Upgrading my Computer Speakers - Suggestions?

[shk]

Hey guys, here's the situation.

I have an Asus P5K Deluxe with onboard digital out going to a Denon AVR-1507, which feeds two satellites, Aperion 532-LR's, and a sub, the Aperion S-10.

If I were to upgrade, what would be the next logical step?

- Larger bookshelfs? (Aperion lets you upgrade to bigger ones within a year, for the difference in price)

- A better receiver? (I hear good things about the Outlaw RR2150)

- A separate sound card? (I was under the impression that onboard digital was just as good as any other, but if not -- would something like the X-Fi prelude be a good choice?)

- Different speakers altogether? (Perhaps the RBH 61-SE's?)


By the way, I have a pair of HD650's which I am just powering with my denon receiver now. Is this an absolute crime against nature? Should I be thinking of my cans and getting a decent amp?

Thanks for any and all help.

[STEvil]

Get better speakers.. preferable tower style with midrange drivers of 8" or better although in smaller rooms 6.5" will suffice well enough.

[shk]

Get better speakers.. preferable tower style with midrange drivers of 8" or better although in smaller rooms 6.5" will suffice well enough.

Tower speakers for a computer setup? What's so bad about bookshelves? I don't listen to anything even remotely loud, so upgrading my speakers would be more an issue of quality.

In any case, any specific suggestions I can look into?

[Donnie27]

Tower speakers for a computer setup? What's so bad about bookshelves? I don't listen to anything even remotely loud, so upgrading my speakers would be more an issue of quality.

In any case, any specific suggestions I can look into?

It's not about how loud they are, but sound quality. But if Bookshelf models are what you like, go for it. Good Bookshelf and even good Desktop monitors cost more. It costs a lot to keep the size down and still have them sound good.

Yes, I have tower speakers on mine and loving every second I get to listen to them.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Venue-Stadium-8-Inch-Speaker/dp/B000FD3W1G/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Scroll down the page and check out the whole set? Please also note, they're "Mix Matching". Again, you don't need all 4 or 6 matching speakers as some folks suggest. These so sound very good to everyone but Audiophiles and I find it strange that I'm suggesting JBL.

[shk]

Very well, I will look into that then. However, I think my next pair would probably be the RBH 61-SE (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/RBH-61-SE). I've read a lot of great things and they seem to be the best for that price range; but I'd guess someone here knows a better one. ;D

As for my Denon-1507, it is sufficient for whatever speakers I get?
And just using my onboard digital out is fine too?


Thanks again for the help guys. :D

[Donnie27]

Very well, I will look into that then. However, I think my next pair would probably be the RBH 61-SE (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/RBH-61-SE). I've read a lot of great things and they seem to be the best for that price range; but I'd guess someone here knows a better one. ;D

As for my Denon-1507, it is sufficient for whatever speakers I get?
And just using my onboard digital out is fine too?


Thanks again for the help guys. :D

Again, only audiophile wanna be's will think its not enough. I almost bought he Denon 1506 so yes, it rocks and should be more than enough. I play bass guitar and have played with at least 3 bass cabs that have AL woofers, they're not good for everything. I've never heard those speakers but any good review that site I take serious, I trust them. But like I said, you pay more for good small speakers.

[ROBSCIX]

Hey guys, here's the situation.

I have an Asus P5K Deluxe with onboard digital out going to a Denon AVR-1507, which feeds two satellites, Aperion 532-LR's, and a sub, the Aperion S-10.

If I were to upgrade, what would be the next logical step?

- Larger bookshelfs? (Aperion lets you upgrade to bigger ones within a year, for the difference in price)

- A better receiver? (I hear good things about the Outlaw RR2150)

- A separate sound card? (I was under the impression that onboard digital was just as good as any other, but if not -- would something like the X-Fi prelude be a good choice?)

- Different speakers altogether? (Perhaps aperion isn't as good as I had come to believe?)


By the way, I have a pair of HD650's which I am just powering with my denon receiver now. Is this an absolute crime against nature? Should I be thinking of my cans and getting a decent amp?

Thanks for any and all help.

You can improve your source. People say digital is digital sure, BUT the quality of the DAC unit in the receiver won't be very high. As you suggested go with a Prelude 7.1 and connect that up using analog connection this should substantially improve your source and give you much better sound quality.
The DAC units on the Prelude are much better quality then what is available in entry to mid level receivers and then some. Unless you have a extremely high quality unit to receive the digital from the card then the Prelude in analog will provide much better audio. This isn't true with earlier sound cards...only modern models with high grade DAC's. Hope that helps.

