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Speakers for college

roguerower

roguerower

Diamond Member
I'm looking for a decent set of speakers for my dorm when I get back to college for year 2. I've been content w/ laptop speakers, but they're getting a little weak. Any good recomendations?
 
Since you haven't listed a budget, i'll start with a $200 cap.

Grab a Klipsch iFi at Costco while you can...it's $200. Everywhere else you go it's $400. The RSX-3 satellites are part of Klipsch's reference satellite package and cost $260/pair if bought seperately; has the biggest and most linear midrange drivers you can buy for PC speakers, and has a seperate 1" horn tweeter, like all Klipsch satellites, so you don't have to deal with a very small listening position with one-driver PC speakers, because when high frequency sounds aren't filtered out by a tweeter, the listening area becomes VERY TINY, since high frequency sounds beam forward like a laser. You can actually move around a bit and the sound doesn't change so much, unlike what most PC speakers with 1 way satellites usually exhibit. The 8" sub is based on the RW series with a cerametallic cone, and is flat to 30hz. It has a seperate ipod docking station/charger.
 
I would go with the Swan M200 for ~$180, definitely has the best sound quality in that price range IMO.

Or you can go with the Klipsch iFi as Astrallite suggested.
 
If your budget is <$100 go with the logitech z2300. Booming bass (which is a good thing). Also: The klipsich promedia ultra 5.1 speakers are $200 @ bestbuy... if you can find it in stock.
 
Originally posted by: acegazda
If your budget is <$100 go with the logitech z2300. Booming bass (which is a good thing). Also: The klipsich promedia ultra 5.1 speakers are $200 @ bestbuy... if you can find it in stock.
Click to expand...

says who?
 
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: acegazda
If your budget is <$100 go with the logitech z2300. Booming bass (which is a good thing). Also: The klipsich promedia ultra 5.1 speakers are $200 @ bestbuy... if you can find it in stock.
Click to expand...

says who?
Click to expand...

the majority of college kids? 😉

seriously though, if you have too loud of sound, won't the rest of your floor complain?
 
Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: acegazda
If your budget is <$100 go with the logitech z2300. Booming bass (which is a good thing). Also: The klipsich promedia ultra 5.1 speakers are $200 @ bestbuy... if you can find it in stock.
Click to expand...

says who?
Click to expand...

the majority of college kids? 😉

seriously though, if you have too loud of sound, won't the rest of your floor complain?
Click to expand...

True...but "Boomy" is normally a bad characteristic for a sub to have.
 
Originally posted by: PurdueRyTrue...but "Boomy" is normally a bad characteristic for a sub to have.
Click to expand...

That's for sure - A "boomy" bass is unnatural.

 
What sound chip will you be using? Just that on your laptop?

The reason I ask is that it might not be possible for a surround setup, and I would say that the Swans quality would be somewhat wasted on the low quality of typical laptop sound.

Also, the Swans are all but impossible to find anymore so its almost pointless to recommend them.
 
Logitech Z5500's, im taking mine to uni when i go back 🙂 Noone will complain because the majorirty of people there like loud tunes. If anyone dosent well.... just forget about those people 🙂
 
For now it looks like i'll just be using basic laptop output, but I'm looking for a external sound card. And as for sound, who cares if it's loud.
 
I'd get either the Klipsch iFi or the Swans.

Or something like the Sonic T-Amp (or any integrated/stereo amp you can find) and a pair of bookshelf speakers.
 
So i'm seeing a bunch of votes for the ifi's but the only problem is that I don't have and probably will never buy an Ipod (the whole hate apple thing...scarred for life as a child using them). Are they still the best solution?
 
Originally posted by: roguerower
So i'm seeing a bunch of votes for the ifi's but the only problem is that I don't have and probably will never buy an Ipod (the whole hate apple thing...scarred for life as a child using them). Are they still the best solution?
Click to expand...

Yes. Screw the iPod dock, I simply forget it's there. The iFi is probably one of the best 2.1 systems you can get for 200 bucks.
 
Originally posted by: roguerower
So i'm seeing a bunch of votes for the ifi's but the only problem is that I don't have and probably will never buy an Ipod (the whole hate apple thing...scarred for life as a child using them). Are they still the best solution?
Click to expand...

Uh...its not as if you need an iPod to use the iFi. Just don't use the dock...its simple.
 
Originally posted by: AsianriceX
Originally posted by: roguerower
So i'm seeing a bunch of votes for the ifi's but the only problem is that I don't have and probably will never buy an Ipod (the whole hate apple thing...scarred for life as a child using them). Are they still the best solution?
Click to expand...

Yes. Screw the iPod dock, I simply forget it's there. The iFi is probably one of the best 2.1 systems you can get for 200 bucks.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to add speakers to the iFi setup to make it a 5.1 in the future? I'm considering getting a set...
 
Originally posted by: Aflac
Is it possible to add speakers to the iFi setup to make it a 5.1 in the future? I'm considering getting a set...
Click to expand...

Yes and no.

No, You can't directly connect more speakers to the iFi, because the subwoofer only has a 2-channel amplifier. The only system you can "add more speakers to" is a component system involving a multichannel receiver/amplifier.

Yes, it only requires a single stereo miniplug 3.5mm jack. You still have rear jacks and center/sub jacks available (or another jack, if it is a 7.1 card). Simply connect another iFi and you have a 4.1 set with two subs. Both of them operate independently, but since they both work under a 120hz crossover, the sound should be seamless. If you add another set that's different (non-iFi PC speaker set), then the crossover could be different (if its 2.1) or there could be no crossover at all (2.0) and the bass will be localized in the speakers. This will not be a seamless addition. Again, if you plan on adding random speakers, a multichannel receiver (or DSP processor) that can set specific crossovers for different (passive) speakers would be the only way for a "seamless" (can't be perfectly seamless with different speakers obviously) solution.

 
Will they be seeing any party use?

I'm about to start a little project to replace my sh1tty Logitech 2.1 system's satellites with open baffle versions of these:

http://zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html

I'll let you know how it goes. I guess you don't have a crossover for a sub... so if the OB speakers work out, you can maybe get a cheap used receiver and use the crossover in that and slap together a cheap+good sub.
 
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