Hi Guys,
Sorry for long post - but I want to put in some context so that you can understand what I am trying to achieve.
I work as a developer and usually I listen to music for long hours when working, I have 40" screen on arm centered on 180cm x 80cm (6ft x 2.6ft) solid beech table in corner of a room.
I am located in Europe so some of the stuff is either not available or wildly differently priced than in the US (not to bother you happy to research if stuff is available around me, just use 1.2€ = 1$ - which usually matches the pricing differences between EU & US).
Now the game is - with budget of 500€ (you can run over if meaningful):
- upgrade the setup for best audio for both listening to music and having videocalls
- upgrade the microphone as well (I hate how some of my colleagues have some cheap-ass headset microphone and sound like they are in the bathroom - so I want to be an example and kickstart the change of actually acoustically pleasing video calls
)
- Figure out good way of volume control and output switching for both the Headphones and the speakers (right now I control the volume for speakers via Windows (and it sucks) and for the headphones I use the pot on FiiO E10k - which started rustling - and the E10K pot is pretty difficult to clean)
- I do not need super strong sub-bass as it is pretty tiring to my ears - so definitely I dont need subwoofer or such
- I can fit up to 6" (very narrow 7") speakers next to my monitor nicely
- Figure out whether to put some money into acoustic treatment of the corner/front wall or if its better to put the money elsewhere
- Same goes for custom EQ with measurement mic
FYI: I have some electrical engineering knowledge and I have built speakers and power amplifier of my own in the past (I don't use the power amp anymore but I still keep the tower speakers with my TV as they sound pretty good - definitely comparable with the likes of Q Acoustics 3050) - so I am not afraid of hacking (and 3D printing) some stuff up.
_______________________________________________________
Current setup:
Edifier R1700BT - via onboard soundcard (Realtek ALC1220 on a higher-end x470 board - though who knows what will be my next board or laptop)
Sennehiser HD598 SE + FiiO E10K (I might try to switch them out for Sennheisers HD 600/650/660/6XX but so far I am more than happy with them)
10$ Trust Primo microphone via the onboard soundcard (for what it is it still sounds better than some of my colleagues mics)
______________________________________________________
Here is first draft of what I have in mind:
Speakers:
- Seems that Swissonic A305 is unbeatable at this pricepoint - 200€
Speaker stands: 58€
- t.akustik Iso-Pad 5 - 15€
- Roadworx Speaker Isolation Stand - 43€ (in bundle with swissonic A305)
(this gets me 4° tilt up + 18cm elevation -> tweeter exactly on axis with my ears)
Measurement mic: 40€ Superlux ECM999
- does it make sense to actually invest into one? I mean my desk is not very good acoustically speaking -> it might help a lot in the end - not sure what my expectations should be here.
USB Mic: 40€
Audio interface/DAC: 110 €
- twice Moondrop Dawn Pro (50€ each)
- although the Moondrop Dawn Pro is nowhere measured it should be probably very similar to the TANCHJIM Space - also dual CS43131
- desolder the volume control buttons and replace them with rotary encoders with microcontroller that sends the pulses to the Moondrop (10€)
- or some other Audio interface/DAC - is there something where you can easily switch between Monitors and headphones (with separate volume knobs) - if there is something - I might switch the USB Mic to XLR mic (though I couldnt find anything that enables you to easily switch headphones and monitors - as I never want to run both together)
Audio interface for the Measurement Mic: 30€ (I might just borrow one from a friend as I will be doing the measurements couple of times anyway - or add it to the budget for the DAC/Audio interface)
Bass trap for the corner: 15€
Absorber Panels behind the speakers: 50€
Total = 513€
_____________________________________________________
Alternative setup - speakers all-in:
- Emotiva B1 - 300€
- Fosi V3 (or similar china amp) - 100 €
- FiiO E10K + the onboard soundcard stays - 0€
- Arduino MicroPro controller that will convert rotary encoder into Windows colume control (+ some buttons for mute et al) - 10€
- ~40$ USB mic
Total = 460€
Sidenote: I know that lots of this might require lots of time that I do not calculate into the total cost - but this is hobby project and as long as I have fun and I achieve the set goal, I don't care
_____________________________________________________
Now what would you ditch as "premature optimization" or what would you replace or add to the project's "shopping" list.
