What computer speakers do you have?

For those who dock their laptops or use it on a desk, what computer speakers do you use? So many brands. Or do you just use your laptop speakers? And do you use speakers mostly for music, movies, Youtube, or gaming? Are you 2.0 or surround? Do you have or want a sub-woofer? I dislike using headphones for hours for the home office and I'm in the market for good speakers.

 

using headphones and notebook speakers (GT 72), since my room is rather small the MSI speakers have no problem filling the room with decent audio.

 

SHP-9500 w/HM5 pads

When I am lazy I will use the laptop speakers, otherwise its primary headphones.

 

On this computer, Creative T40 II. No subwoofer on purpose, so my neighbors don't have to listen to the bass at night.
On my gaming desktop I do have Logitech Z906 5.1 system and for the last day there probably has been a re-imagining of WW2 downstairs. Had a day off...

 

It's strange that only one so far uses external speakers. There are a lot of new choices these days with many manufacturers entering the market. If people just watch Youtube on the computers, external speakers won't do much but for music, gaming, and movies, it's much better than the laptop ones.

 

I'm personally too lazy to connect anything, be it wired or wireless, most of the times. \=

 

Bose Soundtouch 10

 

Microlab Solo 1, use them mostly for music and movies. As far as 2.0 goes, I think Solo 1 is pretty good compromise between sound quality and price.

 

5.1 surround:

Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR838
Fronts: BIC Venturi V830 Towers (from the 90s LOL)
Center: BIC Venturi Center
Surrounds: BIC Acoustech Surrounds
Subwoofer: SVS SB-13 ULTRA

or

Laptop's internal speakers (depending on time/location)

 

A pair of JBL 305s. Thought I would need a dedicated sub but they handle their own.

 

Since getting them a couple years ago, I can only recommend to anyone who asks this question, a pair of Audioengine A2+.

IMO they look great and sound awesome.

 

I don't use any speakers with my Dell laptop, just headphones. I have a JBL-brand Bluetooth speaker, but the Bluetooth standard must be pretty outdated in my laptop because it doesn't sound good. When I want external sound I use my phone and the Bluetooth speaker.

Charles

 

I've got a pair of Yamaha MSP7s on my desk; they're the swan song of the person that did the famous NS10M that are ubiquitous in studios. In a different lifetime I did audio engineering, so I tend toward neutral reference monitors. I keep meaning to get the matching subwoofer...

Technically these are plugged into my desktop workstation, but I use PulseAudio to play my laptop audio through them when I'm nearby.

 

Right, forgot to mention that I'm actually using those speakers at most 30% of the time. I keep reaching for my headphones more and more often. An old pair of Sehneisers.

 

Boy, those are nice speakers!

I am a flat, reference kind of guy myself, have a pair of M-Audio AV40 studio monitors on my desk. They hold their own very well, but not in the same league as those Yamahas.

Even though they were originally for my PC, I mostly play music from my LG V30 phone now, which has a much better DAC (ESS 9218p).

 

They're nice and I've been happy with them for half a decade, but they don't hold a candle to a pair of Genelecs.

I've got an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R as my interface. it's pretty decent, has full mixer support (including built in DSP effects) in linux, so I'm happy with it. The preamps aren't amazing, but that is to be expected.

 

I've never listened to Genelec monitors. Expensive little things!

Do you use the M-Audio interface only for recording, or did you mean to say you have it permanently hooked up between your PC and monitors as general DAC and amp too?

I know nothing about recording tech -- except that when I select recordings (being into classical) I will generally pick productions by Steven Epstein, Keith Johnson, or anything recorded with DPA mics, over other recordings, as long as the performance is OK. I just love that open, airy sound and the detailed texture.

 

Oh cool. Yeah the M-Audio interface just sits under my monitor and I use it mostly for playback these days. It's a DAC and the Yamis are self-powered. My current spot is too small to really record in, which is a shame since my drumkit is right next to me but in a stack instead of set up.

 

So interesting seeing all y’all moderators interacting here.

I’ve ran a receiver + speaker setup for as long as I can remember. Never gone back.

I’d love to use headphones but just can’t get used to any I try. I always prefer having sound from external speakers.

 

I've gone through a lot of headphones myself trying to find the right sound and fit. I've tended towards DJ headphones, which are the complete opposite of flat reference monitors that I like for speakers. I don't know why, but that's what my ears like. I had a pair of Sony MDR V700s which were my all time favorite until the hinge broke.

 

Well, the truth is, something isn't entirely right when we're interacting more with each other than with you guys, as in these last few posts

I've always had a preference for floor speakers since I play mostly orchestral music, and I never had much experience with headphones. But after discovering what a great DAC my phone has (again, LG V30 with ESS DAC) I got a pair of these Stage Right Studio Monitors from Monoprice last year. Once burned in (~25 hours) they're are almost unbelievably good for their ridiculously low price: Warm, yet controlled bass, very flat and neutral, great sound stage (for being closed backs) and surprisingly resolving and detailed. I've since compared them with several $1-200 headphones from Beyer, Sony and Sennheiser, and they compare quite well. I wonder if I just lucked out and got a particularly good pair, but other reviewers seem to agree, including several audio engineers who wear out and replace headphones like the rest of us do dirty socks.

Maybe Monoprice is selling them as a gateway drug to get customers hooked, so they'll buy their higher end planar magnetic headphones M1060 and M1060C (open and closed back, respectively). I've been waiting for them to release V3 of the open back ones with updated drivers. The current V2 has been almost constantly on sale lately, so I think V3 may be just around the corner.

 

I ordered these with my Alienware Area-51m:

Alienware Wireless Gaming Headset AW988

 

How was the sound quality?

 

How can I tell you the sound quality when my laptop isn't even in production yet? They're all in the same order

 

I thought it was on your table from the image you posted!

 

Totally agree. A very compact solution for detailed, neutral and clean sound. I never felt any reason to replace them.
But not for everyone. Bass is missing. Therefor you could add Audioengine S8 Subwoofer or look for a pair of A5. Or look elsewhere for better priced 2.1 solutions.
If my Audioengine A2 speakers die (going strong for like 9 years), i will get the newer version A2+.

Edit: I recommend Audioengine DS1 stands for A2 speakers. It helps alot when the speakers are pointing directly to your ears.

 

I have a Vizio sound stand. It has surprisingly excellent sound. Really deep bass (if you buy one with a woofer) and goes perfectly under my monitor. I highly recommend it.