Great 5.1 Speaker System - OOS

[sumrtym]

Bass will be weaker by far than a Klipsch set. Mine on the DTS certainly isn't what you would call "movie" wall shaking bass. It's more balanced than that, although you can crank the bass up a bit independent the other channels. However, I'm pleased with them for both movies and music. Gaming on the DTS....well, I don't have a Nforce chipset, and the DTS only have digital inputs, unlike the LCs, so I don't get surround in games. However, for just 3 channel gaming, mine sound great.

I personally haven't heard the LCs, so can only speak about the DTS with first-hand knowledge.

 

[imported_sjaxkingpin]

I've heard these too.

If you think they "blow away" logi 560's or 680's, I'd have to ask what the hell kinda sound card are you running.

They are decent enough speakers, but they are they are not even really in the same league as the logi's. I mean this in both objective measure, and subjectively I think 680's sound much better

All of this aside, for 50usd shipped. how can one go wrong?

 

[sp80]

Well....

Im expecting it to be about a week until I get my set of Vidoelogic Speakers, and I am going to hook them up to my Hercules Game Theater XP 5.1 and see how they perform against my Logitech Z-560s which I am currently very pleased with. Thanks again for all your guys input on these speakers. I got mine for $39 plus $23 shipping for a total of $62 shipped, and I paid $87 shipped for my Z-560s.... so they are pretty close in price. One thing that I know is going to dissappoint is that the volume knob is on the subwoofer. Why didnt they make a seperate box to control volume and such like Logitech and Klipsch? Oh well, I cant wait to see how the LCs perform and for $62 shipped for a good 5.1 system, how can you go wrong? You cant !

 

[Imyourzero]

I'm confused here. Are there some people actually trying to say that this $40 set of Videologics will sound better than the $250-$350 sets from Klipsch and Logitech? Please say no...

I know what it means to have accurate, balanced sound vs. distorted/muddy/colored sound, but there is no way that 2 sets in such wildly different price brackets could compare on any level. I read the reviews on the higher end Videologic sets and I'm sure the $300-$400 sets from Videologic are as good or better (as far as real sound quality) as the sets from Klipsch and Logitech, but I don't think some people here are comparing those.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: sjaxkingpin
I've heard these too.

If you think they "blow away" logi 560's or 680's, I'd have to ask what the hell kinda sound card are you running.

I don't know about these, but the DigiTheatre DTS (or Crossfire for that matter) do. That's the only ones I can speak about. As noted, there's a large difference between the LC and DTS / Crossfire sets.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero
I'm confused here. Are there some people actually trying to say that this $40 set of Videologics will sound better than the $250-$350 sets from Klipsch and Logitech? Please say no...

I know what it means to have accurate, balanced sound vs. distorted/muddy/colored sound, but there is no way that 2 sets in such wildly different price brackets could compare on any level. I read the reviews on the higher end Videologic sets and I'm sure the $300-$400 sets from Videologic are as good or better (as far as real sound quality) as the sets from Klipsch and Logitech, but I don't think some people here are comparing those.

Yea, that's the problem. Some people are talking the LC, and others of us are talking the DigiTheatre DTS or Crossfires.

I think the LC are great at this price, but haven't heard them and couldn't say any comparison on them to the Klipsch or Logitech, other than I know that they're going to be well balanced sound-wise, but probably not at real high volumes given their enclosures.

But the DigiTheatre DTS or Crossfires could kick the heck out of Logitech or Klipsch musically any day of the week. Their bass mgiht not be what you would want for movies though as it's not super heavy, but I enjoy mine....enough that I bought a pair for my parents as well to hook to their DVD player for a mini-HT setup. The bass doesn't rattle your chest, but is clear and clean and definately there.

 

[yhelothar]

The LCs costs $180 in general. They only cost $35 as a closeout sale, because these speakers have been discontinued for 3+ years.
These speakers are still EASILY worth over $100.

sp80.. bass isn't everything. In fact, you'll be surprised on exactly how much bass is really in your boomy pop songs and techno songs when you hear them on some nice $10k+ audiophile equipment that has nearly perfectly flat sound. I know I was surprised when I heard a few songs on my neighbor's $15k speakers. Real speakers have tight punchy bass, not big boomy bass you get with logitechs.

