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Computer Speakers on a Budget?
Angela asks: "In the spirit (and utter terror) of the upcoming holiday season, I would like to ask the opinion of the Slashdot community on speaker technology. The dilemma is this: I would like to purchase computer speakers for my audiophile husband for Christmas, but I am clueless when it comes to this particular field. I am also on a budget ($200USD or less?). What computers speakers would you suggest and why?"
Logitech. That's all I have to say right now. Their speakers are great for the price. If you want a 2.1 set, the 340s are great, and it only goes up from there, and they're affordable. Some sites have even rated the 560s (I think that's the right model number) as good as the Klipsch speaker sets which retail for a few $100 more. I've only listened to the 340s for any length of time, but for their size they're very nice speakers, with very good range and a nice wide cone of sweetspotness. So, depending on what type of setup you want, I'd recommend the Logitech series corresponding to it. Have fun!
What? You want a sig?
I paid $150 for 'em, from EMS Computing. They've got great sound, really nice quality speakers, and a huge sub. This things does 53 watts RMS per channel, and 200 watts RMS on the sub. Great speakers if you don't wanna fork out $400 for Klipsch 5.1 speakers. If you're lookin' for a review, here's a great, really detailed review of the speakers.
RaGe
We're all just noise on the wires..
You can't go wrong with them. With 200W sub, 4x53W speakers, and THX certified, they produce one hell-of-a sound. Also, in Canada you can get them for $200 CND, which is quite in your budget of ~$350 CND. :)
Buying those speakers was one of my best computer-related purchases. Best thing is playing Chemical Brothers Bass Test - whole apt. building shakes from the vibrations, and I don't dare turn it more than 50% up (i think it would rip me apart). Perfect for annoying those pesky Jehova's Vitneses neighbors
Have a look at http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/ . Their M4 bookshelf speaker sounds about right for your needs. It's shielded, so there's no magnetic interference if you place it next to a computer screen. The performance from this speaker is brilliant for the price, and your audiophile hubby will definitely be impressed.
:). You'll probably need to email them about shipping costs, as they don't have overseas locations in their online order page.
Plus, being a kit, your hubby get to build it! Any self respecting geek loves to put things together.
The prices are in $AUS, so you'll need to multiply by 0.56 to convert it into $US (assuming you're in the USA, of course
DeeK
I think I've got a pair somewhere. I also have a link to my Panasonic DTS amp, and from there to my surround speakers. It's great, I can control my audio from anywhere in the room - only problem is if I want to listen to a game and radio at the same time.
Not so long ago a musician friend of mine recommended I try the Creative Inspire 5.1 5200, which is only $80 something. These little babies are fantastic...the bass is amazing, plus EAX is always sexy sounding.
When the rhythm calls, the government falls.
Here come the cops From Tokyo to Soweto
Viva la musica
USB audio connectors such as the Extigy and the Stereo Link, on the other hand, have an all-digital connection to the computer and shielding around all the electronic components. This will produce much cleaner sound.
There's no point getting good speakers if the audio being played on them is of poor quality.
TO BUY A NEW CAR WOULD MAKE YOU SEXUALLY ATTRACTIVE.
I have to agree with the majority here. My Z560's have a much better range than my Creative 5200's. I bought mine from Multiwave Direct for about $150 shipped.
I didn't have a chance to do a lot of listening tests, but I have been very impressed by these. I'm more of an enthusiast (read: wannabe) than an audiophile, but I don't think you'll be dissappointed.
Are you sure he's not a pretend-audiophile? In a true audiophile world 200$ will get you a down payment on the reciever/amp.
If he isn't really an audiophile, I have to agree with the suggestion of the Logitech's. They're pretty decent speakers for what they're worth.
Perhaps if he is an audiophile and he doesn't have one yet, you could consider a player for the new DVD format based audio discs. I wouldn't be surprised if you could aquire that in the price limit, then again I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't.
Computational Madness in a round package.
