Klipsch RP-160M and Dayton DTA2.1BT2 hands on

[bedHedd]

background

I recently hopped on a speaker and amplifier deal these were some thoughts and impressions I had.
https://forum.level1techs.com/t/post-what-new-thing-you-acquired-recently/149881/16288?u=bedhedd

While researching I couldn’t find anyone else running this setup besides a guy on the buildapcsales subreddit who recommended this combination.

r/buildapcsales - [speakers] Klipsch RP-160M Reference Premiere Monitor...

I drafted this up for anyone else who were thinking about using these speakers for a desktop setup, as many reviews were more tailored towards home theater uses with a av reciever.

research and videos that helped me pull the trigger

speakers

This review recommended warmer amps and mentioned that brighter amps make it sound fatiguing

Klispch RP-160m A full tell it like it is review based on Price point and warm only amp!!

amp settings

Before buying my amp, I saw a bunch of reviews that mentioned the tone dial can make the speakers sound darker by turning the dial down or brighter if you turn the dial up

Dayton Audio DTA-2.1BT Amplifier

This video mentions that turning the dial up will increase treble

Here’s a sweet little $168 audio system

After a couple of listening sessions I prefer to crank the tone to the max which make the already brighter speakers even more bright. When I drop the tone to 0, my music sounds muffled. If I get a passive sub, I’ll want to see if that changes my mind.

crab rave demo to compare to my existing speakers

Klipsch RP-160M crab rave teat

The vocals are a lot more clear compared to my desktop speakers.

bedHedd's blog because discourse > twitter

I’ve been looking to get some new speakers to complete my setup, after seeing deals on this set, I recieved it as a gift. [IMG20210423215513_1] [IMG20210423225344] A lot of people sleep on sub woofers. I didn’t realize how much I was missing out on my old Logitech speakers until I reached base solos and the rumble of base drums. I decided …

my current setup

• DAC/audio interface: Presonus studio 24C
• Amp: Dayton Audio DTA 2.1BT2
• Speakers: Klipsch RP-160M

My audio interface is connected to my monitor over usb. My laptop and desktop feed into a usb c switch that connects to the USB C port on my monitor. With the USB C switch, I can have 1 audio device for both my input and output. The amplifier’s mulitple inputs with rca, 3.5mm jack in, and bluetooth are nice because I can use my speakers without needing my audio interface/pc to be on all the time. I’m still debating on using the 3.5 input for my monitor and have my phone connect over bluetooth, as that would allow any device connected over hdmi to tap into speaker setup.

tracks I tried out

I’m able to seperate the vocals from the instruments. I noticed this for the following songs

Weezer - Billie Jean

It’s a lot easier to hear the lyrics from rap, the female solo is very clear

Doomsday

Cube’s voice is so clear

Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day (Remastered)

The vocals from dream don’t feel blended with each other

Aerosmith - Dream On (Audio)

Guitars and horns are a lot better. I noticed it for today and the snake eater

Tom Scott -- Today

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Theme [FLAC]

I really need to get a sub because the drums don’t hit as hard for free bird. On the bright side the guitars are amazing

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (Official Audio)

Collective Soul - Shine (Official Video)

issues

I intially had trouble plugging in the banana plug cables I bought. It was too wide and didn’t want to break the connectors forcing it in. For a moment I thought I had bought the wrong cables because I noticed there was different grades. Fortunately I found this page

Novice question - banana plugs too big

Where I learned that bannana plugs have springs and need a little force to get it inside of the jacks.

Aside from the banana plugs I’m noticing I get more static at 50% volume on the amp. My suspicion is that the rca to 1/4 ts plug is the source of the static. When I use the line in, I have to crank it to the max to get static. I’ll probably need to buy a dual 1/4 ts to rca cable. Fortunately in my daily use, I will be at 20-30% so static won’t be as big of an issue

closing thoughts

Overall I’m happy with my purchase. Currently it fits on my desk, but I think a wider and deeper desk surface is the next upgrade for my work setup. I haven’t gotten a chance to try this out with my guitar, so I’ll probably post a update on how it sounds

[powderbanks]

I would get some speaker stands and have them sit further away from you. Place the stands to the right/left of your desk, and as close to that window as you can. Ideally you want the speakers at ear height, but with your laptop on the left and the other thingy on the right, maybe having them a bit higher, but angled slightly down towards you would be ideal. (I say this as my bookshelf speakers sit on my desk XD…I can’t put speaker stands behind my desk though). Either way, Klipsch makes some great speakers, and I do like the copper woofers on them. If you do keep them horizontal like you have them on your desk, typically you place the tweeters on the ‘outside’ (right speaker, the tweeter would be furthest to the right, vice versa for the left), but that’s kind of just being nitpicky…

[bedHedd]

@powderbanks

I would get some speaker stands and have them sit further away from you. Place the stands to the right/left of your desk, and as close to that window as you can.

A longer desktop is planned for the future.

@powderbanks

Ideally you want the speakers at ear height, but with your laptop on the left and the other thingy on the right, maybe having them a bit higher, but angled slightly down towards you would be ideal. (I say this as my bookshelf speakers sit on my desk XD…I can’t put speaker stands behind my desk though).

Once I have my desk at keyboard level (the lower brige) the speakers are almost at ear level.

@powderbanks

If you do keep them horizontal like you have them on your desk, typically you place the tweeters on the ‘outside’ (right speaker, the tweeter would be furthest to the right, vice versa for the left), but that’s kind of just being nitpicky…

Ohhhh I’ll have to change that. Both speakers are partially hanging off the desk, so I don’t want to take the vertical stand off

[powderbanks]

I will say that with my bookshelf speakers on my desk, I’m looking to get some audio isolation blocks for them. At medium volumes the vibrations into the desk can be a little annoying, and I’m sure it’s not great for sound quality either.