great budget speakers - audioengine a5

nunhgrader · « **Reply #40 on:** 22 Dec 2009, 03:50 am »

I have a pair of Samson Mediaone 5a's and they are excellent as a active desktop speaker. Unfortunately, after less than a year I am having a problem with the left speaker (amplifier located in the left speaker) shorting out. Working with Samson to pay for a repair or advice now because I love the sound quality. (Problem may be the way I am using them with a computer/ y adapter or possibly initial shipping damage or maybe ground scheme?).

I was planning on getting a Music Streamer to use with these babies...

chgolatin2 · « **Reply #41 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 05:02 pm »

Just got me a new Bamboo pair yesterday

Nice product! Cant wait to receive it and for $325 shipped! Wow, thats cheap and cheerful!

mca · « **Reply #42 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 05:14 pm »

I have a pair of these on my desktop and they do sound great. Only problem is when I try and listen at low levels I only get sound through one speaker

Cacophonix · « **Reply #43 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 05:23 pm »

Quote from: mca on 23 Feb 2010, 05:14 pm

I have a pair of these on my desktop and they do sound great. Only problem is when I try and listen at low levels I only get sound through one speaker

Mine does the same! I thought it was a problem with just my A5.

eclein · « **Reply #44 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 05:39 pm »

I have heard all good things about AudioEngine speakers. I currently use Event TR5 bi-amped nearfields on my desk and they sound great but if they die I'll be thinking Audioengine....I was thinking about a Music Streamer also or a Musiland USB audiocard to put in between my laptop and these speakers, anybody using either of them?

ted_b · « **Reply #45 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 06:37 pm »

Quote from: mca on 23 Feb 2010, 05:14 pm

I have a pair of these on my desktop and they do sound great. Only problem is when I try and listen at low levels I only get sound through one speaker

Same. Volume pot seems to be culprit.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 06:44 pm »

Quote from: mca on 23 Feb 2010, 05:14 pm

I have a pair of these on my desktop and they do sound great. Only problem is when I try and listen at low levels I only get sound through one speaker

Saw this on their site -

[Q] When I listen to my music at night I keep the A5 speakers at a low volume. However, it seems that the left speaker is louder than the right speaker when at a low volume. Is there a way to fix this or is it normal?

[A] This is a common property of speakers using dual-analog style amplifiers. A quick fix for this is to increase the volume on your speakers and decrease the volume on your source.

srb · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 06:56 pm »

From Audioengine website:

Quote

[A] This is a common property of speakers using dual-analog style amplifiers...

I would go on to say ....that use very inexpensive volume control potentiometers. I'm not saying that they should be using stepped attenuators, but perhaps using a little better quality dual volume pot would fix this!

Their solution will work for someone with a volume adjustable source, but for someone with a typical CD or DVD player, this may not be possible.

Steve

droht · « **Reply #48 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 09:45 pm »

Quote from: mca on 23 Feb 2010, 05:14 pm

I have a pair of these on my desktop and they do sound great. Only problem is when I try and listen at low levels I only get sound through one speaker

Thanks for this info. I was about to order a pair of A5s, but I definitely don't want issues at low volume.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #49 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 10:06 pm »

Quote from: droht on 23 Feb 2010, 09:45 pm

Thanks for this info. I was about to order a pair of A5s, but I definitely don't want issues at low volume.

I'd recommend that you listen to it once. Its really not as big a deal as it might be coming across. At normal listening volume, you won't have any issues. I saw this issue only when i had the volume at almost whisper-level.

srb · « **Reply #50 on:** 23 Feb 2010, 11:16 pm »

It obviously would depend on the application. My bedroom powered monitors are also used to play music to fall asleep to as well as wakeup to, and the volume level for that is quite low (as would be expected in sleep hours house silence).

Steve

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #51 on:** 24 Feb 2010, 12:06 am »

No low volume issues here. And I mean very low. So low there isn't any point in listening... and the sound is equally balanced in both channels.

ted_b · « **Reply #52 on:** 24 Feb 2010, 05:35 pm »

Quote from: droht on 23 Feb 2010, 09:45 pm

Thanks for this info. I was about to order a pair of A5s, but I definitely don't want issues at low volume.

Don't make this issue bigger than it is! These speakers are incredible, and this issue is a single spot on the dial. if you raise the volume even one iota it goes away (or conversely lower the pc/source volume). The speakers are more valuable than this issue.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #53 on:** 24 Feb 2010, 11:51 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 24 Feb 2010, 05:35 pm

Don't make this issue bigger than it is! These speakers are incredible...

Maybe what needs to be defined here is 'how low' is 'low' and does anyone ever listen at such a low volume?

The overriding point is that these speakers are truly outstanding. If you ask those who have them what else is there comparable to them in that price class, you'll be waiting in vain for answer. Try them, you won't be sorry.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #54 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 12:04 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 24 Feb 2010, 05:35 pm

Don't make this issue bigger than it is! These speakers are incredible, and this issue is a single spot on the dial. if you raise the volume even one iota it goes away (or conversely lower the pc/source volume). The speakers are more valuable than this issue.

+1

Highly recommended speakers

funkmonkey · « **Reply #55 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 05:26 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 24 Feb 2010, 05:35 pm

Don't make this issue bigger than it is! These speakers are incredible, and this issue is a single spot on the dial. if you raise the volume even one iota it goes away (or conversely lower the pc/source volume). The speakers are more valuable than this issue.

+2 they are outstanding for the price. I have heard talk about the speaker without the amp inside playing at a different level at low volumes, but have witnessed it (slightly) in my own set. But, like others have mentioned, this is so minor that it's barely even worth mentioning.

chgolatin2 · « **Reply #56 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 06:29 am »

I know these speakers are outstanding value even at their retail price but when you purchase them pre owned or b stock at a lower price such as $300 plus shipping you really can't beat that

Shoot I bought them without even really listening to them, going on hearsay evidence since everybody on this thread is raven about them. Also, they may go well with my 10 wpc integrated amp

low.pfile · « **Reply #57 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 06:57 am »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 25 Feb 2010, 06:29 am

.... Also, they may go well with my 10 wpc integrated amp

Curious why you would want to use an integrated amp with a powered speaker system?
cheers, ed

srb · « **Reply #58 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 11:32 am »

Quote from: low.pfile on 25 Feb 2010, 06:57 am

Curious why you would want to use an integrated amp with a powered speaker system?
cheers, ed

I'm still trying to figure out (and asked the question in another thread), how it is possible to use the Roth Music Cocoon MC4 integrated amplifier, which only has speaker outputs and no preamp outputs, with the Jolida FX10 integrated amplifier.

Steve

chgolatin2 · « **Reply #59 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 06:53 pm »

I may not be to savy but why can't I do it? The Speakers should work w the Jolida or the Roth

since both unit only put out about 13 wpc hmmmmm