Desktop Speaker Recommendations

[trainzach17]

Looking for recommendations for new speakers for my PC. I've been running a fairly old 5.1 channel surround system off my motherboards built in audio for probably 8 years now. I just moved and with the move got myself a new desk that combined with the new space my setup is in, won't lend itself well to the surround system. Also, the system was cheap so I'm not attached to it.

I'm a complete novice in the audio space, so I'm not really sure what I should be looking for. My thoughts are to get 2 speakers for on the desk and maybe a subwoofer under the desk. If I need a receiver/controller to connect the speakers properly to my PC for a better audio experience, I'll need recommendations for something there as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[8tg]

My parents home setup includes this little kit I bought them a while ago,

https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-certified-computer-speaker
It’s highly recommended for its price point across the board, very good value and from my own personal experience with the kit, I definitely have the same sentiment.

Though this is laid out as a more traditional PC audio setup, it’s meant to be right around your monitor, versus something like larger speakers at a distance.

You won’t need anything fancy for this, your motherboard should have all the connectivity required if you’re currently running a 5.1 setup. If you’re interested in higher end audio playback you may want to look at dedicated sound cards but for a sub 150$ set of speakers I personally wouldn’t bother.

 

All this depends on budget and use case however, if you’re down to drop a grand on audio hardware that can change things significantly.

 

[GuiltySpark_]

I say skip the ever-popular Klipsch "computer speakers" and get yourself a proper set of powered monitors. You can continue to use your onboard audio. Do you have a budget? 

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/c405--Active_Monitors

[Dedayog]

If you are dead set on a 2.1 PC speaker setup then the Klipsch set is your go to.  Otherwise look at a 2.0 setup with powered monitors like @rickeo mentions.

 

I have used 5.1 for my PC as well as my home theatre for many years and I am now using powered monitors for my PC and a 3.1 setup for my living room.

 

I doubt I'll ever go back to a subwoofer inclusion for my PC as 5" monitors are more than enough low end for gaming or mild music.  If you use your PC for blasting music to the entire house, may want to look into other solutions.

 

Quality of audio > # of speakers you can cram into a small area.

[trainzach17]

55 minutes ago, rickeo said:

I say skip the ever-popular Klipsch "computer speakers" and get yourself a proper set of powered monitors. You can continue to use your onboard audio. Do you have a budget? 

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/c405--Active_Monitors

@rickeo I don't really have a budget in mind. $500 USD would probably be about my maximum if I had to put a price out there, but there's definitely flexibility.

[geo3]

If you can find them in stock any of the Swan powered monitors in that price range will do great. Like D1080, D1090, D300, M200 or similar. 

[Dedayog]

41 minutes ago, trainzach17 said:

@rickeo I don't really have a budget in mind. $500 USD would probably be about my maximum if I had to put a price out there, but there's definitely flexibility.

$500 is more than plenty for a pair of studio monitors, For what you need, just PC use... you'll be fine with a $200 pair.  5" monitors are around that.

 

Unless you're some "audiophile" or doing production on your PC (which is sounds like you're neither), then $500 is lot of money for speakers for a PC.

[GuiltySpark_]

I'm in agreement ^

 

Though.. how great does this look (and likely sound) for under budget. 

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ErisE5XT-T8--presonus-eris-e5xt-powered-studio-monitor-pair-with-temblor-t8-subwoofer

[Dedayog]

9 minutes ago, rickeo said:

I'm in agreement ^

 

Though.. how great does this look (and likely sound) for under budget. 

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ErisE5XT-T8--presonus-eris-e5xt-powered-studio-monitor-pair-with-temblor-t8-subwoofer

I dig that pesonally, though I know this is the OP's thread   To clarify, you DO NOT NEED a sub with the 5" studios... but it looks damn good for filling a room.

 

Mackie has a matching sub I'd pair with my 5" CR5BT's too.

 

So, Mackie CR5-XBT + Sub for $420?

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CR5XBT--mackie-cr5-xbt-5-inch-multimedia-monitors-with-bluetooth?mrkgadid=1000000&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gdsa&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=studio&recording&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=39700065529675336&lid=39700065529675336&ds_s_kwgid=58700007302028584&device=c&network=g&matchtype=b&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010943&creative=538076596770&targetid=aud-994727060045:dsa-1460500202357&campaignid=6730319008&awsearchcpc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwY-LBhD6ARIsACvT72Mh6qyTYb4FYIA1EU421Q3Bdd6i-dijDsSBVR0kpZxo5drDQuY_TSQaAlKwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Plus...

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CR8SXBT--mackie-cr8s-xbt-8-inch-multimedia-subwoofer-with-bluetooth

 

 

 

 

[GuiltySpark_]

1 minute ago, Dedayog said:

I dig that pesonally, though I know this is the OP's thread

 

Mackie has a matching sub I'd pair with my 5" CR5BT's too.

 

So, Mackie CR5-XBT + Sub for $420?

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CR5XBT--mackie-cr5-xbt-5-inch-multimedia-monitors-with-bluetooth?mrkgadid=1000000&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gdsa&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=studio&recording&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=39700065529675336&lid=39700065529675336&ds_s_kwgid=58700007302028584&device=c&network=g&matchtype=b&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010943&creative=538076596770&targetid=aud-994727060045:dsa-1460500202357&campaignid=6730319008&awsearchcpc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwY-LBhD6ARIsACvT72Mh6qyTYb4FYIA1EU421Q3Bdd6i-dijDsSBVR0kpZxo5drDQuY_TSQaAlKwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Plus...

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CR8SXBT--mackie-cr8s-xbt-8-inch-multimedia-subwoofer-with-bluetooth

 

 

 

 

That would be a solid setup and miles ahead of what he had previously. 

[Dedayog]

20 minutes ago, rickeo said:

That would be a solid setup and miles ahead of what he had previously. 

Aye, I am looking at picking up that sub now too.

Also, Costco has the Klipsch 2.1 set for $79.99 (though it was $69.99 a few months ago ).  May grab that for the Plex server, as my niece uses it for her gaming when she's over.

[trainzach17]

@Dedayog @rickeo Thanks for all your input! I think I have enough to go on for getting what I need now. 2 monitors should be perfect for the space. I'll save the money and skip the sub for now.

[Udaku]

Get a triple moniter setup, and use the right and left arms to hold the speakers. Looks clean.

[Dedayog]

40 minutes ago, Udaku said:

Get a triple moniter setup, and use the right and left arms to hold the speakers. Looks clean.

Uhm, clean is a in the eye of the beholder   That's an eyeball killer right there.

 

But I like the idea of the arms though, pretty smart.

[IPD]

They make clamp-on speaker mounts, you don't HAVE to go VESA mount on a 3 monitor setup.

 

https://www.amazon.com/JL-Audio-PS-SWMCP-B-1-250-Enclosed-diameter/dp/B01N2L6DXX

 

All you gotta do is match up the clamping diameter with the size/shape of whatever you want to mount to.

[EndoliteMatrix]

On 10/11/2021 at 11:15 AM, trainzach17 said:

Looking for recommendations for new speakers for my PC. I've been running a fairly old 5.1 channel surround system off my motherboards built in audio for probably 8 years now. I just moved and with the move got myself a new desk that combined with the new space my setup is in, won't lend itself well to the surround system. Also, the system was cheap so I'm not attached to it.

I'm a complete novice in the audio space, so I'm not really sure what I should be looking for. My thoughts are to get 2 speakers for on the desk and maybe a subwoofer under the desk. If I need a receiver/controller to connect the speakers properly to my PC for a better audio experience, I'll need recommendations for something there as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

What is your budget?