I really need help with desktop speakers

[antsct]

Hello everyone.

I need to upgrade my current 2.1 speakers because they are starting to die out.
Anyway, I live in Australia and have been looking at different price ranges at the moment. I need them for my laptop which has onboard Connext AMC Audio (which is on the Intel Centrino 915 Express chipset). The speakers will be set up in my bedroom which is approximetly 3 x 4m square. My desk isn't very big (fit's my 2.1 pretty well) and I won't be able to mount any speakers on the walls (so all speakers except maybey the sub will be on the desk). I will need the speakers for about 90 - 95% music and about 5% for gaming (first person shooters and car racing) and dvds. BASS IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY because the music I like has a lot of bass (mostly hardstly/nrg/techno).

Now lets cut to the chase, I have been looking at different price ranges. Now I need to know a few things:

- What is better, the Logitech X-530 or Creative Inspire 5200? They are both the same price (AU $99). Also, today I saw a set of 5.1 speakers made by Digitor. They are 105 watt RMS (30w subwoofer and 15x5w speakers) but they are AU $20 cheaper than the x530s and Inspire. I think they were on sale. What's the best choice?

- I'm also looking at the z-2300 (AU $180), they seem very good. Also the Creative MegaWorks THX 2.1 250D look very good but I can't find them here in Australia. What is better?

- Lastly, a shop has the Creative MegaWorks THX 5.1 550D on sale for AU $250. They look very good as well but as I said, I manily am looking for speakers for music, these look like they are for a home cinema. Are they that much better than the z-2300?

I don't need earth shattering volume as my bedroom isn't very big but I do want some good speakers. Bass is very impotant as the music I like has heaps of bass. Would one of the cheaper 5.1 system be good enough?

Thankyou for your time.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

For a music oriented system, 2.0 or 2.1 would be a good idea.

Logitech sets are known for loud subs with boomy bass if that's what you're looking for.

A lot of 5.1 sets out there have a 2.1 equivalent that would be cheaper and make more sense for music usage.

I don't have a sense of australian pricing... do you know how much a set of real speakers over there would cost vs computer speakers?

 

[antsct]

Thanks for the welcome YOyoYOhowsDAjello

These days, high end speaker systems are about AU $450+. As I mentioned, a shop here have the Creative MegaWorks THX 550 5.1 speakers for $250 and they retail for about $400 but I don't think they will be neccessary for me because my room isn't very big and I don't want to annoy my neighbours. Any other help/comments would be great.

Thanks.

EDIT: Just checked the shops website and the Megaworks 5.1 are now sold. There was only 1 of them for $250 which was an ex-demo model. They have now got them for $455 which is way over my limit.

 

[alcoholbob]

Since you don't game much, and say 95% is music, I would think your primary priority is to find a 2.0/2.1 system.

You haven't really specified your price range. For example, I would consider the ultimate PC music system for your tastes to be the Klipsch iFi...it's a $520 AUD 2.1 system with very nice looking satellites and a beefy sub. If not, for $130- AUD the Klipsch 2.0s are available. I'm not very sure what the retail pricing would be for the Klipsch 2.1s (I don't really think they are better than the 2.0s if you ask for my honest opinion) although the bass they offer should be more sizeable.

You could also consider the Altec Lansing MX5021, although that is $260 AUD. It's about the equivalent of Klipsch 2.0s with a sub (although the satellites aren't quite as good as the 2.0s).

These are just my opinions. You can still go for a budget 5.1 system if you prefer, but realize you will only be able to utilize 2 channels and the sub unless you are gaming anyway. In nearfield listening, you probably ought to stick to 2.0/2.1 even for DVDs. I don't think those 5.1 sets are going to have the necessary amplification for you to hear dialogue on DVDs correctly. The 2.0s/2.1s have beefier amps generally per channel so it'll probably be the best for music/DVDs.