Sure you might be accustomed to listening to big boomy bass. But once you listen to some nice speakers with tight punchy bass, you'll start to understand what good sound is. I'm speaking from personal experience here.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
The LCs costs $180 in general. They only cost $35 as a closeout sale, because these speakers have been discontinued for 3+ years.
These speakers are still EASILY worth over $100.

Yes, they were $150 originally at retail. The addition of the Dolby Digital decoder made them $250 retail for that set. And my DigiTheatre DTS set was $600 retail.

Common prices became $99 for the LC, $199 for the LC with decoder, and $350-$400 for the DTS set.

BTW, I sent a question to buypcdirect a couple days ago...still no response. The last major supplier of those sets is not making a good impression in my book so far.

Also, on the bass issue, to give you an idea....on my set, I LOVE listening to the clean remake of "Sing, Sing, Sing" off the Swing Kids soundtrack.

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0


sp80.. bass isn't everything. In fact, you'll be surprised on exactly how much bass is really in your boomy pop songs and techno songs when you hear them on some nice $10k+ audiophile equipment that has nearly perfectly flat sound. I know I was surprised when I heard a few songs on my neighbor's $15k speakers. Real speakers have tight punchy bass, not big boomy bass you get with logitechs.

Yea, I cant wait to hear how they sound. For $62, even if I like my Logitechs better, which Im pretty sure I will (I like the powerful "boomy" bass), Im sure I can still find a use for these somewhere around the house.

Also, no Pop or Techno is being listened to here , Im 100% rock Classic rock, and Progressive Metal is what Im jamming to

 

[monkuboy]

I agree, bass isn't everything. I've read far too many posts here and all over the web in which people judge speakers by how much bass they can put out. Or how loud they can play. Or they quote the stats from the speaker company, like 400 watts, or response from 30-20,000 Hz. Any marketing person can find a method of measurement that will justify these outrageous claims. The proof is in the listening, and in judging whether or not what you are hearing from the speakers is what is on the original recording.

A few weeks ago I had the misfortune of being at a stoplight next to a van that had the loudest bass I have ever heard. It was so loud my car shook so much that I literally had trouble thinking and even seeing clearly. I bet this jerk (and I say "jerk" because of how obnoxious this was) thought he had the best speakers in the world in his van and nothing could convince him otherwise. That's just like the other posts I've read in which people think their speakers are wonderful because of a high "bothering the neighbors" factor.

It's speaker accuracy that counts but I know the other posts are going to continue. I read the same thing on the headphone forums, people judging them by how loud they can play.

 

[tooltime]

maybe it's time i upgrade my cheesy speakers to something that has some SOUND

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: tooltime
maybe it's time i upgrade my cheesy speakers to something that has some SOUND

I would say so

You gotta have a nice set of speakers with your PC

 

[sumrtym]

I'm using a TBSC right now, but I really wish someone would get off their *** and use the DICE engine in a standalone card that was nice and clean with AC3 passthrough (for already encoded movies) so I could get some surround-sound loving for games.

Other than that, I'm a VERY happy camper.

EDIT: Let me rephrase that a bit....someone BESIDES creative! I hate their tons of crap they install, their quality used to be crap on soundcards (background hiss) for which I still haven't forgiven them, and I'm following an issue where people are having trouble with hyperthreading on their machines which is starting to look like an Audigy issue is causing it (more than one person).

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: sumrtym
I'm using a TBSC right now, but I really wish someone would get off their *** and use the DICE engine in a standalone card that was nice and clean with AC3 passthrough (for already encoded movies) so I could get some surround-sound loving for games.

Other than that, I'm a VERY happy camper.

EDIT: Let me rephrase that a bit....someone BESIDES creative! I hate their tons of crap they install, their quality used to be crap on soundcards (background hiss) for which I still haven't forgiven them, and I'm following an issue where people are having trouble with hyperthreading on their machines which is starting to look like an Audigy issue is causing it (more than one person).

Yea, Ive had an Audigy 2, and it wasnt anything special. Im happy with my Hercules Game Theater XP 5.1 , I love the handy breakout box

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: sumrtym
I'm using a TBSC right now, but I really wish someone would get off their *** and use the DICE engine in a standalone card that was nice and clean with AC3 passthrough (for already encoded movies) so I could get some surround-sound loving for games.

Other than that, I'm a VERY happy camper.

