A step up from the Edifier powered speakers are Fluance Ai40 $169 on sale.
If going with a mini amp:
A good deal is closeout 6.5" DCM MTX Audio TP160S-B $249 $109. Review by u/DieselWang, Video Review and DCM TP160S vs the SVS Ultra Bookshelf.
Or compact 4" Micca RB42 $149 have a great low end. Or the lower cost original 4" Micca MB42X $79.
5.25" Boston A25 $149 bogo.
DIY Kit: 5" C-Note $100. Add around $50 for supplies then budget for tools if you don't have any. Compare to built speakers costing over twice as much. Glue, clamp, solder, paint, assemble.
Single Box Dayton Audio MKBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker Kit $129.
What is the Spinbase not doing for you?
The Spinbase Max just seems to go a bit lower than the original Spinbase so it's not worth switching too especially not for $500 since if you want lower bass then add a powered subwoofer for much lower bass that you can feel.
Do you have a subwoofer size and budget in mind?
No need to change cartridges, you can upgrade just the stylus to OM10 or OM20 or LP Gear OM10 $39 is a good value.
If you are looking for better sound quality and you must have a vertical setup under the turntable then you could get a turntable stand and place a better pair of speakers in the top vinyl storage area.
Klipsch the Fives powered speakers with a built in phono preamp.
Or an amp or receiver and passive speakers:
The top record storage shelf may even allow the tweeters to be at your seated ear level, scroll down to the speaker height section.
Are there any powered speakers that compete with this RB42 setup? self.audiophile
submitted 7 minutes ago by netwoke
I'm looking for a set of desktop speakers that look nice, and aren't very big. Jamo S803 looks too big, for example, but RB42s are perfect. I need a decent low-end without a sub, but a sub out for the next upgrade is required. I would like to be at no more than $350. If something was $335 and sounded slightly worse than something $350, I would go with the cheaper option.
This is what I'm currently looking at:
RB42 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JC416LG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AFKH6OU9WWNFS&psc=1
SMSL SA300 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081DJD1G4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DLIZX4T1QPH&psc=1
This is appealing because the RB42 has reportedly good low-end, doesn't look like shit, and is compact. If there's an alternative to either the speakers or amp please let me know.
I've been looking at powered options with a sub-out, such as YU, YU2, Fluance Ai61, Powered BS5, Audioengine A2+, and R1700BTS.
If you have any thoughts or recommendations, please let me know. I've been looking at second-hand in my area, but no luck yet.
Auto stop either built in or add on product (I want to put a record on and slip into a bath, go cook dinner, or otherwise potentially wander off)
Auto stop is a nice convenience to have however leaving the stylus running in the run out groove for 5 to 10 minutes or even 30 to 60 once in a while won't hurt anything and if you do it often then you just replace the stylus somewhat sooner when it wears out. Or add a Q-UP tonearm lifter for when you need it. Or a smart outlet if falling asleep to a record to cut the power to the turntable after 25 minutes.
Turntables:
Is the Denon AV receiver connected to your TV? Do you have more than 2 speakers for movie and TV surround sound?
Phono preamp:
If you have a $500 to $600 upgrade budget you could get the Fluance RT82 plus a speaker upgrade:
Or what is a nearby town or zip code I can search for used options for less cost? Reply here or chat.
How are you currently listening to records with the turntable? A Bluetooth speaker or headphones? Powered speakers?
Turntable > audio cable > Yamaha AV receiver > speaker wire > passive speakers.
Passive speakers and sales:
Or what is a nearby town or zip code I can search for used speaker options for you? Reply here or chat.
Plus speaker wire, pure copper oxygen free 16 AWG. Then How To Strip Speaker Wire and How to Install Speaker Wire.
If the speakers must go in an alcove then at least bring them to the front edge of the surface to prevent reflections and give the speakers room so they are not up against the back of the alcove. The term "bookshelf speaker" is a misnomer, these type of speakers are designed to ideally go on speaker stands. Speaker Placement Guide: Get The Best Sound From Your Stereo
If you have a small to under medium size room then an option is to go down a size to 4" mid bass driver speakers.
4" Klipsch KD-400 $329 $159 powered speakers with RCA audio cable input for the turntable plus Bluetooth for streaming audio from a smartphone, tablet or computer, plus digital optical input for a TV, plus USB input for a computer.
Or is you get the mini amp or stereo receiver then passive 4.5" JBL Stage 120 $149. Or 4" Micca RB42 $149 go low for their small size. Or 4" Klipsch R-41M $119.
I have:
I recently got a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen, but since my speakers are passive how would I go about connecting it??
FWIW, the motherboard for my PC is the MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX II. See audio ports config.
I was looking into these 1/4" TS to Dual RCA cables, but I'm really not sure...
Side note- no DAW yet, but soon enough I'll get Ableton.
The older RT81 is not worth buying anymore since the newer improved Fluance RT82 for $50 more adds a $100 increase in performance and component value since it adds the new optical sensor speed controlled motor for much lower wow and flutter and speed variation and the speed won't drift since the sensor is monitoring the speed 400 times a second. Includes the OM10 cartrdige that is just as good as the newer version 2M Red. Pass on the RT83 since the cartridge is not any better.
Fluance RT82 $299 + Technolink $49 phono preamp is a step up from the basic $15 value phono preamp built into the RT81 + Klipsch KD-400 $329 $159 powered speakers on sale with analog RCA input for the turntable and phono preamp, USB input for a computer, digital optical input for a computer or TV, Bluetooth for streaming audio, and a subwoofer output.
A lower cost better value option is AT-LPW30TK $249 $175 with built in phono preamp + Klipsch KD-400 $329 $159.
Or the automatic AT-LP3 $249 $125 with built in phono preamp + Klipsch KD-400 $329 $159.
Or instead of powered speakers, a separate amp and passive speakers:
Amps with a built in phono preamp for the Fluance RT82:
Or amps with line input for the AT-LPW30TK or AT-LP3:
Any of the above amps plus passive speakers:
Plus speaker wire for the passive speakers, pure copper oxygen free 16 AWG. Then How To Strip Speaker Wire and How to Install Speaker Wire.
If you splits the signal then you would need to adjust the volume on the subwoofer and the speakers separately or add a level control before the split which is not ideal either.
You could connect a subwoofer with speaker wire inputs wired to the main speaker or between the Edifier speakers.
Or upgrade to powered speakers that have an RCA subwoofer output or to passive speakers and a mini amp that has a 3.5mm line/subwoofer output.
Denon DP400 with the odd dust cover for $349?
For a small room or a desktop setup smaller 4" or 4.5" are an option:
4.5" https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Woofers-Alluminum-Tweeter-Bookshelf/dp/B07TC79BNW/
4":
Will they be on a desk to the left and right of your monitor or laptop?
