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[dannethmps]

Mordaunt Short setup for me

 

[Witchfinder General]

My updated set-up:

Breakdown of the gear:

Front speakers - Sonus Faber Liuto Towers in Rosewood
Centre speaker - Dynaudio Contour Centre S C Rosewood
Rear speakers - Legend Joey II Jarrah
Sub - Ruark Log-Rhythm
Processor - Marantz AB8801
Amp (L & R speakers) - Densen B-150
Amp (Centre and rears) - Marantz SR-9600
TV - Sony W900A 55" LED LCD
Blu-Ray player - Cambridge Audio 651BD (w/region-free mod)
Speaker cable (L & R) - Chord Co. Epic Reference 3m pair

Also pictured is my turntable set-up:

They are:

Turntable - Thorens TD-850 w/Rega RB300 arm
Cartridge - Ortofon MC90 Moving coil
Phonostage - Rega Ios
Headphones - Sennheiser HD800

 

[Corpsepyre]

Use these for my PC and PS3. Kickass headphones, with extremely deep rumble and a LOT of punch. Look into them.

 

[Sputtid]

These aren't speakers but as everyone seems to be posting headphones I might as well do the same.

I'm mostly a portable gamer (notebook and handhelds), so I needed a portable headphone. The Sennheiser Momentum is probably the best on the market right now. They are reeeealy low impedance so even the puny 3DS can drive them to suitable levels.

 

[Reese-015]

Use these for my PC and PS3. Kickass headphones, with extremely deep rumble and a LOT of punch. Look into them.

Hah, my most used headphones aside from my Hammerhead in-ears. Yeah I love the Electra's sound signature. Warm, punchy, wonderfully rumbly and still nice and clear. Avoid if you don't like bass-heavy headphones but if you do, I highly recommend em.

 

[Raistlin]

Once you go active studio gear you don't go back to hifi.

That's a generalization one shouldn't consider hard and fast.

 

[DemonCleaner]

I use a pair of active midfield studio monitors.

and a BK XLS400 12" sub.

Once you go active studio gear you don't go back to hifi.

well great speakers, but the reason they're great isn't due to the fact that they are active. there are a lot of horrible "monitors" also.

 

[Faith]

Active is indeed the better technology because of some obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean that every active loudspeaker is good.

My opinion is: active monitors (with closed subwoofer) for music and a passive setup (with bass reflex subwoofer) for movies.

 

[ChronoX]

and

 

[DemonCleaner]

Active is indeed the better technology because of some obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean that every active loudspeaker is good.

My opinion is: active monitors (with closed subwoofer) for music and a passive setup (with bass reflex subwoofer) for movies.

well there are much more important aspects to a speaker than mainly unhearable losses passive crossover components produce.wickfuts PSI speaker are great because they care about an harmonic energy distribution. a result that can also be achieved with passive speakers. it usually just takes more efforts to get there passive.

 

[Canis lupus]

Beyerdynamic dt880 250ohm

good ole z5500 hooked up to tv and pc

 

[Randy Monk]

I'm still using the Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500. Still working after all these years.

 

[Deku Tree]

Just realized this thread is over a year old. Love all the high end gaming audio love.

 

[Waldo Lydecker]

My room isn't that big and I prefer stereo so I have these awesome and ridiciouly cheap Q Acoustics 1010i's combined with a sub

This brand is awesome, anyone looking for surround speakers I will definitely recommended the Q7000 package.

 

[Tommy DJ]

I use a pair of active midfield studio monitors.

and a BK XLS400 12" sub.

Once you go active studio gear you don't go back to hifi.

Yeah, in most cases active speakers are far better passive speakers if you just want a 2.0 or 2.1 system. HiFi hardware in most cases is just a huge rip-off designed to prey on those that have incomplete knowledge of acoustics. When I look at some of their photos, I can't really believe that they've spent so much money on hardware without bothering with room treatment.

