Computer Speakers

Ole Puddin Head

Does anyone know if Polk makes computer speakers ? I looked and didnt see any. I was wondering if they can use existing speakers and retro fit them to accommodate the pc mini plug. Ive tried all the top reviewed speakers and hated them all. Audioengine, Bose Logitech and none of them sound as good as my old Harmon Kardon Soundsticks series II. Since that model is discontinued and the series III sounds awful, i figured i would try Polk.

falconcry72

If you're looking for great sound, no "computer speaker" is going to do it.

You can; however, run any real speakers you want from your computer using external amplification.

There are a number of ways to do this. Poke around with the search function...

Welcome to Cub Polk!:biggrin:

Tons of info and helpful folks around here!

Ole Puddin Head

Ive searched and i didnt see any Polk speakers working with computers. Also if i were to externally amplify a regular set of polk speakers how would they connect to a PC ?

falconcry72

Ole Puddin Head wrote: »

Ive searched and i didnt see any Polk speakers working with computers. Also if i were to externally amplify a regular set of polk speakers how would they connect to a PC ?

Any speaker in the world can "work with" a computer as a source.

As I said, there are a number of different ways to do this, and a number of threads in this forum about it. Get your search on...

1) 1/8" mini jack (headphone) out to a preamp + amp or receiver

2) internal sound card's RCA outs to a preamp + amp or receiver

3) internal sound card's SPDIF out to a DAC to a preamp + amp or receiver

4) USB out to a USB DAC to a preamp + amp or receiver

5) USB out to a USB to SPDIF converter to a DAC to a preamp + amp or receiver

6) Wireless to a Squeezebox's analog outs to a receiver or preamp + amp

7) Wirless to a squeezebox's SPDIF out to a DAC to a preamp + amp or receiver

8) apple stuff I don't know a lot about

check this thread that's active right now:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122641

Ole Puddin Head

Wow thanks for the great replies. I never thought of all the ways until you posted them. Ok now here is the other point. I got the connection part down. Now which Polk speaker would you suggest for a simple pc setup. Now ive never owned any Polk speakers and wouldnt really know where to start. I think the RM series are closer to what i would like size wise. I would also like a sub to go with them. Im curious to what others in here have as their set up.

CCNJ

Ole Puddin Head wrote: »

Ive searched and i didnt see any Polk speakers working with computers. Also if i were to externally amplify a regular set of polk speakers how would they connect to a PC ?

I agree that computer speakers are not the best solution for really good sound.

here is a product made for computer audio. simple and inexpensive
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Photos/Default.aspx?i=773ICON2B&search=Nuforce+VENDORID773&searchdisplay=Nuforce&tp=34948

I ended up not buying it and instead hooked up an integrated amp and external dac to my computer via a USB AB connector. Then use any bookshelf speakers you want.

falconcry72

Ole Puddin Head wrote: »

Wow thanks for the great replies. I never thought of all the ways until you posted them. Ok now here is the other point. I got the connection part down. Now which Polk speaker would you suggest for a simple pc setup. Now ive never owned any Polk speakers and wouldnt really know where to start. I think the RM series are closer to what i would like size wise. I would also like a sub to go with them. Im curious to what others in here have as their set up.

I think the biggest determining factors are going to be size of room, distance from the speakers to your ears, the quality of other associated gear (DAC, receiver, or amps etc), and your budget.

I'm imagining that you'd want something on the smaller side, so the LSI-7's would be fantastic, but it wouldn't make sense to get them if you were playing mp3's through the mini jack output on your computer to a cheap receiver.

Polk's customer service is second to none, and they know much more about their current lines then I do.

Good luck, and stick around; there's a ton of great audio/video info on this forum!:biggrin:

Topper

Something like the Nuforce Icon2 paired with maybe the Polk RTi A1 if it aint too big for ya should be a good combo for your comp. If your ok with picking up sub, i'd also have you check out the new Blackstones series satellites.

