Great 5.1 Speaker System - OOS

[sumrtym]

These are also not the same speakers as on the Digitheatre DTS. There's a very BIG difference between this speaker set and the DTS one. However, that's an excellent price for the just Digitheatre set.

Differences are much higher quality speakers on the DTS, DTS / Dolby Digital decoder, and higher quality sub. I should know....I own the DTS set.

But at $39, that's a good bargain for the basic, lower quality set.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: CVSiN
bah 2 words...
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA5.1
best speakers EVA!

If you like over amplified bass, and shrill highs, then yes.....Klipsch is your speakers.

 

[MasterXen]

I just cancelled my order of the VideoLogic's from CompGeeks, so that should mean that 1 more box is up for grabs.

 

[dr150]

Bass only go to 50hz.

That's not very low. My monitors hit 42hz alone.

You guys need to find computer audio systems that can realistically hit 35Hz so that it cover most, if not all of the music frequencies.

 

[Hummercash]

these are just the regular ones... the ones that kick major ass are the Videologic DigiTheatre dts speakers. there used to be a long thread here about them, but i never had enough money to pick up a pair... and now that i have money, i can't find them ANYWHERE.


.//chris

 

[Hummercash]

here is a link to the dts review...
http://3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/DigiTheatreDTS/DigiTheatreDTS.html


.//chris

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: foolish501
i would choose the digitheatre over the z560's any day. when i had these speakers, i have a 40ft long living room that i had the speakers in, and i had these plugged into a dvd player. everybody who heard the speakers were amazed by the quality, and it blew away everybodies surround setup.

i've just bought a pair of these just because they are so cheap, don't know what i'm gonna do with them, probably plug them into my dvd player again.

Dude, these speakers put out a grand total of 62.5 Watts RMS. That is WEAK! These cant even compare to my 400 Watt Logitech Z-560s.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: Hummercash
these are just the regular ones... the ones that kick major ass are the Videologic DigiTheatre dts speakers. there used to be a long thread here about them, but i never had enough money to pick up a pair... and now that i have money, i can't find them ANYWHERE.


.//chris

That's because as far as I know, the VideoLogic (now Pure Digital btw) speakers are no longer sold in the United States. I can't find anyone that sells them here. I think they had so many few distributers here that they packed it up when they had that change. Personally, I like the looks of the new DigiTheatre DTS system they came out with, but haven't seen any reviews of it.

The only weak point on the DigiTheatre DTS is the center channel. The casing is a little less solid, which at high volumes, can cause some frequency problems with the case. I'm exploring some modifications to strenghten it myself.

 

[sumrtym]

I take it back. I found the DigiTheatre DTS units here in the USA.

However, I only paid about $350 back when I got them....

Here's the place.

They also carry the set this thread is about here.

In addition, the new set looks like it's not as top line as the ones I bought (only Dolby Digital, not DTS), but here they are.

Upon examination, that Dolby Digital set is the exact same speakers as the LC. Not worth that IMHO.

This is the set I was talking about earlier. They made some changes to the speakers, but never offered this set in the U.S. It's set for only UK electrical requirements.[

 

[tooltime]

that's a steal...but i can't order them at this link

 

[sumrtym]

Looks like the Platinum set didn't correct that shortcoming.

"About the only sonic weak spot we pin-pointed was that at high volumes, some higher pitched notes made the centre speaker rattle a little. This only happened once in our tests though, so it's not a big worry." - From a review on the DigiTheatre DTS Platinum.

Same problem I've encountered a few times. It's not real often, but hate it when it does. The casing needs strengthened a bit. Still working out how to do that myself. The other speakers are the same ones used in the Crossfires, widely regarded as THE BEST 3-piece bookshelf / sub speaker sets for music made for the price. The sub for the Crossfires was a bit better than the one with the DigiTheatre DTS, even. (The Crossfire is no longer manufactured btw....but again, the DTS set has the same speakers for fronts and rears).

