Making my PC sound better

[Northern Monkey]

I'm on the hunt for a little more sound clarity from my PC.

I don't want to go full hifi nerd and spend thousands on making my spotify stream sound better, but I'll spend a few hundred trying to get that clearness that I hear in a nice hifi system. I used to run a NAD CD player and amp into a pair of floorstanders but I haven't room for it on my desk. I don't need loud, anything but, so suggestions of bazzillion watt bassboosta systems with the clarity of a mobile phone loudspeaker are not needed

I'm mostly listening to spotify (High quality) through a soundblaster Z soundcard, then into, currently a pair of creative gigaworks t20 speakers. I'm fairly sure it's these speakers that suck the life out of everything I listen to.

There isn't much space on my desk, unless I swap out the monitor, so I'm after suggestions that fit into the limited space available

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/geoffhill/2BAF0428-35C0-46B7-ACA4-21BD7DBF6148_zpskclfe7of.jpg

Halp Plz
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[UncleFester]

Decent set of headphones.
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2017 Z1000SX

[CaNsA]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Multimedia-Theatre-Speaker-System/dp/B0006LCMK4

I use those, pretty good.

[Seb]

I switched from a Creative 7.1 setup to some Bose Companion 20s after dabbling with them and a pair of B&W MM-1s as well as a few other 2.1 setups.

The bass on the Bose is a little OTT at times but they deliver a really vibrant beefy soundtrack regardless of volume, whilst the B&Ws were much more refined, they felt a bit flat by comparison.

The only 2.1 system that genuinely impressed me was Corsair's SP-2500, bit more pricy than the Bose but worthwhile if you intend on cranking the volume up fairly loud, the massive subwoofer was a bit of a deal breaker for me though.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[trevoriv]

I've had headphones only for a couple of decades now, never had the need for speakers when I've got seperates elsewhere and come into my office to escape! Currently using AKG K141 and AKG K702, I find even the 141's can easily pick out the difference between lossless and compressed audio.
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[The Artist]

Logitech sets are great quality usually. I am running a Z 5500 7.1 kit which sounds pretty good. Not quite as good as when I had a couple of active monitors on my desk though. They were the nuts but lacked bass. If you spend most of the time sitting directly in front of the speakers, have a look at active monitors.

[Tritey]

https://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/#!aego/cgnd

I have these. Bought them ages ago from Overclockers. Excellent sound.

[UncleFester]

I have a set of the old Logitech Z5500 - nice sound but the main speakers are a bit thin. Bass is great from the sub.

Ended up replacing the drive units for https://www.crutchfield.com/S-BXSbYD4V24z/p_133SBHEP20/Panasonic-SB-HEP20-Light-ash.html

They worked ok - made the sound a lot richer.

However, the AKG845 headphones i got when i had to deal with neighbours blow the soundquality of the other stuff into the weeds.

If i was upgrading a small office setup and i wanted good sound, i'd go for headphones and a decent Asus Xonar card every time again.
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2017 Z1000SX

[Northern Monkey]

I don't really like headphones, I tend to have music on in the background while I'm reading or doing work.

I was happy with the speakers until I compared them with a cambridge audio go, and then realised how turd they sound in comparison.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[RhynoCZ]

You need some bigger speakers, if you want full and warm sound. The speakers don't have to be expensive, it's all about the dimensions and sometimes the design.

I'm anti subwoofers and I wanted something to fit on my table, so I got rather cheap Genius SP-HF1250B. RCA out + EQ (bass/treble) + wood. The high frequencies are crystal clear and the middle and low frequencies/basses are surprisingly very warm and full. I have the system EQ in the PC set on, what you could call, ROCK.

Not a bad pair for 25 pounds or so. The 100mm mid/low freq. speakers are just enough for use on your desk.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[ferrisio]

I'd be tempted by some active studio monitors, something like https://www.thomann.de/gb/alesis_elevate_5.htm for £100. Means you don't need a subwoofer, a lot of small speaker systems sound good but lose stereo image due to the crossover frequency to the sub being so high because of their small size.
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BMW R1100R

[Northern Monkey]

Looked at studio monitors, but too many ponds.

With a bit of buggering about, and rearranging, got some old Wharfdale speakers down from the loft, and bought myself a Cambridge Audio amp from richer sounds for £80

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/geoffhill/IMG_7964_zps5zwtbdgh.jpg

Everything is now about eleventy times clearer than it was before.

Proper hifi, even cheap stuff, sounds like proper hifi.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Accuhaler]

Can agree with others getting Logitech speakers will make it sound better using the X-540, using on board sound inputs to my motherboard!

[Dalemac]

[el_oso]

[Northern Monkey]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Northern Monkey]

If I were to upgrade the speakers, it would probably be to some Q Acoustics 3020, but with a pending house move, that's an upgrade that will have to wait
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Nice speakers with excellent reviews. If you don't already know rear ports won't like being close to walls/corners.

[edit] Their manual mentions using the supplied foam bungs....which I've never been a fan of. Kinda defeats the design and reduces the Bass performance IMO.


...Apologies if I'm going all audiogeek.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Northern Monkey]

I never listen at volumes much above normal speech levels, so efficiency and bass performance aren't a huge concern. They will be located in a similar manner to the current setup, close to the wall, and within 1m of the seating position.

IMHO, lower volumes seem to demand better performance from audio kit, which is why the previous set up seems to come up so short
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[The Artist]

[Northern Monkey]

[The Artist]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Active monitors in the main get used in the studio because they tend to offer a relatively flat EQ and are easier to transport. They are not designed to flatter or enhance the sound unlike Hi-fi speakers. Some studio monitors can get quite tiring on the ears.

Just saying like.
There are no real rules but the guidelines could make your ear happier and save you money, especially if you audition say the Adam against some Dali.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[ferrisio]

Adams are a good example of this as they have a ribbon tweeter which I found quite easy on the ears (I had S3s), but I never got on with for mixing as I didn't find they translated well.

For use as hifi speakers though, they were very pleasant. Tannoy dual-concentrics are another good example of this.
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BMW R1100R