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ipod speakers and mac speakers
ihatemarmite
23-11-2007
OH wants ipod (nano) speakers from Santa. Is there any realistic alternative to Bose if high quality sound's required? Would be the main music system in the flat. We play all kinds of music except metaldeathhead. Plus loud music is banned.

Also as I work from home with music on, which I play through my MBPro, can anyone suggest mac-compatible computer speakers as the sound is ok on the MBP but no more than that and I hate headphones.
moisie
23-11-2007
With the appropriate line-out connector you can just plug it into any music system, you don't have to use dedicated speakers. So technically speaking you can use any good speakers - Mac/iPod or not.
JohnD2000
23-11-2007
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“OH wants ipod (nano) speakers from Santa. Is there any realistic alternative to Bose if high quality sound's required?”

Yes...every other make! IMO Bose make the worst sounding (least realistic) audio products in the world. The wife once talked me into buying a Bose Wave CD/Radio and I can't bear to listen to its booming, exagerated bass. It's the most expensive bedside clock we've ever bought. Absolute rubbish.

There are plenty of much better alternatives out there.
ihatemarmite
24-11-2007
good to know....but such as? There seem an awful lot of middling quality products out there.
rob1973
24-11-2007
I've just taken delivery of a pair of Acoustic Energy Aego M's and let me tell you, they're the dogs privates. They cost 100 quid but I managed to get mine new off ebay for about 65 quid. They're a 2.1 system with the main audio input on the back but also have a mini jack on the front to plug your pod into.
ihatemarmite
25-11-2007
I'll check those out - thanks. So far I've come up with the JBL On Stage Micro ipod speakers and the JBL Creature 11 speakers.
Good reviews for the Harmon Kardon (same co as JBL) soundsticks but I can't run any speakers under my desk or her downstairs will be a bit upset, with good reason. The soundproofing in these flats is non existent. So it has to be a table top system to replace ancient mini hi-fi. The 2 above are about 2x 8W output with subwoofer. As I play all kinds of music from esoteric world acoustic music to Led Zep to classical and am fussy as hell about tinniness or too much bass, if anyone's got experience of those pls let me know.
My nearest Apple store hasn't got much in stock to listen to. I'm probably looking at £100 max if possible.
davisa
25-11-2007
I use Acoustic Energy Aego:

http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/Pro...ies/Aego_M.asp

They are absolutely fantastic and very musical, even at low volumes. Plus, they're British to boot
rob1973
25-11-2007
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“I'll check those out - thanks. So far I've come up with the JBL On Stage Micro ipod speakers and the JBL Creature 11 speakers.
Good reviews for the Harmon Kardon (same co as JBL) soundsticks but I can't run any speakers under my desk or her downstairs will be a bit upset, with good reason. The soundproofing in these flats is non existent. So it has to be a table top system to replace ancient mini hi-fi. The 2 above are about 2x 8W output with subwoofer. As I play all kinds of music from esoteric world acoustic music to Led Zep to classical and am fussy as hell about tinniness or too much bass, if anyone's got experience of those pls let me know.
My nearest Apple store hasn't got much in stock to listen to. I'm probably looking at £100 max if possible.”

I replaced the JBL Creature IIs with my AE Aegos and considering the AEs only cost me about a fiver more the diff is unbelievable..and I really liked the JBLs. Shop about, like I say. I paid 65 for them but you can get them from Amazon for 80-90 and they're still worth that money..go for them and you won't be disappointed.
ihatemarmite
26-11-2007
Do you have to place them "under the desk" (spec) ? Mine would be all on one level.
I can only see them at about £99 at present. Talking of present, nothing's getting cheaper before Xmas. Stupid time to buy!
steveOooo
26-11-2007
when im living away from home, i have my imac and pb g4 plugged into a £10 - 5.1 home cinema system that my sister sold me having got it from the tip! sounds fine and gets really loud with no distortion. at home in soton i just run a line cable from my imac to my 200wat hi-fi (i only use line out - dont use, cd, radio, tape etc)

i would just get a cheap 2.1 or 5.1 home cinema speaker system - with a sub woofer. Just run a 3.5 mini jack > phono (red and white cable) u could prob get one of ebay for around £30
ihatemarmite
30-11-2007
The acoustic energy aego M 2.1s...would they be ok with a mac and PC laptop and iPod shuffle? I have 2 shuffles rather than a nano as like the no hdd option. I may get a nano when can afford it but not now - would prefer speakers first. Many speakers seem to say all ipod compatible, then you find out not the shuffle.
These speakers seem to be selling fast. Cheaper after Xmas?
davisa
30-11-2007
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“The acoustic energy aego M 2.1s...would they be ok with a mac and PC laptop and iPod shuffle? I have 2 shuffles rather than a nano as like the no hdd option. I may get a nano when can afford it but not now - would prefer speakers first. Many speakers seem to say all ipod compatible, then you find out not the shuffle.
These speakers seem to be selling fast. Cheaper after Xmas?”