If he's actually an audiophile, he won't be interested in "computer speakers", and regardless, he won't want to listen to audio from his PC anyway -- and when he does, he won't be expecting even the basic quality an audiophile demands/expects/prefers. Not that I claim to be an audiophile (my hearing sucks), but I have plenty of friends who really are, so I've learned a lot about how these people think. That's assuming he's an audiophile, and not just "a guy who likes music a lot" (I can relate). The best thing you can do is buy a cheap external amplifier and spend most of the money on real home-stereo speakers. The cheapest external amp and the cheapest home stereo speakers are going to sound 100 times better than any crappy little desktop setup. If your budget is more flexible than you indicated in the article, consider dropping about $100 for a nice, very basic amp by somebody decent like Pioneer, and spend another $200 or so on some regular home stereo speakers. Don't listen to the standard geek line about shelling out tons of money for crappy little desktop speakers. Even the ones with separate subs sound awful in comparison to real stereo equipment. And if he's actually an audiophile according to the picky, traditional definition of the word, get him a gift certificate, suggest he buys a real amp, a really nice sound card, and some good speakres, and let him go "test drive" some equipment...
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This is actually pretty good advice no matter where you're at on the price spectrum. I picked up a $50 pair of Logitech Z-340's for my Mom for her birthday last year. This week, when I came to her house to visit, she told me she wanted to hook up the Logitechs in her kitchen because they sounded so much better than her (major brand) stereo speakers.
What's your damage, Heather?
They sell semi-quality speakers for a full-quality price. I would buy a full mini stereo set from Sony or something, and then hook it up to the computer. Sure, Logitech speakers are good enough, but so are Sony ones. And you get more things for your money.
With a budget of $200 or less the best choice would be a good pair of headphones. You can get pretty nice sound from some small speakers but with that small amount of money spent to two or more speakers and an amplifier isn't going to result in high quality sound. With any luck, $200 should get you pretty good headphones and an amplifier for those. And be cheap about the headphones and use more money on the amplifier because it'll probably last longer anyway. Read some reviews and remember that if the subject is going to wear glasses some cans are going to cause problems (for example, I cannot use any sennheiser setup but I have Sony MDR-F1 instead. Be warned that MDR-F1 is a bit hard for the amplifier and you can ruin the result with a cheap one.
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'Audiophile' computer speakers for that price simply are not made. It's a fact of life.
But... $200 will buy you some pretty nice headphones. I have the Sennheiser HD-580's and they are most excellent. They sound better than any stereo speakers I've ever heard. Check out headroom and headwize for heaphone info.
Though, if you have already decided that speakers are a must and headphones are out, I think Logitech has the best bang for the buck.
Replying to my own post... I looked around for headphone amplifiers and it seems that be the best amplifier for about $200 range is Musical Fidelity X-can V2 (class A tube headphone amplifier!). Be sure to get V2 because there're some problems with channel separation and noise in the V1. Your husband cannot listen with the amplifier only but at least I would be much happier with a high quality amplifier without headphones than a cheap one with cheap headphones.
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I personally have an older version of this set. ATP4
They produce clear tones. Perhaps not audiophile quality....but they are very good for casual ogg playing, and an occasional UT game.
However, you should still go a store that sells them, and listen yourself.
Unfortunately, they seem to now only have the surround version for double price. Mine are stereo, and I got them for $80 two years ago.
badness 10000
Why not try headphones? That way you can keep his noise contained, plus he can get quality close to his discerning ears where he'll appreciate them most. And I'm sure you give him quality elsewhere. ;)
... your husband doesn't read slashdot ;)
I second this idea. For $200, you aren't going to find anything of audiophile quality in speakers, at least not for a whole system. Read some more headphone reviews at the community forums head-fi and headwize.
Myself, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD-580 headphones (no glasses) and I am completely happy with them. You can also get some good deals on used headphones on the above forums as well.
I use AKG K240 Monitors and they're awesome! The deal is, these may very well have been used to master whatever recordings you like... so, why not hear it how it was meant to sound?
Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.
Dan's Data recently had a review of a speaker kit. He was very pleased with the results.