That being said, audiophiles are constantly changing hardware and are often obsessive compulsive so its not difficult to find very cheap hardware that is in immaculate condition on audiophile forums. I got a hold of a NAD C326NEE with a hissing transformer (solution: add a 5V computer fan) for $100 and some perfect condition Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s for $200.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

These are my speakers for my main setup:

And for my computer, I use Adam Audio A7Xs:

I don't have a subwoofer for either setup, though I'm planning on adding one after I move in a few months. And I'm probably going to be replacing the A7Xs, as well... not that they're bad or anything.

I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD650s around here somewhere, but I haven't used them in a long time because I fucking hate headphones. I don't like feeling tethered to something, and they mess up my stylish hair that I took so much time to mess up in the morning.

Anyway, I do like my setups. They're just stereo setups rather than full 5.1, but I'd much rather have a great stereo setup than a decent 5.1, especially when you consider that most games have pretty shoddy sound mixing anyway. Two solid speakers are more than capable of delivering crisp dialogue and enough bombast to make you shit yourself.

And I wouldn't concern yourself with how good a set of speakers is for games -- if it's good for music, it's good for everything. At the end of the day, what you should be looking for is something that produces the most accurate sound possible. While I haven't heard them, personally, I have heard good things about Ascend's speakers... though you're going to need to pair those with a sub, which entails another concern: you're gonna want to factor in the cost of a subwoofer. And unfortunately, subs are kinda pricey, unless you get some boomy piece of shit that's better relegated to some hoodrat's car. You don't want that! Neither do I. Again - the goal is accuracy, because you want the whole system to sound pristine.

So:

Speaker company recommendations for what I think is your price range: Ascend, Aperion, Monitor Audio, SVS

Subwoofer recommendations: SVS, Rythmik, possibly Emotiva

Nice! Those planars look awfully close to the wall though. They don't need to come out farther?

 

[ShapeGSX]

Athena LS-500B s for the fronts:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JE9PZS/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Athena .5s for surround and center:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002H6M0S/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Subwoofer that I can't remember the name of.

2 bass shakers mounted to the underside of my sofa. Great way to spend $150.

Denon 2809ci receiver

It's all budget stuff except for the receiver. But it sounds pretty good for the price I paid.

 

[wickfut]

Yeah, in most cases active speakers are far better passive speakers if you just want a 2.0 or 2.1 system. HiFi hardware in most cases is just a huge rip-off designed to prey on those that have incomplete knowledge of acoustics. When I look at some of their photos, I can't really believe that they've spent so much money on hardware without bothering with room treatment.

Yeah , the philosophy of consumer hifi seems to be to chase the carrot and get as close as possible to how the sound was originally intended. The forums and magazines tend to forget (or rather it'd be bad for business if they remembered) that the place where you're going to hear how it's originally intended is in the studio - or more so the mastering engineers room.
No fancy cables, no fancy power converters, no fancy stands. Just a good sounding room with measurably accurate no frills gear.

 

[Vanillalite]

Just have the stock Yamaha ones that came with my HTIB. They aren't gonna blow anyone away, but they work for my needs. My system is an old pre HDMI setup, butI have no complaints with next gen stuff running Optical and Wii U over analog with DPLI/II.

 

[SMOK3Y]

Muteki 7.2 surround for everything (minus PC) plus Gold Wireless & Pulse

 

[Badlucktroll]

This is pretty much all i have been using.

The Infamous Second Son Audio profile makes the game sound PHENOMENAL.
I always love when this track plays randomly in the game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EQKWBULZeM

My home theater setup (samsung) is being neglected whenever i game.

 

[Seik]

I bought a Samsung F-350 this year, compared to the default speakers from my TV, it's day and night.

