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Speaker Advice

A

Azuen

Member
Since my speakers are starting to die with lots of crackling from the speakers, I'm looking to get a new set.

I'm currently using Cambridge SoundWorks DTT3500 and would like to get something with similar or better quality and good volume (I sometimes have to turn my music up pretty loud to be able to hear it over the noise in my house).

These will be used for music and gaming with a preference towards music. I don't mind switching to set of 2.1.

Sound card is Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 THX.

Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
 
I personally like using a stereo over a set of PC speakers.
I use a kenwood stereo receiver with infinity speakers.
Its my previous surround sound setup from my home theater before I bought my Yamaha with JBL's.

Give us a price range if you can.
 
Are you sure it's your speakers going bad and not something else? (just want to make sure before you go and buy something else)

Hmmm... I don't know about pricing in the UK.

Over here for music listening I'd probably suggest trying to get a set of Swan m200s and a Dayton 10" sub for close to that budget.

It would be pretty tough to put together a stereo setup if you wanted to include a sub, but if you just get a couple bookshelf speakers and a stereo receiver or integrated amplifier it should be very do-able.

If you wanted to stick with computer speakers, Logitech z-5500s would be a good 5.1 option but you could get a nice 2.1 set like Klipsch promedias for music listening.
 
Yeh, it's definitely the speakers. I've tested them with different sources and input types and still get the crackling.

Pricing in the UK is usually more expensive.

The Swan / Dayton combination and the Logitech z-5500s are out of my price league, although the Logitech aren't by much.

Are there any sets similar to the Klipsch 2.1? Klipsch don't seem to be available over here.
 
The Swans have near bookshelf sized drivers (5").

They are big enough that I doubt bass would be a concern, epecially since you aren't coming from a bass-heavy setup. (They claim extension down to 55hz).

The soundquality will blow away any other PC speakers for music output (Klipsch has a $400 2.1 iFi that "might" be a superior product but I don't trust Klipsch subs...same goes for the $900 5.1 set they are coming out with).

What I do know is many people "upgrade" from the similarly priced Klipsch 2.1s to these Swans...that means going to any of Logitechs offerings would be similar (more bass, less overall quality).
 
The dell's look more like harmon kardon speakers.

I would go for the logitech z-5300's or x-530 for a lower budget.
 
I would go for the Klipsch Ultra 2.0s at $99 or the Swans at $140 on a budget.

2.1 is fine for gaming. Most people don't have the space to have full out surround sound imaging anyway. I see too many people who've spent crazy amounts of money on PC speakers (I've seen a $1,500 Klipsch 5.1 set; two pair RSX-5, RCX-4 center, and a SVS PC sub)...and all the speakers are within 3 feet of the monitor. That's just retarded.

Unless you have a large game only room (at least 2,000 cubic feet) I wouldn't even suggest 5.1 PC speakers given the limited sound quality, the price you are paying, and the limited surround imaging you are getting.

I tried a 5.1 bookshelf set for my PC, on a 2,000 cubic foot room. I realized everything was just a mess of wires plus most people here are probably college students who sleep in their rooms. There's just not that much space...so I trimmed down to two mains for a 2.1 set with my PC...and TV behind it...and DVD Player : P
 
Originally posted by: Astrallite
I would go for the Klipsch Ultra 2.0s at $99 or the Swans at $140 on a budget.

2.1 is fine for gaming. Most people don't have the space to have full out surround sound imaging anyway. I see too many people who've spent crazy amounts of money on PC speakers (I've seen a $1,500 Klipsch 5.1 set; two pair RSX-5, RCX-4 center, and a SVS PC sub)...and all the speakers are within 3 feet of the monitor. That's just retarded.

Unless you have a large game only room (at least 2,000 cubic feet) I wouldn't even suggest 5.1 PC speakers given the limited sound quality, the price you are paying, and the limited surround imaging you are getting.

I tried a 5.1 bookshelf set for my PC, on a 2,000 cubic foot room. I realized everything was just a mess of wires plus most people here are probably college students who sleep in their rooms. There's just not that much space...so I trimmed down to two mains for a 2.1 set with my PC...and TV behind it...and DVD Player : P
Click to expand...

I agree with the HT speakers being too close, but computer speakers are designed to be near field, so they will sound good being a lot closer to you than regular speakers.

For a 2000+ cubic foot room I don't think most computer speakers would do a good job as they aren't really designed to fill a whole room with sound.

 
Eh...

A 2000 cubic foot room is like 12x13 feet...and this is assuming you can put all the speakers against the walls; people will have furniture too : P

My point is the fact that most people have their 5.1 setup all lined up on a desk in front of them. It doesn't matter if its meant to be near field or not, if you are utilizing 5.1 like a 2.1 setup, you might as well HAVE a 2.1 setup.

