active monitors 2.0, please help me

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
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Hello everybody.
I want to replace my Logitech 5.1 x530 with some 2.0 active monitors.
They will be connected to my soundcard Creative SB X-FI Xtreme Gamer. Sometime i use the headphones ( Sennheiser 429 HD ) for gaming, movies, music.
What would you recommend me for about 400 US $ ?
It would be nice if the monitors have headphones slot on the front / side, not in the back.
What do you think about those : http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS40
Please give me some advices.
Thanks in advance.
 

Bruce B

WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Apr 25, 2010
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For powered monitors at that price your options are pretty limited. I'd look into the Blue Sky, KRK, M-Audio or Yamaha brand. Anything like Focal, Genelec, Adam, , Dynaudio and others are out of your budget.
I'd also go look on the Pro forums for 2nd hand. You might have to go with "computer speakers".

Look at Sweetwater as well.
 

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
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I would order right now those : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BX5D2/
but i don't know how could i use my headphones on M-Audio BX5 D2
Would you advice me, please ? There must be a way to use them.
A friend of mine is using the headphones Sennheiser 215 HD with M-Audio BX5A
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOBX5ADX
http://www.trustedreviews.com/Sennheiser-HD-215-headphones_Peripheral_review
I never asked him about this, and i never had a chance to listen / test his speakers, he is living in Canada, i'm in Europe
So, i wonder how did he manage to connect the headphones to the speakers, because those ones are active speakers.
Did he use some splitter - cable, maybe ?
 

Bruce B

WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Apr 25, 2010
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For him to use headphones, he must be using a Y-splitter. Or instead, you could get some sort of passive "mixer or pre" with HP output. Would also facilitate volume attenuation from your computer.
 

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
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For him to use headphones, he must be using a Y-splitter. Or instead, you could get some sort of passive "mixer or pre" with HP output. Would also facilitate volume attenuation from your computer.

So, it's possible with Y-splitter, actually ?! That would be great. What is that mean " Would also facilitate volume attenuation from your computer " My english is pretty poor, excuse me please.
 

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eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
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Thanks, but i still have in mind the M-Audio BX5 D2
I don't understand what kinf of cable y-splitter would i need if i want to use the headphones through M-Audio
Can you show me a link, please ?
 

Vincent Kars

WBF Technical Expert: Computer Audio
Jul 1, 2010
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I only see a TRS and a XLR input on the BX5 D2
No outputs.
As far as I know, a true active speaker is box with a line input, a crossover feeding 2 poweramps, one for the woofer and one for the tweeter.
I never have seen one with a headphone out and if there is one, it is 1 channel.

Behringer MS40 is not an active speaker. It is what I call a powered one.
In one box a stereo amp is built-in. The other speaker is fed over a speaker wire.
This is like having an separate amp and 2 passive speakers.
Just like the Audioengine: http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-A2-Features

I would simply connect the headphones to the Creative SB X-FI Xtreme

http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/ActiveSpeakers.htm
 

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
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And if i go for passive speakers + amp / DAC, there will be the same story ? No headphones, again ?
I wish i could connect the headphones into the amp / DAC / receiver / external soundcard or whatever it is, leave it there and from some button to switch for speakers or headphone.
What do you mean ?
 

Bruce B

WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Apr 25, 2010
7,006
512
1,740
Snohomish, WA
www.pugetsoundstudios.com
And if i go for passive speakers + amp / DAC, there will be the same story ? No headphones, again ?
I wish i could connect the headphones into the amp / DAC / receiver / external soundcard or whatever it is, leave it there and from some button to switch for speakers or headphone.
What do you mean ?

There are a lot of DAC's with a HP out jack.
 

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
17
0
0
If i use this external soundcard, could i plug in the headphones and leave them there, without to unplug them everytime when i want to use the speakers ?
I didnt find a video about this soundcard + headphones.
 

eduardx

New Member
Apr 10, 2013
17
0
0
Thank you very much for helping me.
Although some people recommend passive monitors + receiver / amp, i will go for M-AUDIO BX5 D2 + M-Audio Fast Track Pro and i hope i won't be dissapointed :)
 

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