Digital 2.1 Speaker Set-up for PC - Any recommendations?

[Exirtis]

My current (quite new) computer is putting out mad amounts of noise on analog. It's driving me nuts, but since this box is capable of digital out I was hoping I could find a 2.1 setup that accepted digital in.

I'm not that picky (really!), especially as my current speakers are ancient beyond reckoning.
http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h87a.htm

Looking around it's really not been clear to me whether a given 2.1 setup accepts digital in or not, and I'm so out of the loop with computer speakers than anyone stopping and offering a recommendation or just opining would be quite helpful.

 

[BassBomb]

My onboard was noisy analog and it would still occur in digital (I guess it was something internal)

Best would be something that isn't actually a computer speaker, but bookshelf speakers or stereo monitors.

What is your budget?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Before you spend any money, double check that all the inputs on your soundcard are muted (line-in, microphone, etc.)

 

[Exirtis]

Well, my budget is less the issue than the fact that I can't really use a more elaborate setup than a 2.1 system in the cramped apartment that I currently have. But, to put a range to it, I'd prefer to keep it under $100. I might be willing to spend more if there was something compelling, but I'm not super motivated to since I do have a pair of working (if annoying) speakers right now.

My onboard was noisy analog and it would still occur in digital (I guess it was something internal)

This is disturbing to hear... but I suppose the culprit could be my onboard sound system, since it's integrated sound and not a separate card. Could that be the issue itself? Some sort of fault in the integrated sound?

Before you spend any money, double check that all the inputs on your soundcard are muted (line-in, microphone, etc.)

This is something I have also not checked, whether or not my inputs are muted. It is conceivable that there might be some sort of cross-talk going on... I'll try that when I get home.

Thanks for the replies. I'll update with the results soon.

 

[Exirtis]

Okay, long delay (work got WAY busy).

So, my inputs are muted and I still have quite a bit of noise.

Fooling around, I found that when I had my speakers turned up to full but my sound turned completely off that I heard even more clearly the noise which has bothered me so. What's more, however, is that when I scrolled on a web page I heard noise... a rhythmic static, as though for each pixel moved there was a corresponding quaver in the speaker.

Interestingly, when I'm in certain applications with something going on onscreen (such as in EVE Online), I hear a great deal of different sorts of noise and humming, the timbre or character of which changes depending on what's displayed on screen / how much movement there is. Keep in mind that this is with the computer's sound turned fully down but with speakers turned fully up.

So... what the heck is this? Any ideas?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Sounds a lot like the analog output from my integrated sound
Maybe if you're good enough you can learn to play EVE Online blindfolded based on the hum coming from your speakers

I was quite fed up with the noise coming from the analog output of my integrated sound but luckily the digital output eliminated all the problems I was having. I'm not sure if there's a way to predict if the digital output will clean that up for you without bringing in some other equipment to test. Do you have any equipment that you could hook up to the digital output to check if it's clean before you buy new speakers? (Like a receiver or something)

If you're satisfied with your speakers (without the static of course), you could also buy a cheap little soundcard... either PCI or USB.

Most speaker systems with digital inputs tend to be 5.1 or higher. I don't remember which computer 2.1 sets have a digital input.
There are studio monitors with digital inputs like bassbomb suggested though. I am not familiar enough with studio monitors to recommend something specific, but just as an example of a set with the capabilities you're looking for at your budget, http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS20

 

[Exirtis]

Sounds like good advice. I'll see if I can borrow a set with digital in, or buy one from somewhere close and convenient with a good return policy.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[jlee]

Buy a $60 set of Klipsch PM20s and a $40 sound card.

 

[Howard]

What power supply are you using?

 

[Exirtis]

For my computer or my monitor? Either way it's the power supply that came with the item. My computer is a Dell 630i, so I would think that the power supply is of a pretty decent quality.

Why, are you wondering whether the noise might be from unstable/dirty power?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Exirtis
For my computer or my monitor? Either way it's the power supply that came with the item. My computer is a Dell 630i, so I would think that the power supply is of a pretty decent quality.

Why, are you wondering whether the noise might be from unstable/dirty power?

That's my guess. I wouldn't know for sure, though.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Exirtis
My current (quite new) computer is putting out mad amounts of noise on analog. It's driving me nuts, but since this box is capable of digital out I was hoping I could find a 2.1 setup that accepted digital in.

I'm not that picky (really!), especially as my current speakers are ancient beyond reckoning.
http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h87a.htm

Looking around it's really not been clear to me whether a given 2.1 setup accepts digital in or not, and I'm so out of the loop with computer speakers than anyone stopping and offering a recommendation or just opining would be quite helpful.

how can you have a current computer that doesn't have digital out? my Opteron 165 has provision for digital out, albeit having to pay for the breakout module.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I am not familiar enough with studio monitors to recommend something specific, but just as an example of a set with the capabilities you're looking for at your budget, http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS20

I have got a set of those and I really like them.
You get a lot for the price.
They have both coax and optical on the back as well as line in.
There are two volume controls on the front , one for line in and other for digital in. Using the two controls you can mix the two sources. Also bass and treble controls, along with headphone jack. They plug directly into the wall so no transformers to mess with.

Case is pretty solid and they are heavy. They sound pretty damn good to me.


Edit:
One thing I should mention is that these use about 80 watts to produce 20 watts total sound. The reason is they are class A amplifiers on the inside, which is extremely wasteful power wise, but it sounds great. So if you are one of those people that watches every watt, you might not be happy with that usage.

 

[Exirtis]

@sdifox:
My computer has digital out, it's my speakers that don't have digital in, but they're ancient. :roll:

@Modelworks:
Thanks for the additional info. I'm not a real worrier about power usage (my stuff's not on all day or anything), but it's good to know. Especially helpful is hearing another opinion on the sound quality though.

@Howard:
Looking over my setup at home, I don't think it's a power issue, but I'm really not sure how I would check that anyway. I think it's notable that my old computer didn't have these problems -- which I verified by hooking it back up -- and the quality of the power supplies is probably in the Dell's favor, as I was on a much tighter budget when I built the prior one from parts. *shrug*