Looking for new PC speakers

[CrArC]

Those are the X-530's, the Z5300's are as follows:

100 watts subwoofer
180 watts from the satellites (2 x 35.25W front, 2 x 35.25W rear, 39W center) for a total of 280 watts.

It's still half the power though, but I know for a fact they sound nice too (perhaps a little boomy, like there could be more punch and less reverberation, but that could be an isolated case)

 

[ellover009]

Bose isn't better. Bose is retarded. Nobody that knows anything about audio ever buys bose.

But, really, have you thought about the Z5300's? they're damn near as loud as the 5500's its just that they don't have the built in digital decoder. But since most of us have decent sound cards like the xfi, and audigy2, etc, those cards have the built in decoders anyways, so the one in the logitechs is kinda pointless and a waste of the extra money. the 5300's btw are also about half the cost of the 55's.

Price difference at this point is minimal between 5300, and 5500 and I like the big shiny knob of the 5500 with the clean cut lcd.

If it doesen't have Highs or Lows it must be Bose. LOL. Bose is a good system but not the best, it's overpriced. Those systems are designed for ppl who are too lazy to know what good sound so Bose basically says this is sound you lisen, you will like, YA, give me lots of money I tell you everything you wanna hear.

 

[sailer]

I've got a set of Klipsch 5.1 THX speakers and I love them. The sound is superb. The only problem I've had is when the cat bit through a speaker lead.

 

[ellover009]

If you got a crt he probably hops on top of it an takes a nap. Did he get shocked?

 

[ellover009]

make your own call,there are 3 factors,the fourth bieng cost.
1.durability/dependability.
2.frequency range.
3.flat response(the flatter the truer).speakers with response curves have a natural eq that can muddy the sound and be hard to eq out ,if not impossible.
the creative setup has a decent overall rating,and a dependability reputation that is very good.i have seen the specs on that setup and they arent too bad,considering flat response monitors can cost over one grand a piece.
fyi.20hz t0 20khz is considered full spectrum to many,the human ear cannot hear at those ends ,but we can sense overtones.
women repond to bass at 30- 35 hz,according to playboy magazine in 2001 june edition i think. the nature o fthat response i cannot type here;suffice it to say ,thats probably why women love to dance.

That means Klipsch is outta the picture, Logitech is the most dependable and S750 has more range in the spectrum. So this mean Logitech will last a good while but the S750 will get me all the girls, lol I was joking about last part. I wan't to use this mostly for gaming and movies, I wanna be able to have low volumes and be able to hear voices clearly, sometimes my job allows me to get late home and I have to play at nite. I don't want speakers because I would probably strain my ears more and have my hearing last less time due to the drivers blasting so close to ear. This is such a tough desition. I might pick up my new receiver for the tv gonna might experiment using it on the pc and 4 guetto sony speakers.

 

[halcyon]

How many of you have actually heard the Bose 901's? How many of you have heard the Bose Companion 3's? How can someone say the Logitech X-530's and Z5XXX sounds good but Bose is trash? Where are you guys when you're doing your listening sessions and making these comparisons? That's like saying a McDonald's Big Mac is bad for you while you're eating a Burger King Whopper.

Next you'll be saying Martin-Logan sux and Polk rocks. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[halcyon]

I infer that you're directing that at the kids above? Bose is by no means the best or worse, but they're as cheap as everything else in the price range. If you're looking for serious sound you'll likely not be looking @ any PC speakers.

I like the BC3's for these reasons:

1) I like the sound, the set I have has plenty of bass, descent mids, and descent highs (a little too sharp on the highs, but these are cheap PC speakers so I won't complain

2) Visually, they're almost invisible. For its size it puts out great sound. No, the sub doesn't sound like it's 12"X12"X12", but for its size it does just fine. If that's distortion its putting out then they've found a way to make distortion sound like sub-bass radiation and I don't mind.

3) For 2.1's at its price the only thing that compares (PC speaker wise, not monitors) are the Klipsch ProMedia. ..and I read to many negative reviews on the build quality to consider that.

When I listen to my Senn's + TBH and I do realize that the Bose are exaggerating the bass a bit, but again, I've got the above reasons. Bose speakers are a different animal, but again, anyone serious about sound likely isn't looking to Bose or Logitech. I'm not knocking anyone's set, we'll each like what we like for the reasons we like.

