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**accelieda** · 02-13-2012, 01:09 PM

Interesting timing.

My most recent hobby has been converting everything to an HTPC. The means that I'm putting over 500 CDs, and about 500 videos on hard drives and replacing my Adcom/B&O components with a single PC and Active Speakers.

Listening to Fattburger FLACs right now on a pair of Audioengine A2s (The reference speakers used in the article about your sound card) These are my new PC speakers.

On Friday I finished my auditioning and decided to go with the Audioengine A5+ for my living room rig. While I tested everything with the S8 subwoofer it's just not needed. The A5s put out plenty of bass although it's a little muddy.

I spent a lot of time listening to:
B&W 685 (my favorites but I need to keep my AMP and Preamp)
Cambridge Sound Works (good for movies but not for music)
Adams A3x (studio monitors so they're nearfield)

I found that what works well for music is not always what I want for TV/Movies. The A5s were the best compromise for the living room.

Now I need to figure out a sound card or DAC.

Great choice IMO Moby on the Audio Engine products... I've been using the mat black Audio Engine A2's at work on the company computer for several years now and my co-workers all agree they are the best sounding speakers in that form factor, and for $200 a pair it is money well spent.

That being said I have gotten spoiled listening to my shoe box sized vintage LS 3/5a's. For acoustic and vocals they are simply goose bump magic! Read the very interesting story linked below of how these legendary little speakers came to be. They are now fetching used what they sold for new in the mid 90's!

http://www.g4dcv.co.uk/ls35a/history.html

On a related note, while researching my recent purchase of an Asus laptop for travel I became aware that many manufacturers have now disabled the stereo mix or record what you hear options in their sound properties drivers. In all previous computers this was a basic offering and is needed to use most sound recording programs such as Sony Sound Forge. These companies have bent over for the RIAA to disable this in their drivers to prevent the 'piracy' of recording streaming audio content.

So unless one doesn't need this function or plans on purchasing an expensive outboard sound card, stay away from all laptops made by Dell. Acer, Sony, HP, Toshiba and Gateway.

02-13-2012, 01:09 PM	#23
accelieda Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 390 Senior Member	Interesting timing. My most recent hobby has been converting everything to an HTPC. The means that I'm putting over 500 CDs, and about 500 videos on hard drives and replacing my Adcom/B&O components with a single PC and Active Speakers. Listening to Fattburger FLACs right now on a pair of Audioengine A2s (The reference speakers used in the article about your sound card) These are my new PC speakers. On Friday I finished my auditioning and decided to go with the Audioengine A5+ for my living room rig. While I tested everything with the S8 subwoofer it's just not needed. The A5s put out plenty of bass although it's a little muddy. I spent a lot of time listening to: B&W 685 (my favorites but I need to keep my AMP and Preamp) Cambridge Sound Works (good for movies but not for music) Adams A3x (studio monitors so they're nearfield) I found that what works well for music is not always what I want for TV/Movies. The A5s were the best compromise for the living room. Now I need to figure out a sound card or DAC. Great choice IMO Moby on the Audio Engine products... I've been using the mat black Audio Engine A2's at work on the company computer for several years now and my co-workers all agree they are the best sounding speakers in that form factor, and for $200 a pair it is money well spent. That being said I have gotten spoiled listening to my shoe box sized vintage LS 3/5a's. For acoustic and vocals they are simply goose bump magic! Read the very interesting story linked below of how these legendary little speakers came to be. They are now fetching used what they sold for new in the mid 90's! http://www.g4dcv.co.uk/ls35a/history.html On a related note, while researching my recent purchase of an Asus laptop for travel I became aware that many manufacturers have now disabled the stereo mix or record what you hear options in their sound properties drivers. In all previous computers this was a basic offering and is needed to use most sound recording programs such as Sony Sound Forge. These companies have bent over for the RIAA to disable this in their drivers to prevent the 'piracy' of recording streaming audio content. So unless one doesn't need this function or plans on purchasing an expensive outboard sound card, stay away from all laptops made by Dell. Acer, Sony, HP, Toshiba and Gateway.
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