Please give me some advice on PC speakers

[bangboo 18]

Hi! I'm considering upgrade my Edifier MR4 speaker for using with my PC.

The main usage will be music arrangement and some simple mixing stuff. Of course I'll also use the speakers to listenning to music. Metal and orchestra stuff will be main categories. I want to use the speakers in my bedroom which is around 15m2 and it doesn't have special acoustic treatment. Since my desk is only 1.2m*0.6m and I'll sit around 1m in front of the speakers, I'm mainly considering some 3-4 inch ones. After reading some reviews/measurements, I listed some speakers seems suitable. Here is my current list with price (btw, I'm in China so maybe some brands like Edifier will have quite different price with your area):

3 inch speakers:

1. Adam D3V - 2999 RMB(411 USD) // From Adam's official site, its measurement seems really impressive
2. IK Multimedia Iloud Micro Monitor - 2700 RMB(370 USD) // Many peaple say it doesn't worth its price, is this model worse than the Adam/EVE ones?
3. EVE SC203 - 2999 RMB(411 USD)
4. Fiio SP3 - 2000 RMB(274 USD)

4 inch speakers:

1. Edifier AirPulse A80 - 2300 RMB(315 USD)
2. Tannoy Reveal 402 - 1144 RMB for each, so 2288 RMB(313 USD) for a pair // I cannot find any measurement about this model, maybe someone has tried it here?
3. Topping M4A - 2000 RMB(274 USD) for a pair // Maybe it's too deep for a 60cm deep desk?
4. KRK GoAux 4 - 2700 RMB(370 USD) // It has a calibration mic, really interesting
5. Kali LP UNF - 3000 RMB(411 USD)
6. Jamo C705PA - 2500 RMB(342 USD) // Like the Tannoy one, I cannot find any measurement. But it's the most beautiful model here, so I also added it to the list.

Some passive speakers seem interesting to me, like Polk MXT15 and JBL stage A120. It doesn't bother me to buy an amplifier, so please let me know if you have recommendations.

btw, I'm using an audio interface with ASIO for my PC, so EQ will be really complicated to me since ASIO will bypass all programs like Equalizer APO. Can you guys give me some advice on which speakers I should choose? Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

Hi @bangboo 18! Welcome to ASR.

Since my desk is only 1.2m*0.6m and I'll sit around 1m in front of the speakers, I'm mainly considering some 3-4 inch ones.

Consider using desk clamp monitor stands:

Speaker Stands - desktop/office set up - is it just me…?

My current set up is a desktop affair, with speakers on stands either side of the desk. It’s a work in progress. I don’t know why I’ve not thought about this before, but sat in an office/gaming chair, you’re ears are far higher than if you’re sat on a sofa, or in an armchair. If my sums are...

www.audiosciencereview.com

These will free up desk space and will elevate the tweeters to ear height.

From your list, the ones I'd consider personally are the LP-UNF and D3V.

Here are measurement reviews of both:

https://youtu.be/bYipzw4qTGk
https://youtu.be/hOkMVbW7Yts

Though neither of them has sufficient bass extension for professional work, IMO.

With the space saved by using desk clamp stands, consider buying larger monitors with better bass extension.

btw, I'm using an audio interface with ASIO for my PC, so EQ will be really complicated to me since ASIO will bypass all programs like Equalizer APO.

You can use VST3 plugins like MathAudio Room EQ to apply room correction inside your DAW while retaining ASIO output.

 

[Karmacoma]

Adam T5V are probably a little too big for you but they measure extremely well, pack a punch, and are within your budget.

 

[Palmspar]

Arendal 1961 serie with subwoofer is also nice.

 

[bangboo 18]

Hi @bangboo 18! Welcome to ASR.


Consider using desk clamp monitor stands:

Speaker Stands - desktop/office set up - is it just me…?

My current set up is a desktop affair, with speakers on stands either side of the desk. It’s a work in progress. I don’t know why I’ve not thought about this before, but sat in an office/gaming chair, you’re ears are far higher than if you’re sat on a sofa, or in an armchair. If my sums are...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My desk has a drawer and there is no place for the clamps, but maybe a floor stand can be suitable. I'll check it. Thank you for the idea!

These will free up desk space and will elevate the tweeters to ear height.

From your list, the ones I'd consider personally are the LP-UNF and D3V.

Here are measurement reviews of both:

https://youtu.be/bYipzw4qTGk
https://youtu.be/hOkMVbW7Yts

Though neither of them has sufficient bass extension for professional work, IMO.

With the space saved by using desk clamp stands, consider buying larger monitors with better bass extension.

Thanks for the advice and the measurements! Regarding the larger size speaker, I sit around 1m (or less) to the speakers, what's the biggest size I can use according to you?

 

[bangboo 18]

Adam T5V are probably a little too big for you but they measure extremely well, pack a punch, and are within your budget.

I will check if using floor stands can give me enough size for these speakers. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[bangboo 18]

Arendal 1961 serie with subwoofer is also nice.

It seems I cannot find a dealer for Arendal in China. Thanks for the advice anyway!

 

[kyuu]

Is your desk against a wall? If so, one thing a lot of people don't seem to consider is using wall mounts for the speakers to get them off the desk (and to ear level). Just something to think about if you haven't already.

 

[Palmspar]

It seems I cannot find a dealer for Arendal in China. Thanks for the advice anyway!