While it seems like a very standard setup, I'm loving it so far and it gives me so much more than what I had before. (Nothing, basically.) :lol

 

[Fried Food]

HD600 + Magni amp + Astro Mixamp

Thinking about getting the Bottlehead Crack amp someday

 

[Troy D Chinula]

If you're looking to build a full system, I remember the Pioneer 5.1 speaker package that was designed by Andrew Jones being very, very good for the price. Match that up with some cheap 12 AWG speaker wire and a half decent home theatre receiver from Denon, Pioneer, or Yamaha and you've got a pretty good entry level home theatre system. The total price for everything, assuming you can even find the speaker package anymore, was around $800 USD when I last checked a year ago. Should do a perfectly fine job with music too if you put it into stereo mode.

Can confirm, been using this Andrew Jones Pioneer kit for about 2 years and I love them. Paired with a simple Yamaha RX-V371 I have never been disappointed. Also they were very affordable.

 

[Eiolon]

I use Logitech Z623 for both my PC and my TV.

 

[eternaLightness]

I have the Logitech Z23's as well, for my pc and gaming consoles. Best speakers I've owned. Pretty recently, I've gotten a pair of Sennheiser HD 558's which are awesome and a Fiio E17 DAC mainly for multiple connection purposes.

 

[metalmania4evr]

I'm using KRK VTX8's, $1200 a pair and worth every penny. Though to be fair I have a project studio for audio engineering.

 

[maks]

Edit: Doh....going to put my actual audio setup here.

Yamaha Aventage RX-2030
Bowers & Wilkins CM9 Floorstanding
Bowers & Wilkins CM1 Bookshelf
Bowers & Wilkins CM1 Center
AudioEngine Subwoofer (until i can find a deal on better sub)
BDI Ola (Love this Media Cabinet!)

Bonus...i made the speaker wires myself. Canare 4s11 for fronts, Belden for rears, GLS Banana Plugs, Techflex, and Cable Pants. I organized the wires with velcro ties from Amazon

Audiogaf, i need some speaker stands for the B&W CM1s. I'm hoping to keep costs under $150 while matching my room decor. I'm thinking a gloss white, gloss black, or aluminum would work. Any suggestions? I want to put it between the plant and floating cabinet..

 

[dwells]

Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions, but I do want to commend you on how excellent your living room looks. I love the floating cabinets/counter. Great choice on the B&W speakers by the way.

 

[H4r4kiri]

At Home i got a Yamaha Receiver RX- V571 with JBL Cinema 5.1 Boxes.

In my dorm i play with Astro A50's

Is this okay or should i upgrade ?

 

[Amagon]

Whats the best course of action when I own 2 Behringer power speakers and I want to connect to my Alienware X51 pc or my tv?

 

[Lion Heart]

My passion for audio gear took a nose dive when I developed Otosclerosis in my left ear but this thread reminded me of the days when I use to be really into the scene, I think I bought a new system every 1-2 years.

Ha, wait a minute, I posted my setup in this thread last year.

Maks super awesome room. I was an inch away from buying the CM5s in Rosewood a bit ago, such a beautiful speaker. Still happy with my Paradigm/Rythmik combo but I continue to hunt for a center speaker.

 

[pj]

I'm using Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2's for LCR

Ascend CBM-170SE for surrounds
Onkyo SR-707 receiver (click click click)
Rotel amp for L and R

Love this setup and can't imagine feeling the need to upgrade, other than adding a sub when I eventually move out of this apartment. The Sierra 2 is a noticeable upgrade from the Sierra 1 which was already a great speaker.

 

[maks]

Added my actual audio setup a few posts above.

Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions, but I do want to commend you on how excellent your living room looks. I love the floating cabinets/counter. Great choice on the B&W speakers by the way.

Thank you! The cabinet was on the floor and just didn't look right. I mounted it and built the platform below...actually bought a tabletop from Ikea and cut it down to match. Its such a huge difference!

My passion for audio gear took a nose dive when I developed Otosclerosis in my left ear but this thread reminded me of the days when I use to be really into the scene, I think I bought a new system every 1-2 years.

Ha, wait a minute, I posted my setup in this thread last year.

