2.1 Speaker and Sound Card package

[Eureka]

I have a z640 and a Creative SBL! 5.1 card. Recently a friend of mine offered to buy them off me, so I'll need a replacement that can match or exceed the current setup for a reasonable price. It cost me $120 to get and I'm selling it for $80. My max budget is around $130, but I'd prefer cheaper if possible. I also want a 2.1 system since I don't set up my 5.1 in a surround position; all of them face towards me from my desk.

I was thinking about the Creative T300 and Logitech Z-3 for lower budget 2.1, and Altec Lansing MX5021 or Klipsch Promedia GMX for higher end. (I'll still put out for a sound card).

As for sound card, I was thinking of a Chaintech AV-710, or maybe a Turtle Beach Catlina or Creative Audigy 2 Value.

With my selections, what are the best choices? What about other choices that fall into the price and value range?

EDIT// My preferences for audio are: music first, then movies, then games, if that matters.

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

I think you have the right card picked out for two channel music use in the AV710 :thumbsup:

If you can spend the little extra to get the standard Klipsch Promedias over the GMX set, I've read that the Promedias are better and worth the cost.

Dell has them for $131 + whatever shipping is for them.

Some people seem to love the Atlec MX5021s.

There are some other options like real bookshelf speakers but they would end up costing you more than your budget unless you found some incredible deals.

 

[Eureka]

Well, the Mx5021 and the Promedia are both over 100, and that's really high-cost. I'm just in need for a nice set of PC speakers that can replace my current one for the lowest possible price for a good value. For the Mx5021, I've heard that they have too much treble (AL supposedly turned them up), and for the Promedia I heard their bass isn't the greatest.

What about the cheaper T3000 or Z-3s?

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Have you thought about just getting a nice pair of headphones? You could get a set for $100 or less that would blow away any speaker set in this pricerange.

Nothing wrong with spending less on the speakers, but you kind of get what you pay for.

 

[Eureka]

I already have headphones, but I don't like them too much; they're either a weight on my head (in case of stereo headphones), or painful ears (earphones). Plus, with the headphones (the one that I use), my ears are always warm, and sometimes that's a no-no.

And plus, is it a sin to like to hear my music through the air?

Alright, if I were to go down the way of the mx5021 and the promedia, which one is the better deal in your opinion, especially in dealing with music and movies. With games, as long as I know that the guy is firing gun A to my left or right, that's all I need to know.

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
I already have headphones, but I don't like them too much; they're either a weight on my head (in case of stereo headphones), or painful ears (earphones). Plus, with the headphones (the one that I use), my ears are always warm, and sometimes that's a no-no.

And plus, is it a sin to like to hear my music through the air?

Alright, if I were to go down the way of the mx5021 and the promedia, which one is the better deal in your opinion, especially in dealing with music and movies. With games, as long as I know that the guy is firing gun A to my left or right, that's all I need to know.

Norm

I really have no opinion on the Altecs but I know the Klipsch are a good set. I doubt you'd find the sub weak.

 

[Eureka]

Just another question.... is there an advantage to having a 5.1 if you don't set them up around you over a 2.1 setup? I have them all clustered in front of me... if I just replace that with a 2.1 system, have I lost anything?

Norm

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
Just another question.... is there an advantage to having a 5.1 if you don't set them up around you over a 2.1 setup? I have them all clustered in front of me... if I just replace that with a 2.1 system, have I lost anything?

Norm

You have no surround sound (to your ears) if you have you're 5.1 sat's in from of you instead of around you - as having them around you is the whole purpose of 5.1 surround. So the way you have the 5.1 setup now is just lke a 2.1 setup so no you will not be losing anything. Just less wires.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you have the center channel in the middle, the L and R as far to the sides on your desk as possible, and your surround speakers pointed away from you, then that's doing a pretty good job getting the 5.1 effect down. If you have them all in a line right next to each other, then yeah... pointless.

 

[orangat]

If you play alot of fpshooters a 5.1/4.1 setup is useful because 3d surround works better.
But music is much better on the Chaintech AV710 because of the very good wolfsson dacs (default rear but can be selected as main outputs to your front speakers).

I guess you could compromise by getting a Audigy2 value (which is a zs minus firewire) which probably has the same decent dacs as the audigy2 or the soundblaster live 24-bit which has supposedly much better dacs than the older live.
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digests/sound2k4.html

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: orangat
If you play alot of fpshooters a 5.1/4.1 setup is useful because 3d surround works better.
But music is much better on the Chaintech AV710 because of the very good wolfsson dacs (default rear but can be selected as main outputs to your front speakers).

I guess you could compromise by getting a Audigy2 value (which is a zs minus firewire) which probably has the same decent dacs as the audigy2 or the soundblaster live 24-bit which has supposedly much better dacs than the older live.
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digests/sound2k4.html

I already do have 5.1 setup... but it's not in a 5.1 setup because of where the computer is located (living room), so the back wall is too far away, and having stands is a no-no because of little kids.

And plus... I like New Age and European Symphonic Metal music... and I like it a lot.