Tbone289

Take a look at the office system in my signature. All of those items can be purchased easily and inexpensively on the used market (except the DAC), and the sound is excellent. Mix and match with different models as you please. For example, a different receiver or a newer model bookshelf speaker may be easier to find. The possibilities are nearly endless, especially if you're sticking to a 2-channel system.

Ole Puddin Head

Thanks everyone for the input. Ive got my work cut out for me :-)

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk!

From what I gather the new Polk Blackstone series speakers make good pc speakers. http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/blackstonetl/

Or you can check out Cambridge SoundWorks pc speakers. I have the original SoundWorks set up and they have been doing just fine for over 10 years now. They have since upgraded the series.

http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com/PC-Multimedia-Products/b/2858427011

nwohlford

cfrizz wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk!

From what I gather the new Polk Blackstone series speakers make good pc speakers. http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/blackstonetl/

Or you can check out Cambridge SoundWorks pc speakers. I have the original SoundWorks set up and they have been doing just fine for over 10 years now. They have since upgraded the series.

http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com/PC-Multimedia-Products/b/2858427011

I second the SoundWorks suggestion if you want an easy solution. I picked up one of the SoundWorks Extreme 2.1 systems for my office at work a few months ago when they had a special on their open box items. I really like the sound and ease of use. Given the location, I listen to only at fairly low volume levels. (I did turn it up on a weekend once and was less impressed with the sound.)

Now I did get mine for $140 so that affects my satisfaction level. At the regular price (~$300), you would be able to get a used pair of speakers and integrated amp that would sound better.

Tbone289

SoundWorks are ok... But the full-range drivers in the satellites are nowhere near the performance of a good bookshelf speaker. I pieced together my office system for about $350, and it sounds much better than the original SoundWorks. Maybe these new SoundWorks systems are better though, I haven't heard one in a while. The Extreme SoundWorks looks pretty good.

The Cambridge Model 12 is another story... It's a fantastic sounding portable system. I always pack mine with me when I'm away from home.

nwohlford

Tbone289 wrote: »

SoundWorks are ok... But the full-range drivers in the satellites are nowhere near the performance of a good bookshelf speaker. I pieced together my office system for about $350, and it sounds much better than the original SoundWorks. Maybe these new SoundWorks systems are better though, I haven't heard one in a while. The Extreme SoundWorks looks pretty good.

The Cambridge Model 12 is another story... It's a fantastic sounding portable system. I always pack mine with me when I'm away from home.

The Extreme system uses a two way satellite which I would think would be a big step up from the single driver satellites used in the other SoundWorks models.

Now for my home office, I picked up a pair of used lsi7s, adcom gfp-555ii, and adcom gfa-535ii for the list price of the SoundWorks Extreme. Obviously, the home office is a much better system, but probably hard to find these at that price.

skrol

I think Polk should build a desktop system based on the Blackstone speakers and include a DAC / Amp (Tripath) and a little sub.

For now, I bet some M-audio powered speakers would do well.

dorokusai

Cambridge Soundworks is awful and the word Extreme doesn't belong in that series at all.

Any monitor can be an awesome computer loudspeaker as I've had at least 6 computer rigs based around them and a integrated amplifier.

That Blackstone computer rig idea is great....and I hope that Polk listens to that one.

cfrizz

That's a bit of an exaggeration Mark. For people that have tight space problems, the Soundworks setup is ideal, and they certainly sound better than the cheap plastic stuff that you get from other pc speaker makers.

Do they sound as good as a pair of bookshelves? Of course not, but since I don't have any room for a pair of those, I will take the Soundworks system until something smaller & better comes along.

dorokusai

cfrizz wrote: »

For people that have tight space problems, the Soundworks setup is ideal....

That's also a bit of an exaggeration if we're talking semantics Cathy since there are a handful of ideal and better choices for tight space problems. Bose even fits better.

