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the gf needs speakers for her laptop

vshah

vshah

Lifer
my only requirement is that they be under $30 and not distort at "party" volumes.

thanks,
Vivan
 
not going to happen. Even 200$ computer speakers distort at "party" volumes.

My definition of "party" volumes is:
1. 10-20 feet away from speakers
2. 95dB avg
3. 10-20 people

I list these 3 things because sound intensity drops similarly to the inverse square law (double the distance relates to an approximate 6dB drop in SPL). 95dB is pretty loud, but is the typical loudness of parties and has it's own requirements of the speaker cones, tweeters, and amplification. I mention the number of people as people act as sound absorbers and further decrease the loudness, thus requiring an increase in the volume.

Additionally, computer speakers are designed to provide for "adequate" loudness and distortion in the near-field (~3-5 feet). Can they do ~95dB in the near field with no people blocking the sound, most likely (at least 100-200$ ones). Can 30$ ones? Most likely not. Can 50-90$ ones? - maybe, but would be straining doing such.

So, by doubling the distance you are (in basic terms) quadrupling the power requirement of the speaker's amplifier. If the speaker's amplifier can supply the power, you still have the tweeter and woofer's requiring the ability to move more sound as dictated by the additional power and to be able to properly dissipate the heat energy without melting the voice coil. There are many other factors, but these specific factors are the major compromise points when price comes into the picture.

What is your definition of "party" volumes?
 
If she already has a stand alone boom box or stereo, you could just buy a miniplug to rca adapter, some rca cables, and run analog output from laptop soundcard into stereo.

If she doesn't like all those wires, she could get an used Apple Airport Express (probably about $50) and plug into stereo using much shorter mini to rca cable.

Software program Airfoil can untether her from iTunes, but costs an additional $25.

 
i should have explained...party volumes means 10-15 ppl sitting around drinking and playing board games 😛

forget the other requirements and just recommend me a decent set of 2.0 or 2.1 for under $30. i know we're not going to get anything great, but she doesn't care about that... if i were buying i'd care a whole lot more

ive been keeping an eye on CL but nothing good has shown up and she is tired of using her laptop speakers

thanks,
vivan
 
Buy her something decent and tell her they cost $30.

IF the relationship progresses you will be able to recoup this years later, when you tell her your new expensive toy only cost $100.
 
I don't know why everyone recommends those awful S220s. Logitech's mid-to-high end line is stellar, but the s220s are turbs.. They're also cheap, so make sense in a "you get what you pay for" way..

These are actually quite good, and worth more than what you pay for them:
http://www.thespeakercompany.c...er-System-P101C16.aspx

I've owned both - threw my s220s away after I got the TSC speakers
 
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