Desktop 2.1 speaker recommendation needed. After 16years my Teufel died. (Mackie/Edifier/..?)

[kOrbit]

Hello,

today, after 16years, my Teufel Concept C200 2.1 setup from 2009 died. Well, only the subwoofer, after it made strange noises like explosions/gunfire the last days. I recorded the sound here: https://vocaroo.com/1iizrleGPMNZ
Now I need some new and hope you can recommend me some comparable to my last setup.

I also did some research and found the following:
- Mackie CR3.5BT + CR8SBT
- Edifier S350DB
- SVS Ultra Evolution Nano (very expensive)
- Technics SC-CX700 (very expensive for just a desktop setup)
- Logitech Z623
- this one seems to op for my needs https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...r-directiva-open-source-speaker-review.27094/

What do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheKoC]

Whats your budget for speakers? The speakers you list vary greatly in price. Do you want a subwoofer again?

If you are not set on "consumer" speakers, take a look at the Neumann KH 80 / KH 120 II. Reviews can be found on this forum

 

[JIW]

If you don't need high volume, consider the ADAM D3V for around 320€ or the Kali Audio LP-UNF for around 340€.

 

[A Surfer]

Kanto Living seem to have decent offerings. Years ago I had a Kanto 2.1 and was quite pleased.

 

[NotInYourHead]

It would be great if we could know what you most likely use this setup for (hifi music listening/home theater/mixed use?) and your budget.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Can we see a picture of the desk setup to see how much space you have?

Kali-UNF + WS-6.2 would be a good starting point.

 

[kOrbit]

Oh sorry. Here is my desk:

Not that much space available.
I'm listening to music, so bass would be a nice to have. Sometimes watching movies. Nothing special. I don't have demands, nor do I do music production or anything like this. Average userstuff I'd say.
My budget: If the new setup costs me 150€, fine. 300€ ok. More than 400€ not needed for my current living situation.

Just wondering, because of my lack of experience in hearing other levels of sound quality, if there is such a huge difference in between a 100€ setup and a triple of that?

 

[ZolaIII]

Kali LP 6 V2 are still hard to beat for the price and in combination with budget 10" sub you can find. When you find time and money please buy a measurement microphone, preferably UMIK-1 so that it can double and as SPL meter and start using DSP all together (PEQ, FIR, ELC) on desktop (Windows) it should be easy with EQ-APO. Learning takes some time but it's not anything over dramatic/complicated.
Welcome to ASR and have a nice time!

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

Just wondering, because of my lack of experience in hearing other levels of sound quality, if there is such a huge difference in between a 100€ setup and a triple of that?

Yes, like night and day. Very dark night and very bright day, to be more specific.
Kali LP 6 V2 is an excellent active studio monitor within your budget. While its bass is deep, probably it is not so extended as in Concept C200 sub - if that is important to you for movies. Speaking of which, successor of Concept C200 2.1 set is Teufel Consono 25 Concept 2.1 set, with 320€ price.

 

[kOrbit]

Thanks for your replies.

Kali LP 6 V2 are still hard to beat for the price and in combination with budget 10" sub you can find. When you find time and money please buy a measurement microphone, preferably UMIK-1 so that it can double and as SPL meter and start using DSP all together (PEQ, FIR, ELC) on desktop (Windows) it should be easy with EQ-APO. Learning takes some time but it's not anything over dramatic/complicated.
Welcome to ASR and have a nice time!

Thank you. I guess the measurement mic is for room calibration? Need to read more at first about the abbreviations and calibration stuff.

Yes, like night and day. Very dark night and very bright day, to be more specific.
Kali LP 6 V2 is an excellent active studio monitor within your budget. While its bass is deep, probably it is not so extended as in Concept C200 sub - if that is important to you for movies. Speaking of which, successor of Concept C200 2.1 set is Teufel Consono 25 Concept 2.1 set, with 320€ price.

Ok that sounds nice. What sub would you prefer to the two Kali LP 6 V2 speakers (speaker maybe wrong word, if they are declared as active studio monitor) or what do you mean by extended? Because of frequency and decibel?

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

Yes, sub in Concept C200 (and in Consono 25 Concept 2.1 set, which seems to be identical) reach 33 Hz (per manufacturers data), while Kali LP 6 V2 is about 40 Hz. Maximum SPL (dB) should be similar, but the sound quality from Kali LP 6 V2 is much better. I doubt you need a separate subwoofer with LP 6 V2, but you can add one any time later, if needed.

 

[ZolaIII]

Mic is to see what you get and accordingly try to improve/correct it. It's a long ride if you really get into it and not really desktop related (from limited accustic treatment as; curtains, rug... stands isolators... and of course DSP).
Where are you from (county)? And so what's available there cheap from sub's? With deacent 10" one under the table and firing at you you should be able to get to at least 35 Hz and probably even more with rooms help.

