Hello Steve.

As you may recall I have a pair of inexpensive (Alesis) nearfield monitors and I would like to present my thoughts about that type of speaker.

Nearfield monitors are specialized speakers used in recording studios for the purpose of letting the mixing engineer hear the music reproduced as closely to the recorded sound as possible. The engineer is trying to hear the defects in the mix, not trying to have a pleasurable listening experience. The speakers help this process in two ways. First they try to provide as flat of a response as possible, without any frequency range being favored over any other. Secondly, they are meant to be positioned within a few feet of the auditor's ears, thereby helping to neutralize the effects of standing waves and other artifacts produced by the geometry of the listening environment. This is particulrly helpful when mixing in a home studio.

The engineer produces the best mix possible through the monitors, but then knowing that the product will be heard by the consumer through radically different speakers, then listens through a variety of speakers such as a consumer would typically use. The mix is then adjusted to reach a compromise that will sound as good as possible on all types of speakers, rather than being the best mix when heard solely through the nearfield monitors. When you listen to recorded music through nearfield monitors you are hearing that compromise mix rather than the best mix.

On the other hand, when a manufacturer designs good quality consumer speakers, they are able to factor in what the mix will sound like on their particular speakers. In theory their speakers can compensate for the compromises and reproduce the music closer to the way the engineer meant for the mix to be heard by the consumer.

I think that people assume that studio speakers must be the best if engineers use them, but they are meant to reveal flaws, not to enhance the listening experience. That is why they have names like Behringer "Truth" and Tannoy "Reveal". Additionally, nearfield monitors are not meant to be room filling speakers. To hear them properly you have to be close and stay in the sweet spot.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from nearfield monitors. They are my preferred kind of speakers. I often listen to them without any eq in order to keep my ears attuned to their natural flat sound so that when I mix I have less tendency to over-hype the bass and treble. But when I do feel the need for some sonic nirvana I just crank up the eq and they fulfill my needs adequately.

As far as the amount of bass, their size doesn't matter if you are close to them as intended. In that regard I would think of them as a type of headphones, which can have plenty of bass despite small speakers because they are close to the ears and so don't have to move large volumes of air. But the smaller the speakers (AV40) the closer you should be to them. As far as warm, neutral etc, the best monitors are neutral.

Good day Jim..

I had a feeling you would reply..and once again i am so pleased..what a really comprehensive set of answers i thank you very much indeed..on each occasion you have replied i have moved forward with my understanding of the subject!..I must admit i have being in two minds about active monitors or real hi fi speakers? but will go for the actives + dac.... so out of my selection i need to find the most neutral?regarding the DAC i am still not totally sure which way to go..there does appear several worthy candidates? so any further help appreciated...

I can look at the headphones situation later..most important speaker/Dac combo...As you will recall Jim..my room id 4 x3 metres and the other room when i do move occasionally? will be close to me anyway even though that room is 6 x 4 Metres....

Most folk thought DAC over soundcard...but am still not over sure if changing card would be a good thing anyway?? in conjunction with the above?

anyway all the very best for now

best wishes Steve:emotion-1:

Hello Steve,

I hope you don't mind my adding to the confusion, but may I ask a question of you and anyone out there that may be reading this?  I just bought my fourth Dell laptop, the Studio 1737, and it's a remarkable machine.  However, the speakers and sound are extremely poor, which is very disappointing.  I like to watch movies, record to DVD from my old VHS tapes, and listen to iTunes.  I can barely hear anything unless I am right in front of my laptop.  I want add speakers so that I can be anywhere in the room and hear well.  Do you have any suggestions?  I am NOT a computer expert so if you do reply (and I hope you will), will you please write back in the very simplist of terms so I will have a clear idea of what to buy?  Thanks very much!!  Good luck with your issues, too. 

Regards,

Kay  ;-)

:emotion-1:hello Kay,

Really nice to hear from you..and you are certainly not adding to the confuision...This is what the forum is all about trying to help each other..In my case Jim as being terrific...i have learnt a lot in a very short time from Jim..and others..

I to have the 1737..purchased a feww weeks back now in the UK (i live in Norway)I to think it is a remarkable machine..but i am having problems? and Dell are just not getting back to me?? which is dissapointing....but thats another thing..

I am in the same boat as you...but you could do worse than to read Jims comment below..but also http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19289381/19535168.aspx#19535168

Have a look at Jims other answers to me..they may be of help..but you may get other replies more suited to your particular problem..hope so

as you will see i am looking for new external speakers and a DAC (digital to analog converter)

all the best Steve

Steve,

Thank you for all of the kind words. I think I have said about all I can think of on this subject. Because I do not have direct experience with a DAC I don't have any recommendations concerning specific models. I would wonder if a budget DAC would be any improvement over a high end external sound card, but I understand that you have researched that aspect to your satisfaction.

Kay,

My advice would be to first use some headphones with your computer to check out the sound. If it is all right through the headphones then you will be satisfied with the quality through external speakers. If you have a consumer electronics store like Best Buy nearby, go and listen to their speakers and find something you like within your price range and size requirements. The type of speakers you probably want are called "powered" or "active", meaning that they contain an amplifier within the speaker enclosure. Regular speakers that one uses with a stereo receiver are called "passive" because they must be powered by the stereo.

If you want basic, small speakers to position right next to the computer, look for speakers in the computer section of the store. Any of these will sound quite good compared to the laptop's speakers. I have an ancient pair of small Altec Lansing powered speakers by my computer that I like even though they don't have big bass. They can be turned up to quite loud however they cannot "fill" the room with sound because they simply cannot produce a big sound as opposed to a merely loud sound. For a bigger sound, I can think of several ways to go.

> You could get a 2.1 system. That means the 2 small speakers with the addition of a sub woofer for more bass.

> You could get a 5.1 system. That means a surround sound system which would enhance the dvd experience.

> You could get a stereo receiver and connect the computer to it by running a cable from the line-out jack (headphone jack) to an unused input on the receiver.You could use any passive speakers you like with the receiver.

Here is a link to Best Buy's computer speakers.

Some of those say "USB" or "usb powered". That means that they connect to the usb port of the computer and get their power from the port instead of having to plug into an a/c outlet for power. That kind is the most portable, but not as powerful as most of the ones that draw a/c power. The ones that are not "usb" usually connect to the line-out of the computer instead of the usb port. If possible go to a store and listen to all they have. If you have to order before hearing, order only from someplace with a reasonable return policy because you won't know if you like them until you hear them.

Greetings Steve and Jim,

Thanks so much to both of you for your great ideas and suggestions.  I will definitely head out to Best Buy and take a look at what they have.  I don't necessarily need "BIG" sounds, but I had expected that this new Dell would not require me to sit right on top of it to hear what is played.  I bought it mainly to use for entertainment (streaming DVDs, iTunes) AND for transferring my home movies (VHS, Super 8, etc.) to DVD.  The Dell Inspiron 1501 that I still use and love, and which has a great sound system built right in, sounds much better and is much louder than the Studio 1737.  I had expected the 1737 would have been an improvement over my Inspiron 1501, which doesn't have the memory or capabilities of the 1737.

You both are very kind, and I do thank you both for taking time out to help me.  Thanks also to both of you for responding in plain English.  I am not a 'techie' and I just don't understand all of the computerese used to describe systems, peripherals, accessories, etc.  Steve, I hope you get your system straightened around to your liking, and Jim, keep on posting for the benefit of all of us.

Warm regards,

Kay

Hi Jim.... many thanks my friend.. much obliged to you for all the kind assistance you have given me.... I will give all the information a lot of thought and then go for it... all the very best Steve