off for them for bookshelf speakers without a centre channel. The book shelf speakers are more likely to have the wood aesthetic you're looking for than the sound bar, but an all black sound bar and black cables might hide in the shiplap? But assuming you're not connecting via bluetooth or USB, you may need a power amp and line in converters to get it hooked up... or a receiver... depending on the speakers. It's more messing around with stuff than a sound bar IMO and a bunch of additional components that will add up in price.

EDIT: Sorry, it's not too much detail. I'm a little under the weather.

Soundbars though, ones that I've been eyeing are the JBL ones to replace my Vizio 5.1. Around $250-300 for the 3.1. The 5.1 is the one I want, but around $550-800 so it's outside of the budget range.

Honestly with a <$400 range, I think you're locked into 3.1 channel or less. If there's even an inkling of one day wanting a 5.1 channel set up or the PC for movie and games, I'd avoid spending the $400 and save up towards something closer to $500-600 for a 5.1 sound set up and then not having to bother replacing again.

Maybe spend $150 2.1 channel sound bar as a good stop gap and save up? Or a $200-300 headphone and plug straight to 3mm jack and do the mix amp some other time? (No mic if you need to use that though which I don't know if it needs to be addressed since you have head sets)

Bookshelf speakers set ups are also not really scalable, so I'd make sure I'm happy with a $400 set up for a while. I wouldn't spend $400 considering it to be a stop gap. TBH, the gaming primary preference is the part that's throwing me off the most in terms of aiming for bookshelf speakers. It's doable, but I don't think it makes sense, especially in the <$400 range.

Originally Posted by edslunch

I have a very old, very beat up pair of Celestion Ditton LB12s that sound great. I’m looking for an amp to hook them up to my computer and mixing setup (not using them for mixing, just validation). Input will only ever be line in from an audio interface. Speakers are 8 ohm 70 w rated.

Can anyone suggest decent amps (ideally not receivers) that are generally available used?

Standalone power amps are a lot more rare due to receivers these days. Lots of audiophiles are very particular, so they're unlikely to be swapping out things like power amps other than in rare occasions.

What I use is a mini class D power amp. Costs around $60-120 brand new. I have something like this I picked up for around $60 several years ago:

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Amplifie...s%2C145&sr=8-7

I power two tower speakers for music for the last 5 years or so and I've never had an issue. I'm happy enough with the performance and I assume I'd have to get really lucky or spend 2-3x more than what I paid before I start to really notice a difference in sound from the towers.

At the very least, IMO the TB10A is an inexpensive stop gap that should work well without damaging the speakers?

[cam_wmh]

Amazing, I really appreciate that detail. Got some thinking to do now.

[cam_wmh]

FF,

Took your wisdom. Bought a 5.1 soundbar; Razer Leviathan V2 w/Sub.
It was open box, for $250. (vs $600 retail).

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

FF,

Took your wisdom. Bought a 5.1 soundbar; Razer Leviathan V2 w/Sub.
It was open box, for $250. (vs $600 retail).

Nice! Congrats. I hope it works out and sounds great.

I didn't see a Leviathan v2 5.1 online for some reason. Just 2.1 and 7.1. Does this mean you got the v2 Pro for $250? Sounds like a killer deal it that's the case, especially with the AI head tracking for 3D sounds.
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...oofer/16930734

A cursory glance at a review says that music is kinda meh out of the box and needs an EQ tweak to be satisfied ("meh for the $600 price range") but this sound bar will shine big time while gaming. You also may need to install proprietary drivers to really get the best out of the sound bar, but overall the reviews seem to point at a straight forward experience.

It seems Bestbuy is also selling the Leviathan V2 7.1 for $260 new. But if yours is the V2 Pro, I think that's a way better deal than this V2 7.1. Cursory glance for this one seems to state it's good, but requires a ton of manual fiddling with settings in the proprietary software and doesn't seem to be capable of being as immersive as the Pro.
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Definitely let us know what you think once you get a chance to give it a spin.

[cam_wmh]

Yep, it’s the Pro. A friend picked it up in Van for me, and I should have it in my hands in a week.

[DownInFlames]

I just saw on the TechMoan channel that Crutchfield has a great deal on the Kanto SYD.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-th32vU...tte-Black.html

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Yep, it’s the Pro. A friend picked it up in Van for me, and I should have it in my hands in a week.

Did you get a chance to try the sound bar yet? I'm curious to know of your experience with the head tracking 3D sound. Gimmick? Awesome? Didn't notice?

A few more home theatre soundbars are advertising something like this. Knowing if it's worth considering would give me an idea if I want to save up and wait a little more to target one of those for the family TV (needs to be lower complexity for them, but I'd still like the slightly higher quality sound).

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Did you get a chance to try the sound bar yet? I'm curious to know of your experience with the head tracking 3D sound. Gimmick? Awesome? Didn't notice?

A few more home theatre soundbars are advertising something like this. Knowing if it's worth considering would give me an idea if I want to save up and wait a little more to target one of those for the family TV (needs to be lower complexity for them, but I'd still like the slightly higher quality sound).

I have had the V2 Pro for 4 months and when it works it actually pretty cool. I have an odd setup and sit very low in my seat. So sometimes my ears aren't located by the head-tracking tech. When this happens it sounds like all of a sudden one of my ears is plugged. But it doesn't happen very often now that I got a new Herman Miller Embody.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Since1984

I have had the V2 Pro for 4 months and when it works it actually pretty cool. I have an odd setup and sit very low in my seat. So sometimes my ears aren't located by the head-tracking tech. When this happens it sounds like all of a sudden one of my ears is plugged. But it doesn't happen very often now that I got a new Herman Miller Embody.

Yeah, that was what I was concerned about. Thanks for confirming it. It's probably designed for a smaller room and consistent set up where the individual doesn't really move. I guess I'll just suck it up and see what deals are available in a few more years.

I don't know how that works if there's multiple people in a room, jumping kids, potential mess and objects in the way etc. My Vizio 5.1 is starting to have buzzing sounds due to age and damage, so I'd kinda like to get something that doesn't occasionally sound like $1.50 headphones. I guess I just have to suck it up.

It's also another challenge for sound because my set up is a projector in front of a gas fire place. I did that due concerns heat would damage the TV and I didn't really want to try mounting through stone. Ideally the sound bar would be mounted above the screen on the trim by the ceiling and not on the mantle being muffled by the screen. My original soundbar was on the hearth extension, but I didn't realize the fireplace could output temps hot enough to melt the plastic on my soundbar sitting on the hearth extension.

Nearly everything out there is up firing sound bars and I don't know what happens when you try and reverse it by mounting on the ceiling (I read some reports of people saying it's super weird, even if you put the speaker "upside down on the ceiling"). Vertical sound bars are rare and expensive for performance. I'd be better off with a receiver and running wires in the ceiling and walls etc. but that's high effort, expensive and more complicated than my wife and kids can deal with. On/off and input is complicated enough for them.

bleh.

By the time I evaluate options like the Polk S4 ($350 for 3.1), JBL 300 ($400 for 5.0), JBL 500 ($500-550 for 5.0-5.1), JBL 100 ($850 for 7.1) I'm constantly upselling myself for incremental more until I'm almost in the $1K range and I could start targeting 9.4 and 11.4 soundbars for around $900-1300 like the Sonos Arc ultra, Samsung etc. Home theatre is like $500 for an entry level receiver before speakers.

Fak. I can't wait until I'm mortgage free so I can throw money at stupid projects like this on a whim.