 

[antsct]

Yeah I think I agree Astrallite. Thanks for your help. However at $260 AUD, I could get the logitech z-5300e's witch are 280w 5.1 speakers. I know that I will only be using 2 speakers though. However is there a way to make it use all 5 speakers in stero mode? I have heard the Ozaki Nuke 280 5.1 speakers (very crap) play music and all 5 speakers were playing the music. Also is there a big difference for music (mostly with bass) between the z-2300 and the z-5300? If i'm not mistaken, the 2300s seem to have a better subwoofer.

Thanks again.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: antsct
Yeah I think I agree Astrallite. Thanks for your help. However at $260 AUD, I could get the logitech z-5300e's witch are 280w 5.1 speakers. I know that I will only be using 2 speakers though. However is there a way to make it use all 5 speakers in stero mode? I have heard the Ozaki Nuke 280 5.1 speakers (very crap) play music and all 5 speakers were playing the music. Also is there a big difference for music (mostly with bass) between the z-2300 and the z-5300? If i'm not mistaken, the 2300s seem to have a better subwoofer.

Thanks again.

Yeah, I think the 2300 sub is a level above the 5300 sub (mainly volume probably).

If you want to get a 5.1 set, you can put all the speakers around you and play music in surround. The output from doing this will be dependent on options your soundcard, speakers, and sound playing program have.
In general stereo is going to get you the most accurate and intended sound from a music source unless it's something like DVD-A that's meant to be played in 5.1

 

[Deathcharge]

check out this site for prices its quite good and you can search by state http://www.ausprices.com.au/

 

[antsct]

Yeah Deathcharge I always check that one. There is also Static Ice which I think is a bit better.

Also YOyoYOhowsDAjello, as you say stereo (2.1) would be better for music, I checked out some things with the 2300s and 5300s and I noticed that, with the 5300s, I would be getting stero music, 2 speakers, so I would be using the front 2 satellites? If that is the case with the 5300s I would be using two 35 watt speakers and a 100 watt subwoofer where as with the 2300s I would be using two 40 watt speakers and a 120 watt subwoofer so the 2300s would be better?

Oh and by the way just quickly, so I can clear this up, what's better, the Logitech X-530 or Creative Inspire 5200 (Remember Bass ). Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: antsct
Yeah Deathcharge I always check that one. There is also Static Ice which I think is a bit better.

Also YOyoYOhowsDAjello, as you say stereo (2.1) would be better for music, I checked out some things with the 2300s and 5300s and I noticed that, with the 5300s, I would be getting stero music, 2 speakers, so I would be using the front 2 satellites? If that is the case with the 5300s I would be using two 35 watt speakers and a 100 watt subwoofer where as with the 2300s I would be using two 40 watt speakers and a 120 watt subwoofer so the 2300s would be better?

Oh and by the way just quickly, so I can clear this up, what's better, the Logitech X-530 or Creative Inspire 5200 (Remember Bass ). Thanks

I wouldn't really go off wattage necessarily for an indication of quality, but I do think the z-2300s would be better. I think the z-2300s are built more like the upper end 5.1 logitech sets than the 5300s are.

For bass, logitech sets tend to have lots, so I'd guess the x-530s would have more (not really familiar with creative's inspire series besides some very quick sessions)

 

[antsct]

Thanks again. Im highly considering the 2300s. In regards to the x-530s and 5200s, what would have the better overall quality? Also, is there a way to find the watts power of my current 2.1 system? It's not listed on the manufacturer's website and I tried google. I only have seen that it says 570 watt but I'm definetly sure this is not 570 watts. It must be PMPO 570.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: antsct
Thanks again. Im highly considering the 2300s. In regards to the x-530s and 5200s, what would have the better overall quality? Also, is there a way to find the watts power of my current 2.1 system? It's not listed on the manufacturer's website and I tried google. I only have seen that it says 570 watt but I'm definetly sure this is not 570 watts. It must be PMPO 570.

My receiver might be capable of putting out about that much power

What speakers do you have now?
Wattage does not mean volume directly either. Efficiency of the speakers if a big part of it too.

 

[forumposter32]

Altec Lansing

 

[antsct]

The speakers I have now are Juster-3D570S. They were good but now are starting to crap out. I'm still considering the z-2300s but checking the lower range of speakers te x-530 seems to be better than the 5200s but I'm still not sure. They are noth the same price.

