Asklemmy

I'm not an audiophile but I am a dj and music producer. I'd say the others who commented so far say not to look for "computer speakers" and they're right. Soundbars and all that crap will sound like shit compared to any set of regular speakers.

But I wanted to add that the easiest speakers to buy and use are probably powered speakers. Meaning that you power the speaker directly with a power cable, and you send the speaker the audio signal. Other non powered speakers require an amplifier/receiver. Aka a third piece of gear you'd probably rather not have to research or buy.

So I'd recommend any powered speakers that are within your budget. Larger speakers will yield more bass because they can move more air aeound. Sound is just wiggly air. Depending on your room size, I'd probably recommend something at least with 7inch or bigger bass drivers (the bigger speaker cone). Someone else mentioned KRK which is a pretty cheap brand but they don't sound terrible especially if you go for the larger ones.

As far as connecting powered speakers to your computer goes, it's really not that expensive to buy a simple audio interface. I'd highly recommend the focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I have one as a secondary interface to my main one. It's rock solid. Just plug it in and it works. There's a volume knob on the front. Get some quarter inch audio cables to go from the back of your focusrite to the powered speakers. Done. Enjoy and hopefully this helps.

Edit: I should add that I've been using a pair of Fostex PM2 mkii powered speakers as my main music production speakers for the past 10+ years. I write, mix and master every song I've released. Look me up on Spotify. My most popular song has over half a million plays. I mixed and mastered that song myself on my trusty Fostex. So hopefully that makes my advice more credible.

Don't search for computer speakers, just look for normal speakers on which I can't help out too much on. Unless you want to invest into an expensive sound card, you probably should go for an AV-Receiver which transmits the audio through HDMI as this will give you the maximum quality depending on the supported formats. I have a sound card -> old school amplifier -> speaker setup. Basically it is your choice where the digital to analogue transformation happens, whether through a receiver or sound card. A sound card does have the massive advantage of providing virtual headphone surround sound (yes on stereo headphones, and no, this is really working) which receivers typically don't have, because reasons and it will provide you with a massive immersion boost. And no onboard sound is not comparable, even the best one is a clear step down.

I don't know that I'd consider myself an audiophile, but I am a musician. I run a pair of powered studio monitors out of the back of a Focusrite Scarlett usb audio interface for recording, and it's way better than any computer speakers I've ever owned in terms of sound quality and fidelity. Of course, I'm also not trying to have a dance club setup that's going to rattle the windows on my nextdoor neighbor's house with super-ultra-mega bass, but it's an avenue to consider.

I don't know if I would consider myself an "audiophile" but I do DJ for myself and like to have a decent set of speakers.

I have owned a few pairs of KRK Rokit speakers and currently have a set of Rokit 6's. I like them for their overall pretty neutral sound, ideally I would have a sub along with it but space is an issue for me right now so I can make do. They have a sufficient amount of bass for my small flat by themselves to be honest.

I run them through my DJ controller (Traktor S4 mk3 if you care) and have run past pairs I've owned through other DJ controllers and basic focusrite USB audio interfaces.

I wouldn't say these are super high end but I find they offer a very good listening experience for not a great deal of money (I always buy second hand where I can), this set set me back around £160 if I remember correctly.

The most important parts are missing from your question.

How much money are you willing to spend? Do you just want small 2 way speakers or small + subwoofer or 3 way speakers?

As someone else mentioned, KRK can be pretty good value but decent active studio monitors start around the 200$ area at the minimum. This site is my go to for audio stuff https://www.thomannmusic.com/active_nearfield_monitors.html

I have been happily using a pair of Fostex PM0.4C that i got on sale for 250€ but i dont know how availability is wherever you are.

This Focusrite Scarlett Solo is THE standard audio interface you will find in many budget or mobile audio studios, but this is not really needed for most people. https://www.thomannmusic.com/focusrite_scarlett_solo_4th_gen.htm

With no budget listed I’m gonna go with KEF R3, KEF LS50, Elac DBR62, various Genelec models, Kef Q350, Yamaha HS-8 or HS-5

Audio Science Review

Also look for Erin’s Audio Corner.

I also highly recommend the Topping e50 and PA5. I use them with the KEF R3 for my main stereo listening.

Apparently Topping recently came out with the DM7 as a multichannel DAC if you want surround sound but then you’ll need a few amps.

Honestly you should also look into acoustic room treatment. Properly done it can improve any speaker. When not done, it can potentially make any speaker sound shitty.

Your budget will play a role. I 100% agree with people saying don't get computer speakers if you're looking for quality, but the catch is they need to be powered.

