best 2.1 speakers for PC (laptop)

[sgleo87]

Originally posted by: Astrallite

Klipsch iFi - $200 <- my pick.

Where can you get them for $200? They are $335 at amazon.
I noticed a big feature of this system is an ipod docking station but I don't own an ipod so is it still worth it for me to buy this system? These definitely look like sweet speakers though!

And that's pretty much it for 2.1. If you want to spend more, look to powered monitors, but they aren't explicitly "marketted" as PC speakers, so I guess you pretty much have no realistic options above $250 anyway...maybe the Swan M200, but those are a cross between "marketted as PC speakers" and "powered monitor" so I don't know if you'd want those. But if you *are* open to studio monitors, the Event TR8 looks pretty good at $500.

How do powered monitors hook up to a laptop? Do I need anything "special" to hook them up?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
Okay, so basically you wan't explicitly speakers "marketted" as computer speakers. Any powered monitor we've said so far will "connect" with a sound card. But if you insist on having a speaker "marketted" as a PC loudspeaker, then...

If your budget is $500, the Z-2300 is pretty much at the bottom of the sound quality list...

Altec Lansing MX5021 - $150 (maybe the 6021s for $250, but I think 5021 is a better overall design)

Klipsch iFi - $200 <- my pick.

And that's pretty much it for 2.1. If you want to spend more, look to powered monitors, but they aren't explicitly "marketted" as PC speakers, so I guess you pretty much have no realistic options above $250 anyway...maybe the Swan M200, but those are a cross between "marketted as PC speakers" and "powered monitor" so I don't know if you'd want those. But if you *are* open to studio monitors, the Event TR8 looks pretty good at $500.

Aye on the iFi. Saw some at Costco for $200, and they were pretty good for the money.

 

[alcoholbob]

Originally posted by: sgleo87
Where can you get them for $200?

Costco = $200 retail
eBay Klipschstore = $200 for refurbs
Klipsch website = $200 for refurbs
eBay = $150 shipped for used

How do powered monitors hook up to a laptop? Do I need anything "special" to hook them up?

Yeah. You need a stereo mini to RCA cable. $7 at Ratshack. It's not anything really special. It's the computer stereo miniplug standard thats weird/special.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Astrallite

Originally posted by: Howard
Why don't you go for headphones with an amp?

But that's not a single pre-packaged product : P

fie on the average consumer

EDIT: ******. I accidentally closed this window after putting so much work into it.

Anyway,

M-Audio Transit USB audio I/O module - $80 + shipping
Electric-Avenues.com Pocket Amp 2 V2 - $60 + shipping

Leaving $360 for headphones we have:

Beyerdynamic DT250-80/DT250-250 - relatively inexpensive

AKG K601
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=169107

Beyerdynamic DT880
http://www.headphonereviews.org/headphone.php?action=view&headphoneId=17

Sony MDR-SA5000 - slightly over budget, highly accurate
http://www.headphonereviews.org/headphone.php?action=view&headphoneId=123
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159696&highlight=akg+k601

Any of these should do great.

 

[sgleo87]

thx but I think I'll stick with speakers; not a big fan of headphones although they may have high quality sound.

 

[rstrohkirch]

Just go to Best Buy, or your store of choice, and buy whatever sounds best to you.
People are trying to offer opinions and options and you are being completely indecisive, it's just wasting their time.

 

[sgleo87]

I am not being indecisive...but I do have to admit that I should have stated specifically from the very beginning what I want so I am really sorry about that and apologize to anyone who felt that their time was wasted.

I will definitly look into the Klipsch iFi (does it matter if I have an ipod or is it still worth buying anyways?)
The Altec Lansing MX5021 speakers also look good although I like the Klipsch better.

I looked around at newegg and the only other 2.1 speakers that are better than the Logitech Z-2300 (or have a higher price that is) are
-Bose COMPANION3
-ALTEC LANSING FX6021
-Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
-Klipsch Promedia GMX A-2.1
Can anybody recommend any of these?
Or are there any other speakers that i should take a look at?

Also should I look for THX certified speakers or does it not really matter? And this is probably a noob question but does more watts mean they are better speakers?

Thx to all the people who have been posting here and trying to help me and again I am really sorry about not specifically saying what I wanted in the first place.

 

[alcoholbob]

Well it does seem you are being indecisive.

The iFi is flat out the best "objective" speaker you can buy under your price range and specifications.

It's funny that you say *only* speakers that are better than Z-2300s and then list a zillion of them...that's a weird sounding statement don't you think?

Why would you ask for other peoples recommendations for the other speakers? You are essentially asking for subjective opinions on various speakers with questionable design goals. In that case, isn't *your* opinion the most important? Do you really want a speaker that someone *else* auditioned (or parroted about because they own), over what you want to hear?

Seems like you are suffering from very strange indecisiveness.

Your choices are,

1) Pick the iFi, the most linear system in this shootout. (You can agree or disagree with this, but from what I've seen, everyone else who *doesnt* own PC speakers has agreed to this). Or pick the Altecs if you like the piano black finish more.

2) Pick what someone else likes or owns, based on how loud they can shout "my speakers are the best"

3) Buy the Z-2300s and forget about it.

Pick on of these or don't pick one of these. This isn't your first marriage. It's a pair of speakers. What's your most important priority? Best deal? What someone else likes? Logitech because it looks nice/sells well? Pick one and be done, too much indecisiveness and angst is bad for your health. Like Arnold said in Total Recall--"relax. You'll live longer."

 

[alcoholbob]

Dbl post