AverageCatDaddy
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Hello all,
I'd love some ideas and tips from people with experience and insight in audio on the speaker upgrade.
I recently got a turntable - AudioTechnica LP-120X-USB (built-in pre-amp) -> RCA out.
Connected it to already owned active speakers - Creative Labs Gigaworks T40 Series II using 3.5mm audio jack.
Despite official product descriptions, speakers do NOT have explicit RCA inputs, only 3.5mm jack and come bundled with short cable convertor.
Let's assume the turntable is there to stay "forever" and be a sort of quality reference level / roof for the whole "audio system". There might a turntable cartridge upgrate later if needed, but no plan so far to go down the hifi hole...
My main question is, whether it is possible to upgrade the speakers and get noticably better sound with the budget ideally up to 150-250 euro (170-280 USD) in total.
Regarding my expectations/ambitiousness on sound quality - when i tried the NPR lossless/compressed audio test that has a topic running someplace on this forum, i could NOT hear any difference for lossless vs mp3 with my Dragonfly Red USB amp and Grado SR80e headphones - not sure if problem with my ears or too low-fi hardware...
Would it make more sense to take active speakers or passive speakers with some small (presumably class-d) amp?
Aim is to get better sound compared to current directly fed T40's within the budget. Intended listening at mid/not too loud volume (neighbors behind the bookcase wall as well as floor below).
I briefly looked at reviews of e.g. actives like Edifier R1280DBs, but comparison videos on youtube make it feel like not sufficient difference/upgrade (from T40's) to justify cost.
Also have read and looked into amps like Aiyima a07, possibly to be paired with some entry level speakers? Dali Spektor 1, Polk TT15, etc. - would the amp have sufficient power to feed these?
Room dimensions and rough positioning (tt/speakers in reddish color) that is almost not possible to be modified/moved around - 6x3 meters (20x10 ft):
Currently the "system" is placed on top of a higlighted bookcase - dimensions are 150 x 150 x 40 centimeters wide/tall/deep (5x5x1.33 ft).
TV table is too high to fit speakers "below" the TV.
Is some model explicitly worse/better due to speakers being placed a bit too high (top of 5' bookcase)?
Would the better/usable to position it approx. 1-2 feet off the ground (+- knee to belt high inside bookshelf)?
Not sure if my described positioning affects which models to (not) choose e.g. from listed in forum with recommended passive/active speakers on US market here in forum (regardless of me shopping in EU)...
Music listened to is mainly rock, classical, a bit of symphonic/power/speed metal, no electro or dead-heavy bass "styles".
Thanks a lot for opinions/tips/warnings...
I'd love some ideas and tips from people with experience and insight in audio on the speaker upgrade.
I recently got a turntable - AudioTechnica LP-120X-USB (built-in pre-amp) -> RCA out.
Connected it to already owned active speakers - Creative Labs Gigaworks T40 Series II using 3.5mm audio jack.
Despite official product descriptions, speakers do NOT have explicit RCA inputs, only 3.5mm jack and come bundled with short cable convertor.
Let's assume the turntable is there to stay "forever" and be a sort of quality reference level / roof for the whole "audio system". There might a turntable cartridge upgrate later if needed, but no plan so far to go down the hifi hole...
My main question is, whether it is possible to upgrade the speakers and get noticably better sound with the budget ideally up to 150-250 euro (170-280 USD) in total.
Regarding my expectations/ambitiousness on sound quality - when i tried the NPR lossless/compressed audio test that has a topic running someplace on this forum, i could NOT hear any difference for lossless vs mp3 with my Dragonfly Red USB amp and Grado SR80e headphones - not sure if problem with my ears or too low-fi hardware...
Would it make more sense to take active speakers or passive speakers with some small (presumably class-d) amp?
Aim is to get better sound compared to current directly fed T40's within the budget. Intended listening at mid/not too loud volume (neighbors behind the bookcase wall as well as floor below).
I briefly looked at reviews of e.g. actives like Edifier R1280DBs, but comparison videos on youtube make it feel like not sufficient difference/upgrade (from T40's) to justify cost.
Also have read and looked into amps like Aiyima a07, possibly to be paired with some entry level speakers? Dali Spektor 1, Polk TT15, etc. - would the amp have sufficient power to feed these?
Room dimensions and rough positioning (tt/speakers in reddish color) that is almost not possible to be modified/moved around - 6x3 meters (20x10 ft):
Currently the "system" is placed on top of a higlighted bookcase - dimensions are 150 x 150 x 40 centimeters wide/tall/deep (5x5x1.33 ft).
TV table is too high to fit speakers "below" the TV.
Is some model explicitly worse/better due to speakers being placed a bit too high (top of 5' bookcase)?
Would the better/usable to position it approx. 1-2 feet off the ground (+- knee to belt high inside bookshelf)?
Not sure if my described positioning affects which models to (not) choose e.g. from listed in forum with recommended passive/active speakers on US market here in forum (regardless of me shopping in EU)...
Music listened to is mainly rock, classical, a bit of symphonic/power/speed metal, no electro or dead-heavy bass "styles".
Thanks a lot for opinions/tips/warnings...
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