 

[xanis]

I have a Logitech Z2200 2.1 system and I couldn't be happier with it. Trust me, 200W is good power for a computer speaker system. The bass is a little large, but you could just put it under your desk, and the bass is well worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...0000C20T5/103-1579301-8134261?v=glance

 

[antsct]

Yeah I think I'll be going with the z-2300s now. Just one question, if I have to end up getting either the x-530 or inspire 5200s, what would be better?

Thankyou.

 

[Markbnj]

I bought a set of the 530's. Newegg has them for some ridiculously low price... $46 I think.

I figure at $46 it is pretty amazing that sound comes out of them. The box they come in is big, and heavy. I think it cost $20 just to ship it.

It's well beyond amazing that they sound as good as they do. 5.1 speakers for under fifty bucks. The bass is deep, almost booming as someone said elsewhere on this forum. I have it turned all the way down and it still feels like the kid next door has his ricer parked in my driveway, with fiddy cent on. Rich highs and a full midrange. I mean, they don't sound like _really_ good speakers, but for the price they are _really_ good speakers.

The only negatives are the short cables for the front two speakers, and the relatively short, fat connector cable that you have to plug into the sub from the right front (where the power and volume controls are).

 

[antsct]

So people here reccomend the 530s over the 5200s then for sure?

 

[antsct]

Originally posted by: antsct
So people here reccomend the 530s over the 5200s then for sure?

Geeze these forums move fast.

 

[antsct]

I really sorry for tripple posting but I really do need to know if the x-530s are better than the 5200s. Thankyou!

 

[alcoholbob]

If you mean the 5300s...then no, the x-530s won't really compare. They have dual 2"s (for what reason I cannot fathom) that are incredibly small with no dampening...so no, they aren't worth the one 3" in the 5300s

 

[antsct]

No I'm not talking about the z-5300e I'm talking about the Creative Inspire 5200s.

http://www.creative.com/products/produc...?category=4&subcategory=464&product=55

What's better X-530s or 5200s

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: antsct
No I'm not talking about the z-5300e I'm talking about the Creative Inspire 5200s.

http://www.creative.com/products/produc...?category=4&subcategory=464&product=55

What's better X-530s or 5200s

I didn't really listen to them, but the build quality of some creative sets I've seen have been pretty shoddy. I'm not sure what the model number was, but they were a 5.1 set from the inspire series.

Bump for you for someone who has heard them and wants to comment.

Try to find some reviews while you're waiting, antsct.

If you have the budget for it, get something better than either set.

 

[antsct]

Thanks again mate. I will more than likely be getting th z-2300s. Just one last question, 2.1 setups are usually beter for music than 5.1?

 

[Markbnj]

You're not gonna hate yourself for getting 5.1s when you listen to music .

 

[antsct]

See the problem is, I have a sort of 'small' bedroom. Approx. 4x3m. Would the z-2300s really be much better than the x-530s? I mean I don't need earth blowing volume because I know when I turn it up loud, my parents will tell me to turn it down and I'll proably end up hasseling my neighbours. I just want a good set of speakers then will deliver really good quality but I also mostly need really good bass. The x-530s are AU$80 cheaper than the z-2300s. One thing I still don't understand though is:

Logitech X-530:
5.1
Satelites: Total 45 watts RMS (2 x 7.4 watts front, 15.5 watts center, 2 x 7.4 watts rear)
Subwoofer: 25 watts RMS
Total RMS power: 70 watts
Price: AU $99

Digitor's 5.1 (No name brand?)
5.1
Satelites: Total 75 watts RMS (5 x 15 watts)
Subwoofer: 30 watts RMS
Total RMS Power: 110 watts
Price: AU $79

Now to me, the Digitors seem a lot better yet why would they be $20 cheaper? Because they're not a big company? The shop the sells the Digitors don't have the x-530s so I'm not sure how much they would sell them for in comparisson to the Digitor's 5.1s. Are there other factors involved? Like does Logitech have higher quality technology in theirs?