Time for some new computer speakers...

comfortablycurt

My Boston Acoustics sub/sat setup is starting to get a little dated...the volume knobs getting staticy...they cut out from time to time and you have to jiggle the wires around...figured it was time to get some new ones.

I'm just looking for some dedicated computer speakers...there's no room for a real rig here, however much I might wish that there was room.

I've looked around at the Logitech ones a little bit. I've heard mixed reviews on them, some people love them, some people can barely stand to hear the name...lol I've always had good experiences with their products. Here's the one I was mainly looking at...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/5862&cl=us,en


Any other suggestions? Not looking to spend a lot of money here, but want to get the best that I can for the money. Less than $100 preferably. Space is kind of limited too, so it can't really be any larger than the Logitech system I mentioned.


Thanks in advance,

Curt

wutadumsn23

Hey Curt, a buddy of mine brought a set of these to work, and I fell in love. Nothing fancy and they don't have a sub, but these speakers but out a very well rounded, full sound and IMHO don't need a sub. They are made by Creative and I have enclosed a link. Right around $100, so they just fit the bill.

-Jeff

http://www.buy.com/prod/creative-gigaworks-series-ii-t20-speaker-system-2-0-channel-28w-rms/q/loc/101/210731946.html

comfortablycurt

Hey Jeff,

Those look pretty nice. I like them. They actually have a lower rated frequency response than the Logitech system, but without a sub! Very impressive. Having separate tweeters and mid-woofers is very nice, rather than the single full range drivers on the Logitech. I like the fact that you can control the bass and treble individually too. I'll tack these ones on the potential list!

Thanks for the suggestion.:)


edit-Hmm...for only $50 more, I could get these...

http://www.buy.com/prod/creative-gigaworks-t40-series-ii/q/loc/101/210733586.html


I like those...an extra mid-woofer, deeper bass response. It's probably got a lot smoother sounding high end as well, due to the D'appolito array.

wutadumsn23

Yeah, I am listening to the T20's right now and for having no sub, they rock!! I can only imagine what the T40's are capable of, having the extra mid woofer.

-Jeff

lanion

$30 down from $100.... I think these are a good bet..

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BOMM220




never heard them though.

Kex

Why not look for some "real" speakers that are small in size? Something like Polk New MiniMonitors. I think Motzart was selling a pair a while ago for $50 o.b.o. They may not be destined to impress, but I bet they would make excellent PC speakers for little cost, if you have the right connections to hook them up.

Edit: found a link to the thread - http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76668

Pauly

Im using RTI70's for my computer rig

Wont dare even buy "computer speakers" anymore. Last pair of computer speakers just didnt cut it for me.


Pauly

sTiLlLeArNiNg

the gigawork's are supposed to be great sounding speaker's! personally myself i would be looking for a 2.1 setup but that's just me.

being a seasoned audio enthusiast you know what to look for in the spec's you can't really go wrong with creative/logitech/altec just have a look around the net to find yourself the best deal

if it was me i'd be looking at creative and altec.... sorry i can't offer more advice but i haven't listened to any other PC speaker's than my own (cheap but decent altec's 2.0) in the last little while

lanion

I have Audio engine speakers.... $200 and it is an AWESOME 2.0 setup for a computer. if you can find those used in your budget I recommend it.

http://www.audioengineusa.com/a2_home.php

Their warrant is great -- I got a free replacement no questions asked when one speaker channel died after over a year.

svtjoe

Logitech Z-2300. Look no further. Awesome.

RandyBox

Always been an Altec fan...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBA4

Regards,
Randy

comfortablycurt

Kex wrote: »

Why not look for some "real" speakers that are small in size? Something like Polk New MiniMonitors. I think Motzart was selling a pair a while ago for $50 o.b.o. They may not be destined to impress, but I bet they would make excellent PC speakers for little cost, if you have the right connections to hook them up.

Edit: found a link to the thread - http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76668

Hmm...that thread should be marked as sold. I actually bought those speakers a while back, so it's kind of ironic that you should mention it...lol One of them is pulling center channel duty at the moment, until I get my CSi5.

I've thought about using those, but they're a little large for my space here. I don't have the room for the components to run them anyway.

lanion wrote: »

I have Audio engine speakers.... $200 and it is an AWESOME 2.0 setup for a computer. if you can find those used in your budget I recommend it.

http://www.audioengineusa.com/a2_home.php

Their warrant is great -- I got a free replacement no questions asked when one speaker channel died after over a year.

Those look pretty nice. $200 is a bit more than I want to spend though, so I'll keep my eyes out for a used pair. Thanks for the suggestion.

svtjoe wrote: »

Logitech Z-2300. Look no further. Awesome.

That looks really nice, but the sub wouldn't fit where I need it to unfortunately.

