Need good 5.1 speaker reccommendation plz

[bluntside]

Oi, A grate combo for your need would be to get a X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card cuz its gor the onboard 64mb of X-ram and the logitec z-5500, Tust me, I have these two items, and when I play games in my basement, I can go outside, I hear the sound clearly and it rocks all of my windows. I had the Police called on me several times for noise ordinance and disturbing "The Piece". So yea great deal.

 

[halcyon]

Interesting notion. For some reason part of brain is having trouble accepting speakers from a company that makes mice, keyboards, webcams, etc. ...as being the very best PC speakers. I'm inclined to consider the Klipsch set but read a lot of reviews speaking about the sub breaking down and poor satellite connections.

With that said, what good PC speakers are to be had that are made by a, forgive me for saying, loud speaker company that are not using cheap paper cones and don't cost more than...say...$400? Even 2.1's? Otherwise you're into buying a monitors and a seperate sub...and can you do that and get a good set for $400? For just musical enjoyment @ my PC more than $400 for speakers is hard for me. I don't have as much $$ to spend as some of you. 😳

 

[astrallite]

Right, I agree. As a loudspeaker, the Klipsch Promedia series are more competent then the Logitechs--something so simple as a 2-way design with a 1" tweet and a 3" midrange, and a subwoofer that doesn't have to extend well above 120hz (with the bass becoming extremely directoinal) to meet up with the satellites.

Logitech is priced at a region where they *have* no competition--$200-250 for a 5.1 setup. To say that it trounces the competition is at once both true and redundant. The only actual competition at this price range is the Creative G500, which, even assuming its acoustically superior, lacks the connectivity and the liquid looks of the Z-5500s.

Logitech is such a "look" brand with their mice and keyboards, I think its fair to say a good portion of first timers buy speakers under the same premises. It's only later on, years later, when they start buying speakers for their sound.

 

[halcyon]

Right, I agree. As a loudspeaker, the Klipsch Promedia series are more competent then the Logitechs--something so simple as a 2-way design with a 1" tweet and a 3" midrange, and a subwoofer that doesn't have to extend well above 120hz (with the bass becoming extremely directoinal) to meet up with the satellites.

Logitech is priced at a region where they *have* no competition--$200-250 for a 5.1 setup. To say that it trounces the competition is at once both true and redundant. The only actual competition at this price range is the Creative G500, which, even assuming its acoustically superior, lacks the connectivity and the liquid looks of the Z-5500s.

Logitech is such a "look" brand with their mice and keyboards, I think its fair to say a good portion of first timers buy speakers under the same premises. It's only later on, years later, when they start buying speakers for their sound.

Amen. Unfortunately, I myself have bought on looks as well. Now I just feel stupid for doing so. 8O

 

[surelock]

personaly I would go for the Klipsch 5.1 ultra I have been using them for a while now and they sound way better than the logitech 5500. (which my dad has) you basicly have two options Klipsch for sound or Logitech for price. But if you go for the klipsch make sound sure you have a good sound card that provides a clear signal to the amp (sound blaster X-fi) or they may blow at high volume. (and I mean HIGH!)

 

[kiwik]

Interesting notion. For some reason part of brain is having trouble accepting speakers from a company that makes mice, keyboards, webcams, etc. ...as being the very best PC speakers. I'm inclined to consider the Klipsch set but read a lot of reviews speaking about the sub breaking down and poor satellite connections.

With that said, what good PC speakers are to be had that are made by a, forgive me for saying, loud speaker company that are not using cheap paper cones and don't cost more than...say...$400? Even 2.1's? Otherwise you're into buying a monitors and a seperate sub...and can you do that and get a good set for $400? For just musical enjoyment @ my PC more than $400 for speakers is hard for me. I don't have as much $$ to spend as some of you. 😳

You could do like me and use an AV Reciever plugged using your digital output, then hook up a pair of nice speakers. Take a look at Axiom, they make good entry-audiophile-level speakers. It'll blow out of the water any 5.1 if you build yourself your own sound system.

As for Logitech fanboyism, that means you don't know much about sound quality. Guys who like Logitech should take a look at Bose.

 

[astrallite]

That's not fair, because Logitech's flagship costs $250, and Bose's costs $5000 with no appreciable gains.

 

[ellover009]

I'm in the same boat got a nice set of Logitech Z640, they where a nice companion for a while but I have a nicer job it's time to move on had them for 3 years. Klipsch sound great until they die so I'm gonna pass. Next is where I'm stuck Logitech 5500 $250 shipped Creative Labs (cambridge soundworks) S750 $320 after $100 mail in rebate. I got a 24in sony crt FW900, I wan't the best possible sound from a speaker set but don't wanna mess with receivers and reference speakers because anytime you strap a receiver to your sound card you loose 5.1 or 7.1 and what you really get is 2.1 emulated through 5 speakers. I play a lot of FPS games like CSS, half life 2, Doom 3, I play other type of games NFSP most wanted, guild wars ect, I enjoy playing movies on my pc too. I recently purchased a new sound card, has an audigy zs2 upgraded to a x-fi Plat mostly because I get the front deck and comes with a nice remote, also updates EAX version and adds a few features specially when you use headphones. Half the ppl that prefer the 5500 is because it has the codecs built in, I will not need them at all because I am gonna use it directly through my sound card, don't wanna loose my real 5.1 buy using digital, new sound card should have newer codecs besides dolby wich creative cards don't really do. Technically the question is wich has best sound straight from the soundcard 5500 or S750?

 

[halcyon]

That's not fair, because Logitech's flagship costs $250, and Bose's costs $5000 with no appreciable gains.