Maks super awesome room. I was an inch away from buying the CM5s in Rosewood a bit ago, such a beautiful speaker. Still happy with my Paradigm/Rythmik combo but I continue to hunt for a center speaker.

Thanks! I'm loving mine.

 

[LowEndTorque]

my two cents: Audiophiles are music enthusiasts, they try to gather new experiences, emotions and that unlistened sound from music with the use of the highest technology available.

For gaming (or movies from what i personally think), you can do a pretty good job with way less expansive gear.

I agree with this. High grade gear makes a world of difference when it comes to music but not so much when it comes to gaming. A quality headset is more than good enough for games imo.

 

[Loofy]

Guys would a regular HT soundbar work well with a computer?
I got dual monitors and now theres no room for my computer speakers(theyre sitting behind the monitors at the moment)

 

[Herne]

Logitech X-240

Roccat Kave 5.1

Sound Blaster Z. This setup suits me perfectly for pc gaming. Downstairs, currently only the pc is hooked up to a set of speakers - a Logitech X-540. We're soon going to be replacing them with the Logitech Z-906, so everything will be connected via optical, and I'll bring the X-540's back to my pc. Sorted. I'm not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, though.

 

[gibbsy24]

I got a pair of Hifiman HE-400's this week.
Turns out orthodynamic headphones sound delicious.

 

[WoodWERD]

Sweet setup/room maks. That chair in front of the right tower would bug me though. Here's a super old (and dark) pic of my setup before I sold it all and moved out of the country, I just like seeing it for nostalgia's sake:

Swan Diva 6.1 towers, C3 center, and 2.1 rears. MFW-15 sub and Denon AVR. I rocked that setup for years in various apartments and neighbors surely loved me. If I had to do it all over again I'd go with monitors in the front, towers are amazing but overkill for the space I had.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

Guys would a regular HT soundbar work well with a computer?
I got dual monitors and now theres no room for my computer speakers(theyre sitting behind the monitors at the moment)

I think the only concern would be that the virtual surround sound may not be as effective due to how close you will be to the speakers.

 

[Koren]

A 5.1 set of Cabasse MT30 (and a Sennheiser 598 as headphones).

I really love them...

I won't post images of my room, because I'm still looking for a piece of furnitures to put the TV on (and where I can fit every devices in). It's so difficult to find wooden furnitures well ventilated. There's many interesting furnitures in this thread, I wish I could find some of those here.

(I'll probably go for a custom one as soon as I can find the time to locate a person able to build it)

 

[Boombloxer]

These are my speakers for my main setup:

And for my computer, I use Adam Audio A7Xs:

I don't have a subwoofer for either setup, though I'm planning on adding one after I move in a few months. And I'm probably going to be replacing the A7Xs, as well... not that they're bad or anything.

I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD650s around here somewhere, but I haven't used them in a long time because I fucking hate headphones. I don't like feeling tethered to something, and they mess up my stylish hair that I took so much time to mess up in the morning.

Anyway, I do like my setups. They're just stereo setups rather than full 5.1, but I'd much rather have a great stereo setup than a decent 5.1, especially when you consider that most games have pretty shoddy sound mixing anyway. Two solid speakers are more than capable of delivering crisp dialogue and enough bombast to make you shit yourself.

And I wouldn't concern yourself with how good a set of speakers is for games -- if it's good for music, it's good for everything. At the end of the day, what you should be looking for is something that produces the most accurate sound possible. While I haven't heard them, personally, I have heard good things about Ascend's speakers... though you're going to need to pair those with a sub, which entails another concern: you're gonna want to factor in the cost of a subwoofer. And unfortunately, subs are kinda pricey, unless you get some boomy piece of shit that's better relegated to some hoodrat's car. You don't want that! Neither do I. Again - the goal is accuracy, because you want the whole system to sound pristine.

So:

Speaker company recommendations for what I think is your price range: Ascend, Aperion, Monitor Audio, SVS

Subwoofer recommendations: SVS, Rythmik, possibly Emotiva

How do you like the Martin Logan's overall? I'm thinking about getting the Theos with the surrounds for 5.1 sound. I tested them and they sounded amazing, but that was a demo.

