Speaker Decision

T

The Donut

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
3,121
Well, having scored my new job working at home, my wife decided she'd buy me a new set of speakers so I can listen to my music as I work.

I however, have a dilemma - I simply don't know what's good! I come here, asking you, the specialists.. :p What would be a decent system? It's primarily for playing music.. and I have a few things specced that I would like:

- 2 Inputs (Laptop & Workstation, with the ability to switch between the two)
- Not really fussy with the input type, I have a SB Live card in my Workstation, not sure what my Inspiron 9200 has.
- Decent Sub/Bass, I don't want plastic rattling if I play anything with bass.

My last set of speakers was the Altec Lansing 5100's, and they were nice but have begun to peak on trebble and thus don't provide the clear and concise sound that they used to.

To conclude, my budget is anywhere from $100 -> $400 Canadian, depending on my wife and her mood.. :p

Would love to hear suggestions and reasoning.. :) Thanks!
 
I dunno what kind of systen you want. If you want 2.1, a cheaper but awesome set is the Logitech Z-2300s. They'll run ya about $100 USD. I dunno what that converts to for CAD.

You can prolly find an electronics retailer with an audio splitter/switcher so you can switch between outputs.


Let us know if you want 2.1 or surround sound.
 
go for the logitech z5500 digitals when ur wife in a good day lol the 10.25inch sub will please any bass lover
 
i'm really happy with my klipsch promedia 4.1 system although i'm running only 2.1 at the moment. they're not the best but you could do a lost worse. the bass is very good with them and the highs are decent. the mids can be lacking sometimes, though.
 
Have your wife get you a nice monitor pair and you provide the amplification. The sooner you can get out of multimedias the sooner you'll be experiencing what real sound is :)
 
Newbify2 said:
Have your wife get you a nice monitor pair and you provide the amplification. The sooner you can get out of multimedias the sooner you'll be experiencing what real sound is :)
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Seconded :)
 
Newbify2 said:
Have your wife get you a nice monitor pair and you provide the amplification. The sooner you can get out of multimedias the sooner you'll be experiencing what real sound is :)
Click to expand...
May I ask, what you would suggest? I'm assuming by "multimedias" your referring to computer-based speakers.. I have no problem going towards something else, but i'm far from an audiophile... and i'd be looking at 2.1 sound, I have the home theatre should I need 5.1.

Thanks for the input so far, it's much appreciated.
 
Klipsch are horrifically expensive here... they'll cost around $300 more for the promedia ultra 5.1's than the logitech z-5500's... that's really hard to justify (~$370 as compared to ~$650) for the sound improvement you get. At that kind of jump, you might as well invest in a cheap home theatre system
 
The Donut said:
May I ask, what you would suggest? I'm assuming by "multimedias" your referring to computer-based speakers.. I have no problem going towards something else, but i'm far from an audiophile... and i'd be looking at 2.1 sound, I have the home theatre should I need 5.1.

Thanks for the input so far, it's much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Get a pair of ElT LRS' from AV123. They are only 130$ right now, instead of the usual 250, so they are a great deal. Then just tag on a decent stereo receiver with a sub out, save up some cash, and get a sub to go with it when you can afford one.


http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=32
 
Edirol MA-20D Digital Stereo Near Field Monitors
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ma20d.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=275853&is=REG

Used for pro audio, they will provide you with the most accurate treble and tightest bass for your money. They are 20W self amplified, shielded, have digital coax and optical inputs, RCA inputs, and 1/4" phone inputs. Therefore, you can use 3 inputs simultaneously, and control the volume seperately of 2 different inputs (volume 1 is RCA & digital, volume 2 is 1/4" in). so basically 2 analog inputs (you can use adapters from radio shack to use with any analog source) and 2 digital inputs, 1 digital usable at a time.

If you want surround speakers to go with them, pick up a pair of MA-15D or MA-10DBK speakers to match them:
http://www.edirol.com/products/speakers.html

these type of speakers will blow those 5.1 setups in compusa away
 
Or if you can find a place to get them in Canada(if you can, let me know) get the Swan M-200's. No sub but they will do as well as most sets and it won't be boomy like most pc speakers
 
dotZIP said:
Klipsch are horrifically expensive here... they'll cost around $300 more for the promedia ultra 5.1's than the logitech z-5500's... that's really hard to justify (~$370 as compared to ~$650) for the sound improvement you get. At that kind of jump, you might as well invest in a cheap home theatre system
Click to expand...

well buffalo is only a short ride from toronto...it might be worth while to take it and save the extra money
 
The klipsch ultra 5.1's were a dissapointment coming from the promedia 5.1 thx set. As far as value for the money the logitech z-5500 is a very nice set and the HW decoder is much better then the SW decoder on powerdvd or windvd. If I were to go software the only one I would really recommend would be theatertek 2.0. The z5500 don't go as low(x-over limit) as the promedia thx but it's a hell of a tough sub and very pronounced, in fact I generally have it turned down a bit since it's corner loaded under my desk.
 
Newbify2 said:
Have your wife get you a nice monitor pair and you provide the amplification. The sooner you can get out of multimedias the sooner you'll be experiencing what real sound is :)
Click to expand...

I agree, most consumer-level multimedia speakers like Logitech and Creative are as cheap as the cardboard box they come in, ugly in sound and looks and not even worth listening to.

If by monitor you mean the brand called Monitor Audio, then yes those are excellent passive speakers. Their silver series are fantastic when paired with a Krell or any other high end amp.