[Donnie27]

Very well, I will look into that then. However, I think my next pair would probably be the RBH 61-SE (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/RBH-61-SE). I've read a lot of great things and they seem to be the best for that price range; but I'd guess someone here knows a better one. ;D

As for my Denon-1507, it is sufficient for whatever speakers I get?
And just using my onboard digital out is fine too?

Thanks again for the help guys. :D

You might want to look at the 1508 since it has True 24bit/192KHz input and the 1507 is limited to 24bit/96KHz. Oh and it has good DACs even though it is NOT extremely expensive.

[shk]

You can improve your source. People say digital is digital sure, BUT the quality of the DAC unit in the receiver won't be very high. As you suggested go with a Prelude 7.1 and connect that up using analog connection this should substantially improve your source and give you much better sound quality.
The DAC units on the Prelude are much better quality then what is available in entry to mid level receivers and then some. Unless you have a extremely high quality unit to receive the digital from the card then the Prelude in analog will provide much better audio. This isn't true with earlier sound cards...only modern models with high grade DAC's. Hope that helps.
The only thing with that is that I would be worried about having the DAC right inside my case. I have a lot of hard drives and it would probably be next to my graphics and raid cards -- dunno how much interference those cause though. And then having my puny little analog cable crossing the rats nest of wires outside -- Eek!

Also, I hear that anything based on the X-Fi chipset is a ripoff. With the Prelude, I hear that although they have superior opamps, capacitors, etc, the components are ultimately let down by the x-fi chip. I've been recommended M-Audio Revolution 7.1 / Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 (both Envy24 chip I think) and the E-Mu 1212m. They look good but I have not really looked into it yet.

Basically, I'd rather have the processing done on the receiver's end -- unless that is an unusually bad idea.

You might want to look at the 1508 since it has True 24bit/192KHz input and the 1507 is limited to 24bit/96KHz. Oh and it has good DACs even though it is NOT extremely expensive.
I would not spend nearly the same amount of money again on the same model (well, next gen). As I mentioned above I was considering the RR2150, but it's lack of digital puts me into a similar situation with buying soundcard/having DAC inside case.


Any other suggestions you guys can provide would be great; I'm still trying to figure all this out and I'm not very good at it. =)

[Donnie27]

The only thing with that is that I would be worried about having the DAC right inside my case. I have a lot of hard drives and it would probably be next to my graphics and raid cards -- dunno how much interference those cause though. And then having my puny little analog cable crossing the rats nest of wires outside -- Eek!

Also, I hear that anything based on the X-Fi chipset is a ripoff. With the Prelude, I hear that although they have superior opamps, capacitors, etc, the components are ultimately let down by the x-fi chip. I've been recommended M-Audio Revolution 7.1 / Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 (both Envy24 chip I think) and the E-Mu 1212m. They look good but I have not really looked into it yet.

Basically, I'd rather have the processing done on the receiver's end -- unless that is an unusually bad idea.


I would not spend nearly the same amount of money again on the same model (well, next gen). As I mentioned above I was considering the RR2150, but it's lack of digital puts me into a similar situation with buying soundcard/having DAC inside case.


Any other suggestions you guys can provide would be great; I'm still trying to figure all this out and I'm not very good at it. =)

First, X-Fi is most certainly not a Rip off at all. $300 motherboards are a rip-off LOL! nVidia Chipsets on boards costing more than $200 is rip-off. $200 for a "Killer NIC" is a Rip-Off. Paying current prices for an AMD Phenom is a rip-off and etc................................

X-Fi has worked for me and on most of the installs done for others, only twice it didn't. Both cases Newegg quickly and neatly exchanged them for other cards. X-Fi's and their software have gotten better since they launched. Unless I'm strapped for cash, one form of X-Fi or another will always be in my personal systems. May as well use Mobo sound otherwise.

I gave up on computer speakers of any kind years ago. I listened to the JBL venue series speakers and they're nice even if they're not 10,000 Martin Logan Summit speakers. JBL doesn't make them all the same size because they know a lot of folks still like 2ch so those are heftier than the sides and back that only play limited sounds during what they're meant for. I built my own and I'm VERY happy with them.