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budget powered desktop speakers

wadec22

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Hey guys. Looking for some new speakers:
  • 9" tall or shorter to fit under monitor(s)
  • budget of $250 or less
  • Prefer close to neutral sounding - just everyday usage though, not mixing or anything

Thinking maybe the Mackie CR3 just because they are so cheap (blue trim, that green is terrible). Thoughts?
 
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wadec22

wadec22

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not really since I can do any serious listening on my headphones.
 

Cofra

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I would recommend you to take a look at PreSonus Eris E4.5

A bit to tall but you can likely solve that.

(I own both Mackie CR3's and the above mentioned).
 

Sancus

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It's somewhat outside the budget, but the Vanatoo Transparent 0 (review) have the best bass extension for the size I'm aware of and have a ton of features/connectivity. They are expensive compared to the usual budget recommendations but after living with them on my desktop for a few months I love them a lot.
 
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wadec22

wadec22

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It's somewhat outside the budget, but the Vanatoo Transparent 0 (review) have the best bass extension for the size I'm aware of and have a ton of features/connectivity. They are expensive compared to the usual budget recommendations but after living with them on my desktop for a few months I love them a lot.
That review has me tempted to spend lol
 

Krunok

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Keep in mind that any speaker that small will have extremely limited bass extension / output. Is that a problem?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Well, that really depends - check these little guys. I wouldn't really call that "extremely limited bass extension". :)

Measured with UMIK-1 and REW, after EQ with BruteFIR on Volumio (more on that coming soon):

 

graz_lag

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Hey guys. Looking for some new speakers:
  • 9" tall or shorter to fit under monitor(s)
  • budget of $250 or less
  • Prefer close to neutral sounding - just everyday usage though, not mixing or anything

Thinking maybe the Mackie CR3 just because they are so cheap (blue trim, that green is terrible). Thoughts?

AudioEngine A2+
I have the A5+ which I bought @ $200 in a close-out on Dec-2016, I'd like to recommend these - but maybe too tall for your installation : 10" 3/4 ...
Them, both, the A2+ and A5+, offer a much more "serious" sound than any other compact 5" woofer speaker of the sort of Mackie, PreSonus, Yamaha ... AFAMEAC
The front-ported design in a big advantage for desktop installation as you can minimize the rear panel clearance, if you need so.
https://audioengineusa.com/shop/poweredspeakers/a2-plus-desktop-speakers/
 
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wadec22

wadec22

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It's somewhat outside the budget, but the Vanatoo Transparent 0 (review) have the best bass extension for the size I'm aware of and have a ton of features/connectivity. They are expensive compared to the usual budget recommendations but after living with them on my desktop for a few months I love them a lot.

I am mad at you for blowing my budget. But after 24 hours with them - WOW. I love these things!
 

amirm

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I am mad at you for blowing my budget. But after 24 hours with them - WOW. I love these things!
They are impressively good sounding last time I heard them at a show. They are good people who are part of our local audiophile society.
 
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