Are Logitech's Z-5500 that much better than Klipsch 4.1's?

[gizbug]

Wondering how much better the 5500's would be over 4.1 Klipsch (which I have now).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you're going to upgrade, make it less of a lateral move and get something significantly better than both imo.

You'll get opinions on either side as to which one is better, but they're both going to have some similar limitations that you could get around by going with something better.

 

[gizbug]

Better as in?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: gizbug
Better as in?

Ditching "computer speakers" and getting a better audio setup based on "real speakers"

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: gizbug
Better as in?

Ditching "computer speakers" and getting a better audio setup based on "real speakers"

agreed. while the initial cost may be higher than you are expecting (by about double), the quality is a huge step forward. Also, by getting involved with a "real" setup, this opens up options in terms of connectivity (being able to use your speakers for computer as well as gaming systems or other sources).

I moved from Klipsch Ultra 5.1 to a 2.0 system consisting of a pair of bookshelf speakers and an integrated amp (so a leap of 400$ system to 1000$ system) and the improvement of sound quality was so huge that I didn't miss the surround sound and it just got me more involved. All of my music sounded much better and instead of the speakers just being a peripheral for my computer, they became the focal point of my complete setup.

Getting this "leap" in quality can occur even at lower price brackets, say 600-700$

 

[ognabor]

you'll get a lot more value out of a quality dedicated setup than you'd get out of a set of computer speakers. there are a ton of brands to look at; it all depends on your budget and your acoustic preferences. that's really the key: you gotta listen to a speaker before you buy it, in my opinion. something that sounds good to someone else might not sound good to you, and vice versa. if you like the Klipsch sound, they make substantially better "real" speakers to fit a variety of budgets.

the z-5500s will beat the snot out of your 4.1s in a few areas, most notably the sub... but if you already have a computer speaker setup that you like reasonably well, and you literally cant spend more than a couple hundred bucks tops, save your money so you can expand your budget.

 

[cheesehead]

Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

I wasn't aware that .07% THD was high...:roll:

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

I wasn't aware that .07% THD was high...:roll:

at what impedance, power output and frequency? (just highlighting the typical lack of info. on the posted THD specs usually found and how unhelpful they are)

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

I wasn't aware that .07% THD was high...:roll:

at what power output and frequency? (just highlighting the typical lack of info. on the posted THD specs usually found and how unhelpful they are)

20-20KHz 65W output all channels driven

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

I wasn't aware that .07% THD was high...:roll:

at what power output and frequency? (just highlighting the typical lack of info. on the posted THD specs usually found and how unhelpful they are)

20-20KHz 65W output all channels driven

Oh, i thought you were talking about 200 watt per channel. 65W should be easy.

Id like to know what the THD is at 4ohm and 130W output on all channels driven. Many speakers dip into the 4 ohm region somewhere in their frequency band (sometimes in the bass/midbass). Also whether or not the receiver can actually "double" into a 4 ohm load.

Of course I've gone horribly off topic!

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: gizbug
Better as in?

Ditching "computer speakers" and getting a better audio setup based on "real speakers"

agreed. while the initial cost may be higher than you are expecting (by about double), the quality is a huge step forward. Also, by getting involved with a "real" setup, this opens up options in terms of connectivity (being able to use your speakers for computer as well as gaming systems or other sources).

I moved from Klipsch Ultra 5.1 to a 2.0 system consisting of a pair of bookshelf speakers and an integrated amp (so a leap of 400$ system to 1000$ system) and the improvement of sound quality was so huge that I didn't miss the surround sound and it just got me more involved. All of my music sounded much better and instead of the speakers just being a peripheral for my computer, they became the focal point of my complete setup.