Also, being "designed to be near field" has nothing to do with how good it sounds close up or far away. HT speakers will sound better than PC speakers close or far away as long as you know how to aim to tweeter to your ear. They are labelled as near-field because of limited dispersion ability of the satellites so you HAVE to listen to them close up. From the next room you can easily tell if its a PC setup or HT speakers simply by the crap thats blaring out.
 
Originally posted by: Astrallite
Eh...

A 2000 cubic foot room is like 12x13 feet...and this is assuming you can put all the speakers against the walls; people will have furniture too : P

My point is the fact that most people have their 5.1 setup all lined up on a desk in front of them. It doesn't matter if its meant to be near field or not, if you are utilizing 5.1 like a 2.1 setup, you might as well HAVE a 2.1 setup.

Also, being "designed to be near field" has nothing to do with how good it sounds close up or far away. HT speakers will sound better than PC speakers close or far away as long as you know how to aim to tweeter to your ear. They are labelled as near-field because of limited dispersion ability of the satellites so you HAVE to listen to them close up. From the next room you can easily tell if its a PC setup or HT speakers simply by the crap thats blaring out.
Click to expand...

13' ceilings? 😛

Yeah, I agree that putting a 5.1 set all in a line is moronic, but I don't know if "most people" do that. I know a good deal of people do though, which is disappointing.

So now you say a 5.1 computer speaker set isn't good for a large room? You just said "Unless you have a large game only room (at least 2,000 cubic feet) I wouldn't even suggest 5.1 PC speakers"

 
Originally posted by: Astrallite
I would go for the Klipsch Ultra 2.0s at $99 or the Swans at $140 on a budget.

2.1 is fine for gaming. Most people don't have the space to have full out surround sound imaging anyway. I see too many people who've spent crazy amounts of money on PC speakers (I've seen a $1,500 Klipsch 5.1 set; two pair RSX-5, RCX-4 center, and a SVS PC sub)...and all the speakers are within 3 feet of the monitor. That's just retarded.

Unless you have a large game only room (at least 2,000 cubic feet) I wouldn't even suggest 5.1 PC speakers given the limited sound quality, the price you are paying, and the limited surround imaging you are getting.

I tried a 5.1 bookshelf set for my PC, on a 2,000 cubic foot room. I realized everything was just a mess of wires plus most people here are probably college students who sleep in their rooms. There's just not that much space...so I trimmed down to two mains for a 2.1 set with my PC...and TV behind it...and DVD Player : P
Click to expand...

I?m going to move them to a more formal home theater environment when I can afford a projector. The RSX-5?s and RSX-4?s and an RCX-4 center were just under 700 (not a bad price for that stuff), and my old SVS PB12-ISD was 650, but I returned it for something bigger and I?m going to get a smaller Klipsch Sub-12 for the RSX?s.

My speakers are at either end of my desk which is 8 feet long. I set about 2 feet away from my Monitor so I get good stereo imaging (you only need a 3:1 ratio, I have more). As far as the near field listening experience, RSX's still provide that. Less so than smaller speakers, but much more so than bookshelf?s. They are still considered ?satellites.? I could have just as well got RB-25's for the same price but opted for something a little more convenient for the near field experience of my computer. RSX-4?s and 5?s are fine from where I sit. If I turn up the volume, it helps to move back a bit because they are fairly loud.

I agree, 5.1 is a waste for your PC unless you can get it correctly installed, nice and neat without a mess of wires, and you really wanted it to begin with. Most people don?t know how to correctly set up the rear speakers, nor do they really understand what the center and rears are for. They are not for music, and if that?s all you do with your PC, then there is no point in a surround sound system. 5.1 is expensive and you're almost always better off spending the same amount of money on a higher quality 2.0 or 2.1 system. I never recommend 5.1 systems if it?s a budget system. Grab the Klipsch 2.0?s /2.1 or grab the Swans. RSX?s are not for the faint, but I argue that they will work on your desk just fine if you can afford em.
 
I would love RSXs for PC speakers...If I could afford em.

Guess I'll have to stick to fullrange and bookshelves for now! 😛
 
Seems I'll be getting the Logitech Z-2300 2.1 as they're the best I can find available in my area and budget. Thanks for all the advice.
 
Ah ah...but you are missing out by not trying out the Swans. Oh well, good luck anyway, and I hope you enjoy the Logitechs. It'll beat car audio at least 🙂
 
You can only get them online, and newegg is one of most reliable ways to get them (since their seem to be able to arrive at your doorstep within 3 days if you do the rush shipping for $1.99...i think).

I never like to purchase retail for computer parts; its always a lot more than you should pay; plus your choices are limited.
 
Originally posted by: Astrallite
You can only get them online, and newegg is one of most reliable ways to get them (since their seem to be able to arrive at your doorstep within 3 days if you do the rush shipping for $1.99...i think).

I never like to purchase retail for computer parts; its always a lot more than you should pay; plus your choices are limited.
Click to expand...

Country: United Kingdom
 
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