Looking for relatively portable yet powerful speakers
So I travel a lot
between going to school 9000 miles away from home, going on exchange in Europe, its hard to have a good solid setup.
Most of my setup is portable enough…but I’m sick of mixing on headphones or off my MBPs internal speakers..
Is there any kind of speakers that you guys would recommend that is small enough to fly with in a suitcase, but still powerful enough to let me practice on?
Thanks in advance
I know M audio makes some really small desktop size speakers. I’ve never used them but they are somewhere between 35-45 Watts which isn’t a whole lot but not bad for the size. They were like 80$-100$ for a pair at best buy. Try em out if they don’t work out just bring em back.
What about Bose Companion speakers? I’ve never really used them, just listened in stores and they sound pretty good.
I personally stay away from Bose, any company that won’t let you see the frequency response of their speakers plotted on a graph is trying to hide some shortcomings in their speakers. IMHO of course.
Bose: Buy, Other, Sound, equipment.
you dont need to see the freq response graphs to know they are not good. Just look at their recommended EQ settings, and when you see that they suggest boosting certain Frequencies by 15 db!!!
any tips on how to judge a small ish speaker’s output?
Most speaker specs should give you a SPL rating of 1K=+4dbu @ 1 meter from the speaker for loudness (ie. 105spl at 1m) and should give you a frequency response chart for it’s response from 20hz to 20khz + or - a few db to show you where it may “dip” across the frequency spectrum. If either of these is not readily available when you look on their site, I’d recommend passing. That being said, you’re the one buying the speakers and only you can decide whether you’re going to be happy with them. Listen with various types of music that you’re familiar with, if possible. I know that you’re looking for someone to tell you “X” is perfect for you, but there’s no right or wrong answer here. Speakers are very subjective and great DJ’s and producers can make even “weak speakers” work for them by knowing their “mixing evironment”. That’s why Yamaha NS10’s are in almost every professional studio, not because they’re the best, but because they’re “average”
Look at some powerful studio monitors?
I agree with all of that, but the op wants to put them in a suitcase. Are there any studio monitors that equal the size of the Bose companions?
I guess for mixing it is not that important to get a ‘flat’ response, though. Plus, monitors can be quite large. Maybe some (good?) powered computer speakers will serve you well..
yea I’ve owned computer speakers before, and usually you can’t crank them too loud without getting a lot of distortion…
I guess I’ll just have to hit a store and try a lot of them
But how loud do you want them to go? I mean, anything acceptable for the neighbours should be doable on computer speakers, surely
loud enough for me to feel the beat at least
most computer speakers can’t do that
and I don’t want to lug around a sub in my suitcase…
how annoying
JBL Control 1
150watt unpowered speakers with astonishing bass for such a small box.
Couple it with a [ame=“Amazon.com”]mini Class T amp[/ame] and you’ve got a suitcase separates system that will outclass a lot of other devices. Powerful enough for a bedroom party with practically no distortion at high levels (especially if you upgrade to the [ame=“Amazon.com”]75w version[/ame]). Plus that amp handles both 110v/220v. Remember to stick a brick on top of the speakers to keep em still.
if you are going overseas dont you have to worry about power conversion? wouldnt it just be cheaper to buy some when you are there and sell them before you leave?
I used to have control 1g’s and they are amazing, but not light, so i think best best is as tristancary says, buy some when you get there.
Alright, so i dont want to start a new tread, im also looking for portable speakers, but are loud enough and sound good enough for a small party, any suggestions?
some of the best computer speakers i’ve ever had are BOSE, I’m currently using the BOSE companion 3 for my laptop when i’m off at school. I’ve honestly never heard better computer speakers for the size and price.
back in my Ghetto early dj days, I rocked a house party with some Bose Companions ($150) actually, then later moved onto the Logitech Z-5500 ($300)
