Speakers for desktop under $500

[Bmxant]

Hello all, I've been going crazy trying to find an upgrade to my Klipsch 2.1 as the left speaker is ticking.

I've been looking at the Edifier r2000db, Polk XT20, Polk ES20 (probably too big) Polk ES15, Dayton Audio M6, and my favorite so far, the Fluance Ai61.

I'm used to having really good low end bass with my Emu Teak and Fostex TR-X00 Ebony, so I'm hoping I can find something that actually has a clean rumble. I'd prefer not to add a subwoofer right now as I'm in an apartment.

Apparently the Fluance goes down to 32 Hz, that's the lowest roll-off I've seen on speakers.

I'm used to switching between sources, so it doesn't matter if they're powered or passive.

Current setup on this PC is the following;

Klipsch 2.1
JDS Atom
JDS Dac
Emu Teak

Thank you.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Bmxant! Welcome to ASR.

As long as Fluance's bass extension numbers haven't been confirmed by a reliable 3rd party such as Amir from ASR or Erin from EAC, I would not put much trust into them.

Manufacturers have all manners of tricks to come up with unrealistic bass numbers.

What really counts though is:
-Anechoic frequency response
-THD at different, clearly stated SPLs
-Compression data

Two desktop speakers with really good bass extension confirmed by 3rd party data are the Kali LP-6v2 and Vanatoo Transparent One Plus.

Here are reviews:

Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus Review

Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Kali Audio LP-6v2 (Second Wave) 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

Kali Audio LP-6v2 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[Jiraya369]

i dont get it, if a speaker has sub frequencies and a sub has sub frequencies, how does you being an apartment change anything there? you're trying to go down to 30 hz but also you dont want a sub? Like im sorry what?

If you're on pc, just high pass your setup if you're really against bass but if you also want bass, your neighbours will hear it if it's too loud. Kanto ORA + Sub8 is a great plug and play solution. You can get the sub later on. if you listen loud you can look at the Kanto ORA4.

 

[Bmxant]

Hi @Bmxant! Welcome to ASR.

As long as Fluance's bass extension numbers haven't been confirmed by a reliable 3rd party such as Amir from ASR or Erin from EAC, I would not put much trust into them.

Manufacturers have all manners of tricks to come up with unrealistic bass numbers.

What really counts though is:
-Anechoic frequency response
-THD at different, clearly stated SPLs
-Compression data

Two desktop speakers with really good bass extension confirmed by 3rd party data are the Kali LP-6v2 and Vanatoo Transparent One Plus.

Here are reviews:

Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus Review

Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Kali Audio LP-6v2 (Second Wave) 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

Kali Audio LP-6v2 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Thank you.

 

[Bmxant]

i dont get it, if a speaker has sub frequencies and a sub has sub frequencies, how does you being an apartment change anything there? you're trying to go down to 30 hz but also you dont want a sub? Like im sorry what?

If you're on pc, just high pass your setup if you're really against bass but if you also want bass, your neighbours will hear it if it's too loud. Kanto ORA + Sub8 is a great plug and play solution. You can get the sub later on. if you listen loud you can look at the Kanto ORA4.

I feel like a subwoofer is useless as I'm going to have to keep it really low, so a pair of speakers that have reasonable low end bass with be satisfying enough by themselves.

Thanks for the response.

 

[Jiraya369]

I feel like a subwoofer is useless as I'm going to have to keep it really low, so a pair of speakers that have reasonable low end bass with be satisfying enough by themselves.

Thanks for the response.

you're not gonna get much sub bass from desktop stuff, woofers too small. 50 hz is the best they can do and not even too loud there either

we dont know what you consider "satisfying" and "reasonable" low end. But 45-60hz is the best you can hope for

 

[JRowland]

Here are the Polk es15 on a desk to maybe help you visualize what the 20 would look like.