I did a bunch of research and got the below on sale after a few reccos and agonizing over specs. For reference, previously I have used spreadsheets to tune a room to a flat frequency response with my own custom crossover designs, so... I'm picky.

I've been happy with my choice. And since they are fairly portable, they are versatile. Also used them with a Midi keyboard and a portable projector.

Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - Wireless Studio Monitors - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42W RMS - Wood Grain (Black) https://a.co/d/0cpcTsI0

A friend of mine who owns a music studio recommended Edifiers to me, and they sound great. He was originally looking for a cheap temporary studio monitor and bought a pair and ended up liking them just as well as his expensive studio monitors. My wife and I have 3 pairs of them for 3 different computer systems and have been really happy with them.

Honestly just keep your old ones.

Speaker technology hasn't exactly advanced by leaps and bounds like graphics. The greatest innovations have mainly been adding RGB lights and manufacturing then more cheaply.

I have a pair of Bose Companion 2 Series III's. I wanted a simple 2.0 set that looked unassuming and sounded good. I bought them refurbished for about half the price and it's a great set if you have the same requirements as I did. The sound is good for a home office/gaming set in a small room. Clear, bassy where needed and way louder than you'd probably need.

Normal hifi gear, particularly second hand can sound way way better than generic computer crap. However normal hi-fi speakers are designed to work best a certain distance from the wall **and ** a certain distance from you. These distances vary between speakers but it is important to check this before spending any cash as some speakers need to be many feet from you, which isn't always remotely practical for most pc setups.

I went with Dali Minutes for this reason, so they can be right on the wall and really close to me. I paired mine with a Rega Brio amp and RME ADI 2 USB DAC, then added a monitor audio sub later.

Most proper studio monitors are designed for near field listening they also make a good choice although they can be a little clean for some people's taste.

When I researched and tested some, I found the Presonus Eris E3.5 to be the best bang for the buck. The other close one was Mackie CR3, but the Presonus is better.

I run a pair of Audioengine combined with a 24bit DAC of the same brand and they sound great without breaking the bank too much.

I use an audio interface with bookshelf speakers... mostly overkill for people who don't make music because they have xlr and line level inputs for using a professional mic.

Do you have room in your computer setup for two bookshelf speakers at ear height? Because otherwise, I'd recommend a sound bar type of deal.

Not an audiophile but I've been using Eltax Monitor III speakers with a SMSL Q5 Pro amp for years. I believe it's a nice 2.0 setup for around 250€.

Assuming you have at least a 5.1 capable sound card, the Edifier S760D is the best powered surround set up I’ve been able to find. There really doesn’t seem to be a lot of options anymore but for gaming and movies/tv the surround is definitely worth it.

Edit: Though looking around it seems like they’re basically impossible to find atm

Im no audiophile but here are my takes

For powered bookshelf speakers : either presonus eris 4.5 (with or without bt) or edifier r1700bt but mostly leaning to presonus, i went with edifier since presonus was priced almost double in my country.

Here's a good sample of these speakers

https://youtu.be/dB_4zqiaY5g

I bought a Fosi BT20A and connected regular speakers to it

Logitech Z623 are great, I've had them for over a decade now and they're still pretty great

Still haven't heard better computer speakers than the standard Klipsch $100-150 stereo speakers with the sub that have been around for 25 years with minor aesthetic changes.

Vanatoo transparent zeros, you can use optical input if your motherboard has optical out (mine did and I didn't select for it intentionally) cleanest audio ever and you can tell the difference in HD audio compared to mp3/Spotify

They have other speakers but these are the best for Desktop use. They also support USB for audio! https://vanatoo.com/shop/speakers/transparent-zero-plus/

You might consider the Mackie Crx Cubes. They use bmr drivers that allow a wider Soundstage without needing as much physical space and can be had at a pretty reasonable price. Bass is lacking though, so allocate funding for a small woofer if you want the absolute best experience.

I don’t know if it’s possible to be an audiophile anymore. I haven’t seen a store where you can compare gear since the 1980’s.

I don’t know if it’s in your budget but I have had good luck buying Pyle amps and klipsche speakers.

The change the amps constantly https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/679325-REG/Pyle_Pro_PTAU45_PTAU45_Mini_120_Watt.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1753664-REG/klipsch_1069855_r_40m_reference_bookshelf_speakers.html

This "Amazon's Choice" is actually really valid, I've had mine for a few years and they perform great

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers https://a.co/d/03UMQk4c

I'm running a pair of JBL 305p MKIIs with the matching LSR310S sub. I have it hooked to my PC and mixer with a Behringer UMC204HD which allows me to record the signal from my mixer. I've been happy with them for a couple of years now. Regardless, I would recommend studio monitors if you want a true sound.