Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with audio and speakers

Where can I find attractive powered speakers?

bryanlacksfocus — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:13:21 -0800

Does anyone know of any attractive powered speakers? Ones that look like they belong on a bookshelf and not next to a PC? I'm looking for speakers to put in my living room that I would beam music to through an Airport Express. It could be one speaker or a pair, but they should be powered and stand-alone—I don't have room for a "system" with a separate amplifier. I don't need a radio, CD player, or iPod dock—just a power switch, a volume knob, and one audio input jack. The only powered speakers I'm finding are designed for use with a computer and are, in my opinion, unforgivably ugly—at least for use outside a computer workstation. I'm hoping to find something simple and modern with straight, clean lines—possibly a cousin to this Tivoli or this GenevaSound radio or the wooden-cased (non-powered) speakers our parents had in the 70s.

With everyone doing so much from their computers these days, it seems like these ought to exist! Have you come across any? Any ideas are appreciated!

Speaker troubleshooting

Neiltupper — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:59:36 -0800

Loudspeaker troubleshooting. I have a pair of Boston Acoustic A60 speakers. They are two-way speakers, and in one of them the woofer does not produce any sound (not even distortion). The tweeter is OK. I've localized the problem to the speaker rather than the amp. All the connections inside the cabinet seem ok. What is my next step? I have common electrical tools and instruments but I'm not sure what to look for.

Fried crossovers/voicecoils for Mission speaker towers

omidius — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:28:30 -0800

Audio Trust: I suspect the crossovers & voice coils on my Mission speaker towers (the 5 driver + tweeter rosewood cabinet ones) have fried. Where can I possibly find replacements or knowledgeable people to help me solder in new ones?

What receiver and speakers should I purchase for under $400?

vmrob — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:58:51 -0800

I'm on a budget and want to upgrade my audio system. What receiver/speakers I should purchase to get the most for my money? I currently own a mini-hifi system from Sony (Specifically the MHC-GX45). I wouldn't mind reusing the receiver/amp from that system though I have a feeling to get the most out of the system, I'll be looking for a new receiver as the input options are very limited on the device.

The entire system will be used for stereo sources so surround isn't a priority though a dedicated subwoofer would be nice.

After a quick look online, I found a set of speakers from Sony (SS-F5000) that seem to fit my budget and have overall good reviews. If there is a better pair of speakers (floor standing would be nice, but not necessary) at about that price, what are they and where can I get them?

As for a receiver, I'm totally lost. I've never been in the market and I'm not sure what I need. Auto-switching sources would be nice though I don't know what other features I should be looking for. Recommendations?

My budget for the whole system would preferably be less than $400. If you point out a sub I could add later, bonus points to you. I know the budget will force me to make sacrifices to the sound quality and I'm ok with that, but I really want a system that sounds good. In other words, if I have to step up the price, I can do that, but my purchase will be a little delayed.

5.1 Sound system on the cheap

bouchacha — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:32:51 -0800

Help a clueless dude buy a nice 5.1 speaker set For years I've simply been using these $25 Logitech computer speakers I bought on a whim and frankly, they've actually been fantastic. However, now that I've added a 46 inch LCD TV and a Blu-ray drive to my PC, I figured the next step up would be to finally let those valiant $25 2.1 speakers go!

I know next to nothing about sound systems (receivers? what?) and my budget would ideally be around $350...maybe $400. I understand that's low for a sound system but I figured if I was really happy with $25 speakers for so many years, I probably can weather the storm with almost 10 times the budget.

Where should I start? This will be for watching movies and listening to music in my apartment. As you can tell with my budget, I'm not really an audiophile and I'm just looking for a good mainstream general recommendation.

PC speakers

ObscureReferenceMan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:13:07 -0800

New speakers for computer (PC). And a few questions. The Altec Lansing speakers (and sub-woofer) that came with my previous Dell computer that I am using on my Dell XPS-400 are in need of replacing. The left speaker crapped out. So what to do now? Checking an older AskMe question, I saw something referring to "2.0 speakers". What does that mean? I assumed I just needed a pair of speakers and sub-woofer. Was I wrong?

I was hoping to spend less than $100. Is that unreasonable? There are many options at Best Buy, for example.

I have nothing planned to do more intricate than listening to music, and watching videos.

Thanks!

Best desktop speakers under 200 bucks?

sciapod — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:56:08 -0800

Audiophiles: What are the best 2.0 desktop speakers $150 or so can buy? My four-year love affair with my old Klipsch ProMedia speakers is coming to a glitchy end, and I'm looking for a replacement set of desktop computer speakers with equally delightful sound quality. (No subwoofers, please.) My price range is flexible, but I'd like to spend under $200. At the moment, I'm leaning toward the Audioengine A2's because of the strong reviews, but they're a little steep.