You don't know what clean sound is listening to computer speakers until you've experienced stereo music on the DigiTheatre DTS.

EDIT: Um, I know this isn't exactly following forum policy, but this thread was started about ComputerGeeks anyway. Computergeeks, while out of stock at their site, do have two of these still listed on e-bay as of right now with that $39 buy-it-now price.

 

[Merlyn3D]

Originally posted by: CVSiN
bah 2 words...
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA5.1
best speakers EVA!

KLIPSCH PROMEDIA ULTRA 5.1
even better best speakers EVA!

 

[bigpow]

I've got to crap on this thread...
It's only 62W.... and you said it beats logitech 5.1? Which one?
Can't even beat my 4 years old 4.1 (Z560) - 400W!
It's perfect for your small notebook.

 

[yhelothar]

LOL @ the n00bs claiming logitechs are really 400W
Logitech's 400W is Peak RMS, it's rated differently than the digitheater.
Logitech uses drivers that are rated at 15-20W. It is even written on the back of the driver.
Videologic makes far better speakers than logitech. When will n00bs understand that wattage means nothing to sound quality?
The highest quality tube amps that cost over $10,000 only put out 80-150W... So those $10,000 speakers are crappier than your 400W logitechs? -_-

Logitechs have tinny highs and overexaggerated boomy bass that lacks any definition. If tincans sound good in your book, then go praise your logitechs. :disgust:

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah, the 400w power claim on the logitech is really just a marketing term. Do a search for speakers on eBay, and you'll see PC speaker sets claiming like 1000watts of power!! This doesn't mean anything, and those 1000watt sets are going to sound like crap.

That being said, the Logitech 560 sets are ok, but nothing special. The above poster is correct that they are generally overly bassy, and the highs are not good at all. I bought a Z-680 set but wound up returning them for just that reason (though some people rave about this set, I just didn't like them).

I now have a Klipsch GMX 5.1 setup which I like quite a bit. I have also heard the DigiTheater set and thought it sounded really good (though I honestly don't know if it was the regular, or the DTS set, or if there's a difference even). The accuracy on them was quite good, and the bass had a good punch to it without sounding washed out. For $39, that would be a great set.

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
LOL @ the n00bs claiming logitechs are really 400W
Logitech's 400W is Peak RMS, it's rated differently than the digitheater.
Logitech uses drivers that are rated at 15-20W. It is even written on the back of the driver.
Videologic makes far better speakers than logitech. When will n00bs understand that wattage means nothing to sound quality?
The highest quality tube amps that cost over $10,000 only put out 80-150W... So those $10,000 speakers are crappier than your 400W logitechs? -_-

Logitechs have tinny highs and overexaggerated boomy bass that lacks any definition. If tincans sound good in your book, then go praise your logitechs. :disgust:

I may be a n00b to speakers, but I have owned the Klipsch Promedia 5.1s and the Logitech Z560s and they both sound good in my book. And tell me this, if these speakers are so great, and started out retailing @ $99, why arent they still around? If they are really as good as you "think" they are, they would be the best value in computer speakers, but you cant find them anywhere. Do you know why, because they cant hold a candle to the "better" speaker manufactuers such as Klipsch and Logitech.

And my Logitechs definately dont sound like TIN CANS! I dont know what set you heard, but either it was bad, or your ears are really messed up

 

[Hummercash]

thanks for the links sumrtym. i was expecting to pay around $350 like you said... $600 is waaaaaaay too much tho


.//chris

 

[Hummercash]

oh, found the new ones on amazon.co.uk...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000089RSJ/qid=1090420192/026-9211386-9807620

would a power converter work, you think?


.//chris

 

[sumrtym]

I'm not sure on that one. A power convertor to go from U.S. to European for speakers.....hmmmm. It would have to be able to deliver enough power, for one. I'd probably use a 500 Watt unit for it.

