Z-5500 or Klipsch Promedia 5.1 ULTRA?

[hutch1ns]

Which speakers would you recommend? The more bass the better. Currently the Logitech's are cheaper and have a little more powerful (wattage wise) sub. I have the logitech Z-5300e speakers right now and they just aren't cutting it. I can barely feel the bass (well there's a little bit there.) I need something that comes close to car subs. Used to have 2 12" Rockford P3's in a Q-logic Dual bandpass box in my 96 Jetta (moved them to my 04 SRT-4 which was wrecked ) so I know what real bass is ... My girlfriend used to be able to tell what song I was playing from over a 1/4 mile down the road!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How big is the room you're in?

The Logitech will probably get you louder, but more boomy/one note bass. The Klipsch will probably get you better quality bass but might not be as much output.

If you want to make your hair move, you might want to get a real sub.

 

[hutch1ns]

Yea but, we're talking over $500 for a sub that isn't much better than the sub in the logitech system. I'd rather spend a little more than that on subs and an amp for my car that'll make my junk vibrate while on my computer. It's a pretty big room (finished basement, one of those half basements on a split styled house. By eye i'd say its about 22x20x28x20'. Ceiling is maybe 6 1/2'ft.

 

[0roo0roo]

klipsch

 

[hutch1ns]

Oh yes, I should add that my hearing isn't the greatest, although much better after 7 surgeries. My right ear had all 3 bones replaced with prostethic(sp?) ones. For quite sometime I was completely deaf in my right ear. Now it's around 60% and the left is around 75%.

Probably explains why I had those subs in my car with stock speakers and it sounded perfect to me!

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: hutch1ns
Yea but, we're talking over $500 for a sub that isn't much better than the sub in the logitech system. I'd rather spend a little more than that on subs and an amp for my car that'll make my junk vibrate while on my computer. It's a pretty big room (finished basement, one of those half basements on a split styled house. By eye i'd say its about 22x20x28x20'. Ceiling is maybe 6 1/2'ft.

There will be quite a large difference between a logitech sub and a $500 home theater sub.

Jello, please provide this gentleman with the comparison picture.

 

[electrosoccertux]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
klipsch

:thumbsup:
The logitech has more bass, but it is very muddy, not exact at all. The crossover between the sub and the satellites is very high too, ~310hz. Horrible. I would buy the Klipsch, the sub on that has 2 8" woofers (well powered) while the Logitech has one 10" underpowered woofer (Only 187 watts, should be ~220+ for a 10"). If this is just for movies then the Logitech might be better, but if you are going to do much music listening at all, the Klipsch is definitely what you want.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

klipsch. the logitech speakers can't compare to it in sound quality and the klipsch will b loud enough for any bedroom and maybe a small living room. logitech speakers are known to not have any mids, only squeaky highs, and a boomy bass

 

[mbesto]

I have yet to figure out why people buy "Computer" 5.1 systems....is it just me or aren't they a little overpriced when comparing to HITB? i bought a 420 Watt Sony HITB with a SPDIF/optical input for $200 last year and its unbelievable for music, movies, and gaming. My buddy had a promedia 5.1 system that not only crapped out after a year but also was comparable to my Sony HITB. You can even get comparable wattages now for like $100.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: mbesto
I have yet to figure out why people buy "Computer" 5.1 systems....is it just me or aren't they a little overpriced when comparing to HITB? i bought a 420 Watt Sony HITB with a SPDIF/optical input for $200 last year and its unbelievable for music, movies, and gaming. My buddy had a promedia 5.1 system that not only crapped out after a year but also was comparable to my Sony HITB. You can even get comparable wattages now for like $100.

You get more bang for your buck outta a computer system up to a certain price point. The $200 system you bought is, no offense, garbage in the HT world and not that great in the computer speaker world either.

Also, first thing you should learn about buying speaker systems is that wattages mean nothing. Going off that is a marketing tactic that companies use to draw in people that don't know better.

 

[NanoStuff]

Originally posted by: mbesto
i bought a 420 Watt Sony HITB with a SPDIF/optical input for $200 last year and its unbelievable for music, movies, and gaming.

Whatever helps you sleep at night

 

[Operandi]

People here love to praise Klipsch and bash Logitech, for reasons I can't understand. I own a set of Logitech's high-end 4.1s and have spent a bit of time with the equivalent Klipsch system. The difference is not as night as day as everyone seems to make it out to be.

The first thing that stand out to me with the Klipsch is the rather shrill highs, most likely due to the horn loaded tweeter. So while they may (and should) have a higher extension then the Loghitechs it doesn?t sound very good, at least to me.

Mids didn't sound noticeably different; they both share the problem of having the crossover set far too high on the sub. Although it appears that Loghitech is using smaller drivers in the sats now so that could make the problem even worse for Logitech.

Bass is a downfall on the Logitechs at high volume, as things do tend to blend to together but a mid to moderate volumes I think they do rather well (for PC speakers).

