Best Quality Speakers?

[DisinfectedDuck]

I'm looking for the highest quality speakers for my PC. I listen to music 99% of the time i'm on my PC, and that's several hours a day. Please advise the best sounding speakers to me, the price doesn't matter.

Thanks.

 

[Jeff H]

DisinfectedDuck, what you're going to hear from the majority of people on this forum that know music is to bypass all the "computer speakers" and go w/ a component stereo system, receiving input from your sound card. If you don't want to go that way, then a couple of brands of computer speakers to consider include VideoLogic (a bit difficult to get in the US) and Klipsch. Another favorite these days are the Logitech Z series. The only model in that line to consider, IMO, is the Z560, and that's a 4.1 solution.

If you simply listen to music, and games are not a big factor, look at the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's. I've had these speakers, driven by a SBlaster Live MP3, for approx. a year now, and I'm still very pleased w/ them. Know that the Klipsch have a bright sound to them, due to the horn style tweeter. I'm going to be building a new system soon, and I have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card to put in it, and I'm anxious to hear how it sounds w/ the PM2.1's, as much that I've read says the TBSC has the best mp3 output.

 

[DisinfectedDuck]

Well, I listen mainly to rock music if that has any importance. Do you think I should connect non-pc speakers to my souncard? (I have a Hercules Game Theater XP)

Thanks again

 

[Nefrodite]

yup just get home stereo amp and some speakers i'm sure someone will recommend a decent set. definetly can get better the z560 or klipsch.

 

[esc]

go to av123.com and take a look at the Swans M200 speakers. the speakers themselves look attractive. 299 bucks for a pair, that sounds very sweet for hifi multimedia speakers. check them out. thanks to Goi for that link. if you have doubts on this set, maybe that 30-day trial will be something to look forward to.

 

[Jeff H]

DisinfectedDuck, I don't mean this to be insulting in any way, but just so you're clear, based on your response, you won't hook "non-PC" speakers directly up to your sound card. Current generation sound cards have no amplification on them. Rather, you'd hook your sound cards output to a stereo amp/receiver, connected to speakers. Keep in mind that "non-PC" speakers often are not shielded, and should not be placed near your monitor.

 

[DisinfectedDuck]

Jeff H - I know you have to connect it to a stereo amp, I phrased the question poorly. I didn't think about the shielding thing though.

 

[Thor86]

The biggest problem with non-computer speakers are that they are not properly shielded from the huge magnetic interferrence they generate, and could lead to potential problems (dataloss?) if they are near your computer system.

If you are looking for HIGH-END computer speakers/home theatre equipment, go with Videologic Digitheater DTS. You won't be disappointed with the sound quality/features. Search on the Anandtech website for a more detailed review.

 

[GreatYogota]

If you go over to the hotdeals forum there is a thread on the Logitech z560 speakers that seems like a GREAT deal, I just ordered a set. Logitechs web site has some reviews for them posted...
might want to look into that..
Good luck!

 

[joe4324]

I'm pretty serious about my computer audio as well. I paid $300 for a set of Klipsch Promedia 4.1's and havent looked back since, I'm running a SBlive! platnuim (for the live drive) and as of late more and more people are telling me that the sound card is holding me back from even higher quality sound. Alot of this also depends on were you are going to place your speakers. I have a fairly large area that my computer occupies and its all hardwood floors so I get more bottom end because my floor becomes a woofer. errr at least resonates the sound better. so far I havent found a better set of speakers that suit my tastes in the computer audio market.


I need "VERY High" definition treble, I'm real big on clarity of sound and I listen to alot of music were there is alot going on in the higher frequencies. I listen to things in the low to mid volumes as well. I've heard that other speakers (z560's specifically) have a little louder sub but I dont seem to notice any defecincies in the sound mine makes. (could be sitting on hardwood affects it)

I recomend the promedia 4.1's but I dont doubt for a second that if you wanted to spend some more money you could find a much better solution.

 

[Operandi]

go to av123.com and take a look at the Swans M200 speakers. the speakers themselves look attractive.

Not bad, I did some more looking around and this is the clostest I could find to a review they areprolly are your best bet if your after high quality music on the PC. The only thing that I question about them is their specs aren't very detaild, and there is almost no info about the intergrated amps. Other then that they look great.

 

[zemus]

using non-shielded stereo speakers is not that big of an issue. By being large speakers, one would want to keep them a small distance form the computer anyway, since they are generally powerfull enough. You would never want them that close to the computer anyway.

My personal gerneral rule, most your speaker to towards the monitor until you just see the nice magnetic distortion appearing, then take the distance betyween the two *1.5 and place them that far away. You have to move them this far since if the speaker is left just out of the range of visual distortion, over years/months, it slowly screws your monitor, soo keep them reasonably faurther than the miniumal distance.

The potential for data loss is almost non-existant btw, you have to have a extremely strong magnet to accomplish this. It's unliekly anyone has anything in there home that could do this

 

[RanDum72]

The sound card can also affect the sound. If you listen solely to music, a sound card with the Crystal chipset (like the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, Hercules game theater XP and Fortissimo II) sound much better compared to Sound Blaster cards (including the Audigy).
And why not just go and get a receiver and regular speakers?

 

[erichui]

go to read reviews in www.3dsoundsurge.com they got pretty good reviews there, but they are now saying that the newest creative mega works is one of the best speakers out so far now.
i know creative do sux, but yea, could be a change

 

[hagbard]

I thought most HT speakers nowadays were video shelded, since the fronts go near the TV.

 

[HouRman]

If you want the best bang per buck, I would search audiogon, ebay, and other auction sites for amps and speakers. You could spend $200 for a pair of JBL S38ii studio speakers ($600 value), and buy a 2 channel parasound amplfier. Then you'll have a nice setup for music listening and won't be shelling out the money for a receiver with crappy integrated amp.

The diva swans M200 sound pretty good, but I would get a separate amp and bookshelf speakers which will probably sound better for that kind of money.

The speakers can be separated more than 6-8 feet while still providing excellent imaging so video shielding doesn't matter.

If you want a readily available multimedia speaker set, the Klipsch Promedia 5.1 sound pretty good but it may not be best for music.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

i got the hercules game theater xp with the klipsch promedia 5.1s. it's like i'm in music heaven. at least for computer speakers.

 

[DARRIN]

my klipsch sound awesome.