Here ya go:

VT 500 - Step Up Transformers

» 500 Watt Maximum Capacity, heavy-duty continuous use transformer
» Converts 110/120 V to 220/240 V OR converts 220/240 V to 110/120 V (switch is on back of unit)
» On/Off switch with indicator lamp
» 3 outlets on front of unit (outlets accept 3 or 2 prong US plugs and 2 prong Euro/Asian plugs)
» Insulated power cord is hard wired with a grounded European Shucko plug also good for Asian outlets
» Comes with 2 prong US adapter to enable non-grounded use in the USA, Canada and Mexico (grounded 3 prong US adapter also available - Item No. VP 13)
» Easy to carry with attached handle, heavy-duty metal casing, fuse protected

I'd buy that grounded US adapter if I were you as well.

$29.99 + Shipping at this site

You can look around. That's just the top-advertiser on a google search.

Where do you live btw? I personally would love to hear the new ones and compare them to the old, but you're probably not anywhere near me.

EDIT: BTW, there are a LOT of vendors in Europe for these. If you go the Pure Digital site, you can find them and either e-mail or check out their on-line stores to see if any would be a cheaper / better alternative.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: sp80
I may be a n00b to speakers, but I have owned the Klipsch Promedia 5.1s and the Logitech Z560s and they both sound good in my book. And tell me this, if these speakers are so great, and started out retailing @ $99, why arent they still around? If they are really as good as you "think" they are, they would be the best value in computer speakers, but you cant find them anywhere. Do you know why, because they cant hold a candle to the "better" speaker manufactuers such as Klipsch and Logitech.

And my Logitechs definately dont sound like TIN CANS! I dont know what set you heard, but either it was bad, or your ears are really messed up

Well, you just proved that "noob" thing right there. Let me take that in order....

1. VideoLogic went through some management changes and changed name to "Pure Digital". They are WIDELY known for their quality speakers in Europe. They decided to try and break into sales here and opened an office in California. However, they partnered with Turtle Beach (which lets face it....you don't exactly go to the Turtle Beach site for your purchases, you pick them up at resellers), ICUII (which makes chat software.....not where you'd look, although I got mine from them), BuyPCdirect, and Outpost (yes, Fry's on-line....but hardly anyone buys speakers without listening to them first and Fry's stores didn't carry them). Anyhow, given lackluster sales, obviously through their partnership choices, and difficulty to break into the market against well-known names here (despite their widely known reputation in Europe), new management pretty much abandoned the U.S. market. That's why the new sets aren't for sale here (no U.S. power version). It has nothing to do with quality. Their higher lines (read Crossfire, DigiTheatre DTS, etc.) make Klipsch, Logitech, Creative, etc. look like (and even worse, sound like) crap.

2. An old $50 set of Altec Lansings sound great too....until you've heard far better. When I say these are some of the CLEANEST sound out of a pair of speakers, I'm not kidding. Some of the people above are mistaking the LC version ($99 originally) that this thread is about for the DigiTheatre DTS. Trust me....there's a WORLD of difference.

Read these two reviews from the best audiophile site that reviews computer speakers on the web, and try to learn something....noob.

DigiTheatre review (same speakers as the LC this thread is about)

DigiTheatre DTS (my system)

Or, since you are posting at anandtech, learn what this very own site had to say with these two reviews:

The LC set

What anandtech calls "The Ferrari of Sound", the DigiTheatre DTS

And yes....I stand by what I said before. Klipsch are marketed to people who like to put 20 speakers in their car and shake it to pieces, not for people interested in good, clean, and BALANCED sound. Klipsch has always been known for over-exaggerated bass, and shrill highs, and that continues with their promedia line.

 

[sumrtym]

BTW, for those noobs (yes sp80....you) who confuse Watts with loudness.....I excerpted some of the review at 3Dsoundsurge

1 kHz test tone - no subwoofer response at this frequency so this is a test of satellite output alone.

Distance to front (and sub)/rear speakers
DigiTheatre DTS
3 feet
108 dB

9 feet and rear off
100 dB

Rossini William Tell Overture - this is a test of combined subwoofer and satellite response.