Any suggestions? What computer speakers do you own and love?

I have seen the previous questions on this topic, but all are a few years old.

speakers from optical out?

striker — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:59:40 -0800

Don't like the speakers in my TV - TV only has digital optical out. What are my options for getting better speakers? Can I avoid having a big receiver? The tv sits solo in the bedroom without anything else - I'd prefer not to have a big receiver box sitting next to it. Also, is there any way that I won't have a seperate remote for the volume, without getting a universal remote? What do I need to just add a couple of speakers in a convenient way?

Do I really need two or three separate boxes for just-OK computer audio?

amtho — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:53:33 -0800

Do I really need two or three separate boxes for just-OK computer audio? I need some kind of speaker to hook up to my laptop-used-as-a-desktop, but having three or even two separate components is cumbersome. I also don't think I really need an expensive, fancy system. The sound from this JBL Creature system has been fine, but now I need to use it for another purpose. It was always kind of a pain, anyway, because the sub woofer wouldn't fit on my crowded desk, and it houses the on/off control, so I'd have to crawl under my desk to turn off the power. (the power brick gets alarmingly warm, too, but that's another issue). I always kept the two little "stereo" speakers right next to each other, anyway -- I'm not looking for a "you are there" sound experience from my computer.

I'd love something smallish that will fit on my desk, ideally with a flat surface on top so I can stack something on it. I don't think I need a whole bunch of bass, but enough sound quality for movies and the occasional foray into music (I'm enjoying Admira's classical guitar tracks, thanks!) would be nice.

The speaker built into my tiny Thinkpad is too quiet to even hear most movies, so I need _something_.

I've tried shopping in a couple of local stores, but it seems like everything comes in sets of two, three, or even five separate speakers. Apparently, marketing departments everywhere think that all purchasing decisions are made by teenage boys.

I'd like to spend maybe $50 for something, or maybe a little more if necessary, but it seems like I should be able to find something for less -- used would be OK, even. Is this realistic?

Brand/model recommendations would be extremely welcome.

Should I buy a home theater in a box, or should I buy speakers and a receiver separately?

Grither — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:57:09 -0800

Should I buy a home theater in a box, or should I buy speakers and a receiver separately? My fiancee and I are moving into a new apartment soon, and would like to upgrade our home theater system when we do. I was wondering if anyone had any pros or cons for the home-theater-in-a-box type systems like this one, or should I piece it together myself? Should I avoid certain brands, or are they all basically the same? I'm no audiophile, but I would like a system that is 7.1 channel for some future proofing. If it helps, here is what I will be hooking up to it:
PS3
Sharp Aquos 37" 1080p LCD HDTV (will probably upgrade this soon, too)
Wii
Potentially my PC

Is there anything I should keep in mind? Will there be any compatibility issues if I upgrade to a newer TV of a different brand? Do they have wireless systems so I don't have to mess around with wiring all over the place (though the reason I want to do this now is so I can properly wire it up before we set all our furniture up in the new place). I'm looking to spend less than $1,000 on the receiver and speakers, if that's possible.

How to place a good speaker in a bad corner?

aladfar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:28:20 -0800

How to place a good speaker in a corner? After investing in some decent audio gear, I find that I cannot avoid placing the left speaker in a corner due to space constraints. As expected, this emphasizes low the frequencies on that side and makes the sound stage a bit wonky. Short of moving the speaker, is there any way to mitigate this somewhat?

Audio Stream Control

IronLizard — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:25:31 -0800

I need a better way to control my audio in Windows XP. Something like Pulse Audio, but without the hassle. I'm also running something called MojoPac (a virtual desktop environment of sorts), if it makes a difference. I need to be able to direct it's, and other programs, to particular audio output devices and swap those around pretty much at will. Any ideas?

what are my options when/if my aging speakers (z680's) break?

weakcore — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:35:41 -0800

Seeking advice on what to do with (or looking for resources explaining how to fix) aging 5.1 PC speakers for when/if parts start breaking. So I've got a set of 5 or 6 year old set of Logitech z680 speakers (http://images.google.com/images?q=z680) that have served me well over the years but have recently begun to make popping/ppptttfff-ing noises sporadically (cycling through the 'effect' button makes it go away for a bit, but it ends up coming back eventually. I fear the command module is on its way out) Is there a buyer's market for replacement parts for these speakers? It would appear that Logitech has replaced this line with a newer set, therefore no longer supporting them.

I've seen the satellite speakers available on ebay for an affordable price (at least for now), but I am more concerned with replacement command module/preamp (the console part with the volume knob and buttons on it) or subwoofer parts.

