Best Computer Speakers sub $150

Logitech z-560's. You can get them at newegg.com for a reasonable price (130 last time i checked which was a great while ago). Good sound, and a massive sub.

Whatever Altec Lansing or Klipsch you can get for that price!! I have truly loved the sound of both, but the Klipsch are really enjoyable for long-term use.

I recently had to do this search myself, except I kept my range below $100, reason being because I have both a set of Midiland S2-4100s and a pair of Klipsch Promedia 4.1s sitting "back home". If I had to go above $100, I figured I could just go home and fetch either one...except that I couldn't due to space. Space was a major criteria for me.

I ended up with a pair of Monsoon PlanarMedia 9s. They've got some flaws, particularly with an overly high sub crossover point (200Hz), a sub that just won't shut up even if you turn the bass knob to zero, and that they leak sound even at the lowest volumes. They've also got the dreaded sweet spot that flat panel speakers have. On the flip side, I've found that, whether in or out of the sweet spot, the flat panel sats just sounded much more transparent and allowed through background details much better than either the Promedias or the Midilands. I went back home for turkey break to recheck out the Promedias and the Midilands, and just found myself feeling irked over time by both because of a major lack of clarity in the sats. The subs of both systems were much better of course, but given the bulk of the sound comes through the sats, I found myself feeling more than satisfied with the Monsoons once I got back to them.

If you can get over the above flaws I mentioned, I'd highly recommend Monsoons, particuarly if you don't need a gazillion watts driving a dozen of crappy sats hanging all over the place for wannabe HT. They just released a new PlanarMedia 14 system that's supposed to be equipped with a newly designed sub for $150.

Cambridge SoundWorks "MicroWorks"
I don't much care for any other multimedia speaker system. To spend any more money on PC speakers is ridiculous, better off actually getting real speakers and a receiver or an integrated amp.,

I am in love with planar magnetic speakers. Checkout these for about $100!! They are sweet.
http://www.monsoonpower.com/mm702.shtml

Prices: http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buye...ch=monsoon+702

I use these for my rears to complement my MMG's

I still enjoy the JBL Control Media, a powered version of the Control 1G - but I'm not sure whether it's available in the US... Over here one can already find it for 130 Euro, now.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

Do yourself a favor and take a listen to the Monsoon's. I have the Monsoon 1000 (modded) for a over year and I just love them. For vocals they are hard to beat. If you want 'in your face, wow and pow' get something like Klipsch's.

Diamond Audio S2-4100

Trust me, if you can find them.

They're a little lacking in midrange since the speakers are only 4.5", but this is larger than most comp speakers but the clarity/sound quality is by far the best of any comp speakers.

The sound is pretty balanced, not too much bass like most of today's comp speakers. The subwoofer is powered by a 100W amp and is an 8" DVC. The speakers are 25W/ch. The speakers weigh about 10lb each and are in a very thick aluminum enclosure.

I had the Midiland S2 4100's a while ago, and they are good, but the amp hiss really annoyed me. Also, they won't be falling in that under $150 price range (unless you can find them very used).

antness, I wouldn't go to say they are the best computer speakers available for clarity/sound quality.

According to some places like 3dsoundsurge, enjoythemusic.com, and some other forums, the Diva Swan M200's are their favorite for music listening. I got mine a few weeks ago and absolutely love them. The full reviews online go more into depth about their sound quality. I haven't responded to this thread because there was price range of under $150 suggested, but if the S2 4100's are mentioned then so will the M200's

Check out the review here:
http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/SwanM200/
and
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...1/swanm200.htm

ian,

Those look great! I am sure by the specs that they are better than the Diamonds. No sub, though, so that's an added expense unless you can live with 55Hz and up which is pretty poor.

Good choice if you need (relatively) small speakers for a desk. Myself, however, am going to go with some Magnepans and maybe a DIY Pass Labs Aleph amp or a vintage McIntosh...when I have room in my new apartment next summer. I can't wait

Thicker guage cables clean up the spotty treble performance of the Promedia's and add a pleasing degree of warmth and richness to the midrange sorely missing with the stock wire. The bass produced by the sattelites slightly blooms and tightens as well.

They're still not the finest PC speakers available - but they are the best multichannel PC speakers available.

Monsoon gets my vote. They have the finest sound in PC speaker market and are very close to audiophile quality if you ask me. I've had MM-2000 for almost a year now and I enjoy every single bit of it. The dipole panel delivers stunningly coherent sound virtually free of colorations, muddiness, and distortion. Its upper-bass and midbass output is utterly convincing and never becomes boomy or threatens to spill over into the midrange. Unshakable imaging and uncompromising sonic accuracy!!!

By the way, the upcoming PlanarMedia 14 looks pretty promising if you're willing to wait. It's the 4th generationl with the newest technology and most importantly, A 8" SUB!
Hopefully, they will release a newer version of MM-2000.

Happy Hunting!

Re: Best Computer Speakers sub $150

I'm going to go against the grain of this thread and recommend that you spend just a tad more and get this:

http://www.tivoliaudio.com/pM2TPE.htm



Why?

1) Better sound -- IMO&E, the Model Two provides better overall sound than any comparable "computer speaker" (including all the ones mentioned here that I've heard).

2) Better looks ('nuff said )

3) More functionality -- in addition to working great as computer speakers, it's probably the best radio on the market. It also has a line-in jack so you can hook up another audio source, a headphone jack that is very good, and the computer input is a "mix" input, meaning you can listen to your computer AND the tuner or other source at the same time.

4) Better quality -- real wood, excellent craftsmanship.... this is a true high-end component.

I bought one of these about a year ago, and got rid of both a minisystem and all my computer speakers.

You can also buy it from AudioAdvisor.com, who has free shipping right now (and a 30-day return policy).

Another Cambridge SoundWorks vote here, but from me, its for their "Digital" speakers... which are considerably cheaper than the Microworks, but still sound pretty damned clear (I believe that they use the same satellites as the Microworks ~ just a smaller driver in the sub... and the power is cut down too)