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klipsch promedia 5.1 ultra or Logitech z5500

post #1 of 34
1/16/06 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 
i have read reviews about the klipsch promedia 5.1 ultra and the Logitech z5500. I am leaning toward the klipsch, but have heard some nasty stories about how they all of the sudden die. Please put your opinion about these two speakers and which you would prefer. Also if you now if the promedia series really does have such a high failure rate. if you know of any other 5.1 sets fom $200-400 dollars that you prefer over these speakers please put those too.





thank you
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post #2 of 34
1/16/06 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
bump
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post #3 of 34
1/16/06 at 10:10pm
computer speakers suck get t-amp and axiom M3ti, for 325$ you can have real speakers.

Real Speakers


Speakers with cones made from Recycled paper! Woohoo come get some paper cone action! As the old saying go's "You can't polish a turd" haha



Disclaimer: I own the klispch Promedia 5.1's and would never buy a multimedia speaker again, Good stereo is > sh!t 5.1 Im on my second pair, first pair died in 6 mos. 2nd pair going strong for 2 years.

Edit: before a mod gets mad, the above images are not remote linked
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post #4 of 34
1/16/06 at 11:03pm
Quote:
klipsch promedia 5.1 ultra or Logitech z5500
Neither.
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post #5 of 34
1/16/06 at 11:13pm
I own the Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1


Don't buy them, waste of money. All multimedia speakers are. I bought mine because I needed a cheap 5.1 for my dorm room, and it's about the only thing that would fit. It's better than the other multimedia speakers (especially the sub, which is a slot-ported double-driver design and much tighter than the competition in terms of bass), but they are strictly mid-fi at best.

For the money, if you need home theater and have room hit Fluance up and buy a cheap receiver. It will absolutely sound better than any of the multimedia speaker options, regardless of relative quality to much more expensive equipment. That much I can promise you.

Edit: Also, all multimedia speakers have an absurdly high failure rate. The BASH plate amplifiers in them have very spotty QA and are very prone to failure. The Klipsch fail no more often than the Logitech or the Creative.
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post #6 of 34
1/17/06 at 6:23am
Not really a fan of Axioms here, poor build quality and ok sound. For ~$400 (you can haggle), I would much rather you just sort of "up the ante just a wee bit" and get the Onix Reference 1.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....oni&1141594970

THAT IS THE LOWEST PRICE I'VE SEEN! You better jump on that before it's gone. These sell for $1299 new (less with the amp+speaker combo, dont ask me how)... but you are getting a reference level speaker for a steal at $400... run dont walk.

Here is a pic (real wood, not the cheapo vinyl that I got on my former Axiom M22ti):
http://www.av123.com/products_catego...eakers&brand=9
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post #7 of 34
1/17/06 at 10:55am
Really joey? Wow that's disapointing, I don't own the axiom's but was considering them for my next speaker upgrade, they are so well reviewed and recomended everywhere, they arnt exactly expensive speakers. Not sure it's fair to expect real wood out of a 300$ new product, this is the first negative thing i've seen about them. At any rate im sure they blow the doors off multimedia speakers, but if I can do better for my money, it's good to know.

These look nice too, but specwise are not so impressive, 65 hz only, with smaller drivers, though it's not fair to judge on specs alone, you do get real wood, it appears like less performance for $$$ at 300$ price point though.. I was also considering the klipsch RB25's which are also in the same price league. http://www.av123.com/products_produc...s&product=80.1
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post #8 of 34
1/17/06 at 11:21am
Mike,

You should really look into the Ref1 as a possible solution. For just a wee bit more than the M3ti or the M22ti, you're getting a bonafide speaker IMO. The Axioms are good, but they are made out to sound better than they actually are... atleast that's what all the reviews and people on their forum would have you thinking.

I didnt really like the M22ti because they were extremely boxy sounding and wasnt as neutral as they proclaimed them to be. I was disappointed, too, since I really wanted to like them.

Out of 5 stars, I give them around a 2.5 while the Ref1s get a 3.5.
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post #9 of 34
1/17/06 at 11:35am
Your comparing somthing that is 300$ new vrs 1500$ hehe, only 3.5? for 1200$ more? No wonder the axiom's get such great reviews.
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post #10 of 34
1/17/06 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeW
Your comparing somthing that is 300$ new vrs 1500$ hehe, only 3.5? for 1200$ more? No wonder the axiom's get such great reviews.

It's not $1200... you can get it for $400 or so.

For the money, Axioms are pretty decent..... but I just dont like how their forum and the reviews point to them as being as good as speakers that are twice their price. They always said that the M22ti is only $440 because they are internet direct and if they sold at stores, it would be for around $700 or so. They told me to compare the M22ti to speakers of its same price class (at $700) such as the Paradigm Reference 20. So I did... I brought the M22 to my local dealer and we hooked up both speakers next to each other (leveled both) to a solid Rotel setup and let 'er rip.

The Axioms were easily outperformed. I compared their sound to several other "neutral" speakers like the BW at their price range (among a few others) and the consensus was the same... the Axiom M22 didnt fare well against anything in the $700 range. When I compared it to other speakers at it's range, it was a closer fight but I even preferred the Polk RTi4 and the Klipsch RB25 to the M22 (and those are both around the $250-400 mark).

My suggestion to you was to go for the $400 Ref1 because that WONT last. If you thought I was suggesting spending the full $1200, you were mistaken.

And my ratings are all relative to the best I've heard so far.
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post #11 of 34
1/17/06 at 10:00pm
Thread Starter 
thank you guys for saving me from buying a pair of speakers that would break soon as i got them. I am looking at the speakers you have suggested, don't know which one i will get yet but thank you again.

Of course I am always open to more suggestions...
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post #12 of 34
1/17/06 at 11:17pm
I understand what your saying Joey, I just think the comparison is a bit unfair and lopsided. But your point is.. you can do better for the money and I get it. Im not actually looking to buy any speakers now, but i've been researching and keeping an eye out for future purchases. I guess I can scratch axiom off the list.
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post #13 of 34
1/18/06 at 2:26am
Joey, I have a pair of B&W DM 600S3. How do these compare to the Onix Reference 1 or 0.5?
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post #14 of 34
1/18/06 at 3:22am
The BW DM600 s3 is definitely a good solid speaker. However, the Ref1 bests it in 4 categories:

1. Bass extension (48hz vs 75hz is a large gap).
2. Treble fluidity is the Ref1's forte. Clear and precise plus it has a palpable weight to the vocals... must be due to the Vifa tweeter on the Ref1.
3. Midrange sounds more real on the Ref1s vs the DM600.
4. The Ref1 are better built (real veneer vs vinyl) and are braced better with 1" MDF throughout.

However, there is a gap in the price so it isnt a surprise that the Ref1s are better.

Against the Ref.5, I havent heard that speaker yet but they seem to be more evenly matched - down to the bass extension, which is really similar on the two.

Why do you ask? Are you planning on a possible upgrade?

Joey
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post #15 of 34
1/18/06 at 7:16pm
Just wondering whether I should be feeling buyer's remorse or not I guess. I like the small size of them and the black cabinet that matches my computer monitor and everything, so I think I'll keep it. It's really hard to audition speakers where I live. Basically we have Magnolia Hi-Fi selling Definitive Tech, & Boston Acoustics, Audio FX selling B&W, and one other place selling Paradigm. Well, at least those are the only brands in my price budget. Maybe I didn't do enough research when I was in the Christmas shopping spirit .
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