Arendal is direct sale from their website.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

This setup sound really nice.

ProMedia 2.1 THX® Certified Computer Speaker System

www.klipsch.com

 

[DVDdoug]

I'm using an audio interface with ASIO for my PC, so EQ will be really complicated to me since ASIO will bypass all programs like Equalizer APO.

Most audio player applications have some sort of EQ (usually not parametric EQ) but i if you are using a DAW for production you can usually use a plug-in somewhere in the monitoring path.

The main advantage of ASIO is low latency and that's only important for monitoring while recording. A few milliseconds of latency doesn't matter for playback or for mixing.

The other "advantage" is that the operating system won't resample or otherwise mess with audio but that could be a disadvantage if you want to use EQ.

 

[HeadDoc12]

Hi! I'm considering upgrade my Edifier MR4 speaker for using with my PC.

The main usage will be music arrangement and some simple mixing stuff. Of course I'll also use the speakers to listenning to music. Metal and orchestra stuff will be main categories. I want to use the speakers in my bedroom which is around 15m2 and it doesn't have special acoustic treatment. Since my desk is only 1.2m*0.6m and I'll sit around 1m in front of the speakers, I'm mainly considering some 3-4 inch ones. After reading some reviews/measurements, I listed some speakers seems suitable. Here is my current list with price (btw, I'm in China so maybe some brands like Edifier will have quite different price with your area):

3 inch speakers:

1. Adam D3V - 2999 RMB(411 USD) // From Adam's official site, its measurement seems really impressive
2. IK Multimedia Iloud Micro Monitor - 2700 RMB(370 USD) // Many peaple say it doesn't worth its price, is this model worse than the Adam/EVE ones?
3. EVE SC203 - 2999 RMB(411 USD)
4. Fiio SP3 - 2000 RMB(274 USD)

4 inch speakers:

1. Edifier AirPulse A80 - 2300 RMB(315 USD)
2. Tannoy Reveal 402 - 1144 RMB for each, so 2288 RMB(313 USD) for a pair // I cannot find any measurement about this model, maybe someone has tried it here?
3. Topping M4A - 2000 RMB(274 USD) for a pair // Maybe it's too deep for a 60cm deep desk?
4. KRK GoAux 4 - 2700 RMB(370 USD) // It has a calibration mic, really interesting
5. Kali LP UNF - 3000 RMB(411 USD)
6. Jamo C705PA - 2500 RMB(342 USD) // Like the Tannoy one, I cannot find any measurement. But it's the most beautiful model here, so I also added it to the list.

Some passive speakers seem interesting to me, like Polk MXT15 and JBL stage A120. It doesn't bother me to buy an amplifier, so please let me know if you have recommendations.

btw, I'm using an audio interface with ASIO for my PC, so EQ will be really complicated to me since ASIO will bypass all programs like Equalizer APO. Can you guys give me some advice on which speakers I should choose? Thanks!

I love my Vanatoo Transparent Zeros!

 

[bangboo 18]

Most audio player applications have some sort of EQ (usually not parametric EQ) but i if you are using a DAW for production you can usually use a plug-in somewhere in the monitoring path.

The main advantage of ASIO is low latency and that's only important for monitoring while recording. A few milliseconds of latency doesn't matter for playback or for mixing.

The other "advantage" is that the operating system won't resample or otherwise mess with audio but that could be a disadvantage if you want to use EQ.

Yes, I can use room correction plugins in Cubase, but with music players it'll be a bit difficult since the EQ bands always doesn't match. Or I can consider buying a hardware solution like IK ARC. But if the adjustments of the speakers can do some basic work, it saves my extra money or measuring work. I mentioned the ASIO related things in the post just because I prefer the speakers with flat FR than the "quite EQable" models. ^^

 

[amarsicola]

Check Erin's audio corner review of Kali loudspeakers, either LP-UNF or LP6 v2

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

Disregard all 3" monitors - unacceptable compromises here regarding max SPL output and/or low frequency extension.

 

[Berwhale]

Disregard all 3" monitors - unacceptable compromises here regarding max SPL output and/or low frequency extension.

What if the monitor has more than one 3" woofer, also has DSP and you augment them with a sub?

 

[kyuu]

What if the monitor has more than one 3" woofer, also has DSP and you augment them with a sub?

Or what if you're using two of them near field and don't need high SPLs?

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

What if the monitor has more than one 3" woofer, also has DSP and you augment them with a sub?

More than one 3" woofer means bigger enclosure - bigger than 4" monitor. OP wants small loudspeaker.
Volume displacement of 3" woofer is smaller than 4" (if Xmax is same) - DSP will not change that.
Sub will augment 4" monitor, too - better than 3" monitor plus sub.

Generally, 4" woofer is better than 3" "woofer" in every imaginable way (Fs is lower, Xmax is bigger, ...).

Or what if you're using two of them near field and don't need high SPLs?

Stereo listening demands two loudspeakers.
OP will use monitors also for listening metal (and orchestra) - which require adequate (read: high) SPL.

 

[kyuu]

Stereo listening demands two loudspeakers.

Uh, ok, thanks for clearing that up I guess?

OP will use monitors also for listening metal (and orchestra) - which require adequate (read: high) SPL.

That's quite a big assumption.

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

That's quite a big assumption.

No, it is not:

Of course I'll also use the speakers to listenning to music. Metal and orchestra stuff will be main categories.