The Argo's use a standard headphone socket, not the dock so should work with everything.

I use mine with my Mac, but they'd work equally well with any iPod. The headphone socket on an iPod is not a line-level out (like that available on the Dock) so would (I assume) be slightly worse quality, but the Argo's would more than make up for that. You'd have to charge the iPod separately. An alternative would be to get an iPod 'dock' with line out - I think the Apple Universal one does this.
rob1973
30-11-2007
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-AEGO-M-SYS...QQcmdZViewItem

I got mine off this guy
ihatemarmite
01-12-2007
were/are you totally happy with his service? Just bought some furniture on ebay which has yet to appear :S
ihatemarmite
02-12-2007
I'm looking elsewhere for the same speakers. Check his neg feedback.
rob1973
04-12-2007
Just had a look on Amazon, they've got white ones for 80 and black for 90.
ihatemarmite
08-12-2007
aego Ms arrived. OH has decreed that the subwoofer is "too big for the room", so they have to go back. (life is too short etc).
I am now back to a choice of the smaller ones, but must support Shuffle not just nano; and my Macbook pro. Excellent sound and mobility - JBL or Klipsch seem to be the choice. Ideas guys?
ihatemarmite
08-12-2007
Update: aego Ms are cheaper, have better reviews than the small ipod speakers so a truce - they are now wired up with the shuffle and sound good. The only place they 'fit' is on the TV glass stand though (bass setting 1). Can you get a longer lead for ipod/laptop as unless I work on top of the TV, the supplied cable won't reach my laptop? I would need about 3m.
Secondly excuse my ignorance but what are the red, white, black cables for? And can/how can I run TV sound through this system? cheers.
rob1973
08-12-2007
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“aego Ms arrived. OH has decreed that the subwoofer is "too big for the room", so they have to go back. (life is too short etc).
I am now back to a choice of the smaller ones, but must support Shuffle not just nano; and my Macbook pro. Excellent sound and mobility - JBL or Klipsch seem to be the choice. Ideas guys?”

Blimmin' 'eck, how small is the room? I live on a narrowboat, about 7ft wide and my 'listening room' is the length of my small 2-seater settee. Bass setting 1 like you.
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“Update: aego Ms are cheaper, have better reviews than the small ipod speakers so a truce - they are now wired up with the shuffle and sound good. The only place they 'fit' is on the TV glass stand though (bass setting 1). Can you get a longer lead for ipod/laptop as unless I work on top of the TV, the supplied cable won't reach my laptop? I would need about 3m.
Secondly excuse my ignorance but what are the red, white, black cables for? And can/how can I run TV sound through this system? cheers.”

I can't remember what the extra leads are for but the website says speake to line level cable!?! As for the multiple inputs how abut something like this..it's very well made, I bought one last year for my brother. And yeah you should be able to get a longer lead for your lappy. You're after a mini jack to mini jack of what ever legnth you need..they sound lovely though don't they?
ihatemarmite
09-12-2007
Yeah they sound great & that's maybe what's swung the decision. I think in the current peace negotiations that a trip to the maplin catalogue could mean a quiet Xmas but thanks for the link.
What's it like on a narrowboat in winter?! (at least no neighbours to whine about bass level 2?)
rob1973
09-12-2007
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“Yeah they sound great & that's maybe what's swung the decision. I think in the current peace negotiations that a trip to the maplin catalogue could mean a quiet Xmas but thanks for the link.
What's it like on a narrowboat in winter?! (at least no neighbours to whine about bass level 2?)”

It's FREEZING! There's a lady on the marina who says the 1st winter is the make or break..if you can handle the cold you'll be there for years..she's been at it for 17! I really don't need level 2 but I could scare the ducks off with if they wake me up early!
It's a nice little selector..made from mild steel with a nice good quality switch and gold plated phono input/output connectors. I got one for my bro who only had one input left on his stereo and wanted another 3 devices plugged into it. I don't think you could make one for the 12 quid asking price.
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