Question What happened to all the PC speakers?

[jamesdsimone]

I was having some problems with my old Logitech Z-5300 speakers and was looking for possible replacement. There is not much to pick from new anymore. I picked up a control pod which turned out to be the problem. Fortunately, there are a lot of used sets to pick from on ebay for not too much money. I got a set of Z506's for my bedroom computer for less than 100USD.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I think most regular people are moving to sound bars, instead of separate speakers...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Crappy stereo speakers are built into most monitors now. Good enough for a lot of people. Gamer marketing seems to focus on headsets now, and in my limited experience, the stereo cans seems to work better for directional sound effects than 5.1/7.1 surround sound did.

Logitech still makes plenty of woofer/sat speaker rigs, as well as smaller stereo speakers.

Computer Speakers | Logitech

Shop Computer Speakers. Logitech computer speakers bring rich sound for music, movies, gaming and more to your PC or Mac.

www.logitech.com

You may just be looking in the wrong place? Dunno.

 

[WelshBloke]

Razer do some decent PC speakers that look fairly nice (they do ARBG free ones!)

 

[sdifox]

They are mostly garbage anyway. Get active minitors. Example

Amazon.com

Monoprice DT-4BT 60-Watt Multimedia Desktop Powered Speakers with Bluetooth - Monoprice.com

The Monoprice™ DT‑4BT Powered Multimedia Desktop Speakers deliver high‑quality sound in a compact form factor. Featuring a 60‑watt Class AB amplifier driv

www.monoprice.com

Yamaha HS4

Monolith by Monoprice MM-5R Powered Multimedia Speakers Ribbon Tweeter with Bluetooth with Qualcomm aptX HD Audio, USB DAC, Optical Inputs, Subwoofer Output, and Remote Control (Pair), Black - Monoprice.com

The Monolith™ MM‑5R Powered Multimedia Speakers deliver audiophile performance to your desktop! Compact and mighty, these speakers feature exceptional sonic clarity, punchy bass, and prese

www.monoprice.com

 

[Torn Mind]

I think most regular people are moving to sound bars, instead of separate speakers...

Sound Bars can be pretty bad at generating "better" sound.

Not an audiophile, but I do take listening to music seriously as I like analyzing the tracks to understand composition. Somehow, a Dell G5 2023 was able to produce drum and similar range sound far better than the other products I have tried, which includes a pair a 100 dollar headphones along with common laptop speakers.

 

[jamesdsimone]

Crappy stereo speakers are built into most monitors now. Good enough for a lot of people. Gamer marketing seems to focus on headsets now, and in my limited experience, the stereo cans seems to work better for directional sound effects than 5.1/7.1 surround sound did.

Logitech still makes plenty of woofer/sat speaker rigs, as well as smaller stereo speakers.

Computer Speakers | Logitech

Shop Computer Speakers. Logitech computer speakers bring rich sound for music, movies, gaming and more to your PC or Mac.

www.logitech.com

You may just be looking in the wrong place? Dunno.

Lots of 2.1's but almost no 5.1's.

 

[sdifox]

Lots of 2.1's but almost no 5.1's.

Good 2.0 >>>>>> crappy 5.1

 

[jamesdsimone]

Good 2.0 >>>>>> crappy 5.1

The Z506's give me all the sound I need. My bedroom is not that big.

 

[mindless1]

Years ago I moved to bookshelf speakers with a separate amp and have not looked back.

There are lots of small amp modules out there, need not be something that is anywhere near rack sized. Some of the class D modules out there are quite powerful for their size and cost, will happily run off a repurposed laptop brick PSU. Of course a purist would want at least class A/B if not A but I digress. Class D is fine for general computer use including gaming.

 

[sdifox]

The Z506's give me all the sound I need. My bedroom is not that big.

It's not about loudness, it's about being able to reproduce the frequecies.

 

[jamesdsimone]

It's not about loudness, it's about being able to reproduce the frequecies.

I almost never listen to music so my requirements are pretty minimal, decent base and volume without distortion and positional affects for games. I am not an audiophile at all.

 

[sdifox]

I almost never listen to music so my requirements are pretty minimal, decent base and volume without distortion and positional affects for games. I am not an audiophile at all.

This plus a 5.1 receiver

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33832

As a general rule, plastic is not a good material for apeaker cabinet.

 

[UNCjigga]

I feel like Klipsch has been selling essentially the same set of speakers for like 2-3 decades now, at essentially the same MSRP, and they’re probably the only speakers worth buying. I think what happened was the OEM speakers built into your monitor or PC itself got upgraded from tinny static to passable—so most people don’t bother buying speakers anymore or just use headphones.

 

[jamesdsimone]

I feel like Klipsch has been selling essentially the same set of speakers for like 2-3 decades now, at essentially the same MSRP, and they’re probably the only speakers worth buying. I think what happened was the OEM speakers built into your monitor or PC itself got upgraded from tinny static to passable—so most people don’t bother buying speakers anymore or just use headphones.

There is no need to upgrade their speakers. I don't think anything has changed in 30 years speaker wise. No one wants full sized components I guess so headphones and sound bars. As I mentioned before there are 2.1 sets but the 5.1's have all but disappeared. You can still get the Z906's I think. I have a set of Z5300 THX certified speakers and a set of Altec Lansing ACS45 both have been working fine for 30 years. Love both of those. I run 3 computer/TV setups at home so want speakers for each. I use the Z506's in my bedroom because the Z5300's are too big. I had been using the Altec Lansings but want to upgrade from 2.1 to 5.1.

 

[bigboxes]

Good 2.0 >>>>>> crappy 5.1

I used to have a 2.1 and a 5.1 setup. Always hated the sound. Then I purchased 2.0 powered speakers. Real poly mids and a soft-cloth dome tweeter. Banana plugs for input and output. Great imaging and sound quality. Super accurate and non fatiguing.