Computer Speakers for an SBLive! 5.1

[bones10]

Hey all,

I'm gettin' ready to upgrade my $20 speakers. I have an SBLive! 5.1 sound card. I'm going to be using my system to play CDs/MP3's and to play games. I don't have a DVD player right now.

The main reason I'm upgrading is the bass in my current speakers comes out like the distortion on my electric guitar at any volume. Not good. While I'm at it, I thought I might get something that will enhance my gaming experience as well.

I've looked around here and other places and I have a few questions.

1) I've read that for the 2.1 speaker systems, the system can fool your ears into "thinking" you have rear speakers. So, that perhaps having a 2.1 speaker system is as good as (or nearly as good as) having a 4.1 speaker system. Is this true? If I purchase, say, the Monsoon MM-1000 set, will that be as good as the BA4800 4.1 speakers, or will there be a huge difference in my gaming experience with a good 4.1 set?

2) I understand that I can get the CSW 2200 or others without the decoder fairly inexpensively and I can get 5.1 sound from my sound card. I've read that there's not much difference between a 4.1 setup and a 5.1 setup for the computer becuase the speakers are so close together. Is this true? I've also read that games don't yet make use of 5.1. Do any of you think this will change soon? Will I notice a difference between a 4.1 and a 5.1 system even if I do decide to play a DVD or two on my system?

I'm not into *loud* - you know, the neighbors don't need to hear my games. I just want the speakers to sound good. I'm not into trading my 1st born to get speakers, so I'm lookin' at 'round $200-$250. I can go higher in price, but it would have to be *clearly* worth the extra cost.

I've also got a toddler at home, and I don't want him to be able to mess with wires strung along the floor. If you have a 4.1/5.1 system, what do you usually do with the wires to the rear speakers? Are the wires long enough, so you can string them side by side to the rear? We've got a stickum cable conduit we can stick just above the baseboard to put the wires in, but if the wires aren't long enough, well, you know...

What other things should I be considering?

What do y'all recommend?

Thanks,

- bones

 

[BChico]

I have the Cambridge DTT 2500, and i would recommend them to anyone, small speakers and great full sound, if you wanna spend the extra cash go with the new DTT 3500, or save and get the 2500 at a lowered price!

 

[a5431]

Ive had some personal experience with computer speakers.
I have owned or heard DTS2000, DTT2500, Altec 880s, Altec 340/495s, Altec 4.1 "gaming" systems, and of course, Klipsch.

Hands down, out of these speakers, the Klipsch take the cake. This is a nearly perfect system, and with the new upgraded system coming out in a few weeks, they will be even better sounding (and they'll finally have a headphone jack). Overall, they are an amazing set of speakers. Outpost sells them shipped overnight for $250.

 

[sygyzy]

The new Klipsch certainly are great but they are $50 more so now you are looking at ~$300? For computer speakers? Check out the Yamaha TSS1's. Nobody really has heard of them or reviewed them. I only saw a link recently on this board. It looks promising. 5.1 Dolby Digital, etc. for $175 or so at Egghead, Computers4Sure.

 

[bones10]

Thanks, everyone, so far.

I'm really interested in seeing answers to my specific questions, though, to help me better make my decision.

The specific speaker recommendations are ok as far as it goes, but I'd like to see in addition how you think they'll work for my situation.

Keep it coming, gang.

Cheers,

- bones

 

[NotoriousJTC]

DTS 2500 would probably suit you the best.

 

[eyez]

I just posted the same question in the forum a few days back. After extensive research and listening, I went with the boston acoustic 4800. I really liked the Klipsch, but the bass is just a bit too boomy for my taste. The ba4800s also a bit smaller, and looks a bit more elegant. The best price I've seen on the Klipsch is $250 + tax/shipping. I placed the order for the ba4800 from emscomputing.com for 135 shipped. I would be extremely happy with either one, but the Klipsch just not worth the over $100 difference.

Just another word of advice....listen carefully to the speakers and buy the ones that you really like. I can't tell you how many speakers I have that just sucked.

 

[bones10]

Hey gang,

You can do better than this.

Perhaps I've asked too many questions at once. Let's go through them one at a time.

1) For games, are 4.1 speakers that much better than 2.1 speakers? Or through audio trickery, can the 2.1 speakers sound as good as 4.1 speakers? If there is a difference, how much of a difference is there? Is it really noticeable?

What do you think?



- bones

 

[eyez]

Most games sound muuuuch better with a true 4.1. Music though, I prefer the traditional 2.1. 4.1 can do 2.1. 2.1 cannot do a good job emulating 4.1. Try 2 sets of 2.1 together. Event he cheapest sound cards now are switching to 4.1, so might as well get something that'll last a while.

