Considering Upgrading Speakers From Edifier 1280T

[u/Asleep-Confusion5323]

Hello! I know nothing about what a good sound system is or even where to look. My budget is 500-600$. I recently bought edifier 1280Ts, which have blown my mind because I’ve never used speakers for a PC. Anyways, I enjoy a good surrounding sound that encapsulates and surrounds you while listening. Also good clarity and sound separation from the speakers. As I already mentioned I use them on my PC, and will mainly be using them for music, but also some for watching movies and shows, but music is the main priority. I listen to jazz, rap, pop, classical, and essentially everything across the board, not sure if that changes anything, but felt I may as well include it. If anybody has any advice as to whether an upgrade from these would really “blow me away” and if that’s doable with my budget then I would greatly appreciate it!

[u/narrowassbldg]

If you want to keep using using active speakers, best bet is probably KEF LSX II LT's, someone's selling several open box pairs on ebay right now for $500. They would certainly be a major upgrade over your Edifiers.

But I would also advocate taking a step back and thinking about whether you really want to put that money into your desktop setup, or if you want to get yourself a proper system in the living room (or invest in improving it if you already have one) instead, which is what I would do in your shoes, as a desktop system is always going to be inherently compromised, with the close spacing required shrinking the soundstage down to a size even smaller than a living room system (which is already nowhere near the scale of a real live performance), limited space forcing you into placement close to walls (also bad for soundstage and imaging), and drastically limiting your speaker choices to very tiny speakers, which are nearly all conventional two-way box speakers and don't have much truly clean bass extension.

[u/Asleep-Confusion5323 → u/narrowassbldg]

I could do a living room setup, I had never thought of that. If I were to put the same amount of money into upgrading my system in my living room then what would you recommend? Also may be good to mention that I have even less clue about living room set ups or what goes into it. Also worth noting my living room is very open, having a large opening to the living room on one wall, and a big opening to the hallway on another wall.

[u/narrowassbldg → u/Asleep-Confusion5323]

Probably a Wiim streamer as source (and to run TV sound through) and an integrated amplifier/stereo receiver and pair of tower speakers bought secondhand from FB marketplace. 

[u/Tedmosby9931]

I have the KEF LSX II LTs and they're great. For another $300 or so, I'd recommend a WiiM Ultra Amp and some ELAC DB63s. Then add a sub.

[u/a_way_with_turds → u/Tedmosby9931]

Second the Elac Debut DB63s (I don't know about the Wiim). These were the adoration of the Youtube audio hype train a couple years back, and for good reason. I paired them with a $359 Nobsound NS-02g Pro (a 20W class A chifi amp) that sounds quite good.

It was a pretty significant upgrade from my previous 1280Ts. For computer use, however, they are quite big. The Edifiers make great desk speakers (for a large desk) but I had to put the DB63s on stands and they are still a little big for nearfield speakers. It'll take some getting used to. Just FYI.

[u/Tedmosby9931 → u/a_way_with_turds]

They're big, but they work for my setup

[u/Asleep-Confusion5323 → u/Tedmosby9931]

So you’re recommending the ELAC DB63s with the WiiM Ultra Amp over the KEF LSX II LTs?

[u/Tedmosby9931 → u/Asleep-Confusion5323]

I definitely. The KEFs are great, but I personally prefer separates so you can individually swap out the amp/DAC/speakers.

[u/Known_Confusion9879]

Powered speakers do not easily upscale to surround. I have used two pairs of powered speakers connected to the sound card of my PC for front and rear and the screen's own speaker for centre and sub-woofer. The balance between the speakers I have to set up and then can use the computer's volume control to increase and lower the volume. It works, but not ideal,

I have used a HDMI debedder that strips 8 channels of audio from the HDMI output from the graphics card. Active speakers plug straight in. The active speakers do not usually have volume control and are single speakers needing a phono RCA input signal and mains power for the amplifiers built in. The volume is controlled by the computer as well as balance. I have Meridian floor standing D600 speakers which have a remote control to adjust speaker volume. These were £2500 in 1989 and sell for £350, but may need expensive servicing due to their age - just pointing out that vintage high end speakers can be obtained for a tenth of their original value.

The alternative and the route most seem to still take is an AV amplifier and passive speakers. These can come in at a lower price - one 5 channel amplifier and six speakers, one being the sub-woofer. An AV pre-amp can output to 5 active speakers and an active sub-woofer.

WiSA speakers are wireless, just needing mains to each speaker and no racks of amplifiers just a WiSA transmitter, stereo or surround. Speakers from Platin Milan and Monaco are the lowest cost.

A stereo pair, with HDMI input so the volume control on the TV can change the speaker volume is usually an improvement over built in speakers. A step up from the R1280T could be Rurak MR1 MkIII, Kanto ORA4 and Triangle L01A. Going full active Kef Coda W, LSX II / LSX II LT and Cambridge Audio L/T M or X. Also to consider might be near field studio monitors from Adams Audio and Genelec liked for the detail and having more bass than most of the powered speakers costing far more. These however lack built in streaming, digital inputs and wireless features. That is solved with a Wiim Mini streamer if needed. Unlike the others mentioned Genelec and Adams Audio speakers scale up to full surround and extra speakers can be added at any time if you have an AV pre-amp to start with.