Any reason why I should get the Z560's over the Altec 641's?

[kantonburg]

This is going to be my xmas present from fiance. I've heard the Logitech Z560s in Best Buy and they do sound awsome. I'm currently using a set of ACS-48s and it's just time to upgrade.

I'm a big fan of Altec and don't game a lot so most of this will be used for MP3s. Space isn't a problem as I know the 641s have a huge sub. Both are about the same price so I'm just looking for someone to lead me into a particular direction on which to get.

Thanks

 

[Howard]

If I were you I would listen to both of them in as close a listening environment to yours as possible. If you can't, then I can say this - the 641s supposedly have a much smoother frequency response and clearer highs.

I've only listened to the Z560s though.

 

[MasterHoss]

Well, I think that, for music, the Z-560s have way too much bass and the 641s don't have enough. :frown:

Are there any other speakers you might be looking at??

 

[BeauJangles]

I have z560s, and I have to say they sound great. I turned down the base, and, honestly, i couldn't ask for a better set of speakers. All sounds are crisp and with the bass toned down it delivers very well.

 

[Dulanic]

I have owned both the Z560s and the 641s.. the 641s won out by a huge margin IMO, I dunno why people say they dont have as much bass... in my room the 641s killed the Z560s, deeper bass, cleaner sound, doesnt distort until about 50% louder then the Z560s and the mids and highs are much better also. IMO the 641s are a much better buy. And Id deffinetely say the 641s are better for music because of the better mids and highs. BTW for one of the better deals you can get the 641s or the Z560s from gateway online or a few other stores with free shipping... that right there will save you $40 and their about $60 cheaper then you can find them in a retail store.

 

[RanDum72]

In terms of sound quality, the 641 is better due to the satellites being a two-way design. The only drawback is the HUGE subwoofer. Its even bigger than some mid-tower cases.

 

[kantonburg]

Well mids and highs are important to me. I don't want a lot of overpowering bass. I know both have plenty. I mean my 48's still rock and most people are still dumbfounded by all the bass these have so I know the 641s will have more.

I searched for these before I made this post and there really wasn't much on the 641's but more for the 560s. One thing I did notice is that several people said they don't like Altec speakers but didn't state why? Is there any reason. I know for a long time they were the best manufacturer but along came Klipsch and Logitech in the big boy market computer PC market. Is altec still the name I grew to love?

 

[Workin']

I've had the 641's for quite some time now. I've also used 560's and many other "multimedia" speakers. The 641's are MUCH better sounding. The mids and highs are much better defined, and the bass is strong and detailed as well. The 560's have very weak midrange, inacurate highs, and the bass is just one big messy thud. For listening to music the 641's are the best computer speakers I've heard. And I've heard nearly every one out there, all in my home, not the store.

The only drawback to the 641's is size. The satellites are largish but the bass unit is quite big, about the size of a mid-tower PC. But they sound exellent.

 

[crisscross]

what do u guys think abt these?

Yamaha 5.1 Surround

 

[Funyuns101]

the z560s are very nice.. i'm not much of a gamer myself and i did turn down the bass to about 1/3 same with the volume.
also, i was in the same place you're in now about 2 months ago except space was a problem for me as i'm in a college dorm so i couldn't have a huge subwoofer. personally i went for logitech cuz of the control pod, though i wish i could get the z680s coming out soon, and the tons of good remarks i've heard here and from word of mouth, and of course listening to them in person at a local bestbuy.
however, if i was you right now, i'd go for the klpisch 4.1s which are on sale for less than $200 at compusa or one of those... those are GREAT speakers and you'd save like $100+. either way you can't really go wrong, you get great speakers either way, hope you have a good sound card.
-my two cents-

 

[Huma]

Bass extension and accuracy is way more important than volume. I used to think my acs-48s were really good speakers til I got some real ones (paradigm titans/pdr-10). The bass notes come out as notes rather than a thump and it can go much lower, and bring new dynamics to songs.

high and mid range clarity are often ignored as well. My 48s sound dull, and lifeless. I find myself having to eq the audio to make them sound alive in any way.

computer speakers are lacking compared to home theatre speakers I guess, but try to find a good balance of highs, mids and bass when shopping.

I don't really put a lot of faith in altec lansing producing excellent bass using only 6" woofers though. Not that logitech's cheap 8" driver would really put out really quality bass anyhow.

 

[kantonburg]

I really don't like a lot of bass even watching movies. My home theatre has an 8" sub and I tend to turn it down on some movies. It just overpowers everything. Maybe it's just me but I know speakers have come a long way in the past few years.

 

[RanDum72]

don't really put a lot of faith in altec lansing producing excellent bass using only 6" woofers though

On the 641's, there happens to be TWO 6" woofers, which when combined has more surface area (and thus can move more air) than the 8" woofer of the Logitech. Combined with its large box and it has more than enough bass to shake a mid-size room.

 

[Huma]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
don't really put a lot of faith in altec lansing producing excellent bass using only 6" woofers though

On the 641's, there happens to be TWO 6" woofers, which when combined has more surface area (and thus can move more air) than the 8" woofer of the Logitech. Combined with its large box and it has more than enough bass to shake a mid-size room.

while two 6" woofers will provide more volume, it does nothing for extension. You can take eight 6" woofers and hook them up together, but a 10" Hsu VTF-2 will destroy that in anything other than maybe volume.

with exceptions, big driver = Deep bass.