 

[kOrbit]

Improvement and correction are then followed digitally like through an equalizer? I'm from Germany. Never really searched whats available here. My plan is going with two Kali LP-6 2nd Wave at first. If I'm missing some deep waves, I'm going for an extra sub.

By the way, I looked into the subwoofer out of curiosity. Two fuses are broken. The two 6800µF el. caps lost a bit capacity (6,19mF and 6,47mF) and I wondered, why the click-sound when turning on the subwoofer was missing. Maybe the relay is also damaged.

EDIT: Wait...do I really need two of the Kali for Stereo or does 1 monitor suffice for stereo? (Currently checked, how I connect them to my computer on the 3.5 mm stereo jack)

 

[ZolaIII]

For two chenels you do need two speakers. Try to fix old sub if you can. As you are in Germany you will have a nice choice and not so bad prices. Start searching on Idealo de and of course something deacent with good price. Kali's have both balanced and unbalanced RCA inputs and gain adjustment for them so it's 3.5 mm jack to 2x RCA cable.

 

[JIW]

Improvement and correction are then followed digitally like through an equalizer? I'm from Germany. Never really searched whats available here. My plan is going with two Kali LP-6 2nd Wave at first. If I'm missing some deep waves, I'm going for an extra sub.

By the way, I looked into the subwoofer out of curiosity. Two fuses are broken. The two 6800µF el. caps lost a bit capacity (6,19mF and 6,47mF) and I wondered, why the click-sound when turning on the subwoofer was missing. Maybe the relay is also damaged.
View attachment 469159View attachment 469160

EDIT: Wait...do I really need two of the Kali for Stereo or does 1 monitor suffice for stereo? (Currently checked, how I connect them to my computer on the 3.5 mm stereo jack)

You need two Kali's for stereo. However, you would need a way to control the volume since the level setting for the speakers are not really usable this way as they only apply to each speaker. Also, note that the Kali are fairly large speakers (359 mm high, 222 mm wide and 260 mm deep) and placing them on the desk like the Teufels is not going to work. They would need to be alongside the displays, ideally on stands behind the table.

 

[kOrbit]

I see. They are huge. If I have them on stands aside the desk, the screens might be blocking most of the direct way of the sound. Behind the table is no space. Tomorrow I'm going to measure the space behind the screens on the desk.

 

[AnalogSteph]

By the way, I looked into the subwoofer out of curiosity. Two fuses are broken. The two 6800µF el. caps lost a bit capacity (6,19mF and 6,47mF) and I wondered, why the click-sound when turning on the subwoofer was missing. Maybe the relay is also damaged.

Not a good sign. If you are lucky, it's the massive pops caused by bad solder joints that have killed the fuses and nothing else is damaged, but you may also be dealing with a failed subwoofer amp. If there is a massive DC offset on its output, the relay may not be pulling in for a very good reason.

Big boy capacitors rarely fail in domestic use (though I can't say I'm impressed with how your 6800µFs have held up, I haven't seen the brand before either). Small ones, particular in hot areas, can be quite a different story. Again, longevity can vary greatly depending on manufacturer, series and luck of the draw.

Would you be willing to settle for new speakers flanking just one of your two monitors? Otherwide I'd think the stereo triangle would tend too much towards headphone territory. The setup seems a bit offset now as-is. Placement directly on the desk tends to create a mess more often than not.

Size wise, the 5" class tends to be good bang/buck territory. KRK RP5 G5 or the like? With something like those you'd still need to figure out how to connect them since you probably don't have an audio interface (which, mind you, would be handy because USB measurement mics tend to be less common and more expensive than in some other parts of the world). If in doubt, 3.5 mm to 2x 6.3 mm TS + Behringer HD400 + 2x (6.3 mm TRS to XLR male) has been working for years.

 

[kOrbit]

@JIW: I measured the space behind the computer screens. If the speakers stand directly on the desk, the screens would block 30% of their upper body.
If I buy extra stands to put them aside the desk, the screens still cover their direct way.

The stands reach a max height up to 130mm. So it might be possible to place the speakers barely above each screens top edge. But I guess the soundlevel is then above my ears because the don't face me directly.

@AnalogSteph: The KRK RP5 G5 looking also nice. With a height of 288mm they would also a little be hidden behind the screens. Free space right below them is 230mm to the desk, if not slide down. What do you mean by failing subwoofer amp? I guess the broken fuses are a result of an error elsewhere? Do you have a suspicion?

EDIT: The ADAM Audio D3V I spotted here in another thread would fit. Hm.

 

[ZolaIII]

Desk is not hard set in stone you can move it a bit and put stands from the space where subwoofer is now tho tower still might come in the way. There are and stands with angle adjustment, like Gravity SP 3202 VT (±10°) but stands aren't exactly cheap. You must aim tweeters to ears.
Edit: I would suggest moving table from the wall behind it at least a little bit (as you can) and give cable menagement a try at least. Nice table by the way.

 

[kOrbit]

Thanks. Moving from the wall because of cable management or to place the speakers on stands behind it?