I haven’t bought computer speaker setup in well over a decade, but getting back into gaming, any suggestions?
I ask, due to the fact it looks like the old brands are all over the place in quality these days, like the Logitech G560 Speaker System, whose required software is messy. https://a.co/d/00gehZRS
Which is really making me wish I kept up to date, as Amazons current “recommendations system” can’t be trusted for quality with so many being cheapo speakers and SEO ruining result searches. 
Thanks in advance, as I feel like I’ve awaken in a speaker dystopia. 😧
I’m not an audiophile but I am a dj and music producer. I’d say the others who commented so far say not to look for “computer speakers” and they’re right. Soundbars and all that crap will sound like shit compared to any set of regular speakers.
But I wanted to add that the easiest speakers to buy and use are probably powered speakers. Meaning that you power the speaker directly with a power cable, and you send the speaker the audio signal. Other non powered speakers require an amplifier/receiver. Aka a third piece of gear you’d probably rather not have to research or buy.
So I’d recommend any powered speakers that are within your budget. Larger speakers will yield more bass because they can move more air aeound. Sound is just wiggly air. Depending on your room size, I’d probably recommend something at least with 7inch or bigger bass drivers (the bigger speaker cone). Someone else mentioned KRK which is a pretty cheap brand but they don’t sound terrible especially if you go for the larger ones.
As far as connecting powered speakers to your computer goes, it’s really not that expensive to buy a simple audio interface. I’d highly recommend the focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I have one as a secondary interface to my main one. It’s rock solid. Just plug it in and it works. There’s a volume knob on the front. Get some quarter inch audio cables to go from the back of your focusrite to the powered speakers. Done. Enjoy and hopefully this helps.
Edit: I should add that I’ve been using a pair of Fostex PM2 mkii powered speakers as my main music production speakers for the past 10+ years. I write, mix and master every song I’ve released. Look me up on Spotify. My most popular song has over half a million plays. I mixed and mastered that song myself on my trusty Fostex. So hopefully that makes my advice more credible.
Bonus question: How do you see AI affecting music production in the future? Sites like Suno can already produce some sort of music, but will that sort of technology enhance or threaten your work? Is this just like the time when the spinning jenny revolutionized the textile industry?
Before photography was invented, people relied on painters to capture people’s images. Everyone thought photography would completely replace painters but instead, painters began to move away from the literal realistic style and experiment with abstract and surreal styles. I’m hoping something similar happens with music and AI. People who write and produce music will be able to experiment and step away from what is already possible with AI. I’m hoping we see pop acts and music in general taking more risks and doing more weird shit.
Beyond that, I think it’s just a tool. When the first synths were created, they were trying to replace real brass players with a brass-like synth sound and brass players were so threatened. But then nerds got a hold of these synths and started pushing them way way beyond what they were intended to be used for. The synth evolved into its own instrument, and never replaced brass players. I see AI in music being used like this.
I already use it occasionally. My friend trained a model on a bunch of one shot samples from a sample pack and then spat out 1000 samples similar to the training material. Sometimes I sprinkle those samples into my tracks. I also use stem splitting AI to extract vocals from songs making it possible to remix music in ways that were previously not possible. Some of my friends generate 70s funk sounding tracks with AI so that they can sample them and flip them into hiphop beats avoiding and copyright issues with sampling someone’s actual song.
Thanks for taking the time to write a thoughtful answer. Especially that historical perspective was interesting.
I just thought that AI music is going to be like the ways clothes are manufactured today. Sure, you could get your clothes from a big factory, and many people do. At the same time, there are still many people who make clothes by hand just for fun. There are also some who make clothes the old way and sell them to millionaires who can afford to appreciate that production method and the quality that comes with it.
My guess is, the same will happen to music industry. Most people who wear cheap t-shirts, will also listen to cheap AI pop. Some other people with the money to hire musicians will do so, just like they’ve done so far. At the same time, many people will also continue to enjoy playing instruments or knitting wool scarfs just because it’s fun.
Random person here just popping in to say I’ve never heard of you before and you make fantastic music. I’ve been going to raves and festivals since the mid-00s and I would love to see you spin hahaha
Also all excellent advice.
If you’re ever working in Vancouver, can i come job shadow you for a few days? Always been curious about the technical side of audio production
I am based in Vancouver. But I teach music production lessons in Ableton Live over zoom. I have 15 students at the moment. Maybe that’s something you’re interested in?
