Best 2.1 Speaker System

[NdMk2o1o]

Call me vain, but that would look straight nasty. There's no way to have the onboard sound and sound card both enabled to where it switches back and forth?

Look nasty? you connect the front panel audio to the soundcard inside your case instead of to the motherboard, whats nasty about it?

 

[Soylent Joe]

Look nasty? you connect the front panel audio to the soundcard inside your case instead of to the motherboard, whats nasty about it?

I mean for cable management purposes. You'll have a line running out in the open in front of everything to the side of the sound card.

 

[Mr McC]

OP, you say you're moving into a small dorm room. I assume that this building will be occupied by other people who may not appreciate listening to your music or rifle fire after midnight, so I would buy the cheapest set unless you are certain you can take full advantage of extra quality and cost.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

I mean for cable management purposes. You'll have a line running out in the open in front of everything to the side of the sound card.

Just do what you would with it in your motherboard, route it? only thing is they're not the longest cables generally.

 

[Soylent Joe]

OP, you say you're moving into a small dorm room. I assume that this building will be occupied by other people who may not appreciate listening to your music or rifle fire after midnight, so I would buy the cheapest set unless you are certain you can take full advantage of extra quality and cost.

Yeah but I'm not going to college for a good while. They'll get most of their use here, and may even stay here if I go. I mainly used the college tactic as another reason why I don't want a "big" setup (5.1, amp + speakers, etc.). Plus, if I ever do go, an actual house would be preferred over a dorm room after the first year.

 

[kurosagi01]

I love my Logitech Z-4 they are amazing 2.1 speaker system

 

[amd64skater]

I did a little bit of research and I think I've decided on the ProMedia's.

The reasons for choosing the Klipsch speakers:
- Have separate large mid-range drivers (tweeters)
- Satellites use standard 18-gauge speaker wire
- Cleaner bass

Now, what do you think about a sound card? I'm currently using onboard sound but some users on other forums say that the audio quality between a standard onboard audio chipset and a nice card such as the Creative X-Fi can be heard with the ProMedia's. I've never owned a sound card before so picking a good one out would be an adventure by itself. The price range would be somewhere around $75.

REALLY are you kidding me ive heard that klipsch setup at a best buy tonight and they are really not all that great. the bass is clean yes but weak hitting. the highs sound just like the z -2300's. and at best buy they are selling them for like $155 what a rip off. i would really suggest u go to a electronics store and hear both. im telling you the Z's are a better bang for your buck. and the power rage for both differ also. the klipsch is 200 watt max system and the z is 200 watt rms. making the z like 400 watt max give or take 50 watts. and clean bass the are both clean but like i said the z's hit like a decent car audio system. but for real hear them both

 

[MohawkAngel]

Cheap Cybert Accoustic at Wal-Mart. 30$ and amazing sound believe me ! The bass is simple but sounds really great! Go try it by yourself before buying higher price sets. You will be surprised.
http://www.cyberacoustics.com/retail/Speakers/CA-3001

 

[MKmods]

Do you like it over the cheaper Auzentech stuff? NCIX has a nice sale going on sound cards as well.

Thats a hard decision, they both are excellent for the money.

To me the part that makes the Asus card over the top is its interface (just beautiful) and it makes my headphones sound noticeably better.

 

[Soylent Joe]

Ah crap. Price now cannot exceed $65. I'll look back through at some of the cheaper suggestions you guys have given me.

The reason the budget is fluctuating is that these will be a birthday gift from my parents to myself. They said they already spent X amount and can only spend so much more ($65).

Plus as someone said, the nicer sets would be too much for college. I'll just use headphones whenever college happens.

 

[MohawkAngel]

Then look the set I told you its small and plenty enough ! 35$ for the speakers sets and get a headphone sets for 30$.

 

[RejZoR]

If you're looking at decent and cheap, look at Logitech S220. We used to sell these a lot and for their low price they were surprisingly good. You can't expect a Hi-Fi results from them, but they could play loud enough, bass was decent and the sound was actually prettty good.
Check them out.

 

[Soylent Joe]

Then look the set I told you its small and plenty enough ! 35$ for the speakers sets and get a headphone sets for 30$.

I've already got a $35 pair of headphones, which seem to be the best ones you can find for the price (JVC HA-RX700).

If you're looking at decent and cheap, look at Logitech S220. We used to sell these a lot and for their low price they were surprisingly good. You can't expect a Hi-Fi results from them, but they could play loud enough, bass was decent and the sound was actually prettty good.
Check them out.

Those exact speakers are on my second computer right now. They're nice for the price, but I'd want something a bit better for my main rig.


Idk guys. I'd almost rather just tell them to forget about the speakers and buy the nice big boys with my own cash a little later on.

 

[MohawkAngel]

Ok

 

[Soylent Joe]

What do you guys think of the Logitech Z523's?

