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Best Speaker Choice For Computer Gaming Only?

post #1 of 14
8/31/04 at 2:17am
Thread Starter 
I'm changing some things around and will be purchasing a speaker system strictly for computer gaming. No movies, no music, just gaming. I have entire seperate systems for those other purposes.
I've been using a Harmon Kardon receiver, a pair of NHT Super Zero's and an Infinity sub for years, but with the newer games, I really need the extra channels and Dolby Digital. The cost to add more speakers to what I have AND buy a DD 5.1 receiver is simply too much money to outlay just to play some computer games, in my mind. Especially as I could buy one of the top rated pc speaker systems, complete, for less cost than that. Assuming they are actually listenable, compared to what I am used to.
I've heard that the center channel in a 5.1 system does nothing, or virtually nothing in games, so a 4.1 system would be fine, but either way, I would like to know what my best options are.
I know that people love the Gigaworks,and the higher end Klipsch but using those ONLY for gaming seems to be pretty serious overkill. I "could" afford them, but want to spend my hard earned money logically and wisely (I could spend whats left on headphones!)
My "about to be built" new high performance gaming pc includes an Audigy 2 ZS for sound
Please fill me in on what my best options are and why. The help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. At least in this forum, I know I can trust your ears for something that will provide solid sound in games.


JC
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post #2 of 14
8/31/04 at 3:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightfall
I'm changing some things around and will be purchasing a speaker system strictly for computer gaming. No movies, no music, just gaming. I have entire seperate systems for those other purposes.
I've been using a Harmon Kardon receiver, a pair of NHT Super Zero's and an Infinity sub for years, but with the newer games, I really need the extra channels and Dolby Digital. The cost to add more speakers to what I have AND buy a DD 5.1 receiver is simply too much money to outlay just to play some computer games, in my mind. Especially as I could buy one of the top rated pc speaker systems, complete, for less cost than that. Assuming they are actually listenable, compared to what I am used to.
I've heard that the center channel in a 5.1 system does nothing, or virtually nothing in games, so a 4.1 system would be fine, but either way, I would like to know what my best options are.
I know that people love the Gigaworks,and the higher end Klipsch but using those ONLY for gaming seems to be pretty serious overkill. I "could" afford them, but want to spend my hard earned money logically and wisely (I could spend whats left on headphones!)
My "about to be built" new high performance gaming pc includes an Audigy 2 ZS for sound
Please fill me in on what my best options are and why. The help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. At least in this forum, I know I can trust your ears for something that will provide solid sound in games.


JC
Telex EV SonicXS 4.1 is a pretty good surround gaming system if you can find them (ebay?). I hope you like disturbing your neighbors! The bass hits as hard as the boomy Logitechs, except it's very tight in comparison. They also go VERY LOUD without distorting. I certainly wouldn't want to be near-field to them at full blast. If you aren't concerned about rockets feeling like they thump you in the chest I'd probably opt for some of the Monsoon MM2000 speakers - their imaging is superior to any of the Klipsch, Altec Lansing, Creative, Cambridge Soundworks and Logitech multimedia speakers I've heard. Then again, I've never heard any games that position all that accurate -- far too much reverb drowning out the loudness. Why on Earth do sound engineers always mix footsteps louder than every !@$(*&#% other sound in the game anyway? (aside from explosions). I mean seriously, most of the time in a quiet corridor in an FPS, you'll hear your own footsteps over reloading.
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post #3 of 14
8/31/04 at 2:10pm
if you plan on using the speakers just for games i would go with the logitech z560. i've been using the z680s on my xbox and it sounds incredible for games like Halo. since 4.1's fine for regular pc games, z560's yup.
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post #4 of 14
9/1/04 at 1:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pandasonic
if you plan on using the speakers just for games i would go with the logitech z560. i've been using the z680s on my xbox and it sounds incredible for games like Halo. since 4.1's fine for regular pc games, z560's yup.

I've heard great things about the impact and realism of the 560's and 680's in games, but also many, many comments regarding serious and ongoing reliability problems. In one of the prominent pc forums, people were talking about having had three or more subwoofers die on them with these systems!
Even people who love the sound seem to be wary of recommending them now.


JC
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post #5 of 14
9/1/04 at 1:51am
Thread Starter 
[QUOTE=VitaminJosh]Telex EV SonicXS 4.1 is a pretty good surround gaming system if you can find them (ebay?). I hope you like disturbing your neighbors! The bass hits as hard as the boomy Logitechs, except it's very tight in comparison. They also go VERY LOUD without distorting. I certainly wouldn't want to be near-field to them at full blast. QUOTE]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've honestly never even heard of these speakers, or the company, but will check them out. I take it they are either discontinued, or out of business entirely?
I've had many, many recommendations in several computer forums suggesting the also discontinued Klipsch 4.1's, but they are also quite difficult to find. And I dont really want a used system.