Don’t search for computer speakers, just look for normal speakers on which I can’t help out too much on. Unless you want to invest into an expensive sound card, you probably should go for an AV-Receiver which transmits the audio through HDMI as this will give you the maximum quality depending on the supported formats. I have a sound card -> old school amplifier -> speaker setup. Basically it is your choice where the digital to analogue transformation happens, whether through a receiver or sound card. A sound card does have the massive advantage of providing virtual headphone surround sound (yes on stereo headphones, and no, this is really working) which receivers typically don’t have, because reasons and it will provide you with a massive immersion boost. And no onboard sound is not comparable, even the best one is a clear step down.
Interesting direction, any recommendations? As I feel like I’m starting all over again these days lol.
External sound cards have the advantage of less electrical interference, but usually the internal ones have external power not coming from the PCIe slot so it isn’t a big problem. Asus left the market leaving you with good old Creative Sound Blaster again. Choose whatever your budget allows, the two upper tier ones just differ in accessories, but that might have changed. And AV receivers the same, I am not the up to date audio guy what is a good deal. Just try to stay >120 dB SNR on sound cards for high end.
Studio monitors are excellent choices, but expensive. I’ve used genelecs for pretty much every audio workstation I’ve ever done, I’m a huge fan, but you’re also talking $800 and up.
You can sometimes find a good deal on some used studio monitors, which to me is the way to go. A long ways back I decommissioned some genelecs for a studio (surprise surprise, the new studio had newer versions of the same model), and I’ve been using them since at home. Roughly 15 years now.
I don’t know that I’d consider myself an audiophile, but I am a musician. I run a pair of powered studio monitors out of the back of a Focusrite Scarlett usb audio interface for recording, and it’s way better than any computer speakers I’ve ever owned in terms of sound quality and fidelity. Of course, I’m also not trying to have a dance club setup that’s going to rattle the windows on my nextdoor neighbor’s house with super-ultra-mega bass, but it’s an avenue to consider.
I don’t know if I would consider myself an “audiophile” but I do DJ for myself and like to have a decent set of speakers.
I have owned a few pairs of KRK Rokit speakers and currently have a set of Rokit 6’s. I like them for their overall pretty neutral sound, ideally I would have a sub along with it but space is an issue for me right now so I can make do. They have a sufficient amount of bass for my small flat by themselves to be honest.
I run them through my DJ controller (Traktor S4 mk3 if you care) and have run past pairs I’ve owned through other DJ controllers and basic focusrite USB audio interfaces.
I wouldn’t say these are super high end but I find they offer a very good listening experience for not a great deal of money (I always buy second hand where I can), this set set me back around £160 if I remember correctly.
I’ve had a set of KRK Rokit 8s for 10 years now and they’re great. I’ve had them absolutely cranked for some parties and they haven’t showed any signs of giving up. Perhaps not the best studio monitors out there but the price to performance ratio combined with how long they’ve lasted makes them one of the better audio purchases I’ve made.
The most important parts are missing from your question.
How much money are you willing to spend? Do you just want small 2 way speakers or small + subwoofer or 3 way speakers?
As someone else mentioned, KRK can be pretty good value but decent active studio monitors start around the 200$ area at the minimum. This site is my go to for audio stuff https://www.thomannmusic.com/active_nearfield_monitors.html
I have been happily using a pair of Fostex PM0.4C that i got on sale for 250€ but i dont know how availability is wherever you are.
This Focusrite Scarlett Solo is THE standard audio interface you will find in many budget or mobile audio studios, but this is not really needed for most people. https://www.thomannmusic.com/focusrite_scarlett_solo_4th_gen.htm
Hate to jump in on someone else’s question and ask for advice, but what would you suggest for around or under $100? On a budget but getting back into gaming. TIA.
I mean for gaming, headphones are always better imo, but if you want speakers then personally i would go for used ones at that price range.
You will just get much more value for you money, but you will need to have a bit of patience to get a good deal.
Honestly even a mini amp with some random passive speakers will be a better experience than whatever active speakers you can get for 100$.
I once installed this type of thing for someone that found some passive speakers in the trash and was really strapped on money.
Guess you’re right on the headphones, any suggestions? There’s so many brands these days and I’ll assume most are garbage 😂
