Budget PC Speakers (<=R1000)

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Ghost729

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Hi all

I'm currently looking for budget PC speakers. Simple enough, except that I have Sennheiser HD429s and everything budget sounds like rubbish. You could say I'm an amateur audiophile - not that the HD429s are particularly studio monitor grade.

Now, it's all order and my budget is tight.

So I'm looking for a decent pair of speakers for about R1000. It needs to have good quality and detail, and have as flat a sound signature as possible (I can then EQ to my preference).

I'm trying to stay away from 5.1 systems, because I won't be mounting it around the room, nor do I really watch movies to take advantage of a 5.1 system. Also trying to stay away from home theatre systems, because they sound too boomy. Not that R1000 could get me either.

I was looking at Logitech and it seems for under R1000, they only have the USB powered stuff, so no thanks. Creative is almost no where to be seen. There are plenty of Genius and Microlab, but Genius has never impressed me and I'm not too sure about Microlab.

Any suggestions?
 
I'd have a look for used stuff on Gumtree. Some of the Logitech kit has great reviews and you should be able to come in under your budget for a 2.1 system.

Also, if you're using a Windows PC/laptop/tablet as your source, take a look at EQ APO, it's astonishing.
 
Divoom, Genius, and Microlab are all pretty much in the same league.

If you're looking for sound that even resembles accurate, even Logitech won't cut it.

For an "audiophile" on a budget I used to always recommend the Creative Gigaworks T40's, but even back when the Rand was strong they'd set you back a little under R2000.

Within your budget the only thing I can suggest is the Genius SP-HF1800A. It's a pretty decent, but cheaply constructed Full-Range 2.0 system.

This of course assumes by "audiophile", you don't mean "basshead". If you're the latter, you're probably looking for a 2.1 system.
 
I call myself an amateur audiophile because I could never afford the equipment it takes to experience what a "real audiophile" would hear.

As far as monitors go, I've been looking at the Samson MediaOne BT4's and the Presonus Eris E3.5, both of which are around R2300. I'm not sure how they compare to the Behringer MS16 or Alesis Elevate 5. What puts me off about budget monitors is how reviewers always compare them to monitors 10 times the price and then say "for the price sacrifices have to be made".

Talking about 2.1 systems, studio monitors makers now make subwoofers to accompany their monitors. The reason why I'm considering 2.1 systems is that I don't believe the 2.0 PC speakers to really capture the low end. Asking those speakers to produce a full range is too much.

Nonetheless, the budget is strictly R1000. I can't go up to R1500, even if I wanted to. I knew that looking for a decent set of speakers under R1000 was going to be borderline, if not impossible.

I supposed what I'm asking then is of all the cheap crap under R1000, which is the best of worse? Does it even matter if I get a R300 set vs a R600 set? Sure the more expensive one will have more power, but will the sound quality be any better at a reasonable volume?
 
Ghost729 said:
The reason why I'm considering 2.1 systems is that I don't believe the 2.0 PC speakers to really capture the low end.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised. But yes, nothing 2.0 in the sub-R1000 category will give you anything more than a moderately "punchy" bass response.
 
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