Of course, that company is based in Australia, so if you're not there, you'll probably want to find something closer. Anyone know of any similar companies in North America? (Especially in Canada, for my sake!)
And it all depends on the ear.
If you're not an audiophile, or just don't quite know what he's looking for, give him an IOU. Something like:
"You can spend up to $200 on speakers for the computer". And let HIM agonize over it. (Audiophiles enjoy agonizing over these things)
I'm into highish end sound, and I'd trust my SO to get something like this, but that's only because she's a (self proclaimed) music snob, and has much better ears than I do. She played a large roll in my last speaker purchase.
Zapman
In addition to Logitech, Altec Lansing makes great speakers. I have an ACS48 set (no longer in production) and it's GREAT.
You will probably get more for your money with an external amp and normal home stereo speakers, as another poster suggested. A $5 1/8"-to-RCA adapter at Radio Shack will hook up your computer to the amp. This is what I did until I moved into an apartment where the area my computer was in didn't have space for my large speakers, at which point I bought the 48s. (The 48s actually sounded better in my case, but the original speakers were kinda crappy - They had originally had blown woofers and the replacements weren't matched to the cabinet, resulting in a muddy sound.)
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
i too thoroughly recommend the logitech Z-560's. i bought some 2 days ago and am thrilled. prior to my purchase i'd spent days combing the net for reviews of computers speakers in your price range, and the praise for the quality and value of these speakers is universally glowing.
perhaps the best review i can direct you to is this one - a comparison of 13 4.1/5.1 systems around your price range. it really helped me.
cheers from oz
best 2.1: klipsch promedia 2.1 (2 sats, 1 sub, thx, crystal clear, very respected company, $150) best 4.1: Logitech z-560 (mind blowing bass, 4 sats, $150) headphones: grado sr-60 (incredible sound from *affordable* audiophile headphones, can be had for 60-70, $60) (street prices listed)
3 years ago when I bought my computer I got 4 sattelites and a subwoofer to go with my SBLive! sound card for 80 bucks. To this day the only parts of my 3 year old computer that still kick ass are my drives and my sound. My friend recently got a new computer and he liked my sound system a lot so he got this to go with his SBLive. From listening to it myself I can safely say that it is absolutely an awesome sound system at an incredible price. If you set up your configure your audio software properly and have a decent sound card these can be just as good as a low-end home theatre system, if not better.
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On the other hand, even a low-end pair of bookshelf regular-hi-fi speakers have a naturalness and full-range quality for a fraction of the price. I use a pair of fifteen-year-old Radio Shack Minimus 7's that I'm very happy with.
The only gotcha: computer speakers, by design, have very wimpy little magnets in them. Hi-fi speakers tend to have much stronger magnets, and will require placement much further away from color monitors.
I have a set of these flat panel Monsoon MH-505 5.1 speakers and they *rock*. They are also relatively cheap and should fit your budget nicely.
The sub is slightly underpowered for some but if you have a good soundcard (I use a Hercules Game Theater XP) you should be able to boost the sub channel. Also going against the installation guide and aiming the sub at a wall from about 1 ft distance works well.
I was a little skeptical about the flat panel speakers, however they not only look cool they produce amazing sound aswell. You have to play them for awhile to "break them in" until they sound their best.
You will need 3 sony minijack hookups from your soundcard to use them (front, surround and center/sub) so if you don't have those you will have to get additional hookups. My soundcard has RCA connectors for the center/sub so I had to get a sony minijack to RCA splitter.
Reviews are available: TechTV Amazon and more if you check Google.
-- iCEBaLM
You wanted the best for $200 or less? Go with the Klipsch 2.1. Loud enough for just about anybody and possibly better than your home stereo speakers (depends, of course). They have changed the way I listen to music -- only ripping MP3's at 192kbps, etc. And games - the helicopter blades in Comanche can be truly felt with the subwoofer.... Go with the Logitechs if you want to save some money, but if you truly want the best... stop looking & buy the Klipsch's....
