Small Office Multimedia Speakers?

BiLlCaT asks: "I am looking to buy a nice set of speakers for my PC in my new office. I want something that will sound excellent, yet maintain a small package. I am also looking to get the most "bang" for my buck. I have two scenerios to pose; one, where i have $250 to spend and the other, i have $500 to spend. Any ideas? "

Comments

Altec Lansing ACS-45.

[Wakko Warner]

At $150, they sound much better than just about anything out there, even Altec's newer USB speakers. That having been said, I recommend you also stay the hell away from USB speakers. I originally picked up a Philips USB speaker set with a sub since it sounded pretty nice in the store. Problem is, since I use linux, I needed to use the line-in jacks on the speakers and not the onboard DSP through the USB port. Well, Philips must've decided that nobody in their right mind would buy a pair of USB speakers and use only the line-in port, so they decided not to shield it at all. The end result was that the speakers picked up each and every little bit of RF noise in a 5 mile radius (perhaps an exaggeration, but it didn't sound like it.) I took them back the very next day during my lunch break and exchanged them for the ACS-45s, which weren't in stock when I originally picked up the Philips pieces of garbage. Remember, when you buy USB speakers, you're paying firstly for the sound card inside them, and whatever's left over is put into the speakers. I figure I spent about $149 on the sound card in those Philips speakers.

ANYway, get the ACS-45s. Trust me.

- A.P.
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