Tired of computer speakers

[JMD]

Mouse

If you want the speakers facing you on a desktop then best to stay away from rear ported speakers of any size. Down ported or front ported can work if you can find a pair small and efficient enough. That's why powered speakers are so popular in desktop applications. Sealed enclosures and built in amps that only require you to provide the signal. Audioengine has been doing that for quite a while and have it down. There are plenty of reviews on their powered models. While the Totem may also be very good as the rest of their speakers are well respected it is a newer model for them so finding feedback may be difficult. Also you can buy both of the Audioengine models I mentioned on Amazon so if you don't like them send them back. The frequency response is the same on both just a difference in inputs and the inclusion of the DAC. Also the HD6 has Bluetooth capability if that is on interest for convenience. There are also numerous smaller powered monitors from companies like JBL, Mackie, Numark and others but you may find them a little hot on the top end. A lot of people like the JBL 305 and it is cheap.

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by PHC1

I don't have to sit in the sweet spot to enjoy music.

Either do I when I'm in my home office. Mine's carved out of a spare bedroom that's used as such for visiting company. So, as you can see from the diagram below, anything even remotely approaching ideal placement for my stand-mounted speakers is a delusional pipe dream.



Nonetheless, what I hear from the system--which uses CD rips and hi-rez downloads fed to an external USB DAC as source material--isn't chopped liver, either, not even when I transition from working-at-the-computer mode to taking a semi-serious listening break. Or doing initial evaluations of rips and downloads, since the office computer is the workstation for these operations.

Except for the relatively inexpensive passive line stage, the components, including speakers, are either used or dealer-demo purchases and the equipment rack a DIY flexy. I'm not suggesting that approach as your solution, Mouse, but indicating it as a possible option if your situation allows for it.

FWIW.

[Mahalo]

I recently purchased a pair of audioengine 2+ speakers that I'm very pleased with. You can either use your computer's sound card or a dac within the audioengines.

[Mouse]

Does AudioEngine have a warm up time after a period of inactivity?

[JMD]

It should be no different than any other amp.

[piolaxo]

How about the new ELAC Argo B51 that got great reviews in CES 2018. They
are active speakers with three amplifiers: 150W for the bass, 70W for the
midrange and 30W for the tweeter. The mid and tweeter are arranged in
concentric fashion.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by JMD

Mouse

If your computer has a standard audio output from the sound card look at the Audioengine A5+ or HD-6. I use the A5+ on my desk now. The HD-6 has a built in DAC which may interest you. You won't need another amp with either.

https://audioengineusa.com/shop/poweredspeakers/

I ended up going this route. They sound decent and they were on the showroom at my local audio dealer.

How do I push better sound out of them?
A better 1/8" cable? Or do I really need to get a USB DAC?
I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I wasn't looking to invest too much into $400 speakers.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by JMD

It should be no different than any other amp.

After owning them, they do not timeout after inactivity so there is no warm up time.
My paradigm times out after 5 minutes, and then takes 10-20 seconds to warm up. The audio engines do not, they just play music when I hit the play button in Tidal or Youtube.

[Masterlu]

There is something very exciting coming from Audeze to fill this need soon; stay tuned...

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

There is something very exciting coming from Audeze to fill this need soon; stay tuned...

I just got the A5+ and the matching sub