Speakers for laptop

[Mordi]

Hello. I've simply been listening to music on my Macbook Pro speakers in college, but after listening to my friend's 5.1 set-up and being deprived of bass for a long time, I've considered investing in some speakers.

However, I haven't bought speakers in awhile (and never 5.1), so I'm wondering what is good out there. As far as I've read/seen, Logitech seems to be the main company in this area with a decent price. A simple eBay search shows X530 5.1 as the main one (that's the one my friend got) as well as the Z-640, but I've seen people on this forum mention the Z-5500 has a quality choice.

The question: The price different is huge between the X530 and Z5500, so I've been leaning toward the X530, but I'm wondering the difference is worth investing in to get quality sound in the future.


I've also considered just getting a 2.1 speaker set since my dorm room is not that big if you all have any suggestions in that area.

Thanks for taking a look,
-Mordi

P.S. Does anyone have any opinions on wireless 5.1 systems? I'm just curious.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Don't do wireless.

Is music your primary listening material then? If you're a music guy, spend your money on a quality 2.0 / 2.1 system instead of a 5.1 system.

Does your macbook even have output for 5.1 speakers?

 

[Mordi]

Heh. Alright, time to remove that wireless comment - I'm pretty sure everyone's opinions would be similar.

I'm definitely enjoy listening to music and consider quality a big issue. Any good 2.1 speaker suggestions anyone (also saves on space )?

Macbook Pro's have a combined optical digital out (and in), so it supports 5.1 without needing that external sound card (I was pretty excited when I found that out).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Mordi
Heh. Alright, time to remove that wireless comment - I'm pretty sure everyone's opinions would be similar.

I'm definitely enjoy listening to music and consider quality a big issue. Any good 2.1 speaker suggestions anyone (also saves on space )?

Macbook Pro's have a combined optical digital out (and in), so it supports 5.1 without needing that external sound card (I was pretty excited when I found that out).

Unless it encodes DD / DTS in real time, that's only going to get you true 5.1 from sources already encoded in DD / DTS (DVD movies and such).

You'll need a speaker system with a digital input to take advantage of that, which would not include your x-530 option.

All that said, for mainly music I would recommend going with a solid analog 2.0 / 2.1 set instead.

 

[Mordi]

Alright. I looked around, and it seems that Klipsch 2.1 Promedia speakers seem to be a solid choice (although it isn't quite as eye-catching as Logitech).

On another note, I'm curious as to how the 5.1 encoding normally works. My friend who has the Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers doesn't seem to get 5.1 for normal things (such as iTunes) and just for movies. He has an external sound sound card that cost $50 (I don't know the model - obviously something from Creative).

Does the DD/DTS real time encoding only happen in higher quality sound cards? Is there any way to test for the 5.1 capabilites?

 

[dBTelos]

I have the Klipsch Promedia 2.1s. If your planning to move the sub alot, pass on them because the sub is very heavy, especially for its size. But other then that they are great speakers for listening to music.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Mordi
Alright. I looked around, and it seems that Klipsch 2.1 Promedia speakers seem to be a solid choice (although it isn't quite as eye-catching as Logitech).

On another note, I'm curious as to how the 5.1 encoding normally works. My friend who has the Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers doesn't seem to get 5.1 for normal things (such as iTunes) and just for movies. He has an external sound sound card that cost $50 (I don't know the model - obviously something from Creative).

Does the DD/DTS real time encoding only happen in higher quality sound cards? Is there any way to test for the 5.1 capabilites?

For something like iTunes, you have a stereo source so that's only going to give you 2.1 output no matter what card you use unless you have a "feature" turned on that will expand this sound to 4.1/5.1/etc. This is usually a bad idea as it's best to keep stereo sources in stereo.

You only need to encode into DD/DTS when you're using digital and the source is not already encoded. That's basically meaning games.

On a set like the x-530s where the input is analog, you don't need to encode anything into digital. DVDs and other encoded materials get decoded before they get to the speakers.

There are a few reasons why you would want to encode something to DD/DTS, but those usually don't apply to cases where you're using a set of standard comptuer speakers.

There are some cards out that will encode into DD/DTS, but creative's cards will not do it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as most people can use the analog output from the creative cards just fine since they are using computer speakers or a receiver with 5.1 analog inputs.

I don't think you really have to worry about any of this since it seems like 2.0 / 2.1 would serve you best.

