Good 2.1 speakers with optical input?

[nugglife4me]

Is it me or does it seem as if Optical outputs are becoming increasing more prevalent onboard and there just arent many 2.1 speaker setups supporting this? I mean something <$200, any suggestions?

speakers I've had so far:
Logitech 540's
Creative Inspire T3000

wasnt quite satisfied with either, wanting to take advantage of optical out, only want/need 2.1 sound.

 

[nugglife4me]

*yawn* no one has any suggestions?

 

[Tiamat]

Perhaps I am naive, but why do you need the bandwidth of Optical cables if you are just using computer 2.1 speakers? In my opinion, optical cables are best used if you have a 5.1 speaker system. For instance, if I want to hear my ps2 games utilizing Dolby Digital, I would use Optical cables.

For most 2.1 speakers, I doubt you will be able to hear the difference between Optical and normal cables.

Also, Cost. Optical cables are, themselves, not very cheap. This feature would probably only be found on higher cost speaker systems that feature 5.1 or more.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Perhaps I am naive, but why do you need the bandwidth of Optical cables if you are just using computer 2.1 speakers? In my opinion, optical cables are best used if you have a 5.1 speaker system. For instance, if I want to hear my ps2 games utilizing Dolby Digital, I would use Optical cables.

For most 2.1 speakers, I doubt you will be able to hear the difference between Optical and normal cables.

Also, Cost. Optical cables are, themselves, not very cheap. This feature would probably only be found on higher cost speaker systems that feature 5.1 or more.

That would depend on the DAC on your soundcard. Take the soundstorm for example. Poor analog output, but very good digitial. So, obviously hooking it up to the speakers digitally would be advantageous whether in 2.1 or 5.1.

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

Bump cuz I've been wondering the same thing. Wanna take advantage of the digital out on my AV-710, but don't want a 5.1 system.

 

[sm625]

It's not just a bandwidth thing. Sometimes you have really flaky grounds and the ground loop created from your speaker power supply ground, your PC's power supply ground, and the ground in the cable that connects them results in an audible hum that can be quite annoying. This should not happen as long as the pc speakers are plugged into the same outlet or power strip. But sometime you dont have a power strip and you only have room to plug the monitor and PC into one outlet leavign the pc speakers to be plugged into another outlet... Optical eliminates all of this.

OP: Have you considered soemthing like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U00D18148

 

[bbhaag]

That's pretty sound advice man. To bad your 8.5 years to late...