Monster Jam

My computer speakers are JBL 500 bookshelves I had that were in the closet collecting dust. To drive them, I bought an Adcom GFA-555 off of ePray.

I wonder if those JBLs are getting enough power?

comfortablycurt

RandyBox wrote: »

Always been an Altec fan...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBA4

Regards,
Randy

I'm really liking those ones. I like the built in sub-woofers. I dig the aesthetics too.

These are definitely getting tacked onto the list.

Thanks for the suggestion.:)

cfrizz

I love my Cambridge Soundworks Soundworks system. Small Compact but puts out great sound.

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=mul_spk_csw&item=1100001246

zingo

I bought my pair of Swan M200s for $100 and they are great speakers for a PC. Plenty of sound and a nice HiFi look to boot.

Knucklehead

RandyBox wrote: »

Always been an Altec fan...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBA4

Regards,
Randy

nice speakers, the same ones I have.

concealer404

Klipsch THX 2.1 system can be found for under $100, and it sounds pretty decent.

TouchOfEvil

Must resist urge to spend money on more audio gear lol.

BjornB17

i bought a cheap harman kardon receiver (AVR140, $150 from harmanaudio.com) and then bough a pair of RTi6's and use that on my PC now. much better than PC speakers?

comfortablycurt

I wish I could set up a decent budget 2 channel rig with some separates, and some nice bookshelves, but it just isn't an option. The space that I have to place my speakers is about 5 inches wide, with barely any room behind. Not to mention that I have absolutely nowhere to put the components to run it.

I'll set up a nicer computer rig someday when I've got more space to do it.

I'm thinking I'll probably end up going with either the Creative T20's, or the Altec Lansing FX3022's. It's gonna be a little while before I've got the coin for them though. I've got a couple new upgrades coming for my 2 channel and HT.

RandyBox

comfortablycurt wrote: »

I wish I could set up a decent budget 2 channel rig with some separates, and some nice bookshelves, but it just isn't an option. The space that I have to place my speakers is about 5 inches wide, with barely any room behind. Not to mention that I have absolutely nowhere to put the components to run it.

I'll set up a nicer computer rig someday when I've got more space to do it.

I'm thinking I'll probably end up going with either the Creative T20's, or the Altec Lansing FX3022's. It's gonna be a little while before I've got the coin for them though. I've got a couple new upgrades coming for my 2 channel and HT.

Altec...Altec...Altec...;)

BjornB17

comfortablycurt wrote: »

I wish I could set up a decent budget 2 channel rig with some separates, and some nice bookshelves, but it just isn't an option. The space that I have to place my speakers is about 5 inches wide, with barely any room behind. Not to mention that I have absolutely nowhere to put the components to run it.

I'll set up a nicer computer rig someday when I've got more space to do it.

I'm thinking I'll probably end up going with either the Creative T20's, or the Altec Lansing FX3022's. It's gonna be a little while before I've got the coin for them though. I've got a couple new upgrades coming for my 2 channel and HT.

In that case I have found Altec Lansing to be one of the better manufacturers of computer speakers.

Fongolio

I've been using Logitech Z-680's for years. The Z-5500's are very good too if you need full surround including center. You can probably find The Z-680's used for a very good price. Best bang for buck out there in my opinion.

comfortablycurt

Fongolio wrote: »

I've been using Logitech Z-680's for years. The Z-5500's are very good too if you need full surround including center. You can probably find The Z-680's used for a very good price. Best bang for buck out there in my opinion.

I've thought about that...having a full surround setup on my PC would be nice. I could probably squeeze it in, but it'd be pretty tight. I'll probably just end up going with a 2.0 or 2.1 system...but I've definitely been tossing 5.1 around.

I really probably wouldn't use it too much though. I'd still just be listening in 2 channel most of the time.

gtu2004

only 2 systems you should be looking at here for price/performance

1. Logitech z-5500 (cost around $200)
2. Klipsch Promedia 2.1 (can be found used for $75-ish on ebay)

The Swans listed above are also very nice.

comfortablycurt

xcapri79 wrote: »

Have you looked at the Razer Mako 2.1 Speaker System?
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-mako/

The looks like a good candidate for a reasonably priced 2.1 computer speaker system.
It is listed as a 300W system with bi-amplified 50W satellites with DSP control. Approx. $258 shipped from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0012MLK8G/ref=pd_luc_mri?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

woah...That thing is weird looking...lol...I think I'd prefer something that actually looks like a speaker.

comfortablycurt

xcapri79 wrote: »

I'm curious whether other computer owners are using an external AVR or amp to drive real HT speakers and a subwoofer as opposed to using low powered "computer speakers" in a box.

Quite a few people are doing that. That's what I'd be doing too, if only I had the room. Someday when I've got a slightly larger computer area, I'll probably be going with some smaller tube separates, with a nice pair of bookshelves.