 

[imported_Truenofan]

i love my logitech system, and if im not mistaken its the same as what i'v got , just says digital on it now, thx certification means something y'know, i got perfect audio clarity with these things, and its beautiful, i play music, games, movies, everything, the bass is powerful and the highs are great. peak is just over 1000w, but hell it sounds like alot more to me, rms is 505w(meaning it does 505w, at moderat sound levels). but if your looking for a theatre system, try this one on for size...its a 1000w rms system, and 90% of the review for it are good, the only one better, is a 1000w thx system thats made by the same people and costs twice as much. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-Ho...atOid/-12884/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

if your an audiophile, i recall reading about how most electronic companies(sony, samsung, ect..) dont usualy make really good sound systems, and bose(check how none of they're systems are thx certified, and none of they're boxes show the frequency response ranges) is actually not all that good either surprisingly, for the price, they cant compair to other systems that end up better.

but im planning on going to that 1000w system, and then later on upgrading the subwoofer to something in the 400-600w range too...give it alitte more oomph

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
i love my logitech system, and if im not mistaken its the same as what i'v got , just says digital on it now, thx certification means something y'know, i got perfect audio clarity with these things, and its beautiful, i play music, games, movies, everything, the bass is powerful and the highs are great. peak is just over 1000w, but hell it sounds like alot more to me, rms is 505w(meaning it does 505w, at moderat sound levels). but if your looking for a theatre system, try this one on for size...its a 1000w rms system, and 90% of the review for it are good, the only one better, is a 1000w thx system thats made by the same people and costs twice as much. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-Ho...atOid/-12884/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

if your an audiophile, i recall reading about how most electronic companies(sony, samsung, ect..) dont usualy make really good sound systems, and bose(check how none of they're systems are thx certified, and none of they're boxes show the frequency response ranges) is actually not all that good either surprisingly, for the price, they cant compair to other systems that end up better.

but im planning on going to that 1000w system, and then later on upgrading the subwoofer to something in the 400-600w range too...give it alitte more oomph

I was going to offer a helpful reply, but you have already been lost to marketing...but here...lets just list whats wrong with your reply

1. Your system is nowhere near 1000 W peak 20 Hz-20KHz at respectable THD. You RMS is nowhere near 505 Watts 20 Hz-20 KHz at respectable THD.

2. THX certification means practically nothing

3. I don't care about the "wattage" of a speaker system

4. That onkyo set is nowhere near 1000 W 20 Hz - 20 KHz with a reasonable THD. It is decent for the money however.

5. No audiophile cares what BOSE does

6. No, they really can't compare to a true higher end system.

7. Whatever makes you sleep at night

 

[imported_Truenofan]

question, what profession are you in. because if thx is just a coy to sell things, then why when listen to other systems, that arent, in the same price range as my system costed, do they sound either flat, or very crappy at high volume.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
question, what profession are you in. because if thx is just a coy to sell things, then why when listen to other systems, that arent, in the same price range as my system costed, do they sound either flat, or very crappy at high volume.

Electrical Engineering currently.

Maybe because the ones you listen to are sub-$500? Why are most high end receivers not THX certified and quite a few cheaper ones are?

The reason is this. People looking at a $600-$2000+ receiver generally love audio, and know a little bit about it. They don't need a marketing tool to sell the product. For instance, currently NO Harmon Kardon receivers are THX certified, Denon receivers up to the 4806 are not THX certified and there are many more examples. Point is, I guarantee these receivers COULD be certified, but all that does is add more cost to the consumer for a pointless name badge.

Now those $200 systems need some oomph to get them out the door. When an uninformed shopper sees THX they think movie theater...it must be good.

Really THX certification comes down to cash. You pay the cost of the badge, you can put those three letters on the box.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

just curious, what kinda setup do you have, reciver, sub, speakers, eq. and what type of setup to the reciver from the computer do you have, what kind of soundcard or do you even have a system hooked up to your computer.(just wondering, im thinking of upping my system)

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
just curious, what kinda setup do you have, reciver, sub, speakers, eq. and what type of setup to the reciver from the computer do you have, what kind of soundcard or do you even have a system hooked up to your computer.(just wondering, im thinking of upping my system)

Right now, I have a Harman Kardon AVR-435 hooked up to my computer digitally through a SB audigy 2 ZS(Will be replaced by a Auzentech X-Purity when they are released). Speakers wise I have a custom built set of stereo speakers with Hi-Vi M6a drivers and a Seas tweeter. The rest are just leftovers from my first HtiB and decent but nothing great(dual 4" w/ tweeter wood cabinet). I would upgrade my sub to a SVS PB-10 but I am moving around too much right now to justify that.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

im looking at getting the x-plosion from auzentech myself....ill hafta look around for a really good set of speakers, and save up for them....i dont have the tools to build my own stuff(or the time for that matter). know any good sites for speakers, because the stores around here....ugh....im in the middle of nowhere and there arent any...a best buy was just built, and so was walmart...soo a starting site would help.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
im looking at getting the x-plosion from auzentech myself....ill hafta look around for a really good set of speakers, and save up for them....i dont have the tools to build my own stuff(or the time for that matter). know any good sites for speakers, because the stores around here....ugh....im in the middle of nowhere and there arent any...a best buy was just built, and so was walmart...soo a starting site would help.

