Good 2.1 computer speakers that satisfies all genres <$200?

[sumone]

Need some decent computer speakers. Don't want/need 5.1 as all I use my computer for is music. I've read other threads on here and it seems Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 can be a good selection.

All I'm used to is the "Logitech" sound.

Had my share of z-5xx z-6xx logitechs for the past years. I want to be an "audiophile" but it seems you can't if you fit my scenario...a poor 20 year old college student.


One other thing...I need bass. Not boomy bass, but good, flat, and deep extension. I'd hate to put on the actual frequency of extension I need...but if the name "Lil' Jon & and the Eastside Boyz" comes to mind...you'll know what I mean. I listen to a variety of music...from rap to classical to jazz to certain types of ethnic music. I want that all-in-one system. Good bass for rap & r&b, good mids & clarity for classical, etc. You know, be able to disturb the neighbors when some rap music is playing, but also at lower volumes; getting intimate with each minute detail and nuance of jazz & other non-synthesized/sequenced music.

So really all I'm looking for is a good set of 2.1 amplified computer speakers. Can the Klipsch Promedia 2.1s do the job?

Or would I be better off buying a receiver, 2 speakers, and a sub separately? I see people recommending the sonic t-amp, but the spec sheet only says 15 watts a channel. The speakers I have now (logitech z-640) are 7 watts a satellite & 23 watts for the sub. I'm looking for something louder than this and 15 watts doesn't seem like it'd cut it...let alone enough to drive a good sub.

Recommendations? Budget is a STRICT (hard for you head-fi'ers to understand!) <= $200.

 

[J@ck]

The FPS FLAT PANEL SPEAKER SYSTEM is ok for the price.
It's not great, but better than the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1.
Also you can try the Tivoli Model Two, it doesn't have highs or lows but the midrange is amazing.
Swan is another choice.
Or just get a pair of Polk R15 with a T-amp for around $90, very hard to beat for the price.
T-amp not powerful enough for you? Get a JVC ES1SL from Ebay.

 

[sumone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J@ck The FPS FLAT PANEL SPEAKER SYSTEM is ok for the price. It's not great, but better than the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. Also you can try the Tivoli Model Two, it doesn't have highs or lows but the midrange is amazing. Swan is another choice. Or just get a pair of Polk R15 with a T-amp for around $90, very hard to beat for the price. T-amp not powerful enough for you? Get a JVC ES1SL from Ebay.

Thanks for the response.

I need those lows so I gotta eliminate tivoli. fps - looks like only 12 watts a channel & sub only goes down to 80hz... can't do. Lil Jon = below 40hz!

swan...didn't see any 2.1s for them only bookshelfs. m200 were some i saw mentioned on this forum...however they only go down to 62hz so I'd need a sub.

polk r15...100 watt power rating = good. only go down to 65hz so I'd need a sub too.

JVC ES1SL...if I bought one of those, I won't have any left for speakers! I don't need 100 watts a channel. I'm not qualified to equate watts with a specific sound pressure level, but I'd say something at least 25 watts for speakers and around 100 watts or more for a sub might be what I'm looking for?

T-amp...I also some people saying you can only 5 watts out of 'em. How loud is 5 watts? Can it be the logitech's screwing my perception of what 7watts sound like?

 

[Feanor]

I use paradigm atoms with a t-amp. Great stuff!

EDIT: also, the wattage of the amp doesnt tell you how loud the setup will go, you also need to know the sensitivity of the speakers.

 

[sumone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor I use paradigm atoms with a t-amp. Great stuff! EDIT: also, the wattage of the amp doesnt tell you how loud the setup will go, you also need to know the sensitivity of the speakers.

Right, but I don't see how anything can get loud with only 5 watts of power.

For reference, I've got 160 watts going to each speaker in my car (2 cdtaudio hd-62efs) & 1200 watts going to my sub (image dynamics idmax12 v3). Or has the car audio industry screwed my perception up?

 

[sumone]

Someone please help me...I'm in deperate need of help. I need some speakers asap. Thanks!

 

[funnytimes]

polk r15 $50
t-amp or used reciever (thrift shop etc) $30
dayton 100watt 10" sub $125 (includes rca cable)


will probably be a couple bucks over 200, but would make a great system

 

[sumone]

Quote:

t-amp or used reciever (thrift shop etc) $30 dayton 100watt 10" sub $125 (includes rca cable)

I guess I still don't get it. T-amp = 5 watts. Sub's max power =100 watts.

You guys keep mentioning this T-amp, yet I still have questions about its ability to provide music loud enough that would fill the house if I wanted to throw a house party. Can someone at least mention how well it performs at loud volumes? I'm clueless as what to expect from powering a sub with only 5 watts!!! Fill me in please!!!

