Most helpful client reviews
45 of 47 persons found the following review helpful.
Hey Amazon! What the heck is a MK II AV40?
By James Fenton
This must be a good support to those with questions.
Having expended a full week researching desktop speakers to replace my old 5.1 Altec Lansing 2001 solution I decisive upon the M-Audio Studiophile AV40s. The contest was a potpourri of Bose speakers promoted in a few trips to the local Best Buy store. I in fact purchased one of the initial Bose cube speaker systems in the early 80′s, I considered strongly the Audioengine A2 offering. I had set a $200 soft target. The reviews for the AV40 exceeded that for other schemes I considered. I have a few dissimilar systems in the house from a comparatively recent home theater to a vintage stereo set up. The majority of my music has been converted to the FLAC format and I wanted a clear true sound that imaged well. This is a lot to suppose for $200 speakers. I also hope to become a Spotify user but am yet to receive an invite. I use MOG and Napster also. As I was ready to check out for the $149 AV40′s what will have to appear on my screen but the following:
There is a newer model of this item:
M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Powered Monitor Speakers M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Powered Monitor Speakers 4.5 out of 5 stars (22)
$114.99
What did this mean? Was I buying “obsolete” speakers. Were these “newer” speakers updated/better/more options/what? I went to the M-Audio web page and there was no mention of a “newer” model.
I kept off the buy. In a good deal of web postings a MK II version of the AV30 was mentioned. Was this “newer” providing a MK II version of the AV40? Amazon did not mention this in the offering. Then a few postings from recent AV40 buyers noted that their new Amazon AV 40s did not have the bass boost option and 15 watt amps rather of the AV’s 20 watt amps. When contacted M-Audio said “we do not make any AV40s with less than 20 watts per channel”. Confusing, Yes. I would still like an answer from Amazon whether these are AV 40s distinctively made to trade at a lower price point like the big box stores do with galore of the merchandise that they sell. And if so why was this not pointed out by Amazon. All that detached I did have a severe case of new speaker lust and decisive to take a chance on the “newer” model AV 40s.
And guess what they are terrific. I can’t compare whether I am missing something with 5 less watts per channel and no Bass boost, but what I have is very good at sound reproduction. I wish that Amazon comes out and in an open way addresses this issue.
PS. As good as the AV40′s are my computer has an integrated sound card so I made a brilliant buy of a $27 Behringer usb DAC adapter and now the sound is better than terrific. It sparkles. Close your eyes and there are no speakers. The vocals are front and center. One may listen sounds I even missed with my Ultimate Ears ear buds on my Cowon Flac player. The instruments stand out in time and space.
For $114 plus $27 I closely have a concert hall on my desk.
52 of 56 persons found the following review helpful.
Great sound quality – emits some heat from the back of the left speaker.
By Curious Reader
I’m using these as computer speakers for
Pandora, mp3s and DAW software;
and I am enjoying the sound quality.
I don’t genuinely have any complaints.
For the sake of informing potential buyers,
I’ll say:
With a ‘normal’ at home computer set-up,
these are very big equated to
‘normal’ computer speakers,
so keep that in mind.
It’s the trade off for superior sound,
and not requiring a sub-woofer,
or a huge box shaped
power adapter plug spanning 2-3 outlets.
These have a basic electrical plug (like a table lamp).
I have these speakers pointing straight ahead,
with the tops of them around heart level,
and they sound fine.
However, it is commended by M-Audio
that you have them at ear level,
and angled to make an equilateral triangle with your head.
I would say it’s good advice, if you may pull that off.
The main speaker with the connections / volume is the left speaker.
You have two choices for connecting these speakers
with your computer.
The frequent 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable,
which plugs into ‘Aux in’ on the front of the left speaker;
or 3.5mm to RCA which plugs into the back of the left speaker.
Both cables are included.
If your computer room gets hot
you might want to turn these off
when you don’t need them;
because the left speaker formulates a noticeable
amount of heat from the back,
after being on for hours.
Honestly, it’s the same amount
that those huge box power adapters
emit; the only divergence is that it’s coming
from the emplacement of your speaker.
9 of 9 humans found the following review helpful.
Ni-i-i-i-i-i-i-ce
By Wizekracker
I got these a few weeks ago. Living in apartments, I love high quality sound, but don’t want the letter from the office concerning sound disturbances. Got home from work, set them up, and I was a little iffy at first. Since these are flat-tuned, depending on what media player you use, you’ll have to mess around with the EQ settings. Once it was dialed in, the impression was more positive. After a couple days, when they got more warmed in, I was very impressed. I threw each genre in my library at them and they played exceedingly well. You’re not going to get that “heart-pounding” low end frequency out of them, but you’ll get a good range from the sound spectrum that most audiophiles yearn for.
Un-boxing these things was closely ceremonial, primary thought: good feel, good weight, solid construction and a nice potpourri of connection options. They included a manual with impressive specs and a campy comic book style book instructing the buyer on how to in the right manner place their speakers. The pack-in hardware cables were very cheesy to the touch and I’d highly commend hitting your nearest Radio Shack for the necessary adapter cable to run these.
You just can’t beat a silk dome ferro-cooled tweeter. However, I had a little problem with the ring light flickering around the volume knob. One phone call with Amazon and the problem was solved with replacements. Two weeks now, and I’m very satisfied.
The offside, they are a little big, but they sound bigger. I elevated them to a 15 degree angle to better intention them at a tall person like me and another recommendation would be to use galore sort of isolation material (included foam pads and a good deal of extra isolating foam) to place them on so the good sound doesn’t get discomfited by the vibrations on your desk.
Bottom line: So far, so good (or excellent). Use good cables and connectors, rather than the pack-ins they supply you with and give them some time to warm up and break in. Yes, they do get a little hot, but not sufficient to differ oneself from having them.
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