I found audio nirvana....


Being an audiophile is no longer sensible for me.

There was a time long ago…when former audiophiles (like almost everyone else in the world) could enjoy music on a pair of computer speakers. Audiophiles today would say that most people who listen to music on a less than ideal audio system could be served much better by a high-end system, however the average person would beg to differ….

I’ve found what I think is the best pair of computer speakers for simply enjoying the music. I have done some research on human attention span – we can only pay attention to 4-5 things at once. Sacrificing our attention at the alter of a high-end audio system and obsessing about how wonderful it sounds; along with over-analyzing the sound quality of sum of all parts is quite exhausting. 

Enter the Logitech Z130. They look nice, clear midrange, somewhat recessed bass, slightly forward treble. And no real imaging or soundstage to speak of! They are so small!  All you get is clarity in the midrange and treble, with a hint of bass like a side order of veggies. Speech, like vocals and instrumentals are intelligible enough to discern lyrics; except for those that are somewhat hidden in a track; and require a more resolving system. The Z130 give the impression that they are small speakers; except for when the volume is turned up a little more. Then they sound kind of like tiny bookshelf speakers.

I just bought these after our IT guy brought them to my office (for a Microsoft Teams call). I also tested with music on my phone and found myself singing along as the music plays! No longer do I criticize how the music sounds on the system. I am not listening to audio equipment anymore. I’m simply hearing my music and enjoying it. I am now doing what 95% plus of the population does with music…they consume it as a form of entertainment. They don’t care how close they get to the authentic performance; because they realize that such a task is taxing on the wallet, brain, and our overall sanity. Perhaps “perfection” in audio does not exist.

Crazy as this might sound – try the following experiment: 

Convert your CD quality files to 320 kbps .mp3s using a high quality .mp3 convertor. If not, you can play audio files from a DAP, a smartphone, your computer etc. anything with a 3.5mm port. 

Cue up your music after setting up the speakers. They should be close to ear level.

Play just 3 of your favorite songs. I’m almost certain that you will sing along or feel good after a listening session.

Don’t believe me?! Try it. 

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. — Henry David Thoreau. 

jackhifiguy

I had a Logitech with subwoofer on my desk for years. It was better than a table radio but a long way from a very modest system based on KEF LS-50s. 

Glad you found audio nirvana. Clearly your interests lay in another direction than well reproduced music. That is why those of us that love high quality sound, for the majority of people, it just doesn’t.

I knew a guy that collected and loved his 3,000 albums and he was ecstatic to hear them on a $59 portable Sears portable record player. He could care less about the sound quality… only the notes and how they were strung together. The world has thousands of things and ways of appreciating them.

Congratulations good sir... you have achieved the pinnacle of the audiophile world which is "IT IS GOOD ENOUGH"!

Many a good person have searched for decades and continuously fall short of this ultimate audiophile goal. These forums are full of failures (including moi).

 

This reads like someone who cannot cook having their first Big Mac, then trying to convince the world that fine cuisine is a waste of time.