New Speaks 30~70 Please, I need help...hmm...

[Kinslayer777]

I'll admit I've been using stock $5 dollar speaker set included with my old computer for six months now, and I've finally decided enough is enough of being a lazy bum and not getting new ones. My $50 dollar ram rebate came in, and I'm looking to buy a set of thirty to seventy dollar speakers (Not including s/h and budget is possible to change, if someone says why)


So far, I've merely looked at newegg reviews and prices and these seem to have come up as reasonable ones.
By the way, this isn't for a laptop or anything.

I'm not sure what else to find out about speakers and such. Oh...And I believe my motherboard has

ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port

But, honestly I have no idea what that means. If you see the pattern, I'm a hopeless in the realm of audio, and this is my first time looking into it.

So, anyhow, this is what I've seen on newegg

(No Order, Since, I Would have No Idea What Order to Use)

"Logitech Z-4i 40 Watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121131

"Creative Inspire 5800 72 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836116151

"Cyber Acoustics CA3550RB 68 watts 2.1 Black Speaker - Retail"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836150044

"JBL DUETWHT 12 Watts 2.0 Speaker - Retail"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836101013#spec

"Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System - OEM"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121123

"Logitech X-530 70 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail"
--http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121118


Finally a teensy bit of background. This'll be used in a fairly small room. Perhaps 14*12 & 14* 8 [T shaped]


Thankyou very much for reading this far!!

-Kin

 

[schneiderguy]

You might be able to find the logitech z-2300's for that much

 

[alcoholbob]

The Creative Gigaworks T20s are pretty decent tweeter+midrange combo, and even has the tweeter aimed up high at the listening position. If you are willing to get them on ebay, you can easily find them or say, Altec Lansing MX5020s/Klipsch 2.0s within your price range too.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

Originally posted by: Astrallite
The Creative Gigaworks T20s are pretty decent tweeter+midrange combo, and even has the tweeter aimed up high at the listening position. If you are willing to get them on ebay, you can easily find them or say, Altec Lansing MX5020s/Klipsch 2.0s within your price range too.

I'd go with that, but the real question is - are you going to be gaming or listening to music, or both?

 

[Kinslayer777]

Both, but I'm definetly not an extreme gamer, and mostly will be listening to music. One of the biggest questions is that I'm not sure how to know what's better and what's worse. Is there anything people generally recommend or some way I could find out what? Or perhaps it's simply not so simple.

 

[Zepper]

I like the altec lansing VS-4121 and they are often on sale at the big box stores for in the $50 range AR.

.bh.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

Originally posted by: Kinslayer777
Both, but I'm definetly not an extreme gamer, and mostly will be listening to music. One of the biggest questions is that I'm not sure how to know what's better and what's worse. Is there anything people generally recommend or some way I could find out what? Or perhaps it's simply not so simple.

If you're mostly listening to music, it'd be better to go with a nice 2.0 set versus a 2.1 set that has horrible satellites. Unless of course, you listen only to bass heavy music. The point is, at that price range, you're basically choosing between having decent midrange or having decent bass. It's very difficult to get both.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I like the altec lansing VS-4121 and they are often on sale at the big box stores for in the $50 range AR.

.bh.

Yeah, they aren't bad at all :thumbsup:

Oh, & don't get the Creative Gigaworks T20.

I'm no speaker guru, but from listening to them i find they are a joke for music, as you only get a horrible simulated bass.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Sorry it's been so long since a post-


I'm sort of trying to find out not only a well recommended pair, but also where, perhaps, to find more information. I suppose I can ask here, but I've not got a clue who's most experiences or can offer the most relevant information for a newbie. How can I decide between gracious suggestions?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kinslayer777
Sorry it's been so long since a post-


I'm sort of trying to find out not only a well recommended pair, but also where, perhaps, to find more information. I suppose I can ask here, but I've not got a clue who's most experiences or can offer the most relevant information for a newbie. How can I decide between gracious suggestions?

Yeah, these threads (and pretty much everything else) seems to just be a "this is what I bought, they're nice" sort of thing. I'm not trying to say that advice isn't helpful, but it's very hard to decide something like this from just reading user opinions.

I don't know if there are any good sources for information on sets like these.

I think the first thing you need to decide is if you want to do 2.0/2.1 or 5.1

From there it should be easier to narrow down the possibilities.

 

[alcoholbob]

^

Definitely true. Best thing is to go out to the store and see what you like the best, since opinions differ, and people's beliefs can be biased based on what they compared the speakers to. Best to find out if it's really what you want.

 

[Kinslayer777]

That seems to make sense, and is what I should have expected. Nevertheless thank you for the helpful posts- those suggesting things because they like them and your two posts too. I'll try a store- erm, any suggestions ?
I'm pretty sure because of the cramped configuration of this room I'll not be doing surround (just a pair...If that'd be the right term + perhaps, hopefully, a base)

 

[Zepper]

I've seen the Altec Lansing Vs-4121 in Best Buy. They usually have a bunch of computer speakers set up where you can hear them. Not a very computer room sort of environment though.

.bh

 

[Tifosi248F1]

I'm with the guys who advise seeing if you can look at some in a store. I would also advise you look around the room and see just what kind of room you have. While 5.1s are nice for games that support it (it's pretty cool to hear footsteps behind you or voices) they take up a lot more room than you might think. You have to make sure you have a place to put the rears where the cables can reach and won't be in the way. I have the Logitech X-530s, and they are nice for my use. I can get good tones for music with some tweaking of the winamp EQ, they work really well with movies and games too. The bass is really punchy even when it's turned down, which isn't a bother to me because I like a good strong bass with my music. Not a very helpful review, but I'm not a hardcore audiophile so I don't know how to really give a great opinion. Your biggest concern first should be finding out what style you can use in the room, and then go from there. Unless you plan to change rooms or something, there isn't much use for looking into 5.1s if there's no room...unless of course you plan to do a bit of future-proofing, but I think a good quality set of 2.0s or 2.1s would be better in that case than an average 5.1 set. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Thanks everyone, I guess i'll be looking for 2.0's or 2.1's in some local store. I'll try and see if they have the suggestions

 

[cheesehead]

Grado SR60's are the best thing in the category. Technically, they're headphones, but they're excellent.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Grado SR60's are the best thing in the category. Technically, they're headphones, but they're excellent.

Technically? I don't see anything technical there....THEY ARE headphones

 

[PorscheMaD911]

Buy some headphones. For computer audio there's no better bang for your buck. For some cheap, pretty good ones, pick up a Sennheiser HD-497 (they're $40 US on eBay). In my opinion they're a little more versatile than the SR60s, especially for stuff that needs a soundstage (like gaming). I used them for 6 months or so with my PC and they were excellent for the (inflated) Australian price.