Computer Speaker System..

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sUn

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I'm considering buying a new speaker system for my computer. I found a few that look good, and have some good specifications to back themselve's up, but I'm fairly novice and don't know what to look for.

This is so far the best I can find, in my price range. Which is $150 Maximum in Canadian dollars.

Thanks in advance.
 
I've got a 4.1 Altec Lansing config which I like a lot. To top that, it only cost me $60. It hits clearly in all notes but the bass could stand to be a bit deeper since it's too easy to tell the exact direction the low notes are coming from. Watching some movies gets awkward because of it. Even then, the Altecs usually offer the best sound you can get on a budget.

Creative Labs also has a several extremely good speaker systems in that price range you should also look into. Most of their surround sound units are THX certified and I know for sure they've got a few sets in your price range. In particular, check the Logitech X-620 set. It shouldn't run you more than $120 canadian.

If you want high audio quality for music listening, I'd suggest spending that $150 on a 2.1 system. It sounds pricey considering it's only two speakers and a woofer but the audio quality is excellent and they'll sound a lot better than these cheaper 5.1 setups. Plus these units will offer the same or better loudness than a surround sound setup and they'll also not distort noise as much at the higher volume levels.

Do 2 things
1) don't buy from futureshop, it's usually overpriced like hell
2) try listen to it before you pay for it or find yourself a store with a good return policy.
 
I usually buy my stuff at Future Shop, atleast all my electronics. I'll look around at some other store's. I want enough bass, for music, and good quality for playing DVD's. How many watts of power should I be looking for?
 
I have an altec lansing 5.1 I'm pretty sure it's the same one you pictured, from what I found, there is like crappy speakers, 1/2 decent speakers, good speakers (5.1 altec's) and then like super expensive bose speakers, i checked out a few, i liked altec lansing's the best, + i got like a 2 year waranty for like $5 i blow em' they replace em'
 
I'm currently considering Logitech's Z-680 speaker set to replace my Creative 5300 set. They(the 5300) lack the sound I want for gaming and music and the Z-680 set sounds so much more responsive. I have a friend who has them that even recommends them.

One thing I dislike the most about my current 5.1 set up is that the cable length on the speakers is too short so I do not have a true surround sound set up.
 
If you really need surround sound I would go up around 300 bucks for the Klipsch Promedia 5.1. But you could go with a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 for around 120. Overall, Klipsch makes the best computer speakers. Bose are just overpriced speakers that dont deliver for their price. Altec Lansing is not really a good speaker brand, its more like a Sony or Panasonic speaker, its a more "general public" type of speaker. But if you really want quality go for a Klipsch, JBL or Harmon Kardon. The really popular computer brands; Logitech, Labtec, Creative, and Altec Lansing are too focused on 1 kind of sound. I'm not saying thats completely bad but the other 3 types are well rounded in clarity and bass output.
 
Here is what you guys are missing.

Remember that PC my brother built? The speakers he got came to $55. He got the absolute cheapest surround sound system he could find from Walmart and used it. It doesn't have a CD player, doesn't even have a tuner, but it does have not only RCA ins but also Optical ins, so we can watch movies with Dobly 5.1. As a matter of fact, just got done watching two on it...

For $300 I guarentee you could find a better sounding surround sound system than any $300 computer speakers out there. The only thing we changed was the sub box/sub speaker. The amp in the reciever, sub amp that is, is actually not all that bad. The sub it was powering, on the other hand, wasn't top notch. We simply replaced that and now it not only sounds great, especially for $55, but also has loads of decent bass.
 
I use an Altec Lansing 4.1 system too, and it's excellent.

I recently ran my sound card through a £400 amplifier, and £350 pair of speakers, and found that it sounded no better. Clearly then the limit in my system is the Creative Live sound card.
 
I'm going to check out a system with-

1 8" sub
2 smaller speakeers.
It has a mouse for bass and volume control.
Total system power is 80 watts.
For $99.99.

It's an Altec system.
 
sUn
I'm going to check out a system with-

1 8" sub
2 smaller speakeers.
It has a mouse for bass and volume control.
Total system power is 80 watts.
For $99.99.

It's an Altec system.
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I think that's mine. Don't go with Altec Lansing. The last 3 PC's I've had used their speakers. They don't last long. With mine, the left speaker stops working sometimes, and I have to kick the sub to fix it. Sound is good though.
 
cm108kph
I think that's mine. Don't go with Altec Lansing. The last 3 PC's I've had used their speakers. They don't last long. With mine, the left speaker stops working sometimes, and I have to kick the sub to fix it. Sound is good though.
Click to expand...