If by monitor you mean studio monitor, I'd recommend Event Tuned Reference series and KRK V-4 for that type of speaker and, since they're active, there's no need for an external amp. They're also going to be exceptionally accurate in all frequencies because of what they're designed to do; master recordings.
 
Haloevo said:
Definately go for the Z-680's :) They can be found for 299.99$

just use www.pricenetwork.ca :)
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I got my set of Z-680s brand-spanking-new at Tiger Direct's Outlet Store in Markham, Ontario for $229 on Christmas Eve. I'm not sure if they have any more though. They had a wall of them when I bought mine.
 
Tofu Drift said:
I got my set of Z-680s brand-spanking-new at Tiger Direct's Outlet Store in Markham, Ontario for $229 on Christmas Eve. I'm not sure if they have any more though. They had a wall of them when I bought mine.
Click to expand...
ya man, that's so increadible. :eek: Wish I could have been there at the time. :eek:
 
BO(V)BZ said:
Get a pair of ElT LRS' from AV123. They are only 130$ right now, instead of the usual 250, so they are a great deal. Then just tag on a decent stereo receiver with a sub out, save up some cash, and get a sub to go with it when you can afford one.


http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=32
Click to expand...

I made this move, and I'm loving it. I took delivery of my ELTs today. If you have some space to play with, then HiFi speakers are really the way to go. You also need to upgrade your source.

The total cost of my rig is less than $200 right now. Chaintech AV-710 ($25) -> Used stereo reciever from Craigslist ($25) -> ELT LRS $150 shipped.

Of course, I had the interconnects and spare 16 guage lamp cord laying around, so that's might be a bit more for you. You might also want a pair of of stands for your speakers.





Of course, those studio monitors look interesting too. With a digital input, you wouldn't have to upgrade your source because you could simply use a s/pidif output from your motherboard. I wanted a reciever so that I could power a second set of speakers in the adjacent bedroom and so that I could listen to the radio.
 
GodsMadClown said:
I made this move, and I'm loving it. I took delivery of my ELTs today. If you have some space to play with, then HiFi speakers are really the way to go. You also need to upgrade your source.

The total cost of my rig is less than $200 right now. Chaintech AV-710 ($25) -> Used stereo reciever from Craigslist ($25) -> ELT LRS $150 shipped.
QUOTE]

Cool to hear GMC =] Got any thoughts on them quite yet, or withholding your opinion until you've had more of a chance to play with them? Also, what were you using beforehands?

On the topic of deliveries from AV123, I got my XCD-88 CD player yesterday, and it's a nice SQ improvement over my Audigy2 input [not using the emu right now, cause I'm lazy]

I'm running the CD player right into my SP3 amp, and it's great so far. If you want more impressions, I'll give em =]
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I was using a set of 5.1 Monsoon MH-505. The integration between the planar tweeters and the cone midrange wias prettty ragged. I like the ELT better.
 
BO(V)BZ said:
Get a pair of ElT LRS' from AV123. They are only 130$ right now, instead of the usual 250, so they are a great deal. Then just tag on a decent stereo receiver with a sub out, save up some cash, and get a sub to go with it when you can afford one.


http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=32
Click to expand...

Dumb question...why go with a receiver instead of a power amp? Or, is it even possible to go soundcard --> poweramp --> speakers? Or is that impossibe; does it have to be soundcard ---> receiver --> (poweramp, if available) --> speakers?

My two cents. Either check out the non-multimedia options that people are talking about or look into some multimedia speakers. I have the Klipsch 4.1 THX and they are fine for me. I'd look into the Swan M200s though; however, if you like bass, they are only 2,0, so keep that in mind. Good luck.

-fool
 
fool_10 said:
Dumb question...why go with a receiver instead of a power amp?
-fool
Click to expand...

Because receivers are more common, and as such, are cheaper. If I could have picked up a decent integrated amp for less, then I would have. My budget was decidedly minimal. I was looking to get it for ~$30. However, there is an amp that is making things interesting.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/t-amp_e.html

Add a decent 12 volt power supply to that, run it through some dummy batteries, and you might have your cheap power amp.
 
fool_10 said:
Dumb question...why go with a receiver instead of a power amp? Or, is it even possible to go soundcard --> poweramp --> speakers? Or is that impossibe; does it have to be soundcard ---> receiver --> (poweramp, if available) --> speakers?

My two cents. Either check out the non-multimedia options that people are talking about or look into some multimedia speakers. I have the Klipsch 4.1 THX and they are fine for me. I'd look into the Swan M200s though; however, if you like bass, they are only 2,0, so keep that in mind. Good luck.

-fool
Click to expand...

The biggest reason I recommend a receiver is the flexibility that one offers the user. You can hook up multiple sources, it's relatively failsafe, and it integrates all the important features, including multiple channels and DTS/DD decoding in one. Also, many times the DACs in a receiver are of a higher quality that those found on a soundcard, so running sound digitally can give you a SQ benefit.

Also, many power amps don't have a volume control, so it would be easy to damage speakers with them, even ones with modest amounts of power. If you hooked up your A2 to your power amp and left the volume maxed, you could blow your speakers the second you turned them on. I've got a tube amp that has a volume control, and when I feed it a line-level source [like my new CD player] at half volume it outputs over 100dB. Note that this guy only has 38WPC, which ain't too much.

Power amps certainly aren't bad, but I wouldn't recommend them immediately for somebody interested in setting up a HT or a better computer setup, due to the aforementioned benefits.
 
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