I haven’t bought computer speaker setup in well over a decade, but getting back into gaming, any suggestions?
I ask, due to the fact it looks like the old brands are all over the place in quality these days, like the Logitech G560 Speaker System, whose required software is messy. https://a.co/d/00gehZRS
Which is really making me wish I kept up to date, as Amazons current “recommendations system” can’t be trusted for quality with so many being cheapo speakers and SEO ruining result searches. 
Thanks in advance, as I feel like I’ve awaken in a speaker dystopia. 😧
Normal hifi gear, particularly second hand can sound way way better than generic computer crap. However normal hi-fi speakers are designed to work best a certain distance from the wall **and ** a certain distance from you. These distances vary between speakers but it is important to check this before spending any cash as some speakers need to be many feet from you, which isn’t always remotely practical for most pc setups.
I went with Dali Minutes for this reason, so they can be right on the wall and really close to me. I paired mine with a Rega Brio amp and RME ADI 2 USB DAC, then added a monitor audio sub later.
Most proper studio monitors are designed for near field listening they also make a good choice although they can be a little clean for some people’s taste.
I’m not an audiophile but I am a dj and music producer. I’d say the others who commented so far say not to look for “computer speakers” and they’re right. Soundbars and all that crap will sound like shit compared to any set of regular speakers.
But I wanted to add that the easiest speakers to buy and use are probably powered speakers. Meaning that you power the speaker directly with a power cable, and you send the speaker the audio signal. Other non powered speakers require an amplifier/receiver. Aka a third piece of gear you’d probably rather not have to research or buy.
So I’d recommend any powered speakers that are within your budget. Larger speakers will yield more bass because they can move more air aeound. Sound is just wiggly air. Depending on your room size, I’d probably recommend something at least with 7inch or bigger bass drivers (the bigger speaker cone). Someone else mentioned KRK which is a pretty cheap brand but they don’t sound terrible especially if you go for the larger ones.
As far as connecting powered speakers to your computer goes, it’s really not that expensive to buy a simple audio interface. I’d highly recommend the focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I have one as a secondary interface to my main one. It’s rock solid. Just plug it in and it works. There’s a volume knob on the front. Get some quarter inch audio cables to go from the back of your focusrite to the powered speakers. Done. Enjoy and hopefully this helps.
Edit: I should add that I’ve been using a pair of Fostex PM2 mkii powered speakers as my main music production speakers for the past 10+ years. I write, mix and master every song I’ve released. Look me up on Spotify. My most popular song has over half a million plays. I mixed and mastered that song myself on my trusty Fostex. So hopefully that makes my advice more credible.
Bonus question: How do you see AI affecting music production in the future? Sites like Suno can already produce some sort of music, but will that sort of technology enhance or threaten your work? Is this just like the time when the spinning jenny revolutionized the textile industry?
Acoustic instruments are going to come back in a major way. Eventually folks are going to get tired of listening to computers masturbating.
Before photography was invented, people relied on painters to capture people’s images. Everyone thought photography would completely replace painters but instead, painters began to move away from the literal realistic style and experiment with abstract and surreal styles. I’m hoping something similar happens with music and AI. People who write and produce music will be able to experiment and step away from what is already possible with AI. I’m hoping we see pop acts and music in general taking more risks and doing more weird shit.
Beyond that, I think it’s just a tool. When the first synths were created, they were trying to replace real brass players with a brass-like synth sound and brass players were so threatened. But then nerds got a hold of these synths and started pushing them way way beyond what they were intended to be used for. The synth evolved into its own instrument, and never replaced brass players. I see AI in music being used like this.
I already use it occasionally. My friend trained a model on a bunch of one shot samples from a sample pack and then spat out 1000 samples similar to the training material. Sometimes I sprinkle those samples into my tracks. I also use stem splitting AI to extract vocals from songs making it possible to remix music in ways that were previously not possible. Some of my friends generate 70s funk sounding tracks with AI so that they can sample them and flip them into hiphop beats avoiding and copyright issues with sampling someone’s actual song.
Thanks for taking the time to write a thoughtful answer. Especially that historical perspective was interesting.
I just thought that AI music is going to be like the ways clothes are manufactured today. Sure, you could get your clothes from a big factory, and many people do. At the same time, there are still many people who make clothes by hand just for fun. There are also some who make clothes the old way and sell them to millionaires who can afford to appreciate that production method and the quality that comes with it.
My guess is, the same will happen to music industry. Most people who wear cheap t-shirts, will also listen to cheap AI pop. Some other people with the money to hire musicians will do so, just like they’ve done so far. At the same time, many people will also continue to enjoy playing instruments or knitting wool scarfs just because it’s fun.
Random person here just popping in to say I’ve never heard of you before and you make fantastic music. I’ve been going to raves and festivals since the mid-00s and I would love to see you spin hahaha
Also all excellent advice.
Thanks! Check out my Shambhala mixtapes on Soundcloud. That’s the best representation of what my dj sets sound like.
If you’re ever working in Vancouver, can i come job shadow you for a few days? Always been curious about the technical side of audio production
I am based in Vancouver. But I teach music production lessons in Ableton Live over zoom. I have 15 students at the moment. Maybe that’s something you’re interested in?
Only as abserver, not a student. But thats cool you are close by , maybe o could come watch you DJ if you do live shows sometime
Vanatoo transparent zeros, you can use optical input if your motherboard has optical out (mine did and I didn’t select for it intentionally) cleanest audio ever and you can tell the difference in HD audio compared to mp3/Spotify
They have other speakers but these are the best for Desktop use. They also support USB for audio! https://vanatoo.com/shop/speakers/transparent-zero-plus/
Honestly just keep your old ones.
Speaker technology hasn’t exactly advanced by leaps and bounds like graphics. The greatest innovations have mainly been adding RGB lights and manufacturing then more cheaply.
Don’t search for computer speakers, just look for normal speakers on which I can’t help out too much on. Unless you want to invest into an expensive sound card, you probably should go for an AV-Receiver which transmits the audio through HDMI as this will give you the maximum quality depending on the supported formats. I have a sound card -> old school amplifier -> speaker setup. Basically it is your choice where the digital to analogue transformation happens, whether through a receiver or sound card. A sound card does have the massive advantage of providing virtual headphone surround sound (yes on stereo headphones, and no, this is really working) which receivers typically don’t have, because reasons and it will provide you with a massive immersion boost. And no onboard sound is not comparable, even the best one is a clear step down.
Interesting direction, any recommendations? As I feel like I’m starting all over again these days lol.
External sound cards have the advantage of less electrical interference, but usually the internal ones have external power not coming from the PCIe slot so it isn’t a big problem. Asus left the market leaving you with good old Creative Sound Blaster again. Choose whatever your budget allows, the two upper tier ones just differ in accessories, but that might have changed. And AV receivers the same, I am not the up to date audio guy what is a good deal. Just try to stay >120 dB SNR on sound cards for high end.
I have my TV, sound system, and computer all in my living room. They all use the same amplifier and speakers. Would that work for your situation?
I feel that. Every time I need to upgrade a PC part, it’s like going back to the town I grew up in, but 50 years have passed.
Studio monitors are excellent choices, but expensive. I’ve used genelecs for pretty much every audio workstation I’ve ever done, I’m a huge fan, but you’re also talking $800 and up.
You can sometimes find a good deal on some used studio monitors, which to me is the way to go. A long ways back I decommissioned some genelecs for a studio (surprise surprise, the new studio had newer versions of the same model), and I’ve been using them since at home. Roughly 15 years now.
A friend of mine who owns a music studio recommended Edifiers to me, and they sound great. He was originally looking for a cheap temporary studio monitor and bought a pair and ended up liking them just as well as his expensive studio monitors. My wife and I have 3 pairs of them for 3 different computer systems and have been really happy with them.
I see Edifiers go on sale all the time here in Australia and they always get recommended. The reputation seems to be good value for and they have plenty of models to pick from
I have been using a pair of Roth Audio OLi-RA1 speakers with my computer, they are real stereo speakers and require an amplifier to wire them up and power them.
The are excellent speakers, good general speakers, and not that expensive.
I don’t use a subwoofer, but it isn’t really needed for me, I do miss some sub bass, but that never bothered me.
I am currently running them with a no brand Chinese analog amp, from the soubd out on my monitor that is connected to my computer with DisplayPort.
Works great.
I sm considering getting a Dennon RCD-M41 tl replace my amp, but have not had any need to do so in the last eight years.
I don’t know that I’d consider myself an audiophile, but I am a musician. I run a pair of powered studio monitors out of the back of a Focusrite Scarlett usb audio interface for recording, and it’s way better than any computer speakers I’ve ever owned in terms of sound quality and fidelity. Of course, I’m also not trying to have a dance club setup that’s going to rattle the windows on my nextdoor neighbor’s house with super-ultra-mega bass, but it’s an avenue to consider.
This “Amazon’s Choice” is actually really valid, I’ve had mine for a few years and they perform great
Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers https://a.co/d/03UMQk4c
I run a pair of Audioengine combined with a 24bit DAC of the same brand and they sound great without breaking the bank too much.
I don’t know if I would consider myself an “audiophile” but I do DJ for myself and like to have a decent set of speakers.
I have owned a few pairs of KRK Rokit speakers and currently have a set of Rokit 6’s. I like them for their overall pretty neutral sound, ideally I would have a sub along with it but space is an issue for me right now so I can make do. They have a sufficient amount of bass for my small flat by themselves to be honest.
