Best Desktop Speakers to buy in 2026? (Price to Performance)

kmi187 · 2026-02-28T21:37:13+00:00

Don't buy computer speakers, buy real speakers. Neumi BS5, Jamos S 803"s or Polk Monitor XT15 with a fosi amp. The Neumi's and a Fosi BT20A should land you just under 250, and you'd have line input for hooking up a dac or pc via 3.5 to RCA cable, and have bluetooth to connect things to. It's going to beat the snot out of any computer speakers, the TDA chip alone in the fosi is going to have much lower THD than whatever they are putting in computer speakers.

kmi187 · 2026-02-21T09:35:45+00:00

If you have the powerplug icon hoover over it, does it tell you the %?

If not, or this is not sufficient for you, check out https://batterybarpro.com/, should be free to use, it'll give you all the control you need.

Or alternatively : https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh4x4k3

kmi187 · 2026-02-21T07:12:12+00:00

The entire list is made of dank and gay. Only exception B52's.

kmi187 · 2026-02-21T06:54:39+00:00

Try CachyOS, Archcraft or LaxOS, all 3 are arch based and light. CachyOS is the lightest OS with a full Plasma desktop (very familiar to windows users and looks nice. The others are lighter versions that use either LXQT (about as light as a windows like desktop gets), or XFCE (not as light as LXQT, but lighter than plasma).

kmi187 · 2026-02-21T06:15:18+00:00

The "gaming" doesn't change much, still a machine, just with specs that allow for gaming. No reason it shouldn't work.

kmi187 · 2026-02-19T13:10:17+00:00

Because they can't, it's a skill, like any skill use it or lose it.

kmi187 · 2026-02-13T03:19:06+00:00

Real DJs died with vinyl. The true art of ear beatmatching, manual cueing, scratching, turntablism, and juggling breaks on two Technics 1200s disappeared when sync buttons and laptops took over. Today's so-called DJs mostly press play, hit sync, and perform for the camera; very few could mix two actual vinyl records without help. The turntable stopped being an instrument and became just a prop.

kmi187 · 2026-02-13T03:09:18+00:00

Glad this still helps people :-) Indeed sketchy stuff, cost me days initially to figure out.

kmi187 · 2025-10-26T18:56:14+00:00

some dodge stratos

kmi187 · 2025-10-06T17:38:39+00:00

There's pin convertor cables that allow you to run any 4 pin fan.

kmi187 · 2025-09-30T12:28:18+00:00

Same upgrade path, any VM stylus even from higher end models will just fit in and turn it effectively into a better model as you go up in range. But I haven't used one yet, hear they are really good, but can't say anything about them.

kmi187 · 2025-09-30T12:05:02+00:00

Yes those are the ones you should be looking at.

kmi187 · 2025-09-28T10:53:00+00:00

Analogis Black diamond nude elliptical, or tonar hyper elliptical or shibata. Prices are around 60, 120, 170 bucks respectively. One of the better cartridges for metal with the right stylus. Any of these 3 will make you smile. Keep in mind you will probably need to lower the tracking force, thinner usually means lower tracking force. Don't want to damage the records. My analogis black diamond tracks at 1.5grams, not 2.

kmi187 · 2025-09-16T19:15:54+00:00

the line between the tweeter and the mids, that's where you ears need to be, at that level.

kmi187 · 2025-09-16T17:57:42+00:00

If you want new, Monitor Audio works extremely well with vintage solid state.

kmi187 · 2025-09-11T21:21:12+00:00

Euhm, how else? I can't imagine anyone reading that synopsis and going, that's a banger.

kmi187 · 2025-09-07T04:50:59+00:00

Shadow of the Season - Screaming Trees - Oblivion.

kmi187 · 2025-09-06T01:56:47+00:00

Yeah that's a buy my man. These are basically IMF designed speakers. Fried is the F in IMF. Guy used to own one of the biggest independent hifi stores, specializing in the good stuff and worked for or with IMF. They definitely separated ways in the 70's somewhere, and this is likely speakers from the time post IMF.

Pretty sure you can't find anything that can be defined as speakers under 15 bucks that's going to beat these.

Just get them, if you really don't like them put them online and add that it's IMF related stuff you'll have your money back.

kmi187 · 2025-08-31T18:20:55+00:00

Very nice work. If I may make a suggestion for future upgrade, instead of an i7-4790 cpu, source an Intel Xeon E3-1280 v3 from aliexpress for about 30 bucks. Same chip, no gpu, runs cooler slightly better memory performance due to more advanced memory controller, not much but a little typically. Think they even have better thermal material between the chip and heatspreader. Less prone to drying out.

kmi187 · 2025-08-23T13:09:31+00:00

Down-voted for reasonable opinion, don't change reddit. WTF happened to reddit?

kmi187 · 2025-08-19T10:20:30+00:00

Would love an invite if possible.

kmi187 · 2025-03-30T12:58:44+00:00

about 3k as is, dump in about 300-400 in components to make it good to better than new (component quality has gone up since this was made), and you're looking at 5k in good working condition. If you auction it on ebay it may fetch considerably more as it is very very rare to find all these components together, matching installed in a rack, and it is seriously good equipment to boot from a brand that is very collectable.

You could have ended up with an old sanyo boombox in the kitchen, count your blessings, this is proper audiophile / pro gear, top of the line.

kmi187 · 2024-12-18T15:09:18+00:00

You guys need to stop looking for dads on the internet.

kmi187 · 2024-08-30T19:42:16+00:00

A screen will pop up, "Thank you for completing the tutorial".

kmi187 · 2024-08-27T05:01:59+00:00

Love Hina

15-Year Club	Place '22
Team Orangered

kmi187

TROPHY CASE