I like the amount of bass they produce at low volume myself but I know nothing about your other choices. I had Kef Q150 here prior and the Polks have more thump than those did in this space.

 

[sanel]

Buy Edifier MR5

 

[Bmxant]

you're not gonna get much sub bass from desktop stuff, woofers too small. 50 hz is the best they can do and not even too loud there either

we dont know what you consider "satisfying" and "reasonable" low end. But 45-60hz is the best you can hope for

I'm spoiled by my headphones which vibrate my head, but I've never experienced good speakers, so I'm not sure what's going to satisfy me.

I thought the Klipsch 2.1 was always a decent setup.

Appreciate it.

 

[Bmxant]

Here are the Polk es15 on a desk to maybe help you visualize what the 20 would look like.

View attachment 509620

I like the amount of bass they produce at low volume myself but I know nothing about your other choices. I had Kef Q150 here prior and the Polks have more thump than those did in this space.

Thanks, I'd have to reconfigure my setup if I went with the es20 as they're abnormally big, but those seem reasonable.

 

[AnalogSteph]

You have not mentioned considering or budgeting for a power amp yet, although several of the models you mentioned (including the Polks) are decidedly of the passive variety and would require one. You will not see a passive speaker with deep bass response that is tiny either, as their response is entirely determined by physics, and enclosure volume is a major factor. Getting deep bass out of a small speaker (at the expense of level handling) requires some sort of EQ. Active or powered speakers can have that built right in (along with other features like limiting to avoid damage). That's the only reason 3" class monitors with a response flat to 50 Hz even exist. It goes without saying that they can't go terribly loud down there, but in desktop use they may not really have to either.

 

[Bmxant]

You have not mentioned considering or budgeting for a power amp yet, although several of the models you mentioned (including the Polks) are decidedly of the passive variety and would require one. You will not see a passive speaker with deep bass response that is tiny either, as their response is entirely determined by physics, and enclosure volume is a major factor. Getting deep bass out of a small speaker (at the expense of level handling) requires some sort of EQ. Active or powered speakers can have that built right in (along with other features like limiting to avoid damage). That's the only reason 3" class monitors with a response flat to 50 Hz even exist. It goes without saying that they can't go terribly loud down there, but in desktop use they may not really have to either.

$500 USD would likely be total, I'd prefer powered, but I'm not against passive either.

The Vanatoo has USB and a sub out which is awesome. It makes it much more convenient for my desk setup. If they're really that good, I should just go with them and stop driving myself crazy. They're over budget, but I doubt I'd be upgrading anytime soon.

I wish they came in white.

Thank you.

Edit: How about the Klipsch R-51PM or Fluance Ri71?

 

[Bmxant]

I wanted the Ri71 in white, but I feel like I made a better choice going with the Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus.

Thanks all.

Thanks

 

[vantagesc]

Costco has the Kef LSX II LT for $500. Powered speaker so that’s all in! Amazing speaker at that price point. Far from perfect, but not sure how you beat that for the price.

They don’t have low end rumble though. Prob best to add a sub with them.

 

[Bmxant]

Costco has the Kef LSX II LT for $500. Powered speaker so that’s all in! Amazing speaker at that price point. Far from perfect, but not sure how you beat that for the price.

They don’t have low end rumble though. Prob best to add a sub with them.

Those are pretty cool looking, thanks for the recommendation.

 

[john61ct]

I'm used to having really good low end bass with my Emu Teak and Fostex TR-X00 Ebony, so I'm hoping I can find something that actually has a clean rumble. I'd prefer not to add a subwoofer right now as I'm in an apartment

Dayton Audio MKSX4 as reinforcement

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/tech-talk-forum/1396185-new-dayton-subwoofer

tiny for how deep they go, can go under / behind furniture

or act as stands in stereo!

Budget tall mid-bass to sub speaker, to act as stand for LS50s

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www.audiosciencereview.com

Yes the amp(s) then likely need crossover help, but maybe try vanilla first...