I've got a 12" sub laying around my house that I once had in my car. (exact model is elemental designs e12kx.22...2ohm dual voice coils...got it wired for 4ohm now). I could pull all the specs & t/s params about it if need be. How would I know if I could use this sub? It's supposed to be for low-powered applications but low power in car audio is usually around 100 watts.

So please, someone tell me what I can expect from 5 watts going to some bookshelfs & 5 watts going to a 12" sub. I know you guys like recommending products, but I need more of some theory-based advice as to how I should choose a product.


Why is the t-amp good if it only can produce 5, good, low-thd watts is my main question when a lot of other "multimedia speakers" on the market have satellites getting around 30-75 watts apiece & home stereo systems boast 4 and 500watts!

 

[450]

Powered Subwoofers...

Get one those. You're thinking of passive subwoofers. Passive 'woofers need the reciever/amp to power them. A powered subwoofer has an independent amplifier (it powers itself --- doesnt need external amp).

 

[sumone]

Ah...it's coming together now. I could grab that dayton powered subwoofer, the t-amp, and then some EFFICIENT (cause you know I've gotta be loud!) bookshelfs and it'd be a decent system (outperforming the klipsch promedias)?

 

[00940]

If you can bump your budget to 250, you can get some entry level active monitors (which means there is an amp inside each speaker), such as the wharfedale diamond 8.1 active.

You could lose some deep bass but what you'll get will be way cleaner than a cheap sub. Most bass isn't really deep but rather in the 50-100hz area anyway.

By the way, the watt rating of the computer/multimedia speakers is pure joke. If they put out two real watts, consider yourself lucky.

 

[D-EJ915]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumone I guess I still don't get it. T-amp = 5 watts. Sub's max power =100 watts. So please, someone tell me what I can expect from 5 watts going to some bookshelfs & 5 watts going to a 12" sub. I know you guys like recommending products, but I need more of some theory-based advice as to how I should choose a product.

A sub getting powered by 5 watts won't produce anything at all, lol. The thing is, drivers (speaker) meant to output high-frequency stuff (like 2kHz+/tweeter) are a lot more "sensitive" with like 95dB @ 1W/M while a typical sub would be like 85dB @ 1W/M. I forgot what the formula is for loudness, but that's a huge difference. Try taking a speaker and placing it on a stool in the middle of the room, then on the stool next to a wall, now in the corner and experience the difference. Imagine the sub being on the stool and the bookshelf being in the corner as to loudness.

Usually at a decent volume your amp's probably outputting anywhere from 3-5 watts anyway. or whatever.

 

[Feanor]

Look, wattage does not equal loudness. My atoms can go pretty loud if I want them to, but they are being fed through a preamp + sonic impact and I rather use the big (200W

) floorstanders for partying. You asked for a computer speaker recommendation, and I posted what I happily use for that purpose. I somehow doubt the 19.99$ purchase would be a major cut.

 

[sumone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00940 If you can bump your budget to 250, you can get some entry level active monitors (which means there is an amp inside each speaker), such as the wharfedale diamond 8.1 active. You could lose some deep bass but what you'll get will be way cleaner than a cheap sub. Most bass isn't really deep but rather in the 50-100hz area anyway. By the way, the watt rating of the computer/multimedia speakers is pure joke. If they put out two real watts, consider yourself lucky.

Haha...my budget at first was $100...then $150...then $200. You guys like to always go above people's budget!

As far as losing bass...I don't think I can handle that. Most bass??? I think it highly depends on the type of music. I want my system to be able some Bass Mechanic & also Miles Davis if you know what I mean.

So you're saying if the specs say they put out 30 or so watts, I should just take it as a grain of salt? That is, except if it's some expensive equipment...but who makes really expensive "computer multimedia speakers"?

So if I got the T-amp and compared it with the amp driving the klipsch promedia satellites, the T-amp probably puts out more power? Cause Klipsch rates its satellites at 35 watts. How much clean power can the ProMedias actually generate?

 

[sumone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-EJ915 A sub getting powered by 5 watts won't produce anything at all, lol. The thing is, drivers (speaker) meant to output high-frequency stuff (like 2kHz+/tweeter) are a lot more "sensitive" with like 95dB @ 1W/M while a typical sub would be like 85dB @ 1W/M. I forgot what the formula is for loudness, but that's a huge difference. Try taking a speaker and placing it on a stool in the middle of the room, then on the stool next to a wall, now in the corner and experience the difference. Imagine the sub being on the stool and the bookshelf being in the corner as to loudness. Usually at a decent volume your amp's probably outputting anywhere from 3-5 watts anyway. or whatever.

Yea I had misunderstood the recommendation. I didn't know that the sub he was talking about had its own internal amp! So when I saw T-amp & sub, I'm thinking 5 watts & a sub??? lol. I get it now!