Poll: What are the best speakers to get (unlimited funds), best speakers for $500 or less? (editted)

[brewerbob]

1.) What are the best speakers money can buy?

2.) What are teh best speakers near $500?


I'm willing to spend the money but they truely have to be worth it? (and yes, I would listen to them before shelling out that kind of cash).

This is to go with a 1.2GHz AMD, FIC AD-11, 256Mb 266FSB Mem, VisionTek 64Mb nVida video and Soundblaster XGamer 5.1.

Can home audio equipement be used for computer apps? I would think an ok home theather would blow away all but the very best computer stuff. It's built for nothing but audio (the theather stuff).

 

[esung]

before someone can answer the question, here's the question to you:

What's the speaker for? Audio only? or it's connected to the computer?

Do you have the equipment to go with your unlimited budget speaker?

 

[enginjon]

like esung asked, is this for home entertainment system, or just computer speakers. Are you looking for a system (reciever, CD/DVD, Speakers) or a good speaker setup for computer audio and music. If you are looking for computer audio, I'd suggest the Klipsch 4.2 deal for 299, which can be seen in this thread Really good setup for the price

 

[skace]

Sirocco Crossfires are sexy!

 

[LordEdmond]

question 1
what is the rest of your equipment for your unlimited speakers
how big is the room
do you have good solid brick walls

mine go for £2.5k and are only average
needs 1.5kw to drive them the pictures on the wall move at full volume

 

[thorin]

"1.) What are the best speakers money can buy?
2.) What are teh best speakers near $500?"

1) Undoubtedly something you will never be able to afford. I'm sure I can dig something up that sounds amazing but is simply out of 99.9999999% of peoples (individuals) price range.

2) Klispch Promedia v2.400s

Thorin

 

[skace]

My current Sirocco Crossfires own my old Klipsch Promedias... both are under 500 (I think I paid under 500..)

 

[glen]

1. mine
2. PSB Alphas or NHT's

 

[brewerbob]

Glen,
And what would those be?

 

[Howard]

His are Cambridge Soundworks.

 

[billandopus]

I would love to see someone set up a Wilson WAMM system for their comp!

 

[glen]

Legacy Focus speakers and a custom built sub woofer syatem consisting of 4 15" Adire Audio Tempest drivers in an infinite baffle, a 1,000 watt Hafler amp and a 5 band Symmetrix Parametric EQ set up so Bass response is flat from 13hz to 80 hz.
The Wispers are twice as expensive as the Focus, but there bass response sucks.It does use 4 15"'s, but they are dipole. No, real bass below 50hz due to the rear wave cancelling the front wave. With a sub, the Wispers would probably sound better.

 

[Pariah]

As far as money is no obstacle speakers, I would be very surprised if anyone could beat this setup:

Kharma Grand Enigma System

For the best possible audio, home theater equipment is definitely the route to take. If you want a 2 speaker setup, $500 will get you something pretty decent. But anything more than 2 speakers, and $500 will require you to cut some corners.

 

[Noriaki]

1) Get a real budget and go build a home theatre set, unlimited is not a real budget. You can spends tens of thousands of dollars on home theatre audio equipment and not have the best. Any halfway decent set will destroy any computer speakers.

2) For $500 you can get the Video Logic Sirrocco Crossfires from Turtle Beach (TB and VL have some kind of cross product agreement, VL sells TB's soundcards outside north america, and TB sells VL's speakers inside NA).

Anyone that thinks the ProMedias are the best computer speakers you can buy haven't hear the Crossfires, they are nearly 2x the price and with good reason. There is not a comparison. The crossfires DESTROY the promedias. The ProMedias aren't bad, and the new 4.1s look like they will most likely be the best for under $300, but they won't stand up to the Crossfires.

The crossfires aren't cheap for computer speakers, but they are worth every penny.

Although if I had $500US to spend, I'd probably looking at the beginnings of a Home Theatre set up. Get a nice Decoder and a pair of good loud speakers for the 2 fronts. Then later on you can add rears, a center and a nice sub.

If space is an issue (college student or whatever, living in one room) fall back on the Crossfires for $500. Or maybe the DigiTheatre though they annoy me becuase they have no 4 channel input for games You could always get the Crossfires and a Midiland ADS2000 decoder It can operate in 4 speaker mode as long as you have a separate sub input (which the Crossfires do).

 

[Conroy9]

yes - home theater equipment can be used for computer audio apps
the biggest thing to look for in your receiver is 5.1 analog inputs - without that, you won't be able to get real surround sound out of your computer into the receiver, as far as i know

 

[billandopus]

<< As far as money is no obstacle speakers, I would be very surprised if anyone could beat this setup: >>



For a million bucks I don't think that there are any other systems that ask for that much. That's a lot of dough.

However, sound quality is another matter. You would seriously have to have one freakin' large room to properly flesh out that system. I'd rather take my chances with a known quantity like the Wilson Grand SLAMMS for the highest possible fidelity. Plus you can save 900 grand and buy yourself one kick ass comp plus a new Porche.

 

[LickEmSmack]

That Grand Enigma system was REDICULOUS! $1 million!! Placed in a specially prepared subterranean listening room of 45,000 cubic feet, it presents sound with incredible dynamics and limitless power, easily reproducing live concert levels at a distance of 10 meters. C'mon! Subterranean! That is truly conspicuous consumption!

BTW, I do agree if you want good sound, go with an HT setup, they will rock over any computer speakers.

 

[Verygreedy]

well.. I bought my set up for about 250$ total.

Sony SRS D2 PC Sub &amp; 2 speakers and
second output is Benwin subwoofer with 2 speakers.
=2 subs, 4 speakers.. =Nice 3D sound!

2 &quot;ins&quot; on SB Live Rocks!

 

[denon]

If you want something hooked up to your home system also go buy yourself a nice receiver and a set of B&amp;W 602s2 speakers...the speakers will be around 600-700ish for the pair, but well well worth the money.