 

[tmac]

have you checked out any of tomes reviews. i know they have one of the s750's. the toms ones are good as they do frequency response tests.

its abit old but it review them as well as the z5300'shttp://www.tomshardware.co.uk/2003/12/22/high/

i ain't sure if the other 2 have been reviewed.

I see you have the S750s. Where do u put all those speakers?
What's your layout - distance/position?

If I put them close together, it's such a waste.

 

[halcyon]

Specs are important. ...but I didn't buy the Bose because what the paper said they could do or what the paper said they'd sound like. I went listened to them, the ProMedia's, some Logitech's (X-530 and Z5500), Harmon Kardon's, and Altec Lansing's. When I connected my iPod to them and listened to my references, I preferred the way the Bose sounded to me.

I know my approach may have been...well...stupid, but I didn't look @ their specs, I just went with them based on how Wax Tailor, Led Zeppelin, and Orbital sounded as opposed to the others. Again, everyone's got their own approach. Since everyone offered their opinions I offered mine.

 

[ellover009]

I have a Bose system in my car I love it, came with the car but I think lexus Marks Levinson system is better. Bose is really good just a bit overhyped you are paying top dollar for something that you can get for less anywhere else. Overall I have listened to the Bose system the 2.1 sounds a bit better than then klipsch satelite wise but the sub of the kilpsch is superior. For the $$ is not a bad system, thats all.

 

[halcyon]

You're missing my point.

I like the BC3's because I like how they reproduce the music I like and their size.

I know they don't sound like high-end speakers. ...but for $200 I don't expect them to. They're a compromise that I like. If I didn't want a compromise I'd have paid more for the Klipsch iFi's (highly recommended for 2.1s).

Bose doesn't release numbers because they believe in smoke+mirrors to achieve sound that some may think is pleasing. We all know that. Kinda like the X-Fi's 24bit crystalizer (which is not terrible as long as you realize what it is and what its not).

I auditioned the Bose TriPort headphones...and that made me realize that I was going to have to spend $$ for a descent set of headphones...that were not the TriPorts. ...but I still like the way the BC3's sound and since they're inexpensive and small, they're keepers for me.

I'm quite sure I could find a positive review of them, if that's what it were about for me, but its not. I just like how they sound+look for the price.

I like Kendall Jackson, you may prefer Meridian, or Sutter Home. Are you going to read the specs on the bottles and buy based on them? Not always, I hope.

 

[halcyon]

You're right, we could go back and forth...but how's this: you win, I lose. Bose sux. People, stay away from Bose, you're money is bettey spent elsewhere. I want a pair of Martin Logan's and a Krell amp too (and, good Lord willing, I will have them one day)... I know that's stupid, but I like the way they sound...can't tell you what the specs are though.

 

[ellover009]

i appreciate your affinity for bose ,thats great,i am sure they appreciate it too.
and you are missing my point,but thats ok.
i will look for the benches when i have time,never mind the favor. :roll:
bose creates speakers in some things to have a natural eq ,they purposefully do this for a signature sound on low end stuff.
in recording studios you dont see alot of bose speakers,at least i havent.

Good luck finding some specs on Bose, they usually market it as real time listening so they don't belief in benchmarchs or specs too much.

 

[halcyon]

I'm glad I only bought their cheap PC speakers. I'd better get back to the doctor about my ears...and get that money I paid him back! 8)

 

[nick_000000]

I say get the s750 I have them and they sound really good when paired with an audigy 2ZS or an X-FI card.

 

[ellover009]

I have both the audigy 2zs and the x-fi plat (in box waiting for new speakers). Who could have thought getting a new set of speakers could b so dificult.

 

[cooler_power]

I have both the audigy 2zs and the x-fi plat (in box waiting for new speakers). Who could have thought getting a new set of speakers could b so dificult.

the solution is called s750

 

[halcyon]

I have both the audigy 2zs and the x-fi plat (in box waiting for new speakers). Who could have thought getting a new set of speakers could b so dificult.

the solution is called s750

Dude, getting speakers isn't difficult. It's really not. In fact, it should be really fun. Go listen and buy what you like the sound of. If you try to buy something as subjective as speakers based on other's opinions you may find out that you don't like what you end up with. Are you able to go somewhere and audition the sets you're considering? ...otherwise its kinda like buying a car without driving it first.

