Well-balanced cheap PC speakers

[Folktale]

Not true. Edifier's answer to Promedia is the S350DB:
https://www.amazon.in/Edifier-Bookshelf-Subwoofer-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B077Y6PHKQ/

Reviewed with measurements by wwenze:

Edifier S350DB review and measurement

Rushing this out before 9.9 for the people who are deciding. Thus the review will be coming in parts. The manufacturer provided their measurement on the box. Variation of 5dB is pretty decent, although the shape is not so decent, particularly the 10kHz peak. This kind of shape is easy to...

forums.hardwarezone.com.sg

But as you can see, you pay the price for the manufacturer 'integrating' things for you. If you want ease of setup, choose the 350db. If you want affordability, then MR3 + T5 / T5s.

That's an actually a very expensive answer to promedia. What I meant is that they do not have something as solid as Promedia under $150. I mean if Klipsch can do it, Edfiier can do it too. With Mr3 + T5, the price still bumps to +$315. I remember Promedia was selling for $90 at one time but to get a better deal I waited. And then Klipsch took an exit.

 

[whazzup]

That's an actually a very expensive answer to promedia. What I meant is that they do not have something as solid as Promedia under $150. I mean if Klipsch can do it, Edfiier can do it too. With Mr3 + T5, the price still bumps to +$315. I remember Promedia was selling for $90 at one time but to get a better deal I waited. And then Klipsch took an exit.

Yes you'll have to wait for sales if you want to get them at lower prices. Though in this climate of international tariffs and wars it's hard to say when prices get bumped up again.

 

[olymind1]

Yes you'll have to wait for sales if you want to get them at lower prices. Though in this climate of international tariffs and wars it's hard to say when prices get bumped up again.

True, currently the MR3 and are 90€-100€, MR5 is 200€ now, a few weeks ago the T5 Sub was 90€ on sale.

 

[dtaylo1066]

Big fan of Edifier M60, especially for the price. I have zero issues with it as a desktop speaker in the nearfield. Tried with my TV, not good. But with one's noggin
two feet from the speakers placed on either side of a monitor and the speakers 30 or so inches apart, very good sound. Put your monitor on a stand and then get the KEF LSX II LT for $399 at Costco. Good for a TV as well.

 

[Folktale]

Big fan of Edifier M60, especially for the price. I have zero issues with it as a desktop speaker in the nearfield. Tried with my TV, not good. But with one's noggin
two feet from the speakers placed on either side of a monitor and the speakers 30 or so inches apart, very good sound. Put your monitor on a stand and then get the KEF LSX II LT for $399 at Costco. Good for a TV as well.

M60 are although made specifically for entertainment so they will be good. I am using 1280DB edifier for my TV and it is great. I don't feel like I need bass to accompany it as I am satisfied with that kind of bass.

 

[Folktale]

Ok, God darn, this is very weird. I moved my tower on the ground and made space for my Edifier 1280DB to compare them to my current cheap speakers. I played them and while the lows are better and there is some details but the difference is not that much. I mean, these costs 12 times than my cheap speakers. And the mids takes a step back in dialogue and I couldn't hear dialogues properly in many scenes. I switch to my cheap speakers and the dialogues are very clear.

The edifiers are at an angle (15) and tried making an equilateral triangle. Dunno if I am just insensitive to the audio or the edifiers are overrated or the cheap speakers are pretty good.

 

[staticV3]

Ok, God darn, this is very weird. I moved my tower on the ground and made space for my Edifier 1280DB to compare them to my current cheap speakers. I played them and while the lows are better and there is some details but the difference is not that much. I mean, these costs 12 times than my cheap speakers. And the mids takes a step back in dialogue and I couldn't hear dialogues properly in many scenes. I switch to my cheap speakers and the dialogues are very clear.

The edifiers are at an angle (15) and tried making an equilateral triangle. Dunno if I am just insensitive to the audio or the edifiers are overrated or the cheap speakers are pretty good.

The Edifier R1280 is not that good a speaker:

Edifier R1280T Powered Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf (computer) Speakers. I purchased a few weeks ago at a cost of US $99 for a pair including Prime shipping. Yes, a pair of powered speakers for just $99. Incredible value if the performance is there. I must say...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Folktale]

The Edifier R1280 is not that good a speaker:

Edifier R1280T Powered Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf (computer) Speakers. I purchased a few weeks ago at a cost of US $99 for a pair including Prime shipping. Yes, a pair of powered speakers for just $99. Incredible value if the performance is there. I must say...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I bought it after seeing Z reviews review. And everybody on reddit vouches for this. I also doubt the MR3s gonna be any better.

EDIT: Seeing the review he did put it on the recommended list.

 

[DWPress]

I recently picked up a pair of MR3's for casual desktop use and I'm very impressed with the sound they put out. Here is a link to the thread I put up last week with measurements and I even added a sub a few days ago.

 

[Folktale]

I recently picked up a pair of MR3's for casual desktop use and I'm very impressed with the sound they put out. Here is a link to the thread I put up last week with measurements and I even added a sub a few days ago.