That's a reasonable point. I have to "reboot" my speaker kit every three or four months. I also find that (since I use my sub as a footrest), I have to re-seat the connectors every six to eight months.
 
cm108kph
I think that's mine. Don't go with Altec Lansing. The last 3 PC's I've had used their speakers. They don't last long. With mine, the left speaker stops working sometimes, and I have to kick the sub to fix it. Sound is good though.
Click to expand...
I'm getting that from Costco, it's a good deal, usually, if anything is screwed up, the replace it or give you the money back as long as you have the reciept with it. 👍

I won't abuse it, but I will crank it up more than once. :D
 
I've come apon another one.

This is the latest one I've found. It's got a 60 watt sub, and 110 watts total.

From what I re-call, this is the one I checked out at Future Shop. Sounded pretty good, I wasn't able to crank it up abit because there were people shopping. :guilty:
 
I have to stress that the Altec Lansing 251 system is the best under $100. Of course it doesn't sound as good as $500 systems. I have these speakers running all day. MP3s, CDs, DVDs, and games all sound great. Strong bass and clear, discreet sound. Believe me, once you hear a PC game in 5.1 (with 5.1 sound card), you'll never go back to 2.1.
 
I've got Logitech Z-640s, got em for about $122 AU, which should cost the same in CAD. 5.1, great sound, nice sub, can't go wrong. :)
 
Whatever you do, get a good sub and never any flat speakers. They're expensive and suck when it comes to sound.
 
Viper Zero
I have to stress that the Altec Lansing 251 system is the best under $100. Of course it doesn't sound as good as $500 systems. I have these speakers running all day. MP3s, CDs, DVDs, and games all sound great. Strong bass and clear, discreet sound. Believe me, once you hear a PC game in 5.1 (with 5.1 sound card), you'll never go back to 2.1.
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I too have the 251s. Got them recently.

The speakers sound great, but when you turn up the volume too much the sub basically drops out due to distortion. Howevere, what I did was cut a small hole in the back and took the wire going to the little sub and hooked it up to a 10" sub in a bassbox, and I must say, that little amp has some power. If have to turn the sub about half way or it's just to loud.

And now with that different sub, this system sounds simply amazing. And I got it for $40 from Walmart. 👍
 
which logitech 7.1's are you talking about?

Anyways, i've always been partial to the Klipsch for high end surround sound. They don't have 7.1 just yet but their 5.1 offers the same wattage and they're a bit better at getting the full range of sound frequencies.
 
What do you guys think of Cyber Acoustics, I was about to buy those but my friend persuaded me to buying the less watt Logitech's.
 
the_undrtaker89
sorry i was talking about the 5.1 Z-680 just because of its watts
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The newish creative gigaworks s700 system has superior sound quality and volume when compared to the z-680. I have a set, and I love it. The thing is amazingly loud, and when combined with my audigy 2 zs, makes games far more fun and realistic than they would have been otherwise. EAX is awesome - sound actually comes from the direction that it's coming from in the virtual environment. Sound quality is amazing, and the sub is fantastic. I have to turn it down for music, simply because it's too powerful, but it's not a problem. Only problem is that at really high volumes (like starting at around the second highest level, which I'm guessing, based off of reviews that I've read, is around 110 dB) the sub breathes a lot, and you lose quite a bit of bass definition. All around though, I think the set is fantastic, because I'd never play anything that loud anyway. I watched Black Hawk Down the other day with these speakers, and I heard quite a bit of stuff that I've never heard before, such as the voice echo in the hangar scenes. I realize that I'm babbling incoherently like an excited elementary school student, but this is the first electronics purchase I've made that I'm entirely happy with.
 
The best way to watch dvd's on your computer is with a speaker system turned all the way up. Nothing beats the feeling of watching a movie in that way,

Oh and Welcome Back Tim! :)
 
sUn
The best way to watch dvd's on your computer is with a speaker system turned all the way up. Nothing beats the feeling of watching a movie in that way,

Oh and Welcome Back Tim! :)
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Yeah, but unfortunetly for me my computer is in an office type of set up and its not very relaxing inless i can squeeze a couch in this little room.:guilty:
 

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