The Promedias are a solid choice. Also, if you can find a source for Klipsch iFi, that would be a set up from the promedias. The iFi set was available for ~$200 in the past and if you can find them for that much still, that's a nice price.

There are also some other options (Swan M200 etc.)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
I have the Klipsch Promedia 2.1s. If your planning to move the sub alot, pass on them because the sub is very heavy, especially for its size. But other then that they are great speakers for listening to music.

I would love to only have to move around the Klipsch sub

 

[dBTelos]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: dBTelos
I have the Klipsch Promedia 2.1s. If your planning to move the sub alot, pass on them because the sub is very heavy, especially for its size. But other then that they are great speakers for listening to music.

I would love to only have to move around the Klipsch sub

Well, it seemed heavy compared to my old 10W Logitech sub

 

[Mordi]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Mordi
Alright. I looked around, and it seems that Klipsch 2.1 Promedia speakers seem to be a solid choice (although it isn't quite as eye-catching as Logitech).

On another note, I'm curious as to how the 5.1 encoding normally works. My friend who has the Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers doesn't seem to get 5.1 for normal things (such as iTunes) and just for movies. He has an external sound sound card that cost $50 (I don't know the model - obviously something from Creative).

Does the DD/DTS real time encoding only happen in higher quality sound cards? Is there any way to test for the 5.1 capabilites?

For something like iTunes, you have a stereo source so that's only going to give you 2.1 output no matter what card you use unless you have a "feature" turned on that will expand this sound to 4.1/5.1/etc. This is usually a bad idea as it's best to keep stereo sources in stereo.

You only need to encode into DD/DTS when you're using digital and the source is not already encoded. That's basically meaning games.

On a set like the x-530s where the input is analog, you don't need to encode anything into digital. DVDs and other encoded materials get decoded before they get to the speakers.

There are a few reasons why you would want to encode something to DD/DTS, but those usually don't apply to cases where you're using a set of standard comptuer speakers.

There are some cards out that will encode into DD/DTS, but creative's cards will not do it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as most people can use the analog output from the creative cards just fine since they are using computer speakers or a receiver with 5.1 analog inputs.

I don't think you really have to worry about any of this since it seems like 2.0 / 2.1 would serve you best.

The Promedias are a solid choice. Also, if you can find a source for Klipsch iFi, that would be a set up from the promedias. The iFi set was available for ~$200 in the past and if you can find them for that much still, that's a nice price.

There are also some other options (Swan M200 etc.)

Hey, that's for all the feedback and info. I looked at the Klipsch iFi, and they do look nice (and under $200), not to mention the fact that I also own an iPod...although it wouldn't really be necessary when it's plugged into my computer. I'll continue looking around of course, but those seem to be the ones I'm sticking too.

The main thing I'm confused about is the coding for digital. Analog seems like a step below, so I'm a bit confused as to why the Macbook Pro audio out would support digital and not analog. The best right now seems to be testing. I'll probably just go test out to see if my computer works with my friend's X-530s and play various media.

I do actually play some games (and watch movies also), so surround would be a nice touch. However, music would come before both of them!

 

[0roo0roo]

ifi's defintely. they have the midrange woofer size that is necessary for good mid range, i think its 3.5"? normal pc speakers are less, and below optimal. its speakers are actually frmo one of klipsch normal reference speaker lines, not computer speakers, so its a very good value. and of course its got the nice tweeters. ifu can afford it, ifi's the way to go.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, if you can get them for under $200, I think that's definately the way to go.

The speakers they use are the Klipsch RSX-3s which would have eaten up the whole $200 cost right there. You get a decent sub and built in amplification for free pretty much

I really need to write a digital audio thread like I keep telling myself I should.

Ok, the short version is that all speakers are analog in the end, so at some point your digital source material needs to be changed to analog. You can do that within your computer or send out digital for the sound to be converted by another device.

With the quality of the conversion that computer speakers do, they're not going to be any better than an average soundcard. I send digital out of my card since I have something better than a logitech control pod between my computer and my speakers.

That said, I really don't know what kind of audio outputs your Macbook has.

Usually a laptop will have a line-out or headphone out that you could use to hook up speakers.

In order to hook up x-530s, you would need three analog outputs (FR/FL , RR/RL, Center/Sub).

If you only have digital out, there will be no way to connect those.

If you only have digital out and want to hook up to a set of analog input speakers, you'll need to get a DAC to put between your laptop and your speakers.