What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want?

[audiophilia]

Selling my Raidho Acoustic XT-1 Loudspeakers.

Current model. Brilliant. Mint.

PM me if interested. Cheers.

 

[Girardian]

I’m selling my YBA 2 Delta HCDT monoblocks and matching preamp (dual mono, line stage, with remote). Special SF pricing. PM me if interested.

 

[Girardian]

Cables do matter - as does power conditioning. People can overspend in these areas compared to system value but saying they don’t make a difference suggests simply that the author can’t *hear* the difference (it is also true people “hear” — and taste - differences that don’t always exist).

 

[Joffrey]

Any thoughts on a simple 2.1 system that can stream from my PC but also connect to my TV? Thinking of getting this Logitech system: https://www.pcmag.com/review/354532/logitech-z537 It looks more like a PC set up but I know I'd like to play music off of it. The TV question is less important since I don't think about that much. Keeping the price under $250 is important.

 

[Girardian]

Why not look on the second-hand market for something a little better in the powered small monitors/desktop speakers?

I've never heard them myself, but you can pick up highly rated Audioengine A5+ speakers used (in "as new" condition with free shipping) for $300 (yes, $50 over budget):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005OSR1C8/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

That will be the best "extra" $50 you ever spent (plus the Audioengine look like real speakers, not "computer speakers"). Don't worry about the "missing" subwoofer -- the drivers and range of the Audioengine speakers will be more than sufficient and have a great range.

 

[habitant]

Kanto not bad either.

 

[Joffrey]

Thanks for both suggestions but it's kind of important that I be able to stream via bluetooth (that way my laptop or phone don't need to be connected to them). It looks like the Audioengine and Kanto don't allow for that. Also I know I said $250 price point but that'y my absolute max spend - somewhere around $150 would be a happy spot.

Thoughts on this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016PATXS...lm&pd_rd_r=46KMANVA9CBH1R744FDV&pd_rd_w=kUNWE

Any way will do some more research before I make a decision in a few days.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Thanks for both suggestions but it's kind of important that I be able to stream via bluetooth (that way my laptop or phone don't need to be connected to them). It looks like the Audioengine and Kanto don't allow for that. Also I know I said $250 price point but that'y my absolute max spend - somewhere around $150 would be a happy spot.

Thoughts on this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016PATXS...lm&pd_rd_r=46KMANVA9CBH1R744FDV&pd_rd_w=kUNWE

Any way will do some more research before I make a decision in a few days.

It sounds like this is for your home right? Why not just get the best audio system you can afford and add a Chromecast Audio dongle to it? It’s Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, but that’s actually a good thing as the audio quality it can stream would be higher. Not all apps can connect to Chromecast if you are on an iPhone, but many do including Spotify. Android phones have Chromecast built in at an OS level.

 

[habitant]

Chrome cast might even be worse than bluetooth

Just get a sonos, since that’s all you really seem to want.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Chrome cast might even be worse than bluetooth

.

?

Chromecast Audio connects via your home Wi-Fi network and has far more bandwidth advailable then Bluetooth does.

I have a Chromecast connected to my main TV and it works great. Simple to use and I don’t think it ever gives me any trouble.

 

[nootje]

?

Chromecast Audio connects via your home Wi-Fi network and has far more bandwidth advailable then Bluetooth does.

I have a Chromecast connected to my main TV and it works great. Simple to use and I don’t think it ever gives me any trouble.

So does airplay if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. Both preferable to Bluetooth, for the above reason. Even with my bad hearing I can tell the difference..

 

[Joffrey]

The Sonos is definitely in the right pricepoint. So is wifi streaming that much better than bluetooth? Any other reasons the Sonos will beat the Edifier? I won't lose sleep over connecting to my TV but would love to be able to do so if possible - doesn't seem like the Sonos can do it (my TV will require a physical connection)

 

[Jr Mouse]

The Sonos is definitely in the right pricepoint. So is wifi streaming that much better than bluetooth? Any other reasons the Sonos will beat the Edifier? I won't lose sleep over connecting to my TV but would love to be able to do so if possible - doesn't seem like the Sonos can do it (my TV will require a physical connection)

Sonos uses Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth’s bandwidth is much more limited then Wi-Fi. You can’t even get “HD” audio over BT unless you use one of the special codecs like aptX. Unfortunately these codecs are not widely supported and Apple doesn’t support any of them.

There is a reason many high end Bluetooth headsets also include the option to connect a standard audio cable. It’s because Bluetooth can’t deliver as good of sound as the cable due to limited bandwidth. If Wi-Fi was as low power draining as BT is then the whole industry would switch over to using it for headphone.

 

[habitant]

A play:5 has an optical connection so you could feed your tv to that

 

[Joffrey]

Yeah, it's also $250 above my budget. Still leaning toward the Edifier but worried about fitting it on my entertainment center, will also have to think about the bluetooth angle. The Sonos may be straight to the point for me since I could stick it anywhere in the apartment. Hold your breath for my decision tomorrow!