I'm not aware of Cambridge leading the industry with their space saving designs since the company came about 10+ years after the boom. They started as a magazine speaker, hardly cutting edge, but then again everyone is in a magazine now.

gdb

I don't know how these would compare to my current Altec Lansings(which sound incredible) but the price is cheap enough to give em away if you don't like them.Another option might be the discontinued, heavily discounted Polk SDA surround bar(wall mountable) w/wireless sub, from wally world also

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Altec-Computer-Speakers-three-piece-BXR1221-BX1221/12321677?sourceid=06210747711625399147&wmlspartner=RvEiSnI7NyY

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Polk-Audio-SurroundBar-SDA-Instant-Home-Theater/15773463?sourceid=05585197683867203745&wmlspartner=RvEiSnI7NyY

dorokusai

Wow...helluva price on that IHT SBar.

Tbone289

dorokusai wrote: »

I'm not aware of Cambridge leading the industry with their space saving designs since the company came about 10+ years after the boom.

The boom in space-saving designs was 1978 or prior? I thought it was later than that.

dorokusai

Tbone289 wrote: »

The boom in space-saving designs was 1978 or prior? I thought it was later than that.

Huh? Yes, it was later.

Tbone289

dorokusai wrote: »

Huh? Yes, it was later.

I must have misunderstood you. I thought you were saying that Cambridge "came about" 10+ years after the boom in space-saving designs. Since Cambridge "came about" in 1988, that would make the space-saving boom circa 1978 or prior. It seems to me that 1988 would have been toward the beginning of the boom, considering that the first Bose Acoustimass system was introduced in 1989.

dorokusai

TBone - No, I know their lineage and that they have been around for a good while. My comment was more intune with their popularity and market impact, since it didn't really happen for them until etailer magazines hit the shelves. They were a soft sell prior to that and not very influential since their biggest competitor has and always has been, Bose.

Now, they're just another option among many others, some worse, some much better and price not really factoring into any of it.

Tbone289

Thanks for explaining that. Basically, we should dismiss Cambridge products due to their historically poor market impact, influence and soft sales. Rather, we should buy from the sales leaders such as Bose. After all, it follows that the best designs in audio in that segment will be the best sellers.

dorokusai

Where do you read that? It's just a comment and observation based on what I know about that company since I follow trending and sales, coupled with personal experience earlier. I'd rather Polk or another manufacturer of similar pricepoint and form factor be a consideration since they just sound better. Did I pee on your speakers or something?

wayne3burk

i'm gonna wade in here.... there have been many respectable 2-way speakers designed...

If you need computer speakers and space is a consideration - then the original Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble - which consisted of 2 seperate two tweeter/midrange boxes - and two flat bass boxes might be worth considering. After all they were designed by Henry Kloss, so they can't be all that bad.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cambridge-Soundworks-New-Ensemble-Speakers-Satellite-/320720898641?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item4aac748a51#ht_4992wt_1201

But if you are considering a SLPR (small low power receiver) for integrating with your computer there a countless mid-size circa 60s/70s/80s "bookshelf" speakers that will give you full range - near field - listening pleasure.

The ones that come to mind mentioned in this forum are Dynaco A25s, KLH 17s/20s, Polk Monitor 5s /7s, -- I'm listening to a pair of Realistic Nova 10s right now that i paid $14 for at my local thrift store.

happy speaker hunting and let us know what set-up you end-up with

dorokusai

They have his name involved, that's about it as his influence is minimal at best.

Gatecrasher

I've had Cambridge Soundworks speakers for my PC for over 10 years now and they are pretty-nice.

I disagree with the earlier statement that no PC speaker setup will sound good. These bad boys sound great.

All they have are two small satellites and a powered sub with digital & analog inputs. I run a digital out from my PC soundcard directly to the Cambridge amp in the subwoofer enclosure and man do they crank.

I highly recommend them.

Sledgehammer462

Sounded very familiar...so I just called my tech head long time friend and he has the Cambridge setup for a while now also...I took notice a few years ago when I was at his house and commented on how "great" it sounded...and yes, they did crank!!!

Tbone289

dorokusai wrote: »

Did I pee on your speakers or something?

I hope not, I like the smell of my speakers as is. You'll note that I was steering the OP away from Cambridge, and toward a custom bookshelf system also. I realize your post was in reaction to cfrizz's, but I was just trying to reason out why Cabridge's historical market position ought to factor into the OP's decision to purchase them or not. No big deal.