 

[bones10]

Thanks eyez,

If anyone else has a different opinion, I'm interested in hearing it. If not, lets go on to the next question.

2) Does a 5.1 speaker system for your computer sound much different than a 4.1 system? If I do decide to play DVD's movies on my computer, or if games start coming out with 5.1 support, will I be able to notice a difference between 4.1 and 5.1?

Cheers ,

- bones

 

[Riverhound]

Listening to my Klipsch v.2 400s right now. They are great. Don't know why anyone would consider anything else if they are in your price ranger. Outpost.com for $249.99 with free overnight shipping. And they mean it. I ordered them at 3:00PM and they came at 11:45AM the next morning. They actually got here before I recieved the email that they had been shipped.

 

[bones10]

^

 

[NuovoTech]

I've heard folks here in this forum rave bout Dolby 5.1...at $105 the analog Cambridge DTT2200's seems like a good value, can you route the wires under the rug? Any one here ever use em or hear what they sound like?

 

[bones10]

A little more help please.

Who here has heard both 5.1 and 4.1 speaker systems for the computer? Is 5.1 really that much better? If so, what are the advantages to getting an external decode vs using what is built into my SBLive! 5.1 sound card?

Thanks everyone for your help so far.

- bones

 

[jagr10]

There is a difference between 4.1 and 5.1! Is it a major difference for games and music? not really, but for movies it's worth it. Since everything is 5.1 now you might as well take advantage of the full features so I'd go for the 5.1. I believe the Klipsch is 4.1 (great sounding). I myself own the Creative Desktop Theatre 2500 (5.1). Your choice should definitely come down to the Klipsch or the Creative DTT 3500. Look at reviews online for both and see which ones you'll like more.

 

[bones10]

jagr10, or anyone else,

When I go to the Creative web page, they suggest, for my sound card, to skip getting the DTS decoder thingy and get the CSW DTT 2200 set instead. Has anyone heard these speakers? Is there still a reason to get a set with the decoder?

In terms of sound quality, how would the DTT 2200 stack up against the BA4800's? Would the average joe not really be able to tell the difference between these?

My biggest problem is in finding a place that demos the speakers I'm interested it. Is CompUSA the best place to listen to speakers? I went to Fry's Electronics. They didn't have either Klipsh or the Boston Acoustic speakers at all. They had the DTT 3500's, but they were all in the boxes. You couldn't listen to any of them.

- bones

 

[bones10]

^

 

[visceral]

I find it easier to play CS in stereo rather than surround..

 

[Wingznut]

I went to a local Magnolia Hi-Fi shop to sample the various speakers. I ended up coming home with the BA-4800's, which imho are the best PC speakers under $300.

 

[NuovoTech]

bones10 - Check this article at WinMag

 

[eyez]

One of my friends has DTT2200....they are terrible. I thought they were a good deal b/c of the 5.1 config, but for a similar price, BA4800 is in a different league.

 

[jagr10]

Don't bother with the DTT 2200. Go with either the DTT2500 or 3500. Preferrably the 3500. If you want to see reviews on these then go to Http://www.CNet.com and choose hardware and speakers and read the reviews.

Another good site for reviews is http://www.ZDNet.com

 

[XRdirtHead]

The new Klipsch 4.1's are available now. From what I've read you don't need 5.1 speaker system on a computer because the speakers are to close together. (makes sense) The top gaming machines recommend the Klipsch speakers. Sounds like a no brainer to me! I just received an e mail today that mine are going to be delivered 3/02/01...ya hooo

 

[AncientPC]

For gaming 4.1 is much better than 2.1. If you're playing CS, headphones are a must.

The BA4800's you can find at Outpost.com for $150 shipped free overnight. I just got those for my friend and they sound really nice. The bass sounds a little forced (compared to some other really nice subs) but it's still a nice set, especially for the price.

 

[sygyzy]

Hi,

I am not sure if anyone knows this, but here goes. I have a SB Live! 5.1 and I want to get some speakers. I know I know, the BA4800's are so great but I am interested in a true DTS/Dolby/5.1/etc solution. Specifically the Yamaha TSS1's. My question is based on something I saw on www.3dss.com which said something to the likes of "the digital out on the sb live! will only work with creative speakers". So if I get a good speaker system, will I be able to utilize all the fancy features? I don't want to buy speakers and end up not being able to use it besides for analog. And if that is the case, I'll just get BA4800's.

Thanks!