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Yamaha makes some very good computer speakers, and their prices are resonable. Amazon (software patents, etc.) has a nice speaker pair with subwoofer on clearance for $30. Decent sound, decent price.
If you don't mind refurbished products, Klipsch has this system for $149 at their store. Supposed to be excellent, and a steal at this price.
If he's really an audiophile, I'm sure he will complain about the signal loss you get when you have the soundcard producing analog audio signals inside the computer.
:)
Instead, you should get him something so he can connect his computer to his (probably already ample) 'home stereo' system, preferably through a digital connection, but if his system only accepts analog inputs, then at least digital until its outside the computer case.
if on the other hand he's just pretending to be an audiophile, get him a nice set of headphones, it'll sound better for him and disturb you less
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Let me recommend, instead of buying some cheap speakers (which, for under $200, is what you will be buying), get some really nice headphones. I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO's, which cost me around $140, and they are easily the best sounding speakers/headphones I have ever had, and surpass most of the studio monitors that a radio station I worked for had. So, if he's an audiophile, speakers probably aren't the way to go, for the price, headphones give a much, much higher quality of sound. Oh, and the neighbors will love you.
One variable that people have not mentioned at all (as far as I can tell) is what is called the "crossover frequency". To me, this is a very important part of a speaker system.
The crossover frequency determines where a sound will come from--all frequencies below it this value will come from the sub-woofer. The lower the value, the better because it means that more of the frequencies will be coming from the correct direction (one of the satelite speakers).
A set of speakers with a high crossover frequency is going to send a lot of sound to the subwoofer, meaning that a lot of the benefit of having surround sound or even stereo sound will be lost.
Hope that helps,
Allan
This might not be suitable as a gift, but older, used audio components make a better computer-speaker system than just about anything I've come across from computer-speaker manufacturers.
.5" thick, suctioned to the table, transparent, or otherwise fancy. They are, however, about 7" deep, giving them decent bass response for a bookshelf speaker. While the 5" driver won't shake the room, its output is more than sufficient, considering you sit only about a foot away from them.
I've got an 28-year-old Harmon-Kardon receiver (usually around $30-$40 on ebay) hooked up to Boston Acoustics HD5 bookshelf speakers (bought them years ago for under $100). It sounds FANTASTIC. If I was a gamer, I might buy bigger speakers or a sub, but I'm thrilled with the performace for playing back music (and I'm not just talking MP3's here - which sound worse as the quality of your amp/speakers increase). There's a reason why this amp weighs 20lbs., and that has to do with power handling capabilities, heat sinks, and rugged, metal construction.
My speakers aren't
Speakers designated for use with computers are typically made using very cheap components. Before this, I had a set of Altec-Lansing computer speakers, with a sub, that lasted not even a year before unexplicably falling silent. But my old HK amp has been going strong for... 28 years!
As I said above, giving an old, used stereo might not be the way you'd prefer to say "Happy Holidays" - but if there's anyone else reading this looking to buy a decent speaker setup, consider first searching your local garage sale, goodwill store, flea market, or online auctioneer. And just remember - heavier is BETTER.
I was in the same boat about a year ago. A friend of mine had just purchased the 4.1 surround version (now 5.1), and I was quite impressed. Not wanting to spend as much on computer speakers, I decided to get the 2.1 version, and I haven't looked back since. These speakers provide a full, rich sound that I've never heard from run-of-the-mill Altecs or Logitechs. If you are looking for quality sound at high volume or low, this is it.
I don't work for Klipsch or anything, yadda x 3. Just a satisfied customer here.
Oh, the ONE thing I don't like about the 2.1 is that the power button is on the sub. The 4.1 has a power switch on the right speaker.
-IAmTheSuit
If you ask me.
I have found that using physically separate amps for, at least, trebel and bass makes a vast difference. With the right amp, even the cheapest radio shack speaker or even a PC speaker can sound as good as it possibly can and a lot of times that's surprisingly good even for the very very cheap stuff.