Interesting. However, I have budget limitations (I will be soon upgrading my system in this cursed PC market situation) and I really want to be sure if something is worth that kind of money cause I am talking about a mere $10 vs $140 speaker. I am, definitely not an audiophile so maybe that's why the difference is not that big of $130. It would have been cool if there was a return window on amazon here.

 

[whazzup]

Ok, God darn, this is very weird. I moved my tower on the ground and made space for my Edifier 1280DB to compare them to my current cheap speakers. I played them and while the lows are better and there is some details but the difference is not that much. I mean, these costs 12 times than my cheap speakers. And the mids takes a step back in dialogue and I couldn't hear dialogues properly in many scenes. I switch to my cheap speakers and the dialogues are very clear.

The edifiers are at an angle (15) and tried making an equilateral triangle. Dunno if I am just insensitive to the audio or the edifiers are overrated or the cheap speakers are pretty good.

Great that you can try out your 1280db on your desktop.

Don't worry, you're not crazy for liking your pc speakers.
Remember, you're already accustomed to the sound of your brighter speakers. AND, you likely watch your TV, and listen to the 1280db, at a much further distance. When you have them on your desk, the bass is going to hit you harder because they're much nearer. Next, they're up against the back wall, so there's boundary gain and the bass is essentially increased from the wall reflection.

And, have you adjusted the bass and treble tone controls on the 1280db? Since they're now so close to you, based on your preference you can try cutting the bass so as not to overwhelm the mids and highs.

If you want a bit more control, try playing frequency sweeps. For example, for the 200-20hz, you ideally want each frequency to sound equally loud. But in reality, you'll find that certain frequencies will be louder and some will be softer. That's the room reflections making certain frequencies disproportionately loud, which muddy up the audio. For example you might find 130-135hz much louder. The bass tone control can help change the balance by reducing the bass frequencies but it's a rougher tool because it reduces a wider range of frequencies. For more precise adjustments, you will need EQ software. They can target a tighter range, for example, just reducing the volume for 130hz if the frequency is too loud from where you sit.

The YouTube channel has a lot of other frequency sweeps as well.

And of course, the 1280db will roll off somewhere below 50-60hz because they're not designed to play that low. This is where the subwoofer shows up.

Now, why does almost everyone recommends MR3? Because it's a pretty neutral speaker, definitely more neutral / balanced in frequencies than the 1280db. Would that justify the money spent though, compared to using the 1280db? May not be, because you may be perfectly content with the 1280db or your current pc speakers. Which was why I suggested to you to test the 1280db on your desk first.

And which was also why my next suggestion was, if you still want 'better' sound than your 1280db, put the money into a subwoofer like the T5s first. Because that fills in the missing 30-50hz that your speakers cannot provide you with.

Then finally if you really crave a more 'balanced' sound profile, that's when you can go for the MR3.

 

[Folktale]

Great that you can try out your 1280db on your desktop.

Don't worry, you're not crazy for liking your pc speakers.
Remember, you're already accustomed to the sound of your brighter speakers. AND, you likely watch your TV, and listen to the 1280db, at a much further distance. When you have them on your desk, the bass is going to hit you harder because they're much nearer. Next, they're up against the back wall, so there's boundary gain and the bass is essentially increased from the wall reflection.

And, have you adjusted the bass and treble tone controls on the 1280db? Since they're now so close to you, based on your preference you can try cutting the bass so as not to overwhelm the mids and highs.

If you want a bit more control, try playing frequency sweeps. For example, for the 200-20hz, you ideally want each frequency to sound equally loud. But in reality, you'll find that certain frequencies will be louder and some will be softer. That's the room reflections making certain frequencies disproportionately loud, which muddy up the audio. For example you might find 130-135hz much louder. The bass tone control can help change the balance by reducing the bass frequencies but it's a rougher tool because it reduces a wider range of frequencies. For more precise adjustments, you will need EQ software. They can target a tighter range, for example, just reducing the volume for 130hz if the frequency is too loud from where you sit.

The YouTube channel has a lot of other frequency sweeps as well.

And of course, the 1280db will roll off somewhere below 50-60hz because they're not designed to play that low. This is where the subwoofer shows up.

Now, why does almost everyone recommends MR3? Because it's a pretty neutral speaker, definitely more neutral / balanced in frequencies than the 1280db. Would that justify the money spent though, compared to using the 1280db? May not be, because you may be perfectly content with the 1280db or your current pc speakers. Which was why I suggested to you to test the 1280db on your desk first.

And which was also why my next suggestion was, if you still want 'better' sound than your 1280db, put the money into a subwoofer like the T5s first. Because that fills in the missing 30-50hz that your speakers cannot provide you with.

Then finally if you really crave a more 'balanced' sound profile, that's when you can go for the MR3.

The speakers had more space between them and the wall with PC and I did adjust the bass. The bass was not overpowering anything but the mids just came like muddy at certain parts. They are more near to the wall when using with TV.

 

[whazzup]

The speakers had more space between them and the wall with PC and I did adjust the bass. The bass was not overpowering anything but the mids just came like muddy at certain parts. They are more near to the wall when using with TV.

