Hi all!
So I'm continuing the research on speakers for the computer. We're getting a new desktop which will have a better soundcard (Audigy 2) and the time has come to get some decent sounds.
I've been reading threads in here (of course!) but I realise that my n00bness is such that I need to catch up on my learning. We've always bought stereo equipment on the "we like what it sounded like" principle (we're the kind of annoying people who take our own CDs into stores and play them until we hear what we like) and this is the first time I've really dug into the tech aspects of speakers, so forgive my complete ignorance in the questions below...
Requirements: listeneable-to sound (with enough clarity for some basic mastering/editing). Fidelity and flat response probably better for us; heavy bass boost neither required nor desired. We play mostly (although not exclusively) classical, but seldom at neighbour-bashing volume - that said, it would be nice to be able to play at a "room level" on the computer which with the existing speakers isn't an option - the speakers it has don't pump out anything like enough sound. Interestingly, computer sits in a wooden armoire which we have noticed actually IMPROVES the sound of our existing speakers by providing an acoustic enclosure (given they're crappy came-with-the-puter Labtecs, they sound surprisingly good, really. But we want more than that ...!). Budget will only be around $100-150 - I've seen some of the recommendations in other threads (the Klipsch 2 and the Swans look interesting) - and all further recommendationsa re definitely welcomed! - but I need to understand more about how this all works too.
So.... with all that in mind:
- could somebody explain w per channel and why it's important? Is it to do with volume or quality of sound? (See? Really dumb questions - sorry!)
- While I know the Audigy2 isn't the soundcard of choice in here, it's an improvement over what we had and it's what the new puter has in it. Any settings or anything I should know about it to get the maximum out of it?
- for use as monitoring/editing speakers - what's the optimum placement?
- What's the difference between digital speakers vs non? Isn't anything the computer pumps out to a speaker converted one way or the other already? Doesn't the soundcard do that?
For all of this stuff, by all means direct me to other websites or FAQs somewhere - I'm just trying to catch up on my sadly lacking education in this department (am continuing to read the TS archive, too - just sometimes hard to find the info... but I'm digging, I'm digging!)
Thanks in advance, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all US posters!