 

[RanDum72]

while two 6" woofers will provide more volume, it does nothing for extension. You can take eight 6" woofers and hook them up together, but a 10" Hsu VTF-2 will destroy that in anything other than maybe volume.

Not necessarily. You have the regular woofer and then you have a long-throw woofer. Yamaha has small driver subs that go down to 20hz. I think you have it the other way around. A small woofer can have extension but not much volume at the lowest frequencies (they kinda compensate for this by proper porting as in a bass-reflex system or adding a pasive radiator)while a bigger driver maybe rated up to 30hz only but will have a flat frequency response down to that level.

And as to keep things in perspective, its not a fair comparison to compare the sub of a multimedia computer speaker to that of dedicated home theater sub. Besides having better drivers, the Hsu sub also has a more substantial amp. Price-wise, you can probably get three-four 641 sets for the price of the Hsu.

 

[Workin']

Originally posted by: Huma

Originally posted by: RanDum72
don't really put a lot of faith in altec lansing producing excellent bass using only 6" woofers though

On the 641's, there happens to be TWO 6" woofers, which when combined has more surface area (and thus can move more air) than the 8" woofer of the Logitech. Combined with its large box and it has more than enough bass to shake a mid-size room.

while two 6" woofers will provide more volume, it does nothing for extension. You can take eight 6" woofers and hook them up together, but a 10" Hsu VTF-2 will destroy that in anything other than maybe volume.

with exceptions, big driver = Deep bass.

There are 3 things to keep in mind when reproducing bass:

1. extended low-frequency response
2. small enclosure size
3. high efficiency

and you can have any 2 of those 3 in any given design.

And as far as a single 10" 'destroying' a properly designed array of eight 6-inchers, well, that's just about the silliest thing I've ever heard. Hsu makes subwoofers with quite deep bass extension, but then again radiating surface area is a major component in bass performance. You have to move air to make bass.

For example, the 'legendary' Bose 901 (from an earlier era when Bose=quality) got by quite adequately using only 4 inch drivers! Each speaker used 9 of them and they definitely had extended bass.

But back to the point - the 641's can pound out the bass when asked, but can also be quite detailed and articulate, certainly far better than you have a right to expect for less than $200.

 

[trenchfoot]

i totally agree with workin' et al on preferring the 641's. like i mentioned in an earlier post about comparing these 'puter speakers, dollar for dollar the 641's are to me the best value/performance package out right now. i own a set as well as bose 5.1, promedia 5.1, and the 880's and 890's. the only thing i could think of to make the 641's better is for altec-lansing to ship a 5.1 version to take advantage of current technology.

 

[kantonburg]

i own a set as well as bose 5.1, promedia 5.1, and the 880's and 890's

Ok how many sets do you have much less PC's. Why do you have so many btw?

 

[peter7921]

Have you considered Klipsh 2.1, since you want them mostly for music do you really need more than a 2.1 setup? Plus i love the quality of Klipsh well made and great sounding but im not a hardcore audiophile.

 

[kantonburg]

Well I want a 4 speaker setup just in case. I do play a game or two from time to time.

 

[RIGorous1]

Go for the altec 641.... I am currently in the same dilemma as you and am debating which way to go ... I researched for 2 months and every week I went both ways... it boils down to this for me:

the logitechs are nice and all with its tight bass, but I've read too many reviews about subwoofers blowing out even being run at 2/3 volume and the horror stories about the troble getting replacements from logitech.

So save your self the trouble and get the 641's... just a heads up deal that I was saving for the hot deals section but staples have these 641's on special order.... price match to techsavings.com for $107 then apply $20 off of $100 purchase, make sure you tell them not to add next day shipping and apply free shipping on orders over $50 so you pay ~$95 for these shipped. That's a great deal!

But, SHHHHHHH! this is between you and me. I better not see this on the hot deals section tommorrow or else its your hide

 

[KoolHonda]

That is a good deal. If I hadn't already ditched my Z-560's for a set of Promedia 4.1's, I'd be ordering some 641's tommorrow.

 

[trenchfoot]

kantonburg, i have four complete working setups in one room: a work/gaming setup for me, one for the wife's work/surf, one for the kids schoolwork/surf and a test rig which i use for troubleshooting and testing compatibility issues and the like with new parts and operating systems. scanner and printer is shared. i also use the test rig for t-shooting other people's rigs which i try to configure as close to their setup as possible. i've got enough parts laying around to make more rigs but space being what it is....

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: RIGorous1
Go for the altec 641.... I am currently in the same dilemma as you and am debating which way to go ... I researched for 2 months and every week I went both ways... it boils down to this for me:

the logitechs are nice and all with its tight bass, but I've read too many reviews about subwoofers blowing out even being run at 2/3 volume and the horror stories about the troble getting replacements from logitech.

So save your self the trouble and get the 641's... just a heads up deal that I was saving for the hot deals section but staples have these 641's on special order.... price match to techsavings.com for $107 then apply $20 off of $100 purchase, make sure you tell them not to add next day shipping and apply free shipping on orders over $50 so you pay ~$95 for these shipped. That's a great deal!

But, SHHHHHHH! this is between you and me. I better not see this on the hot deals section tommorrow or else its your hide

All I have to say is if that doesnt work... DONT DONT DONT DONT buy them from techsavings. They are EMS Computing

 

[kantonburg]

I was going to order them from Gateway because they run free shipping around the holidays and can't find them on Staples site or this is phone in only. If so what is the SKU?