Well, the "high end" speakers are sold usually through their own site. I have a feeling that a site like Onecall.com or Crutchfield.com would be a good place to start if you are just browsing. They have some good options. Depending on how high you are looking...you can also check out av123.com or axiomaudio.com

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: hutch1ns
Yea but, we're talking over $500 for a sub that isn't much better than the sub in the logitech system. I'd rather spend a little more than that on subs and an amp for my car that'll make my junk vibrate while on my computer. It's a pretty big room (finished basement, one of those half basements on a split styled house. By eye i'd say its about 22x20x28x20'. Ceiling is maybe 6 1/2'ft.

There will be quite a large difference between a logitech sub and a $500 home theater sub.

Jello, please provide this gentleman with the comparison picture.

yes sir

Logitech z-560 sub on top of the SVS PB10 (was $429) , next to an SVS 20-39 PC+ (was $650).

 

[PascalT]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1904146

this might help

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Truenofan
i love my logitech system, and if im not mistaken its the same as what i'v got , just says digital on it now, thx certification means something y'know, i got perfect audio clarity with these things, and its beautiful, i play music, games, movies, everything, the bass is powerful and the highs are great. peak is just over 1000w, but hell it sounds like alot more to me, rms is 505w(meaning it does 505w, at moderat sound levels). but if your looking for a theatre system, try this one on for size...its a 1000w rms system, and 90% of the review for it are good, the only one better, is a 1000w thx system thats made by the same people and costs twice as much. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-Ho...atOid/-12884/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

if your an audiophile, i recall reading about how most electronic companies(sony, samsung, ect..) dont usualy make really good sound systems, and bose(check how none of they're systems are thx certified, and none of they're boxes show the frequency response ranges) is actually not all that good either surprisingly, for the price, they cant compair to other systems that end up better.

but im planning on going to that 1000w system, and then later on upgrading the subwoofer to something in the 400-600w range too...give it alitte more oomph

I was going to offer a helpful reply, but you have already been lost to marketing...but here...lets just list whats wrong with your reply

1. Your system is nowhere near 1000 W peak 20 Hz-20KHz at respectable THD. You RMS is nowhere near 505 Watts 20 Hz-20 KHz at respectable THD.

2. THX certification means practically nothing

3. I don't care about the "wattage" of a speaker system

4. That onkyo set is nowhere near 1000 W 20 Hz - 20 KHz with a reasonable THD. It is decent for the money however.

5. No audiophile cares what BOSE does

6. No, they really can't compare to a true higher end system.

7. Whatever makes you sleep at night

whew, I thought I was going to have to say this stuff

And if the system was using 505 watts at moderate volume levels, that's nothing to be proud of... unless you own shares in the electric company

There are a lot of good options out there besides Onkyo's HTIB options. I have a decent list going in my unorganized General Audio Thread

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
just curious, what kinda setup do you have, reciver, sub, speakers, eq. and what type of setup to the reciver from the computer do you have, what kind of soundcard or do you even have a system hooked up to your computer.(just wondering, im thinking of upping my system)

If you might actually care about mine, I'm running an X-Mystique right now hooked up to a Boston Acoustics AVP7 pre-pro with an A7200 amp.
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/BAs.JPG <-- look no THX
They replaced a THX select Pioneer 1014tx, and guess what? They're better

There are several grades of THX certification, with the computer qualifications being the lowest and basically worthless.

So my Boston Acoustics are hooked up to that SVS pictured above and the speakers are AV123 Onix Rockets (4xRS550MKII , 1xRSC200)

AV123's x-series speakers might be a really good place to start for a HTIB replacement set. http://www.av123.com/products_category_pack.php?section=speakers&brand=55
The center channel is due to arrive sometime in September I think.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
peak is just over 1000w, but hell it sounds like alot more to me, rms is 505w(meaning it does 505w, at moderat sound levels). but if your looking for a theatre system, try this one on for size...its a 1000w rms system, and 90% of the review for it are good, the only one better, is a 1000w thx system thats made by the same people and costs twice as much.

Y'know, you'd probably have to spend around $6-10,000 for a pair of speakers from Bowers & Wilkins (the Nautilus 800 range), Revel or some other exotic brand to be able to handle 500W of RMS Power. Then, you will have to take a look at pricing for a Stereo Amp rated for 500Wx2. Truly, mind-numbing stuff.

I am not an expert in the field but I do know you can't just add up max sub power + (max satellite power * no. of satellites) to yield Total RMS Power or some statistic like that.

I'm glad you love your logitechs - and stats/measurements mean nothing as long as you perceive the sound as satisfactory/great. Just thought I should mention this - the audio/video world thrives on buzzwords, inflated specifications and marketing mumbo-jumbo. Let's not even talk about the idiots at Stereophile Magazine who seem to think a $400 Power Cord makes 'a noticeable difference' to a $60,000 Sound System. Or the miracles of the latest $4000 Power Conditioner or the immense value of a $700 for a 10-foot Speaker Cable that "reveals previously unheard resolution & detail".:disgust:

When it comes to audio, trust your ears. Your own ears. What some might call harsh highs, you might call treblicious!