Keeping the bass on its own amp is the easiest way to get the most bang for your buck. To that end, I would recommend that Angela buy her husband two amps and not only that, I'd say go with car amps that have AC connectors. I know the audiophiles are going to find this appalling, but it works amazingly well. Cheap speakers and homemade boxes will rock the house when the amps are balanced.
My system rocks the walls and I live in three story brick building. At the same time it captures the subtleties with spooky clarity and most of the mid range speakers were ripped out of old boom boxes for $0.00. Amps are where the money should go if you want good sound on a budget. Speakers are everywhere and most sound cards should be good enough.
Oh, and the most important part for someone getting started in this is that you can use 1.5mm Y patch cords to split the output from the sound card. Doesn't work for input, but output is okay. Cheap trick and it definitely works.
I bought them one week ago and I still have 3 weeks to decide if I return them to the shop or not. Anyone can tell me how they compare to Logitech Z560 , Yamaha TSS-1 5.1 or another set ?
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I have four sets of Cambridge Soundworks speakers of various price levels. All are wonderful for their respective prices.
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First: Klisch aren't anything special. They're boomy and bass heavy. For some people, bass = good sound, but the rest of us know better.
Second: Logitech's current 2.1 and better speakers are very good. newegg.com has them for a decent price.
Third, and best: Spend $200 on a low-end home theater receiver. Something that does 5.1, ideally, and Pro-logic II if you can find it. This is a computer, and not being up to Denon or NAD standards is acceptable, I think, even for an audiophile.
Then, hit your local large electronics store for a cheapie set of 5.1 speakers. Yamaha and KLH have sets in the $99 to $149 range. These speakers are on par with "decent" computer speakers and have the real advantage of being replaceable with something decent a bit later on.
Ebay and ubid are decent sources for inexpensive speakers.
-- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
There are several points that are being left out by most of the responses. Where is he going to place the speakers and what is he going to use them for? If it's for example gaming, most will not take advantage of the increased frequency range or a "flatter" response.
Most Home (and even Pro gear) speakers are designed for be listened to from a certain distance. To close, the individual elements don't get the proper blending. To far and quiet spots and nuances are lost.
If you want the speakers to be located close to you, then look into any of the semi-pro "near field" monitor speakers. These are designed to for close in listening (traditionally mounted at each end of the sound mixer board in the studio). With the advent of digital mixing gear and sound studios, almost all newer ones (less than 5 or 6 years old) will be shielded also.
John Farmer
to say "thanks" to everyone for all the helpful information!! Considering everything, I believe I'm going to go the headphone route (portability, etc.), but I feel smarter now about speakers, and that's always a good thing! :)
-A.
Seriously. I once had a Soundblaster of some sort with this feature. I could hook it up to the stereo and I was in business with a *real* sound system.
I suppose you could also try your luck with the headphone jack. But you may run into a ground loop problem.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe Better a smartass than a dumbass.
you use them recieve secret terroist messages from fellow islamic extremists. muslime killers briage. no canhear you plotting heir deaths in headphones. you know so well.
I was at MacWorld Expo about 3 years ago, walking back to our booth in Moscone's North Hall, we were in the "Net Pavillion" in the NW Corner and the "Multimedia' (pasee term nowadays!) area was right in front of us. As I walked by Sorensen's booth they had all these brand new Apple Cinema Displays showing off their wares. They were playing movie trailers in full-screen mode. The gorgeous monitors caught my eye and I was reeled in like a fish toward a 20"+ widescreen showing some special effects shots from "Pearl Harbor" (the unreleased)... from 50' away, the monitors drew me in, but when I was drawn past the 20' mark my attention was grabbed by a different source... the awesome sound
Mind you, that may not be impressive, until you realize that a crowded show floor of Moscone Center is probably the worst acoustical environment on earth!
Anyway, my mind completely popped the sexy Cinema Displays right off the stack as my focus narrowed, like a laser, on the incredible speakers. I had to have them. I spent the rest of the expo trying to find some to buy. I finally did, and now I have them all over my house and carry my iPod from room to room plugging into my Monsoons.
Monsoons Rock.