Speaker recommendations

[trx]

Don't know if there are any sound experts around here but its worth a punt! Basically I am fed up of my £30 creative plastic pc speakers and I am on the look out for some decent speakers that actually sound nice!!

I don't really know where to start looking to be honest .. budget around £200. Used 95% for listening to music. Any ideas of where to start looking or have any suggestions?

[robwhizz]

I don't use PC speakers - in so much as those purpose made for PCs with built in amps - so I may not be the best person to comment, but it strikes me that these days if you want to buy computer speakers that are decent you are stuck with surround sound packages geared up for gamers and movies.

Seeing as you are asking for recommendations of speakers that are used mostly for listening to music then I would say to buy a dedicated hi-fi amp and speakers.
In my experience a modest separates set up sounds better than any off the shelf 'PC Speakers'.

Pick up a 'What Hifi' mag and see what's well rated in the budget section. Richer Sounds do some very good deals. See if there is a shop by you and you can walk in and ask for a listen. I've found them always more than happy to audition a set up.

You can also check ebay for some good second hand deals. I bought an old Ariston amp off ebay and paired it to some sony bookshelf speakers I had and hooked it up to a Slimp3 player in the kitchen. It wasn't very expensive and sounded great.

[yawner]

Pick up a 'What Hifi' mag and see what's well rated in the budget section. Richer Sounds do some very good deals. See if there is a shop by you and you can walk in and ask for a listen. I've found them always more than happy to audition a set up.

I agree. Good advice there. 

[trx]

Great advice guys thanks very much will get myself a copy of what hi-fi and have a scan!

I know for sure I don't want PC speakers. I was defiantly going to go down the hi-fi/amp route its just which would suite me better. There is a richer sounds here in Cheltenham so perhaps I will pop down to see what they suggest!

[Whatever]

TRX, if you see some you like in there then let me know what model. We might be able to get you a better deal.

We use a lot of JBL speakers, the Control 1 Pro's for classrooms and 24C Micro's for ceiling speakers in conference AV installations. Those 2 do need amplification though.

[trx]

Got myself a copy of what hi-fi today was bit bemused when there was nothing less than about 10k in the speaker section... I'd only got the high end version some nice stuff but bit out of my price range! Will get myself a copy of the poor mans version when I next pass the shops and try again!

[sandman]

i used to have a couple of JBL (or maybe JBW ?) wired up to a cabridge audio amp that i picked up from richer sounds a LONG time ago, but to be honest ive never even wired them up to my PC these days, just use a decent set of headphones these days.

[SLEE]

i recently bagged myself a bargain when i got the gear4 blackbox speakers for half price at currys they are bluetooth or the normal jack plug. it also comes with a remote. they are £50 on ebay but worth checking out currys if you are lucky you may get them half price as well