 

[halcyon]

That's good advice, especially if you can't listen to the speakers first. ...but...hopefully you'll be able to listen to them first. Remember, you wouldn't buy a car without driving it first...would you? (Actually, i know some lady friends of mine that did that...and then complained...I wanted to shoot them both, but they were both devine to look at, and I don't believe in destroying art...oh wait, I'm off topic...again....) 8O

 

[ellover009]

The proble arises is that my boss owns the S750 I have tested em, even at the cambridge sound works store the personel bent over to show me it's power. I have also listened to the 5500 at a different store compusa but they don't have them on display anymore they replaced it witht he guetto 5450 and when I did get to test it it was strapped to a single button that only played music. the 5500 sounded really good with music, the S750 sounded good with movies. Since the 5500 was closed off you were limited to the demo, it's not the same as if you where to test it side by side. If I didn't hear of the S750 I would have gone ahead and purchase these, but the S750 sounded nice when I played kung Fu Hustle, only thing I noticed I dunno if its a normal characteristic but the sub was a bit lazy when it came to some punches and the guy falling, mostly acted when there was thunder or he did a super kick. I wish I could get a 5500 and test it side by side.

 

[sailer]

I have an LCD, but the cat has slept on the printer and even on top of the computer case. He bit the wire when the computer was off, so no shock. I replaced the wire and the Klipsch works as well as ever. When I went to the store for a new wire the salesman said that the new Klipsch speakers were't THX certified anymore, so the ones I have are better than the ones they sell now. Guess the lesson is that if someone wants the best Klipsch speakers, they will have to be found on E-bay or someplace that has used speakers. Too bad.

 

[astrallite]

the S750's are more powerful than the logitech 5500's by a margin but would you hear the difference?

I'm fairly sure a pair of bookshelves will go louder and with less distortion using 10W of clean power. Power ratings mean nothing if you don't know the sensitivities of the speakers in question. Not to mention, I PC speaker wattage is highly overrated as most of it goes to the subwoofer, which is why max SPLs dont look very impressive.


If that's the case, I've yet to see these bookshelves. A loudspeaker can only move so much air based on its surface area and throw distance. The drivers in the Logitechs are highly efficient, I know that much, the satellites housings are all ported for faster airflow and probably overall more pushing power. Max SPL for the thing as a whole is >115dB according to Logitech's website. The subwoofer in the Logitech's case is well balanced for wattage coming in at 188watts RMS, with the satellites totalling about 317watts or about 62ish per unit, 69 center. It's probably more likely to be a bad combination of frequency response or selected crossover frequency that would make such a combination sound bad, but that's not the case here either, as they sound fantastic and they sound fantastic incredibly, incredibly loud, and in my experience with zero distortion even when entering boost.

Does the subwoofer of the S750 make the floor vibrate when in low use, I ask this because I noticed the it's aiming towards the floor and then has side port, Logitech has the intimidating side firing single drive that looks intimidating 10in drive with a 12in grill. Keep posting your comments, thank you.

Can't vouch for the S750, but I'd assume a definite yes! But it's the same case for the Logitechs as well, probably all these speakers. Perhaps it's less intense, but I'd say the vibrations in the room as a whole are what is more likely to be transmitted through floors than just the air the sub is firing initially. You could always stick the sub face-down and compare it 😉 or put the S750's sub on it's side... heheh.

This is why I don't post very much more here at THG. You are telling me a 3" one-way papercone playing 120-20KHz is going to be more sensitive with less distortion than 6.5" composite cones playing 80-1.8KHz? Max SPL is listed at 115db? That doesn't mean anything. A 2" Bose cone can hit 115db. Those numbers mean nothing without knowing the loudspeaker characterstics at that level or the THD. You can turn a 10W 0.1% THD amplifier and re-rate it to a 100W amplifier, without mentioning it runs at at 100% THD.

Fine fine. I'll stop posting here. You guys are funnier than a bunch of sports fans.

 

[halcyon]

do you need a loan halcyon?

Yes, Martin Logans...Krell amp. $35K should help:

I need:
4 x ML Summits
1 x ML Stage
1 x ML Descent
1 x Krell HTS 7.1
1 x Krell Showcase Surround Pre-Amp

Can we do that loan @ 2.5% over 20 years? The equipment should last way beyond that.

Thanks

- Brad

 

[ellover009]

ok guys les break up the fight and focus on the theme.

 

[ellover009]

By the way I listened to the Bose it's really nice but I need 5.1 or more since I do a lotta FPS I dont wanna have someone sneak on me. Thanks all