Hi,
I'm planing to upgrade my study with a new stereo-system.
I have most of my music as flacs on my laptop and want to be able to listen to it without having to think I should have spent more money for the speakers/the soundcard all the time.
I will play computer games and watch movies with the system, too, but the quality of the music is much more imptortant for me.

I have very limited free space in my listening room (about 10m^2 with three bookshelves, 2 desks and 2 armchairs in it) and a somewhat limited amount of money - I could afford to spent about 1000 Euros (but I don't *have* to ).

So far I think the best option for me is a combination of the Audioengine 2 and the M-Audio Transit.

I have read that those speakers can be greatly enhanced by adding a subwoofer to them - I think that I won't need one at the moment (to say the truth.. I don't have room for one ) but I want to be able to add one to the system later on without replacing anything else (if that's possible at all).

In addition I'm not quite sure whether it is sensible to buy a new soundcard with only a digital and a stereo line output - as far as I can see my only way to connect the A2's with the transit would be the stereo out and that kind of bothers me - I always thought of the stereo line as a somewhat lesser output.

To sum my questions up: Is it sensible to buy this combination at all or should I change one or both components/use a completely different approach?
How difficult/sensible would it be to add a subwoofer to this combination?
Is it possible to disable the built in amplifier of the Audioengine 2?

Thanks in advance,
Markus

If you intend to use a subwoofer, which will substantially increase sound quality, then you need to use an active crossover. Look for a soundcard with bass management/crossover abilities. If you don't, then you can use external active crossover - but it will be an additional cost.

-Chris

Hi,



I couldn't find any (usb) sound cards with those abilities - are there any that are recommendable? What exactly do I have to look for?

Is the stereo-output going to reduce the audio quality if so is there any way to circumvent that?

Thanks,
Markus

Analog stereo cables are just fine, IF they are properly shielded, not too long and do not run through multiple connectors (a bunch of chained cables).

Seriously, the speaker and room is always the main soundquality bottleneck....... if something is going wrong elsewhere, then we are typically talking about DEFECTS.

As for speakers - i think that if you want compact yet someway linear speakers, then there currently is no alternative to the audioengines - i myself am going to buy them, however going for the bigger variant of them.

Yes, stereo only(no bass management) output will be a serious problem. You need to limit the bandwidth sent to the Audio Engine 2 speakers so that distortion is lowered. The Behrinber CX2310 is an affordable, but very high quality active crossover that can be used externally after the soundcard - inserted between the A2 speakers and the subwoofer(s).

-Chris

I suggest getting the information you require 'from the horse's mouth'. In this case, contact the retailers of the AudioEngine hardware at - support@audioengineusa.com - or - 877-853-4447 Toll Free - and simply ask them directly how they currently integrate their existing AS8 Powered Subwoofer product into the mix with the A2 or A5 setups.

I expect they will provide you with information you seek in no uncertain terms.

Andrew D.
http://www.cdnav.com



PS: I think you're 100% on the right track with your choices here, you might even want to save a few more pennies and pick up the A5s'...

.

The AS8 subwoofer's feature list says: "Outputs: RCA L/R, full-range"

There is no mention of a high-pass crossover network in the pass-through line, nor is their mention of a high-pass crossover in the A2 to make such an accommodation.

Sadly, the common suggestions to 'integrate' a subwoofer with existing speakers, is to simply adjust the subwoofer crossover to fill in where the full-range speaker begins to cut off to get a smooth frequency response. This is a poor method of integrating speakers, and will result in far higher distortion levels in most cases, and especially with the A2, if used at even moderate SPL levels.

I can not recommend AS8 subwoofer - no credible 3rd party measurement/analysis of this device exists. I would recommend buying a device in which such measurements exist. The Ilkka subwoofer measurement forum at www.ometheatershack.com ( http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests/ ) should help one find a fine performing device for a specific target price range.




It's hard to recommend the A5; no credible 3rd party analysis exists for this device. It is not always true that the item in a higher offering slot from a company will actually perform better than, or equal to, a specific unit. The A5 in all probability has a bit higher SPL and more bass extension when used by itself, but there is no verification that it has the same amplitude linearity and low resonance as the A2 device.

-Chris