Sub-$100 2.1 system for a bedroom?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
Klipsch is "crap" and "has been for years"?

Pretty much, yeah. Sure, the Palladium series is nice, but the stuff you get at Best Buy is pathetic and overpriced.

As for your assertion that M Audio AV-30s sound better than the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1s, it pains me to even dignify that statement with a response. Nevertheless ... What sounds best to you means nothing -- you obviously do not have a trained ear. According to M Audio's Website, the AV-30s' bass response only extends down to 90Hz...ANY 2.0 computer speaker system will fail against the Pro Medias because -- thanks to their subwoofer -- the Pro Medias' bass response extends down to 38Hz at the -3db mark (and without excessive THD).


The AV-30s are crap. However, the ProMedias aren't much better. That 38hz spec is highly optimistic from such a small woofer - even if it was flat to that frequency, it would run out of output at about one watt of input.

I might also point out that there are several desktop speakers systems that can stomp the ProMedias in terms of bass - most studio monitors, for example.

Honestly I would save the money and wait until the budget can be increased. A $30 USB DAC is a bare minimum and at least Audio Engine A2 speakers.

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-2


Worst of all, however, is the reliability. Klipsch products have something of a reputation for amps that go kaput after a few years, and given the pricetag, that's really just not acceptable.

You did say quality sound.

The USB DAC (fancy word for "soundcard") is only a requirement if your computer has a wonky soundcard. Most Apple products are generally quite good in this respect, though if you have a cheap Acer it might be worse the extra expense.

That said, the A2s aren't bad, and if you can spring for 'em, the A5s are better still.
 
Last edited:

Ken90630

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2004
1,571
2
81
Pretty much, yeah.

More ignorant FUD. Anandtech's own review (see my next-to-last post), and the 3DSoundSurge review I referred to in earlier posts, say otherwise. So do the specs. Posting your own subjective hyperbole has zero credibility.

Sure, the Palladium series is nice, but the stuff you get at Best Buy is pathetic and overpriced.

Which "stuff at BestBuy" are you referring to? Which models?

The AV-30s are crap. However, the ProMedias aren't much better. That 38hz spec is highly optimistic from such a small woofer - even if it was flat to that frequency, it would run out of output at about one watt of input.

As noted in my next-to-last post, I had inadvertently misquoted the bass response in a previous post (and corrected it this morning). They actually go down to 42Hz at the -5dB mark, and thus presumably ~ 45-50Hz at the -3dB mark (with inaudible THD). For computer speakers, that is utterly phenomenal. As for "running out of output at about 1 watt of input" -- that's nonsense. Cite a technical explanation for your claim.

I might also point out that there are several desktop speakers systems that can stomp the ProMedias in terms of bass - most studio monitors, for example.

LOL. Such as? Show me some desktop speaker systems or studio monitors that go down to 50Hz at the -3dB mark driven at 50 watts. (That's continuous output, not peak -- peak is 200 watts from the sub.)

That said, the A2s aren't bad ....

Paired with a subwoofer, I agree.

Last point/question: You and ChaiBabbaChai seem hell-bent on comparing the Pro Medias -- which are COMPUTER speakers -- to component speaker systems designed for home stereo systems and/or studio monitor use. And you do this in order to disparage the Pro Medias out of some ignorant, emotion-based belief not supported by the facts. Why so disingenuous?
 
Last edited:

woofersus

Golden Member
Jun 5, 2006
1,080
0
76
www.eaststreetaudio.com
It seemed pretty obvious to me that the recommendations were for a specific price range. Sure there are way better things out there. What does that have to do with the topic at hand? A simple "I think buying anything in that price range is a waste of money" would suffice if that is your opinion.

I'm not a huge Klipsch fan in general, but I had a set of Klipsch Promedia 2.1's a long time ago and I still think that for the money they sounded halfway decent. The Audioengine A2's are pretty decent too. (better at what they do really, but then you need a sub and it's a lot more expensive than the Klipsch set)