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Best PC speakers?

J

JoeDaddy

Banned
Thanks in advance for anyones help.
I'm looking for the best set of 4.1 or 5.1 speakers I can get for the money. My budget is limited to about $200 or so. Considering that I can get the DTT2500's new for about $180 shipped. I've heard that the Promedia's are good and that the BA's are good too. I would like everyone's input and any links to sites w/ reviews would be great.(Any other site other than Anandtech please) I would like to use these for dvd playback, (Mid-size room w/ 27" tv.) and for FPS gaming and replaying my mp3's. Bass is a concern, I would like some deep punch, but it doesn't have to be anything like Velodyne or anything. Please respond w/ your experience's and comments. Thanks guys

Anthony
 
The Boston BA4800s rock all over the Klipsch Pro-Media V2-400s, and they cost some $50 less! I owned the Pro-Medias and got rid of them for the Bostons.

Check out this thread in the 3Dss Speaker Forum.
 
Please don't make convincing speaker judgements based on Sound Blaster sound! I replaced my crappy consumer cards with a Midiman Audiophile 2496 and it made a huge difference on my ProMedia 2.1's. Admittedly the 2.1 model is already improved from the 4.1 model, but I heard Klipsch was planning to update the latter also.
 
Get the DTT2500's if you care more about DVD playback. If you play games and listen to music more often, go for the BA4800's.
 
damn i really wanna get that Midiman Audiophile 2496 for my promedias. when you say huge difference, how so?
 
I'm using MidiLand S4 8200's and am very satisfied. I considered getting the Klipsch's, but didn't since they weren't 5.1.
 
yo2tup, first here is somebody else's review:
Midiman/M Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card

Here's what I'll add with my particular speakers: the noise floor is unbelievably low. You literally don't hear any hiss, even when holding your ear to the speakers at high volume! The same goes even for headphones (using PM2.1's onboard headphone amp). This merits the AP2496, but also Klipsch's ultra-clean amplifier. The sound quality itself really improved, with a more defined body and tighter bass. Little things like instrument definition, etc. Sound just became a greater pleasure to hear! Always take precautions though, like placing your soundcard as far below other PCI devices as possible, to minimize RFI interference. As you can read above, you'd still need to keep another soundcard around for games.

My next project is to rewire the interconnects/wires on the PM2.1 speakers. I'm replacing them with pure silver signal tape DIY wire and putting on native goldplated RCA jacks instead of miniplug (to match the AP2496).
 


<< BA-4800's are easily the most accurate speaker for less than $300. >>


These are computer speakers, there is NO accuracy. Want to compare home rigs??
 
Bypass computer speakers and look at real home stereo systems. I got a great set with subwoofer (KLH) at Costco for less than $100. Then drive them with a used stereo amp (non-computer) . . . they sound better than any computer speakers I've heard except maybe Bose . . . and you cited a limited budget. 🙂
 
Actually, the PM2.1 speakers are considered better than your average stereo (and probably any stereo for the price).
 
The BA4800 for $150 from Outpost.com with overnight shipping 🙂 To bad I live in canada 🙁 the best I can do is ~$200US



<< These are computer speakers, there is NO accuracy. Want to compare home rigs?? >>

True. But the BA4800 are much more neutral sound than the $100 more expensive Klipsch ProMedias. They have extremely exagerated bass. If you truly know about pro audio, then you'll know exagerated bass is NOT good....Neutral sound reproduction is good. Then you can adjust to hearts content using EQs, that's what they are there for. But speakers should be neutral.

I'm with Wingz...nothing more accurate for less than $300.

Sure you could build a much better home theatre setup, but for $150?

 
&quot;Klipsch ProMedias. They have extremely exagerated bass.&quot;

EDIT: I'm talking about the PM 2.1. The older v400 purportedly sound different.

You mean if you max out the &quot;Bass&quot; adjuster? 😀 When that's not abused, the PM's have a very flat frequency response. The crossover on the PM2.1 is near perfect, you don't know when the sub is used. My PM2.1 compete with my $100 Sony studio headphones for accuracy, and that means something! As does THX certification, which too represents a high degree of accuracy in sound reproduction. Obviously I never use an equalizer on my system.
 
&quot;True. But the BA4800 are much more neutral sound than the $100 more expensive Klipsch ProMedias. They have extremely exagerated bass. If you truly know about pro audio, then you'll know exagerated bass is NOT good....Neutral sound reproduction is good. Then you can adjust to hearts content using EQs, that's what they are there for. But speakers should be neutral.&quot;

Noriaki, I am beginning to think you have never heard the Promedia's. If you did, you might have tried that knob on the front labeled &quot;subwoofer&quot; and noticed that it affected the bass output. If it is cranked past halfway with music, it can be a very exaggerated bass, but if you read the instructions that come with the PM's, you would see they suggest the marked &quot;THX&quot; setting for music. This is at about 1/4 way up from the minimum, and the bass sounds just right. Also, if you listened to them on a SB Live, you can't really judge them either. I had two different SB Live cards and they made my PM's sound like crap. I replaced my SB Live with the AE and it was a night and day difference. As far as accuracy, the BA4800's can not match the highs of the Promedia because they do not have seperate tweeter like the PM's. The BA's do reproduce midrange better than the PM's, so it is really a toss up. The BA4800's usually will have a slightly more pleasing sound with music, but the PM's run away with the gaming and DVD performance. The price of the BA4800's can't be beat however. I have used both and I prefered the PM's and I sent my BA's back. I do still recommend the BA4800's because they are great speakers. Just because you may not like the PM's, please don't make them sound like junk. 🙂
 
Ahh I can't comment on the 2.1s, from everything I've heard the 2.1s have been improved greatly in flat response, and I eagerly look forward to being able to hear them, and/or the 4.1s. But the ProMedia v.2-400s I find to be sorely lacking in neutrality.

I didn't know the ProMedia's had an instruction book, or where they recommend setting knobs.

I've heard both the ProMedia's and BA4800 on an SBLive! Value Rev1. Granted, it's a sh*tty soundcard, but it was the same sh*tty soundcard so the playing field should be level no?

And I don't actually think the ProMedia's are really that bad...I'm sure most people would be very happy with them, and in fact I would myself...but for the price I just don't think they are worth it.

Edit: Oh something I think I forgot to mention in this thread...I've argued in so many speaker threads I forget things some times....I personally really really dislike Horn Tweeters. Be it in the ProMedia's or Home Theatre equipment...it's a quality I dislike....I prefer a standard cone tweeter. Not to say the Horns aren't good...it's just a personal preference.
 
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