Desktop Spekaers.... M-Audio AV 40 or Audioengine A2

[arhantd]

I know this is an old topic being revived but i am confused about which speakers to get for my desktop.

The reviews and forums mostly place both these systems at par.
In india they are both available at the relatively the same price.

So which one is better for someone who listens all genres of music and loves the sound quality more than anything else.

i hope someone here has had an experience with both these to help me decide?

I have owned a klipsch pro media 2.1 setup before and i really liked them, how do these compare to that?

 

[audiodelic]

Ive owned the promedia 2.1 and now the ae2. I can say ae2 has a more balanced sound whereas promedia has a lively sound owing to its horns, but the a2 is is not as loud as promedia 2.1, if you like bass a subwoofer really brings the ae2 a few notches up in the loudness department.purely sq wise ae2 will beat promedia.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I know this is an old topic being revived ...

I am sure you will find the exact question being discussed on other thread. It would have been better to continue, rather than start yet another.

My decision was M-Audio AV40. Before buying these speakers, however, you should consider that they are designed as studio monitors, which means that the intention is that they should be revealing rather than just pleasant to listen to.

 

[arhantd]

But are you happy with your m-audio? Whats your opinion about them?
Bass quality? and did you also buy them just to listen to music?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I bought them to listen to music and speech/drama/etc, as computer speakers.

Compared to my previous 2.1 setup, I notice stuff like highly compressed brodcasts a lot more. It's not that one actually notices while listening, but that fatigue sets in quicker. In this sense, I'd say that they are revealing and unforgiving.

I do a lot of my listening at very low volume (wife asleep in next room) and I'd say that they could, perhaps, be better at that. I'd like more treble.

Now, to be fair to the speakers, it is important to reveal two things:

1. I suffer from age-related high-frequency hearing loss. I always want more treble! Equally, it doesn't take much bass to be too much for me.

2. I sit in an end-of-room alcove, between two walls that are barely 2 metres apart. It is like sitting in a speaker, rather than sitting in front of two of them.

3. I fell instantly in love with another pair of speakers in the shop, that were too large (to bring home on a flight) and far too expensive anyway. Also studio monitors, they would have probably been even more unforgiving, but they had a space and airiness that I really loved.

Being positive about the AV-40s... Even in my really dreadful listening environment, they deliver good detail and good stereo. They "disappear" to the extent that I sometimes put my ear to make sure they are both working! They have given me "I never heard that before" moments with music.

If I turned around my work station, so that I had the room behind me, I think they would sound much better. The bass would become natural, instead of reflecting off the wall behind my head.

I really have nothing against them. The only thing I would suggest is that if you want to listen to a lot of broadcast speech (eg having BBC Radio-4 on all day) then something with a warmer sound would help to gloss over that compression thing.

It is hard to compare with what I had before. The 2.1 nxt system had been fantastic value in its time, but was grinding to a halt at the end of its life.

 

[arhantd]

Thanks for the detailed reply. Really helps me decide on what to do. I am thinking of spending a little more money and getting the A5. Maybe that would be better for my music environment.

 

[vinod_david]

I am thinking of spending a little more money and getting the A5.

Great speakers. A new A5 is around 19k in India. But, if you prefer second-hand route, our member 'hifipal4all' is selling his pristine A5 (black) for 15k (steal price). Please PM him for details.