Yes, desk bounce is a thing that can affect the midrange frequencies, you can google it. A cheap way to mitigate the impact is to have your speakers on food containers (mainly because they're cheap and sturdy) so that the tweeter is at your ear level and the woofer is a distance away from the desk.

If you want to try to hear differences between your f203g and 1280db speakers by ear, a more consistent way is to use pink noise (easily found on youtube). This video is an example of this, where Erin records the audio from a speaker with unbalanced frequency response (huge dip 5-8khz, rising treble) and compares it to the original pink noise. It should not be hard for you to clearly hear a difference in the audio balance on adequate speakers or earphones. I've started the clip a few seconds before the audio samples start.

 

[Folktale]

Yes, desk bounce is a thing that can affect the midrange frequencies, you can google it. A cheap way to mitigate the impact is to have your speakers on food containers (mainly because they're cheap and sturdy) so that the tweeter is at your ear level and the woofer is a distance away from the desk.

If you want to try to hear differences between your f203g and 1280db speakers by ear, a more consistent way is to use pink noise (easily found on youtube). This video is an example of this, where Erin records the audio from a speaker with unbalanced frequency response (huge dip 5-8khz, rising treble) and compares it to the original pink noise. It should not be hard for you to clearly hear a difference in the audio balance on adequate speakers or earphones. I've started the clip a few seconds before the audio samples start.

What's a better deal in your opinion (Considering I won't be adding any subwoofer later): JBL 104 BT @$86 or MR3 @$95.5

 

[whazzup]

What's a better deal in your opinion (Considering I won't be adding any subwoofer later): JBL 104 BT @$86 or MR3 @$95.5

To be honest, you won't go wrong with either of them. MR3 for a slightly higher price allows you to easily tune bass and treble to your preference, so that will be my pick.

 

[Folktale]

To be honest, you won't go wrong with either of them. MR3 for a slightly higher price allows you to easily tune bass and treble to your preference, so that will be my pick.

I will wait for a day or two and hope the MR3s get a discount.

 

[staticV3]

I also doubt the MR3s gonna be any better.

Here are the LW responses of all three:



The MR3 is easily the nicest of them.

 

[whazzup]

(Considering I won't be adding any subwoofer later)

Note that all the speakers that you have (f203g / 1280db), or plan to have (MR3 / 104BT), by the very nature of their physical sizes, deal with frequencies above ~80hz and roll off steeply below that. They can play frequencies around 60-80hz, but it's at diminished volumes, they do not have the physical ability to vibrate air molecules enough to recreate bass frequencies properly. Between the 4 of them, MR3 / 104BT are better because they have a more linear / consistent frequency response. They are reproducing the same 80-20khz audio range that your f203g / 1280db does, just in a more controlled fashion.

A subwoofer's role is to fill in the 20-80hz 'bass' region, while budget subs usually can't go that low and instead try to hit 35-45hz.
These days, whether it's games or movies or music, audio producers do make use of those frequencies to create impact and immersive experiences. 'Well-balanced' to us means trying to reproduce the 20-20,000hz audible range, which generally can't be done with just desk speakers alone. Speaking in very general terms, even if you were to triple your budget, it's hard for buy 'speakers' that can fit on a desk to reproduce the 20-80hz. That's why you have the 2.1 systems like Klipsch promedia series which includes a subwoofer that you place on the floor.

But I can see you have some fear of not being able to tame a subwoofer, or maybe a dislike for 'boomy' bass (which is a set up issue, not equipment issue). So the MR3 will probably be more than sufficient for your needs.

 

[Folktale]

Note that all the speakers that you have (f203g / 1280db), or plan to have (MR3 / 104BT), by the very nature of their physical sizes, deal with frequencies above ~80hz and roll off steeply below that. They can play frequencies around 60-80hz, but it's at diminished volumes, they do not have the physical ability to vibrate air molecules enough to recreate bass frequencies properly. Between the 4 of them, MR3 / 104BT are better because they have a more linear / consistent frequency response. They are reproducing the same 80-20khz audio range that your f203g / 1280db does, just in a more controlled fashion.

A subwoofer's role is to fill in the 20-80hz 'bass' region, while budget subs usually can't go that low and instead try to hit 35-45hz.
These days, whether it's games or movies or music, audio producers do make use of those frequencies to create impact and immersive experiences. 'Well-balanced' to us means trying to reproduce the 20-20,000hz audible range, which generally can't be done with just desk speakers alone. Speaking in very general terms, even if you were to triple your budget, it's hard for buy 'speakers' that can fit on a desk to reproduce the 20-80hz. That's why you have the 2.1 systems like Klipsch promedia series which includes a subwoofer that you place on the floor.

But I can see you have some fear of not being able to tame a subwoofer, or maybe a dislike for 'boomy' bass (which is a set up issue, not equipment issue). So the MR3 will probably be more than sufficient for your needs.

They are still not giving any discounts. Meanwhile, Swans M10 is available for $60 but couldn't find any charts on that thing.

 

[Folktale]

Here are the LW responses of all three:

View attachment 549987 View attachment 549988 View attachment 549989

The MR3 is easily the nicest of them.

Just waiting for a nice discount on it.