On topic, Jamo, Denon 891, velodyne sub. Time to upgrade really.

 

[stump sock]

The Fiio is an absolute miracle for the price, and sounds nearly as good as the much more expensive dedicated DAC on my desk... and mates incredibly well with the HD600 when you set the gain high. The little thing has power to spare, and an equivalent amp / DAC a few years ago would have probably cost upwards of $500. You can use a few different inputs, either the optical (for best quality) that a PS3 or 360 has, or USB for your PC if it lacks optical. If you don't have any of those, a simple headphone 1/8" to 1/8" mini will do the trick to bypass the DAC and just get analog out.

Fiio make some absolutely mindblowing products; there is almost nothing in their price class that can even compete. You'd have to spend >3x more to find anything comparable. Backed hard.

 

[H4r4kiri]

Hey Audiogaf,
I got a question. I want to buy a new Soundbar for my Sony 40HX755. I usally play with Astro's A50's , but when my GF wachtes Movies with me I start crying because of the bad sound.
I got 250 € on me and now i need a Soundbar for my little apartment.
Can the holygaf community recommend me some ? Here at our MediaMarkt (like BestBuy)
they said the new Philips Htl 3140b, but I really dont trust those people
So what should i get for Music, Movies (love movies) and Games ?

 

[Leatherworkstation]

I have a Sony DAV-DZ330 5.1... It's amazing for what it cost, bought it about 3 years ago, and got a really good boxing day deal as it was only about £140. Used to have it plugged in directly to my PS3, but I have more consoles now so it's plugged in to the optical port on my tv and everything goes through there.

Had to turn the bass down a little (neighbours, sadface) but it's probably the best money I've ever spent. Actually made me jump the first time I played Fallout New Vegas with surround sound haha.. What a momo.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

How do you like the Martin Logan's overall? I'm thinking about getting the Theos with the surrounds for 5.1 sound. I tested them and they sounded amazing, but that was a demo.

On topic, Jamo, Denon 891, velodyne sub. Time to upgrade really.

Hey man, I didn't see your post until now.

Love the Martin Logans, but they're not a one size fits all solution. You basically need to have them in a setup where you can place them a few feet from the wall, and where you're going to be in the center of the speakers rather than off to the side. If you can set them up in such a way, then yeah, they're absolutely amazing for whatever you're planning to use them for.

I'm actually planning to use them as computer speakers in my home office when I move into my next place. As much as I like the A7Xs I've got set up right now, they're just no match.

 

[CrashPrime]

These things just wont die (Klipsch Promedia 4.1). I've had them for over 10 years, and still think they're some of the better sounding "computer" speakers on the market.

The design is virtually unchanged other than it being reduced to 2.1 in recent years. I saw them on display at Best Buy just last week.

Hail to the king.

 

[Boombloxer]

Hey man, I didn't see your post until now.

Love the Martin Logans, but they're not a one size fits all solution. You basically need to have them in a setup where you can place them a few feet from the wall, and where you're going to be in the center of the speakers rather than off to the side. If you can set them up in such a way, then yeah, they're absolutely amazing for whatever you're planning to use them for.

I'm actually planning to use them as computer speakers in my home office when I move into my next place. As much as I like the A7Xs I've got set up right now, they're just no match.

Ok, thanks. I'll just have to wait until we get our new place--center isn't a problem, but feet from the wall might be, living room is sizable, but not that big.

When that hapens, I'll just move the Jamo's to the bedroom.

 

[Bamihap]

KRK R6 with a simple Onkyo receiver.

IEM the Earsonic SM2's. I use it with a low budget fiio amp.

 

[Gummifaust]

Just bought me a pair of Adam Artist 6. One of the rare active floorstanding speakers. Will probably add an Emotiva DAC and them I am done.

My headphones are Beyerdynamic DT 880.