Norm

 

[orangat]

? I thought you said you were selling the old speakers.
Well whatever you do, its going to be a significant improvement whether you get the A2 value, AV710 or Catalina if you're replacing both card and speakers.
Check out http://3dsoundsurge.com and its forums for reviews on speaks. Don't overspend on so called high-end PC speakers.

 

[Eureka]

I am selling, I just haven't yet. The old speakers are 5.1, I'm selling that for a new system.

Norm

 

[Eureka]

Also, the Logitech z-5300e is about 133 dollars... now how does it stand compared to a mx5021 and promedia 2.1 in terms of quality?

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
Also, the Logitech z-5300e is about 133 dollars... now how does it stand compared to a mx5021 and promedia 2.1 in terms of quality?

Norm

Not sure about the mx5021, but they're going to be a step down from the Klipsch for music quality.

I think that's the best 5.1 set you're going to get in the pricerange though

 

[yosuke188]

A little off topic, but anyone know where to get the swan 2.0? I heard those are nice sets

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: yosuke188
A little off topic, but anyone know where to get the swan 2.0? I heard those are nice sets

I'm also wondering that too... how much do they cost? I keep on hearing "Swans" this and "Swans" that.

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius

Originally posted by: yosuke188
A little off topic, but anyone know where to get the swan 2.0? I heard those are nice sets

I'm also wondering that too... how much do they cost? I keep on hearing "Swans" this and "Swans" that.

Norm

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/cgi-bin/theaudioinsider/SWM200.html

Basically like a pair of quality bookshelf speakers with a built in amp...

 

[Excelsior]

I..basically think that for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 system is the best. My lowly Infinity Primus 150 and sony 8" sub setup easily beats out my friends Logitech Z5300s for music. He said so himself. I got them for $50 each, and a sub that is much better than mine could be had for $100.

 

[alcoholbob]

The Swans look better than most bookshelves I've seen with a nicer finish too. I thought the Energy Veritas v2.2 had a nice finish, but of course that's a 3-way $2k pair of bookshelves.

 

[Eureka]

Hmm... so does anyone else other than YoYoYo have an opinion on speakers? Any comments on the MX5021?

Norm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
The Swans look better than most bookshelves I've seen with a nicer finish too. I thought the Energy Veritas v2.2 had a nice finish, but of course that's a 3-way $2k pair of bookshelves.

I'm not sure if the m200s have real wood veneer on them, but I know Swan and AV123 make speakers with real wood (Swan has faux finishes too).

Hmmm... says "Walnut Finish"
I guess I don't know if that's real or not. Looks good though from the pictures I've seen

These ELTs have real south american rosewood veneers or a piano black finish on them. Add in a Sonic T-amp and you'd have an alternative to the m200s

 

[alcoholbob]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
Hmm... so does anyone else other than YoYoYo have an opinion on speakers? Any comments on the MX5021?

Norm

Nope...no one has any opinion on speakers other than YoYo ^^

Altec Lansings are known to be treble machines heh. The best multimedia speakers they ever made are probably the 641s. Those are some sizeable satellites with a beefy sub (considered the tightest multimedia sub ever made, even more so than the Klipsch 5.1s Ultras, although they are dual 6.25s so they don't extend very low).

I've had various Altec Lansing speakers before, from the ATP3s, 621s, and the 5100. Altec Lansing is known for mass tweeter designs with high frequency clarity although they use some very dubious engineering methods to extend the frequency response down...the midrange is usually very distorted (they'll use some combination of sidefiring or downfiring minidrivers to use your walls or table to increase midrange volume). Asside from the 641s/621s...they use some VERY small subwoofer drivers (often in the range of 3-4 inch drivers) so the bass is pretty bloated and messy sounding.

All in all, I think if you turn the bass off, you have a decent sounding pop/classical multimedia music box, but don't expect much for rock or anything bass-heavy (since it'll just be a one-beat noise box).

So...unless you own a Mac (in which case anything related to Computers is synonomous to style over quality), I would avoid Altec Lansings for music reproduction. The more classic designs of TW-S like Klipsch or Creative will fit your bill much better.

 

[alcoholbob]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
I..basically think that for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 system is the best. My lowly Infinity Primus 150 and sony 8" sub setup easily beats out my friends Logitech Z5300s for music. He said so himself. I got them for $50 each, and a sub that is much better than mine could be had for $100.

There is nothing "lowly" about your Infinity Primus 150, since there isn't a multimedia setup at any price that can beat them for midrange-high clarity. Your Sony sub might be a different matter though : )

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Astrallite

Originally posted by: Excelsior
I..basically think that for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 system is the best. My lowly Infinity Primus 150 and sony 8" sub setup easily beats out my friends Logitech Z5300s for music. He said so himself. I got them for $50 each, and a sub that is much better than mine could be had for $100.

There is nothing "lowly" about your Infinity Primus 150, since there isn't a multimedia setup at any price that can beat them for midrange-high clarity. Your Sony sub might be a different matter though : )

Thanks.

Well, I'd like to fix that, but with being on the 4th floor in a dorm room, getting a better sub doesn't help me too much, but I am looking at the Dayton 10 and 12" subs.