Getting this "leap" in quality can occur even at lower price brackets, say 600-700$

And, if you go with a much higher quality 2.0 system, then you can add to it later until you have a much higher quality 5.1 system. Many people will set a budget of, say, $600 and want to buy the whole surround system. If you buy a $200 receiver and a $400 pair of speakers, you'll not only get better sound from it, but you'll be able to add a sub, center, and surrounds later that will be at that same higher quality. This is what I did with my home-theater system, and I'm very thankful that I didn't opt for a $500 HTIB.

 

[ognabor]

Originally posted by: kalrith
And, if you go with a much higher quality 2.0 system, then you can add to it later until you have a much higher quality 5.1 system. Many people will set a budget of, say, $600 and want to buy the whole surround system. If you buy a $200 receiver and a $400 pair of speakers, you'll not only get better sound from it, but you'll be able to add a sub, center, and surrounds later that will be at that same higher quality. This is what I did with my home-theater system, and I'm very thankful that I didn't opt for a $500 HTIB.

qft

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy


20-20KHz 65W output all channels driven

Whose numbers say? I've seen amps rated for .01% THD (which is quite good) start to distort quite a bit when a complex signal at both low and high frequencies is fed through it into a reactive load.

Y'know, like when you play music through a pair of speakers.

That, and most electronics manufacturers lie. A LOT.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: PurdueRy


20-20KHz 65W output all channels driven

Whose numbers say? I've seen amps rated for .01% THD (which is quite good) start to distort quite a bit when a complex signal at both low and high frequencies is fed through it into a reactive load.

Y'know, like when you play music through a pair of speakers.

That, and most electronics manufacturers lie. A LOT.

The numbers are from Harman Kardon

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

1. agree.

2. Wrong, dead wrong.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Step 1: Go buy some Insignia NSB-2111s. Even at $75/pair (up from $60), they're still good speakers for the buck.
Step 2: Go get a nice old-school reciever or integrated amp, preferably made before 1980. (In the early 80s, the price of stereo equipment dropped hugely - and people started going for quantity (watts) over quality (low distortion or noise.)
Step 3: If you really must have the thump-in-your-rump bass, go get a small sub.

1. agree.

2. Wrong, dead wrong.

And with that I want to add

3. You make "thump in your rump bass" sound bad. If it is on the original recording...then I want to hear it. Nothing wrong with trying to produce all frequencies equally.

 

[Loop2kil]

I've got a on old Carver stereo amp collecting dust...need some speakers to go with them, what would you recommend?

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: Loop2kil
I've got a on old Carver stereo amp collecting dust...need some speakers to go with them, what would you recommend?

Are you looking for floorstanding speakers or bookshelfs?

 

[Davegod75]

I think i'm looking for a good 2.0 setup. I want to be able to play my music (which resides on my computer) and have some decent sound for the tv. I could care less about surround and all that crap. I just want great sound for my mp3's and decent tv sound.

does receiver and two bookshelf speakers sound good?

What's the best way to get my music from my pc to my sound/tv setup; which are in different rooms?

 

[montypythizzle]

There are media bridges that can wirelessly transport music.
Two bookshelfs would probably be sufficient I guess.

 

[Loop2kil]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: Loop2kil
I've got a on old Carver stereo amp collecting dust...need some speakers to go with them, what would you recommend?

Are you looking for floorstanding speakers or bookshelfs?

probably bookshelf....don't want to give up the room for floorstander'ers

 

[montypythizzle]

Either these:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do
Or these:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...85354138&skuId=7705307

Both great deals, but the Insignias used to be on sale for ~40 dollars, I guess the secret of their sound got out

 

[Loop2kil]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Either these:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do
Or these:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...85354138&skuId=7705307

Both great deals, but the Insignias used to be on sale for ~40 dollars, I guess the secret of their sound got out

my amp has no pre-amp...will the pc fulfill this feature without needing to buy any additional equipment?

sorry to the op for jacking the thread but these questions might help someone else as well.

 

[montypythizzle]

If your PC has a SPDIF output, be it coaxial or optical, it would be easiest and best to output through those connections.