Distance to front (and sub)/rear speakers
DigiTheatre DTS
3 feet
105 dB

9 feet and rear off
101 dB

DVD Scene in The Fifth Element - this is mostly a low-frequency test

Distance to front (and sub)/rear speakers
DigiTheatre DTS
3 feet
110 dB

9 feet and rear off
106 dB

For a little more perspective, a typical conversation is 65 dB, a loud orchestra is 80 dB, unsafe levels start at 90 dB, thunder is around 109 dB, a rock concert is 110 dB and the pain threshold is around 130 dB. U.S. Department of Labor regulations set permissible noise exposure to 105 dB at no more than 1 hour per day! Can also be interesting to know that when I watched Star Wars: Episode 1 in a movie theater that featured Dolby Digital?Surround EX and THX the sound level meter rarely went above 100 dB even during the action scenes and never past 105 dB. I didn't check the meter the entire time but since it was the second time I saw the movie I checked at least most scenes with loud sound effects.

Now loudness is of course not as important as the sound quality. There is a tendency for people to associate quality with volume and in fact louder often does sound better. However, to compare systems of differing power, you should do you best to compare at the same or similar volumes. Testing in this manner showed that the DigiTheatre DTS satellites high-end and midrange are both excellent, almost on par with the Sirocco Crossfire. It?s noticeable clearer and more accurate than the DigiTheatre and the ADA880 and significantly ahead of the DTT2500. That midrange and high-end is almost on par with the Sirocco Crossfire shouldn?t be surprising since it uses the same satellites but it was nice to find out that the lower quality amplifier hasn?t had more than a slight effect on the quality. To be more exact than slight I would say the quality would get a rating of about 8-9 if the Crossfire sats got a 10 when you play music. Using the same scale the DTT2500 wouldn't get more than 2 or 3.

 

[betterkarma4519]

Just picked up a pair of the VideoLogic's from Compugeek's Ebay store....$62 because I'm all the way in CT. I'm actually pretty excited. I've owned a pair of logitech z-560's since circa 2001. They broke once, but logitech was kind enough to send me a brand new set (albeit after 4 months). Nevertheless, the NEW set I was sent broke recently and now logitech requires the original receipt of purchase. ..god knows that thing is long gone. Whatev....immense thanks to whoever started this thread, I'll post again when I can finally try the babys out.

 

[monkuboy]

Being a current owner of the Videologic Sirocco Crossfire system that I paid a hefy amount for used on E-Bay, I have to chime in. The Crossfires are incredibly good. I haven't heard the system that this thread is discussing but I do know that Videologic makes a quality product. Build-wise, my amp comes in a separate, sturdy metal case and delivers far more power than I need. The speakers are made by Audax, well known in the audio world for high-end stuff. Sound-wise, I get clean, detailed and balanced sound and it is plenty loud at the 9:00-10:00 position. I am a fan of accurate, balanced music. I have to say that too many systems are judged by how loud they can play and how much of your walls fall off when you turn up the bass. That has nothing to do with accurate reproduction of music. Wattage has nothing to do with it either. The test of a speaker is how accurately it reproduces the signal and in comparing my Videologics to other brands like Klipsch, Creative, Logitech, etc., Videologic wins hands down. It's a shame that the American distribution didn't work out because they make an excellent product.

 

[sp80]

Well, they were out of stock on the site, but they had 1 set for $39 Buy-it-Now on egay, so needless to say, I picked them up . I know I dont know much about speakers, and I have never heard these speakers, but both my Klipsch 5.1s and my Logitech Z-560s sound great. We'll see how these measure up, and if they are as good as you say they are, then I might just end up selling my Logitechs.

 

[sp80]

Oh yea, I read those reviews....

The LCs that I bought seem to be pretty good speakers from what Ive read in this thread and on the review sites. But they say they fall short when it comes to gaming and bass. sumrtym, What are your thoughts on how these speakers perform with games such as UT2K4 and CoD?