EDIT: Let me rephrase that a bit....someone BESIDES creative! I hate their tons of crap they install, their quality used to be crap on soundcards (background hiss) for which I still haven't forgiven them, and I'm following an issue where people are having trouble with hyperthreading on their machines which is starting to look like an Audigy issue is causing it (more than one person).

You know, if Creative didn't dominate the sound card market as much as they do, I would have abandoned them years ago. Remember when the Sound Blaster Live cards, or maybe it was the original Audigy, had problems with the VIA/Socket A chipsets? Well, I had the problem with the random lockups that took absolutely forever and about 15 different possible fixes to track down...people with other sound cards weren't having problems (but to be fair, neither were the people with non-VIA chipsets...) and I almost ditched my Sound Blaster but I wanted the highest compatibility so I stayed with them and have had no issues with my Audigy 2/Pent. 4 combo.

 

[sumrtym]

Originally posted by: sp80
Yea, Ive had an Audigy 2, and it wasnt anything special. Im happy with my Hercules Game Theater XP 5.1 , I love the handy breakout box

Because Antec had problems with their front USB and Firewire ports, I ended up buying a FrontX solution for front USB and Firewire (fits in 5-1/4" bay). Because of that, I also added a microphone / headphone jack that runs through the inside of my computer and then out an empty PCI slot that FrontX provided a half-height backplate for to bring cables out and plug into my TBSC mic and hadphone jacks. With one simple switch of the TBSC software (just a preset selection), I can switch to front headphone / mic, or go back to my speaker setup.

I'm actually kind of grateful to Antec for screwing up their case on that front, as I never would have got the FrontX solution otherwise. That front headphone and mic jack comes in handy.

 

[Imyourzero]

If you guys were going to toss a Sound Blaster card and move to another one, do you think the Philips Acoustic Edge or the Hercules Game Theater XP is a better card? Never mind the breakout box of the Herc...which is a better sound card as far as gaming and sound fidelity? Perhaps this is a question for the forums but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[sp80]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero
If you guys were going to toss a Sound Blaster card and move to another one, do you think the Philips Acoustic Edge or the Hercules Game Theater XP is a better card? Never mind the breakout box of the Herc...which is a better sound card as far as gaming and sound fidelity? Perhaps this is a question for the forums but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

YGPM, The Game Theater XP sounds a lot better than my old Sound Blaster Live! Value

 

[zerodeefex]

for audio, go with chaintech AV710.

you can install diff drivers to get bit perfect output if that's your style

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: zerodeefex
for audio, go with chaintech AV710.

you can install diff drivers to get bit perfect output if that's your style

Well I did a search and both the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and the AV-710 seem to come very highly recommended. Some people said that the Santa Cruz is the best card for listening to music. I haven't heard too much about the Chaintech but I can get either one pretty cheap. Which is really the better sounding card? And how does the Chaintech fare with games?

 

[sumrtym]

I'm using the TBSC and really like it for music. As far as games, great for me, but I can't speak about surround sound (ie EAX) as I'm using digital out. If gaming is a high priority with 4.1 or 5.1 sound, you about have to stick with Creative. They are the....well, I won't say "best". Let's just say they own the market on EAX.

 

[IgorFL]

A heads-up on these speakers!! Aside from appearing on ebay occasionally, they were temporarily in-stock just a few minutes ago on the compgeeks website (it's 11:30 EST on Friday, July 23). I was lucky enough to grab the last one. Who knows? They may pop up again.

Thanks so much, OP. This is a well-appreciated buy, as I am a classical pianist and the Klipsch and Logitech offerings are an affront to musical balance and sensitivity.

 

[Tsunami982]

i used to get sucked into these speaker arguments... hell... i recognize some of the people in here i used to argue with. ive heard the LC's and DTS. LC's definitely arent on the level of high end logitech or promedia klipschs (and i think logitechs are crap). the DTS's are definitely as good if not better than any logitech or promedias, at that point it really does depend on listening tastes. but for the price the LC's are definitely the best bang for your buck.

 

[sp80]

I had to back out of buying these speakers, so Im sure a set of these will be listed on ebay here in the next few day. For someone that doesnt have good speakers, you should pick these up, you wont be disappointed.

 

[compfreak999]

im happy with my megaworks+audigy 2 combo