1) Are there places that sell replacement command modules/preamp or am I SOL if this breaks? I have seen the entire set still being sold, but not the individual components.

2) Will I be stuck with trying to dismantle the sub and spend hours reading up on how to fix it (and perhaps fry something) if that goes out (any resources you audiophiles frequent?)? What are some ways to tell if it's the sub or the command module or something else that's bad?

3) The remote control ceased to function long ago, but it would be nice to be able to replace that too ...

4) What's the life expectancy of these type of things anyways? I would ideally like to migrate them over to use for my secondary 'media' center speakers (I prefer

While I am not averse to dismantling things and I consider myself to have somewhat above average mechanical aptitude (perhaps not when comparing within the set of mefites), when it comes to troubleshooting electronic innards/circuitry like what might be in the sub or pre-amp, I feel quite ignorant (learning resources welcome!).

Information on Shipping Large Items & the Best Rates

Audio Lover — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:22:17 -0800

I have a few large items that i would like to sell on eBay however the shipping charges are way to high, this is not due to weight but due to dimensional size. ie. 30" x 30" x 26" high or another item is a pair of speakers which are approx 50 lbs each and 20" x 24" x 34". The cost of shipping these items makes it impossible to sell them on eBay and get what they are worth. I hope some of you savvy sellers and shippers can help me out with this problem, i have many vintage items that are large and too expensive to ship via UPS, FedEx or Dhl. Thanks

Speaker problems driving me nuts

reformedjerk — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:04 -0800

Car audio question about mid-range/bass fading out unexpectedly. Details inside. I recently had a USA Spec iPod interface put in my car (Infinity QX4). Lately, a couple of weird symptoms have developed. Sometimes the passenger side door speaker would fade out completely, but this can be "fixed" if I crank up the volume and bring the volume down again. Other times, both speakers on the doors would fade out (but the tweeters and some of the mid-ranges sound fine). This can't be fixed with volume, but mysteriously will sometimes go away as soon as I engage the power locks. Once these symptoms appear, switching to any other sound input (eg the radio) do not help--so I suspect it has nothing to do with the USA Spec unit itself.

It's driving me nuts, so if anyone has an idea about what's going on, I'd highly appreciate it!

How setup the most perfect, affordable computer sound system?

wigglin — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:39:27 -0800

Would it be possible to replace the satellite speakers in this Logitech system, with these professional reference speakers, and then connect all this to a PC? After searching around to find the best price with the best possible sound quality, that is the solution I've come up with. The problem is, I know very little about connecting speakers together and in to computers, so I don't know if this setup is physically possible and what sort of special cords or converters I'll need if it is.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for a possibly better setup than this, at around the same price (<$200), that would be great.

Which speakers should I get for my Mac?

OmieWise — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:17:32 -0800

I'm going to be relying on my iMac and the music stored on it for a while. I would like to get a set of speakers so that the computer sounds better. What reasonably-priced powered speakers have folks had success with? I'd rather not get a separate subwoofer. I'd be willing to get a small amp and use my small stereo speakers if all the other options are too crappy. Thanks.

Easiest way to swap left/right audio channels?

FrostBite795 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:18:16 -0800

What is the easiest way to readily swap the left/right audio channels on my PC? I'm moving back to school in a few weeks and am very excited about my bedroom layout. My desk will be lined up along the foot of my bed such that I'll be able to turn around my monitor and speakers to face my bed (for movies, TV shows, etc...). However, the little audiophile in me recognizes that this will also swap the left/right audio channels, and this bothers me.

I have a Dell Inspiron e1505, running Windows XP Pro with a Sigmatel audio codec. I would think there would be a tiny freeware application that sits in your system tray and allows you to readily activate/deactivate a channel swap. Is anyone familiar with such a solution?

I have done a good deal of research and found similar questions asked on other forums. The answer is invariably, "Just swap your left and right speaker." As often as I plan on watching from bed, this is not an option I'm considering.

Note, I am an electrical engineering student and would probably be capable of creating my own physical switch. If you have schematics, I'd love to see those too, but I'm really hoping for a free software solution.

PS: My first question!

Will my old speakers work with a new receiver?

paulus andronicus — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:29:41 -0800

I'm interested in buying a stereo receiver, but I want to make sure it will work with the 17 year old speakers I have. I've been given a pair of unpowered speakers. I've been led to believe that at one point they were relatively nice (I believe that in 1991 they were about $2200 total). But, I'm far from an audiophile, so I'd like some advice.