JC
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post #6 of 14
9/1/04 at 2:43am
Don't worry about any Logitech Z680s dying on you.

Z560s, on the other hand will - and they did for me three times

Actually, the Z560s are a great system. I used them for my five channels when first building my home theater, and just got a Velodyne sub - it sounded GREAT for the price you pay.

But seriously, the sub for the Z560s is just AWFUL. Every time the volume gets loud you'd think there was a tin can floating around the inside of that sub.

I'd recommend Klipsch speakers for gaming, actually - over monsoon setups because the Klipsch speakers have a real dynamic range to them, while Monsoons generally keep at the mid-range level where it normally doesn't help much for your games.

Just my opinions, however
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post #7 of 14
9/2/04 at 1:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aman
I'd recommend Klipsch speakers for gaming, actually - over monsoon setups because the Klipsch speakers have a real dynamic range to them, while Monsoons generally keep at the mid-range level where it normally doesn't help much for your games.
Just my opinions, however
Speaking of Klipsch, given their background in quality audio, I was leaning that way. I came across this "possibly" great deal, for a Klipsch 5.1 system that sold for $300.00 and has gotten some very positive reviews. Any thoughts?


http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/deta...mail,ECOSTDEAL


JC
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post #8 of 14
9/2/04 at 2:14am
The GMX is not as good as the other ProMedia, it just arguably looks better.
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post #9 of 14
9/2/04 at 2:24am
Klipsch 5.1 ProMedia Ultra
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post #10 of 14
9/3/04 at 1:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilson
No doubt a wonderful choice, but $400.00 strictly for computer gaming speakers is tough to justify. Yes, I "could" afford it, but thinking logically, its a LOT for that one purpose.


JC
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post #11 of 14
9/3/04 at 2:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightfall

Thanks for the recommendation. I've honestly never even heard of these speakers, or the company, but will check them out. I take it they are either discontinued, or out of business entirely?
I've had many, many recommendations in several computer forums suggesting the also discontinued Klipsch 4.1's, but they are also quite difficult to find. And I dont really want a used system.


JC
http://www.electrovoice.com/
http://www.telex.com/computeraudio/p...s/EVSonicXS4.1

You can walk into Best Buy and I bet near the CD section if you look up they'll be eV speakers mounted on the wall I doubt they'll go out of business any time soon. They're pretty well integrated into the industry. I think the computer speaker line is discontinued, but I may be wrong. These speakers (well the 2.1's) were a huge thing with CompUSA during some sales or something. All the deal forum people were raving about how great the speakers were (They were ridiculously cheap for a day or two) for the price. A lot of people bought the hell out of them, and are still making money on Ebay selling them. I am not sure which retail stores still stock them.
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post #12 of 14
9/3/04 at 5:04am
I have recently bought the Creative Gigaworks 7.1 speakers. They're great in combination with your audigy 2 zs ( i have it to ) they sound very good, and go very loud as well. And they're not as expensive as the klipsch speakers. If you turn the volume to max ,f iring the machine guns in UT2004 actually makes my whole desk vibrate, and lauching a tank shell.... KaPOOOOOOOOMF !!!

I think me neighbours duck for cover everytime.

It's really great in games where rockets fly all over the place, because the surround is superb

( if only i knew what i did wrong with my speakers, read my thread :-)
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post #13 of 14
9/4/04 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the recommendation, Joeri,

I've heard great things about your speakers too. I'm hoping they have a 5.1 version though, as I dont have anywhere to put all seven speakers in my den.


JC


Quote:
Originally Posted by joeri
I have recently bought the Creative Gigaworks 7.1 speakers. They're great in combination with your audigy 2 zs ( i have it to ) they sound very good, and go very loud as well. And they're not as expensive as the klipsch speakers. If you turn the volume to max ,f iring the machine guns in UT2004 actually makes my whole desk vibrate, and lauching a tank shell.... KaPOOOOOOOOMF !!!

I think me neighbours duck for cover everytime.

It's really great in games where rockets fly all over the place, because the surround is superb

( if only i knew what i did wrong with my speakers, read my thread :-)
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post #14 of 14
9/4/04 at 2:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeri
I
( if only i knew what i did wrong with my speakers, read my thread :-)

I am positive that you could get an answer to your problem in one of the computer forums online. Try these two, between them, you should get your problem resolved. They require you to join to be able to post, but it only takes a minute, and since you have a pc, and are a gamer, I would be very surprised if you didnt find those forums worthwhile anyway. Each has a special section where you can post multimedia type problems.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/

http://www.maximumpc.com/forum/index.php
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