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Speaker recommendation? (2.0 or 2.1)

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Pandamonium

Golden Member
So I'm looking for new speakers. All I care about is reasonable audio quality. I don't need the full subwoofer power but I want a little bit of "oomph" when I'm playing back a movie or something. Is there a 2.0 set that has the tweeter or something and maybe something else that handles a range of sound approaching subwoofer but not quite as boomy? I'd like small-ish speakers if that's possible. If I have to get 2.1, what's my cheapest option for reasonable sound? I've been recommended the Logitech Z2300, but it's more expensive and bigger (has a subwoofer) than what I'd like.
 
i just purchased a second pair of klipsch promedia 2.1's from best buy for 140 after tax. used a 10% off coupon on top of the sale price. totally worth it for pc speakers. not enough of an enthusiast to buy real speakers myself, and these are pretty much the best of it's class.
 
Damn. I was hoping that there was a a computer speaker made in like studio monitor (I think that's what it's called- the bookshelf kind) style. I guess I'll just keep waiting for a promedia/Z2300 sale. I know I just missed a Z2300 promo today.
 
Actually, I'm doing a little more reading, and I was wondering: can I get away with a 2.0 "powered monitor" setup? I'm feeding audio from the 3.5mm stereo jack on my laptop (Dell Latitude XT2) which has whatever integrated audio Dell put in there. So it's not like I need awesome speakers when the audio being fed to them is probably limited by the hardware I've got.
 
Pandamonium said:
Damn. I was hoping that there was a a computer speaker made in like studio monitor (I think that's what it's called- the bookshelf kind) style. I guess I'll just keep waiting for a promedia/Z2300 sale. I know I just missed a Z2300 promo today.
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oh, i thought you meant you wanted it as small as possible.
studio monitors/bookshelves aren't that small.
BEHRINGER MS40
or M-audio seem to be carried by newegg, swan used to be good as well.

i'm sure there are others.
 
0roo0roo said:
oh, i thought you meant you wanted it as small as possible.
studio monitors/bookshelves aren't that small.
BEHRINGER MS40
or M-audio seem to be carried by newegg, swan used to be good as well.

i'm sure there are others.
Click to expand...
Used to be, as in something happened to them, or you aren't sure about their current state?

My M200s served me well, except one channel started whine very loudly. Asked around and got a suggestion to open the thing up, saw some big ass capacitors and brown shit all over it. I am guessing a few capacitors blew? I am not sure if it's safe to try to clean it up, not a huge electronics buff here... It would be awesome if I could somehow get them restored, oh well.

I am not saying all swans are like that; on the contrary, I definitely recommend them (D1080 and M200, haven't heart the mk II version)
Unless there has been some recent developments that warrants avoiding them (haven't kept up with them 🙂)
 
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oh they just disappeared from newegg is all.

bad caps..you can always look up the part and solder in new ones.
 
yeah, that's what I was hoping to do. But I got a bit scared when I saw that caramel-like goo stuck at the bottom of those huge caps. Say, does that pose any health hazard? Would wearing some latex gloves while working on that help?
 
What price range? Audioengine 5 is pretty much what you're looking for, if you have $350 to spare. Otherwise the Behringer monitors are a nice bet (MS20 and MS40 have optical in to bypass your computer's non-isolated output), or try one of the brands here.
 
ubercaffeinated said:
i just purchased a second pair of klipsch promedia 2.1's from best buy for 140 after tax. used a 10% off coupon on top of the sale price. totally worth it for pc speakers. not enough of an enthusiast to buy real speakers myself, and these are pretty much the best of it's class.
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These are pretty good speakers are far as PC speakers go. I'm annoyed that Newegg quit selling them. I'm also annoyed that Klipsch quit making the 5.1 version.
 
konakona said:
yeah, that's what I was hoping to do. But I got a bit scared when I saw that caramel-like goo stuck at the bottom of those huge caps. Say, does that pose any health hazard? Would wearing some latex gloves while working on that help?
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dunno, gloves should be fine,, as always just avoid any fumes.
 
Pandamonium said:
Actually, I'm doing a little more reading, and I was wondering: can I get away with a 2.0 "powered monitor" setup? I'm feeding audio from the 3.5mm stereo jack on my laptop (Dell Latitude XT2) which has whatever integrated audio Dell put in there. So it's not like I need awesome speakers when the audio being fed to them is probably limited by the hardware I've got.
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FWIW I have the audioengine A5s and while the sound quality is FANTASTIC the bass stinks.

If you ever listen to bass-heavy music (rap or rock) then a sub is (imo) just about required.

Also they suck for gaming (I want to FEEL the rocket hitting behind my head). I went ahead and bought the audioengine sub and will report back with my impressions.
 
heh i wouldn't say they suck, 5" drivers are basically bookshelf speakers, which give a decent mid/mid low range performance. much better than the 2" or so weedy sh*t in most multimedia speakers. but to get a boom you are going to have to get a sub, no way around it unless you get some massive speaker.
 
0roo0roo said:
heh i wouldn't say they suck, 5" drivers are basically bookshelf speakers, which give a decent mid/mid low range performance. much better than the 2" or so weedy sh*t in most multimedia speakers. but to get a boom you are going to have to get a sub, no way around it unless you get some massive speaker.
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Right, but most of the comparisons have to do with the klipsch 2.1 promedias (which I also own) and the bass is -no- comparison.

For a living room casual music setup or at my office they'd be 10/10. But for some music, most movies, and imo all games you'll need a sub.
 
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I'm using the Swan M10s ($120 from AudioInsider), which is a more of a 2.05 setup than a 2.1 (it has two satellites and a "midwoofer").

For the price, it produces incredible mids and highs--far better than any Logitech. Connected to an X-Fi, the bass is also surprisingly good. The only catch is that you have to sit right in front of the set; bass trails off rapidly as you move away.
 
Ok I have my S8 hooked up to the A5s and it sounds much better.


I recognize that to accurately reproduce music the A5 setup alone should be fine, but I prefer a bit of thump to most of my auditory experiences and IMHO a sub is required.

It also helps a lot with music, more than I expected.
 
big_cliche said:
I'm using the Swan M10s ($120 from AudioInsider), which is a more of a 2.05 setup than a 2.1 (it has two satellites and a "midwoofer").

For the price, it produces incredible mids and highs--far better than any Logitech. Connected to an X-Fi, the bass is also surprisingly good. The only catch is that you have to sit right in front of the set; bass trails off rapidly as you move away.
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That's true, but few 2.1 multimedia speakers come with real subwoofers. Perhaps you can count the ones on the z2300/z5300/z5500 logitechs. Even the klipsch promedia one isn't "really" a subwoofer since it's driver is so small @ 6.5". Although, since the klipsch has better bass than the logitechs, it's hard to say even those have a real sub.

What i'm trying to say is that the swan m10 is not inferior to alternatives with regards to having a "midwoofer" sub
 
If you can still find a working set at a decent price S2-4100s are quite good, in fact I like them more than M200s.
 
i love my M200 mkiii's.

i upgraded from logitech z-560 set that served me well for over seven years, only the bolt of lightning could have taken it out.

also stepping up from mp3s to lossless audio gave me a better appreciation for music. its a shame i havent been able to crank these babies up because i live in an apartment and already got the cops called on me for it.
 
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