I run them through my DJ controller (Traktor S4 mk3 if you care) and have run past pairs I’ve owned through other DJ controllers and basic focusrite USB audio interfaces.
I wouldn’t say these are super high end but I find they offer a very good listening experience for not a great deal of money (I always buy second hand where I can), this set set me back around £160 if I remember correctly.
I’ve had a set of KRK Rokit 8s for 10 years now and they’re great. I’ve had them absolutely cranked for some parties and they haven’t showed any signs of giving up. Perhaps not the best studio monitors out there but the price to performance ratio combined with how long they’ve lasted makes them one of the better audio purchases I’ve made.
I’ve owned 5’s and 6’s and used 8’s and 10’s, as you say there are probably objectively “better” monitors but for some powered speakers that are of a high quality both sound and build wise I have no qualms recommending them.
With no budget listed I’m gonna go with KEF R3, KEF LS50, Elac DBR62, various Genelec models, Kef Q350, Yamaha HS-8 or HS-5
Also look for Erin’s Audio Corner.
I also highly recommend the Topping e50 and PA5. I use them with the KEF R3 for my main stereo listening.
Apparently Topping recently came out with the DM7 as a multichannel DAC if you want surround sound but then you’ll need a few amps.
Honestly you should also look into acoustic room treatment. Properly done it can improve any speaker. When not done, it can potentially make any speaker sound shitty.
Found the other audiophile.
With you mentioning Logitech in the post, I’m not sure you actually want “audiophile” speakers or just ‘good computer speakers’, but the above list gets my audiophile thumbs up. I’d throw Klipsch The Sevens and The Nines into the mix too.
The most important parts are missing from your question.
How much money are you willing to spend? Do you just want small 2 way speakers or small + subwoofer or 3 way speakers?
As someone else mentioned, KRK can be pretty good value but decent active studio monitors start around the 200$ area at the minimum. This site is my go to for audio stuff https://www.thomannmusic.com/active_nearfield_monitors.html
I have been happily using a pair of Fostex PM0.4C that i got on sale for 250€ but i dont know how availability is wherever you are.
This Focusrite Scarlett Solo is THE standard audio interface you will find in many budget or mobile audio studios, but this is not really needed for most people. https://www.thomannmusic.com/focusrite_scarlett_solo_4th_gen.htm
Hate to jump in on someone else’s question and ask for advice, but what would you suggest for around or under $100? On a budget but getting back into gaming. TIA.
I mean for gaming, headphones are always better imo, but if you want speakers then personally i would go for used ones at that price range.
You will just get much more value for you money, but you will need to have a bit of patience to get a good deal.
Honestly even a mini amp with some random passive speakers will be a better experience than whatever active speakers you can get for 100$.
I once installed this type of thing for someone that found some passive speakers in the trash and was really strapped on money.
Guess you’re right on the headphones, any suggestions? There’s so many brands these days and I’ll assume most are garbage 😂
Short Summary:
Open back: 125$ AKG K-702 i personally used these before and can recommend them.
Closed Back: 133$ AKG K-371 Im an AKG fan so although i havent personally tested these ones, they have a good rating so i would recommend these.
These two are studio headphones, so they are not super bass heavy but try to be close to recording/true frequency distribution instead.
In ears can often be much better value (eg cheaper) but i dont really know enough to recommend something (check the following list, there are some very well rated ones in the 20-30$ range.)
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Exhaustive Lists:
Crinacle is a dude that ranks headphones and has not led me astray so far.
The following are big ranked list that start at S Tier meaning the list starts at 5-6 digit prices… Just scroll down until you find something in your price range that you like and has a decent rating. The prices might be different from whats listed there tho, because they change all the time.
If you want in ears: https://crinacle.com/rankings/iems/
If you want over ears: https://crinacle.com/rankings/headphones/
With over ears, be aware of the difference between closed/open backs. Open backs give you better surround and more natural sound in my experience, while being able to hear things around you. If your surroundings are loud, you might want closed backs instead.
Your budget will play a role. I 100% agree with people saying don’t get computer speakers if you’re looking for quality, but the catch is they need to be powered.
I did a bunch of research and got the below on sale after a few reccos and agonizing over specs. For reference, previously I have used spreadsheets to tune a room to a flat frequency response with my own custom crossover designs, so… I’m picky.
I’ve been happy with my choice. And since they are fairly portable, they are versatile. Also used them with a Midi keyboard and a portable projector.
Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42W RMS - Wood Grain (Black) https://a.co/d/0cpcTsI0
Still haven’t heard better computer speakers than the standard Klipsch $100-150 stereo speakers with the sub that have been around for 25 years with minor aesthetic changes.