Thank you so much for any hints/tips
Sorry for long post - but I want to put in some context so that you can understand what I am trying to achieve.
I work as a developer and usually I listen to music for long hours when working, I have 40" screen on arm centered on 180cm x 80cm (6ft x 2.6ft) solid beech table in corner of a room.
I am located in Europe so some of the stuff is either not available or wildly differently priced than in the US (not to bother you happy to research if stuff is available around me, just use 1.2€ = 1$ - which usually matches the pricing differences between EU & US).
Now the game is - with budget of 500€ (you can run over if meaningful):
- upgrade the setup for best audio for both listening to music and having videocalls
- upgrade the microphone as well (I hate how some of my colleagues have some cheap-ass headset microphone and sound like they are in the bathroom - so I want to be an example and kickstart the change of actually acoustically pleasing video calls
)- Figure out good way of volume control and output switching for both the Headphones and the speakers (right now I control the volume for speakers via Windows (and it sucks) and for the headphones I use the pot on FiiO E10k - which started rustling - and the E10K pot is pretty difficult to clean)
- I do not need super strong sub-bass as it is pretty tiring to my ears - so definitely I dont need subwoofer or such
- I can fit up to 6" (very narrow 7") speakers next to my monitor nicely
- Figure out whether to put some money into acoustic treatment of the corner/front wall or if its better to put the money elsewhere
- Same goes for custom EQ with measurement mic
FYI: I have some electrical engineering knowledge and I have built speakers and power amplifier of my own in the past (I don't use the power amp anymore but I still keep the tower speakers with my TV as they sound pretty good - definitely comparable with the likes of Q Acoustics 3050) - so I am not afraid of hacking (and 3D printing) some stuff up.
_______________________________________________________
Current setup:
Edifier R1700BT - via onboard soundcard (Realtek ALC1220 on a higher-end x470 board - though who knows what will be my next board or laptop)
Sennehiser HD598 SE + FiiO E10K (I might try to switch them out for Sennheisers HD 600/650/660/6XX but so far I am more than happy with them)
10$ Trust Primo microphone via the onboard soundcard (for what it is it still sounds better than some of my colleagues mics)
______________________________________________________
Here is first draft of what I have in mind:
Speakers:
- Seems that Swissonic A305 is unbeatable at this pricepoint - 200€
Speaker stands: 58€
- t.akustik Iso-Pad 5 - 15€
- Roadworx Speaker Isolation Stand - 43€ (in bundle with swissonic A305)
(this gets me 4° tilt up + 18cm elevation -> tweeter exactly on axis with my ears)
Measurement mic: 40€ Superlux ECM999
- does it make sense to actually invest into one? I mean my desk is not very good acoustically speaking -> it might help a lot in the end - not sure what my expectations should be here.
USB Mic: 40€
Audio interface/DAC: 110 €
- twice Moondrop Dawn Pro (50€ each)
- although the Moondrop Dawn Pro is nowhere measured it should be probably very similar to the TANCHJIM Space - also dual CS43131
- desolder the volume control buttons and replace them with rotary encoders with microcontroller that sends the pulses to the Moondrop (10€)
- or some other Audio interface/DAC - is there something where you can easily switch between Monitors and headphones (with separate volume knobs) - if there is something - I might switch the USB Mic to XLR mic (though I couldnt find anything that enables you to easily switch headphones and monitors - as I never want to run both together)
Audio interface for the Measurement Mic: 30€ (I might just borrow one from a friend as I will be doing the measurements couple of times anyway - or add it to the budget for the DAC/Audio interface)
Bass trap for the corner: 15€
Absorber Panels behind the speakers: 50€
Total = 513€
_____________________________________________________
Alternative setup - speakers all-in:
- Emotiva B1 - 300€
- Fosi V3 (or similar china amp) - 100 €
- FiiO E10K + the onboard soundcard stays - 0€
- Arduino MicroPro controller that will convert rotary encoder into Windows colume control (+ some buttons for mute et al) - 10€
- ~40$ USB mic
Total = 460€
Sidenote: I know that lots of this might require lots of time that I do not calculate into the total cost - but this is hobby project and as long as I have fun and I achieve the set goal, I don't care
_____________________________________________________
Now what would you ditch as "premature optimization" or what would you replace or add to the project's "shopping" list.
Thank you so much for any hints/tips