You gentlemen are...brutal. LOL, makes me glad I found this forum.

 

[f1nal_0men]

300$ multimedia speakers are WAY better than 300$ home theatre speakers. One good point Maximum PC brought up awhile ago. 300$ is top of the line for computer speakers while 300$ is still bottom end for home theatre systems. And my family has a nice setup for movies in the living room, but it is inferior to my speakers, and the setup I have is at least 800$. That being said, yes, home theatre speakers are superior to multimedia speakers. But the cost is completely uncomparative. And a good soundcard+Z5500s vs 300$ reciever and a nice 5.1 system by, for example, polk audio, or klipsch, costing at least 1000$ for the speakers alone, will not yield you any true benefits. I would say most people have there computers in a smaller room, then say, a living room, and don't need to fill up a large space.

In simple conclusion, and I think most people can agree with me on this. If you computer is used in a smaller room, and you just watch occasional movies, play games, music. Then computer speakers are probably just what your looking for.

However, if your computer is, for example, a multimedia system in a living room with a 42" plasma display and you have the cash to throw around, go for it and get yourself some 2000$ speakers. But I promise you that The Z5500s will do the same thing. (Z5500s can get to ear damaging levels with almost no audible distortion. The sub is enough to remove items from shelves and off the walls. And for anyone who thinks different, have you personally listened to Z5500s and equivalent in price home theatre speakers?)

Anyways, I'm going to stop rambling. I will go as far to say as I am an audiophile and I am extremely picky with my audio equipment. And I see no need to spend any more money on speakers because the performance gain would be minimal.

 

[halcyon]

I understand your point, at least, I believe I do. ...but make no mistake. ...it's not about how loud your speakers can get. It's about what sound quality they're putting out at that loud volume. It's about how faithful they are to the source...at...that loud volume.

Logitech, makes solidly built products...mice, keyboards...webcams...and...speakers, I guess. I don't think their top of the line 5.1 system is really a competitor for Polk, Infinity, and those lower end brands. You can't even say Logitech and Martin-Logan in the same sentence without asking for forgiveness...but we know this. Different markets. So yes, for PC speakers they may be competitive. As long as one qualifies it with *for PC speakers*. I may be misguided, but what I've seen and read leads me to believe that the PC speakers market is not looking for accuracy at all, they're seeking volume and the sound that many associate with bass. ...and if that volume means distortion and noise...well, that's fine too. ...just bear that in mind. Mid-Fi+ Home Theatre speaker systems have a different goal in mind: Accurately reproducing a movie's soundtrack. Different purposes. Different markets. ...and that's just fine.

 

[astrallite]

True, the argument does sound like some Intel guy trying to convince people that their high clockrate = true superiority, without looking at the benchmarks.

 

[ellover009]

I have listened to the 5500 but it was a limited play, about 1yr ago when the compusa in the area carried them, ( now they have the new ones with the wireless rear speakers ) and they were fed through a source so testing was limited wich as some hip hop music. My boss own the S750 I played some movies on it it sounded amazing, I have not been able to found a retail store that has a set of 5500 that I can play with. I just want to now wich will sound better of the two. I know home theather speakers are expensive because I was looking at a few speakers, just a good sub will run you a nice $300, Speakers about $300-500 a pair, If you get book shefs you have to lay some more dough, I might invest for my home audio, for pc I just wan't to keep it at a necessary level. I do agree the 5500 is a grat set of speakers, my question is will the S750 sound better or inferior to them, I ask this because I have owned logitech products they are great, but I had little playtime witht the 5500 and had good opportunity to mess with the S750. I value sound quality/fidelity. And you do make a great point about how intel tries to seduce ppl by telling them that higher clock rates = performance.

 

[halcyon]

True, the argument does sound like some Intel guy trying to convince people that their high clockrate = true superiority, without looking at the benchmarks.

Ouch.

 

[ellover009]

I digged around a bit, the S750 suffers from the noctorious problem that the set decides to die on you, it is due because they use the same amp as the Klipsch system the B A S H amps, I cannot say 100% that it's a big problem with the S750 so has anyoned owned them and had the go bad? So I definitely think I'm gonna stick with logitech, question is 5500 or take chances with the S750? I think I know what you guys are gonna say and will probably lean towards the 5500.

Edit: Went to logitech site, even some ppl are having subwoofers die and satelites die, not as bad as other brands. Lesson don't go to priduc threads because most ppl there are ppl with problems. Good thing logitech has a robust 2yr warantee. Gonna call logitech and ask if they are releasing any new sets anytime soon, looks like theyre due to be replaced.

 

[halcyon]

I digged around a bit, the S750 suffers from the noctorious problem that the set decides to die on you, it is due because they use the same amp as the Klipsch system the B A S H amps, I cannot say 100% that it's a big problem with the S750 so has anyoned owned them and had the go bad? So I definitely think I'm gonna stick with logitech, question is 5500 or take chances with the S750? I think I know what you guys are gonna say and will probably lean towards the 5500.

Edit: Went to logitech site, even some ppl are having subwoofers die and satelites die, not as bad as other brands. Lesson don't go to priduc threads because most ppl there are ppl with problems. Good thing logitech has a robust 2yr warantee. Gonna call logitech and ask if they are releasing any new sets anytime soon, looks like theyre due to be replaced.

I am dissappointed to hear about the quality issues in the Logitechs. Most of their other products seem to be reasonably well built. Some small upstart Co. might do well to start producing high quality 2.1 and HT PC speaker sets that are at-least reasonably accurate and built to last.