As far as I can tell, the speakers are from a company called Soundwave and the specific model is "Silhouette". I've been unable to find any information about the company or speakers, but my google-fu may be weak. Luckily, the previous owner saved a copy of the spec sheet, an image of which you can find here. You can find a picture of the speakers here.

Are these any good? Are they going to work with any receiver that I can buy these days? I'm reading about features like "50 watts x 2 (stereo) into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.08% THD", but the spec sheet says the speakers are 4 ohms nominal (whatever that means) and that they're rated for 30-200 watts. Does that mean I should be looking for receivers with higher a wattage? What about the ohm difference?

I'm looking for something in the $100-$200 price range, I think, and right now I'm considering the Onkyo TX-8222. Is that reasonable, or am I way off base here?

Anything else I should be aware of

Whether Wireless Audio?

SansPoint — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:08:42 -0800

Does anyone have any experience with Bluetooth Stereo Transmitters? I'm looking for a wireless speaker solution for my laptop. I've been looking at trying to find a wireless speaker solution for my MacBook. There are all-in-one Bluetooth speaker sets, but their sound quality is unknown. I'd rather use my JBL Creature IIs in some wireless fashion. I've seen a few Bluetooth wireless stereo transmitters, such as this one by Sony.

Has anyone had any experience using something like this to make normally wired speakers go wireless? How about on a Mac? (I know Leopard supports A2DP) Am I barking up the wrong tree? Should I just keep my laptop tethered to the speakers at home?

I know the AirPort Express does wireless audio, but I have a Time Capsule, and I really don't need/want another wireless router.

My MacBook's Internal Speakers Are Stuck on Mute

chinese_fashion — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:08:33 -0800

I can't get my Mac laptop's internal speakers to work -- they just stopped one day. When I press the volume adjust buttons, the little bars don't move, and the classic circle-with-bar-through-it appears. I've checked the volume in System Preferences, and the "mute" button is not selected by accident. When my headphones are plugged in, they sound fine, and I can adjust the volume under System Prefs. But when I unplug the headphones, the volume control greys out -- and the Selected Output switches to "Digital Out."

I have a slightly older Macbook Pro -- a 2.1, with Intel Core 2 Duo, if that matters.

I've checked AskMefi, searched around, and I know this is not a unique problem, but everyone on all the threads I've seen has just said "oh, figured it out, thanks," without offering any explanation!

Please -- if any of you know how I can fix this, I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks so much ...

Recommendation for good in-ceiling speakers for my kitchen?

cahlers — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:19:51 -0800

What are good in-ceiling speakers for under $300/pr? I'm remodeling my kitchen, and am researching the best value in in-ceiling speakers to pair with my Sonos system. I have a quote for installation of Paradigm CS-60R in-ceiling speakers - the speakers themselves are quoted at $300/pr, not including installation labor, etc.

I'm open to other speaker brands - any suggestions? My kitchen is not that large.

I'm also in the market for some outdoor speakers, I'll have them hooked to a pre-amp. The speakers will be attached to an outside wall overlooking my deck.

Any help on either front is greatly appreciated.

like a prayer i want to take you there

yonation — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:44:41 -0800

i'm sick of blowing out my audio system. please help me pick out an affordable but good sounding system. i am looking for something quite basic: two front speakers and a receiver. i play dvd movies, ipods, etc out of the receiver and i don't really care about surround sound, dolby decoding, etc. i just want something that sounds good, will go pretty loud without too much distortion, and really have no frills i don't need. i'm certainly no audiophile but i listen to a huge range of music, from cumbia remixes to classical.

if anyone can help me wade through the oceans of reviews on different companies (ie which are overhyped, bose, etc and perhaps underrated (teac?)) i just want to order something and start listening to music again!

Two-speaker TV setup for non-audiophiles?

everichon — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:08:40 -0800

We have an LG LCD tv with some not-very-good speakers, and they are starting to sound "blown". Is there some kind of amp-speaker set designed for people who just want decent audio, rather than surround sound? We do not want 5 speakers. We want two small but pretty-good sounding speakers. What's a good product or approach?

Macbook External Speaker Buzz

benji — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:58:32 -0800

Why do my speakers randomly begin to hum/buzz? I have a MacBook Pro 15" 2.15 Dual Core 2. I plug in, via 3.5mm cord in the headphone port, a JBL Creature 2.0 set of speakers.

Every so often a barely audible hum/buzz (lowish frequency), begins to increase in volume. It starts off really quiet, and gets pretty loud.

The weird thing is, when I hit the volume button to make it louder or softer, the sound completely stops. It seems as if any output of noise through the speakers stops the buzz. For example, if I play a song in itunes for a second and then pause it, the hum is gone.

Please help me! What is causing this and how do I prevent it? It is really weird.