Any suggestions for computer speaker systems?

illh

I've had Creative Inspire T3000s for a couple years now and I've wanted to go for surround sound speakers, but I'm not sure how much room that would take on my desktop, and also the prices for certain ones, namely the logitech z-5500s are out of my budget. Are low end surround sound systems even worth it? (Logitech 530s)
Should I try an make the Logitech z-5500s into my budget? =)

So right now, I kinda have my eye on the Logitech 2300s and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s, which are both around $110.

What do you guys think I should get, in a $120 range preferably? Thanks

SnappyCrunch

I've been more than satisfied with my Creative Inspire 5200 set. I see no reason that you should pay $120 when you can get a good 5.1 set for $80.

Also, if you're going up to a 5.1 set, make sure you get the rear speaker stands and you have room to place them. A 5.1 surround speaker set is useless without the proper setup.

enf0rcer

I've got logitech z-640 speakers, they're pretty nice I must say. I got them for $64 cause they were "refurbished." As far as I can tell they're brand new just took a tour round the factory twice because they failed some test and were fixed. I've had em for over a year and I must say i got a good deal <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

try rummaging around for refurbished stuff if you dont care about that sort of thing. People get a bit hung up on the whole new is best thing.

Marik_Steele

Think about the way you'll be using them most.

Is it for music?
Movies?
Games?

Do you have family members/roommates who would consider loud noise disturbing? What about their feelings towards large subwoofers?

I'll comment more after I see answers to the above.

illh

<!--quoteo(post=1588258:date=Dec 13 2006, 09:05 PM:name=Marik_Steele)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marik_Steele @ Dec 13 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]1588258[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Think about the way you'll be using them most.

Is it for music?
Movies?
Games?

Do you have family members/roommates who would consider loud noise disturbing? What about their feelings towards large subwoofers?

I'll comment more after I see answers to the above.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Primarily it will be for Music and Games, though I would say mostly music. I would watch a movie on it occasionally, but not too often. My roommates would not mind loud music as long as it was tasteful haha =).
I share a room with two other guys in a townhouse, 2 stories, and the other room has two girls.

This would go in my room attop my computer desk, which could comfortably fits say 3 speakers on top. I'm not quite sure about the sub though, because while I may have leg space under, I don't think I could go too much bigger than the sub I have now. I'd say I could fit something along the dimensions of 20"x20"x30" (lxwxh)

Marik_Steele

If it's mostly for music, a bit for games, and less for movies, I'd say...

...check your music collection, see what the most common filetype is, and research what speakers it'll actually use. For example, standard mp3's don't even use the rear channels, so your $100 is better spent on a higher-end 2.1 system than a mid or lower-end 5.1 system.

Games would start justifying surround speaker setups, but remember that for games, there's a particular need to sense where a sound is coming from. Some people consider it easier to tell the position of a sound using higher-end headphones instead of similarly priced, mid to low-range speakers. Test out different sets of headphones & speakers to see if you're one of these people. This'll help you decide on putting all of that budget towards a set of speakers vs. splitting the budget between a good headset+mic & a lower-priced set of speakers.

If you aren't watching movies much on the computer, focus on music & game sound; movie sound will likely turn out fine.

Talesin

If you're going for gaming (and can find one) I'd suggest an Aureal Vortex sound card and a pair of off-the-shelf speakers. Creative forced Aureal into bankruptcy and bought the company, and are sitting on the patents... primarily because with the A3D hardware, you get better sound quality and positional sound than from a 7.1 surround rig. And Creative makes most of their money selling speakers, not sound cards. Obviously, a solution NOT requiring people to buy a crapload of pointless speakers was a huge threat to their profit margin.

puzl

I got a set of <a href="http://www.jbl.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=CREATUREIIWHT&cat=HMM&ser=HMM" target="_blank">JBL Creature II</a> speakers on Fam's recommendation. I'd recommend them to anyone who wants good sound but who can't be bothered with a mess of modules and wires.

<img src="http://www.jbl.com/home/products/images/products_small/CREATUREIIWHT.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />