Looking for speakers

**Ron** · 07-08-2006, 11:49 PM

I'm looking for a recommendation for speakers for my PC in the $50 to $100 range.

I don't listen to much music, I'd just like to be able to hear videos and other material that is recorded at too low a level, so something powered with a volume knob would be good.

Of course I appreciate good music, so if they sound great that's a bonus.

I've purchased speakers in the past as a gift, I bought Altec Lansing ATP3s at Best Buy for my niece and she really liked those, but that was a number of years ago. The replacement for that model looks like it's the Altec Lansing VS4121, selling for about $45 at Amazon.com . I've put'em in my cart and I'm going to buy them unless someone can talk me out of them!
Link to Amazon: Altec Lansing VS4121 2.1 Computer Speaker System, 3 piece

I looked at the Harman Kardon Soundsticks II 3-Piece Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System and I stuck them in my cart as well. They look alot like the speakers I've seen from Apple. Truth be told though, I'd probably stick the subwoofer under my desk, so the looks may be wasted. Plus the price right now is about $120, a little more than I wanted to spend.
Link to Amazon: Harman Kardon Soundsticks II 3-Piece Plug and Play Multimedia Speaker System
...and what is Plug and Play about them, anyway? lol

Thanks in advance.

**Vin DSL** · 07-09-2006, 01:20 AM

Well, you'll probably be sorry you asked, but...

I listen to a LOT of music. As fate would have it, here's a screenshot of Winamp...

winamp.png

That's 1080 minutes and 41 seconds listening to WOED. Take my word for it, or figure it out yourself -- I listen to music a lot, and I can't stand crappy speakers!

So, what do I use and recommend?

You probably can't afford my rear speakers. They'll set up back about $7,500 shipped:

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetail...00&PM NID=240

...but you didn't ask about those, did you?

Here's what I run on my desktop (no kidding):

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2261625

I think I bought them at Fry's Electronics, not Rat Shack, but you get the idea. They sound excellent!

So, there you have it. That's MY story and I'm sticking to it!

**Spathiphyllum** · 07-09-2006, 03:40 AM

No idea, Ron. I've been using the same 3-piece Sony w/ powered woofer ($100-$120 in its day) for 8+ years, so the only thing I can say is go with the 3-piece design with good bass adjustment. Or pipe it through a home entertainment system as Vin suggested. (Ah, OneCall. Haven't shopped there for a while, but a good online store for electronics.)

It's just one of those things where you can look at specs to eliminate those with the worst levels of distortion or narrow frequency response, and then rely on your ears to determine which sound warm, cold, harsh, smooth, and the innumerable esoteric terms used by connossiers. Aye, but there's the rub. It's an online transaction with no tire-kicking as you know.

In summary, no idea. I'm glad I could provide this valuable insight. Oh, and I would reiterate that you MUST have plug-n-play capabilities.

**Vin DSL** · 07-09-2006, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Spathiphyllum

Ah, OneCall. Haven't shopped there for a while, but a good online store for electronics...

Drat! You would have to say that...

They have a smokin' deal on Terk HDTVLP antennas (a.k.a. WineGard SS-3000).

Sheesh! 49 bones...

**Gwaihir** · 07-09-2006, 07:02 AM

Harman Kardon makes those new Apple ones, so similarities in looks shouldn't be surprising.

**Ron** · 07-09-2006, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Vin DSL

You probably can't afford my rear speakers. They'll set up back about $7,500 shipped:

I'll take 5! Ummm, not.

I did buy a really nice (looking) pair of Bose speakers about 15 years ago. I spent half a day measuring the room, and rearranging the furniture and placing the speakers exactly as shown in the instructions. Then I turned them on and I thought I had shut off all the treble and turned up all the bass on my equalizer. I couldn't believe how bassy they were. So I put them in alternate positions to reduce the bass, still no luck. So I returned them, and stayed with my Radio Shack towers.

Originally Posted by Vin DSL

Here's what I run on my desktop (no kidding):

That IS surprising.

Originally Posted by Spathiphyllum

I'm glad I could provide this valuable insight. Oh, and I would reiterate that you MUST have plug-n-play capabilities.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Gwaihir

Harman Kardon makes those new Apple ones, so similarities in looks shouldn't be surprising.

Really! How about that. Are they considered to be pretty good speakers?

Thanks all.

**TestSubscriptions** · 07-09-2006, 04:31 PM

Test

**Vin DSL** · 07-09-2006, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ron

I did buy a really nice (looking) pair of Bose speakers... I returned them, and stayed with my Radio Shack towers...

Then, the choice is obvious!

winamp2.png

Go with the CA's...

**vivixen** · 07-09-2006, 08:34 PM

www.newegg.com <== some of the BEST prices and lots of useful reviews per product

I personally recommend Logitech for your price range. They have solid, quality 5.1s that should suit you nicely. I particularly like the headphone jack that's ON the speaker (not all speaker sets offer that)... saves me from reaching back behind my case.

**lokki** · 07-09-2006, 08:54 PM

I'm using a very old set of Altec Lansings, in a 4.1 configuration. When I bought them, nobody was paying attention to computer speakers, so I paid about $35 on clearance. They at least match any specs you'll find today, as they were repackaged home theater speakers. As such, they have no other options except on or off.

They are running through a SoundBlaster Platinum something or other with a breakout box. The box has mic and headphone 1/4" ins, another 1/4" line in, two optical and one firewire. That's just on the front, along with two gain controls... there are more jacks on the back.

Anyway, the two rear speakers are mounted on cheap microphone stands, so I can move them around as needed.

When I get into serious game mode, I go to my garage and pull out two Yamaha 10" 2-way trapezoidal PA speakers, two Klipsch 16" 2-ways, and a Yamaha 1000W amplifier. But that's just annoying. It does sound pretty sweet with a little processing... I think it's out of your price range, but not out of Vin's.

After all that, I really recommend getting a bargain 4.1 or 5.1 setup in the $50 range (if that's the clearance or closeout price, so much the better), and spend another $50 on a nice sound card w/ a breakout box. The Audigy 2 Zs can be found for about that price on bargain sites. Then buy some mounts so you can stick the rear speakers where they's s'poz'da go.

**Ron** · 07-10-2006, 08:59 AM

Geesh that sounds a little heavy duty for what I want to do, which is to hear my PC. LOL

I sold my home stereo system, complete with receiver, Dual 606 turntable and those nice walnut RS speakers.... for $50.

**Gwaihir** · 07-10-2006, 01:53 PM

Bose is good at marketing, far less so at making speakers. Whatever they sell you ought to be able to easily get same quality at half the money (or twice the quality at the same price, whatever suits you best).

Originally Posted by Ron

Really! How about that. Are they considered to be pretty good speakers?

I know them as a quality brand, but mainly of hifi equipment. I wasn't aware of their speakers before. I saw those 'Apple' ones recently and they got me curious. (I'm putting 'Apple' in quotes because I'm not sure the Apple brand name is actually one them. The name Harman Kardon is.) Didn't have time or much reason to listen to them though (not being in the market for speakers right now). At $119 they seem to be discounted considerably. That might make them very interesting if you're willing to up your budget that bit.

You wouldn't happen to have an Apple Centre somewhere near you where you could listen to them? Listening IS irreplaceable when it comes to speakers.

As for plug 'n play: what speaker set isn't?

**ehost** · 07-10-2006, 02:12 PM

I got a great pair of speakers off of the creative labs ebay store about a year ago... $99 for $150 speakers http://stores.ebay.com/Creative-Labs-Factory-Store

**Ron** · 07-10-2006, 02:44 PM

Well right now my hearing is not the best judge of a speaker, as I am suffering with (hopefully temporary) hearing loss and tinnitus.

**jason** · 07-10-2006, 03:12 PM

My entry level Dell speakers at work are made by Harmon Kardon. I just have two desktop speakers, no subwoffer or suround sound, but they sound great. Mine have volume and tone knobs, as well as a headphone port on the right speaker. Dell has been using HK speakers for several years. Kine are about 5 years old, but we have several pairs of even older Dell/HK speakers in our computer lab.

Originally Posted by Gwaihir

As for plug 'n play: what speaker set isn't?

Well, when Apple introduced the old "new style" case (the blue-green G3's) they were shipping speakers that plugged into a USB port! They were, of course, PNP on the new Macs, but try and plug them into a PC and you'd be prompted to install a driver. I think they've since abandoned that design, though.

--Jason

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