 

[Wile E]

I mean for cable management purposes. You'll have a line running out in the open in front of everything to the side of the sound card.

It hooks up to the sound card internally. The card has the same exact audio header on it that your on-board sound has.

REALLY are you kidding me ive heard that klipsch setup at a best buy tonight and they are really not all that great. the bass is clean yes but weak hitting. the highs sound just like the z -2300's. and at best buy they are selling them for like $155 what a rip off. i would really suggest u go to a electronics store and hear both. im telling you the Z's are a better bang for your buck. and the power rage for both differ also. the klipsch is 200 watt max system and the z is 200 watt rms. making the z like 400 watt max give or take 50 watts. and clean bass the are both clean but like i said the z's hit like a decent car audio system. but for real hear them both

You have lost your mind. The Logitech are some of the muddiest speakers I have ever heard. The Pro Medias are a million time cleaner. More power and louder does not mean better sounding. The Logitechs have twice the harmonic distortion of the Promedias, and sound like the are being played from under a blanket. At least the Promedias have some clarity and high end extension.

And honestly, I agree with Dent1. All computer speakers sound like crap. Bookshelfs with a receiver is a million times better.

 

[MKmods]

What do you guys think of the Logitech Z523's?

for that much $$ I would get the z2300s. Most of the Logitech speakers sound pretty good (IMO) even the cheap ones, if you want to save money look for a set on sale in the $25-35 range (check overstock.com and dont be afraid of reman sets)

 

[cadaveca]

REALLY are you kidding me ive heard that klipsch setup at a best buy tonight and they are really not all that great. the bass is clean yes but weak hitting. the highs sound just like the z -2300's. and at best buy they are selling them for like $155 what a rip off. i would really suggest u go to a electronics store and hear both. im telling you the Z's are a better bang for your buck. and the power rage for both differ also. the klipsch is 200 watt max system and the z is 200 watt rms. making the z like 400 watt max give or take 50 watts. and clean bass the are both clean but like i said the z's hit like a decent car audio system. but for real hear them both

Listening to speakers in a big huge open area in a store isn't gonna tell you how they sound in a bedroom. All speakers have a maximum air volume in which they are useful.

But I must digress, I am not a fan of klipsch. I won't buy logitech speakers either though.

 

[MKmods]

thanks to Kantastic

Logitech Z-2300 $89.99 SHIPPED

 

[yogurt_21]

out of those 2 I'd take the klipsch any day, then again I'm using altec lansing 2.1 on my rig lol.

but really for the power they deliver they seem to keep a good amount of clarity, though I prefer the clarity of the altec lansing ones overall, comparing a 40w rms system to a 200w rms one isn't exactly fair, especially as the klipsch only start to get muddy at a power level way above what the altecs can do.

 

[cadaveca]

What klipsch does good is stereo imaging, thanks to the waveguides on the tweeters, but they lack mid-range punch, as do all set-ups of that type.

I've got a pair of Athena flatpanel soundbars($50 for the pair, new, when discontinued), and a matching 100W sub($100, discontinued), connected to some panasonic bookshelf amp($50 at a pawnshop), and together they sound far better than the klipsch, for about the same price.

It's actualyl kinda hard to knock any of these kits, as they do what they do fairly well, given the limitations, and once you consider cost...

 

[yogurt_21]

What klipsch does good is stereo imaging, thanks to the waveguides on the tweeters, but they lack mid-range punch, as do all set-ups of that type.

I've got a pair of Athena flatpanel soundbars($50 for the pair, new, when discontinued), and a matching 100W sub($100, discontinued), connected to some panasonic bookshelf amp($50 at a pawnshop), and together they sound far better than the klipsch, for about the same price.

It's actualyl kinda hard to knock any of these kits, as they do what they do fairly well, given the limitations, and once you consider cost...

yeah any pieced together home theatre speakers will sound better than "computer speakers" but given what they are they all do pretty well. And if you're that true audiophile you're going to want a sound board anyways so built-in computer audio is out.

and I just took a look at the egg and it seems i'm out fo date on altec lansing, last I knew the most powerful 2.1 system they made was 75w, now they have a 200w system they looks...odd.

at any rate if you can pick up any decent brand 2.1 200w system for less than 100$ it's worth it imo.

 

[kow_ciller]

Look on ebay for Klipsch Promedia 2.1 setups. I scored mine for around $67-shipped

 

[Soylent Joe]

Look on ebay for Klipsch Promedia 2.1 setups. I scored mine for around $67-shipped

Man, that's an awesome deal. Was it refurbished? If that seller has any more similarly priced sets, could you send me a link to their page?

 

[AureliaRisley]

I just bought the Eagle Tech ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speakers with Subwoofer & Remote
by Eagle Tech for $50 shipped from amazon. Newegg carries them too. Awesome value for the money.