Future Purchase: 5.1 Speakers; A Question....

[Empty_Quarter]

Originally Posted by Nightingale

Personally all the PC speakers sound like a tin can. Logitech are loud and boomy and simply iMHO are not worth the price. They are built cheap and sound that way. The only 5.1 setups ever made for the PC that were of decent quality within there price range were the Gigaworks 5.1 and the Klipsch 5.1(unfortunately many of the units went sour after a while).

In all Honesty the best thing to do is use a current receiver and buy a good pair of budget satellite Hi-fi speaks like Paradigm, energy etc...

+1, I wholeheartedly agree.

[b1lk1]

Promedia's are no better than the Logitechs for sound really. The only difference is the Promedia's satellites had tweeters. I added cheap automotive 1" tweeters to all the satellites on my Z680's and the difference is startling. Add to that the amp on the Z680/Z5500 is not self destructing due to poor mounting design as well. The Gigaworks 750's were pretty much the same. If you ask me, the Z680's were better than the Z5500's as well. You cannot possible buy anything that sounds even remotely close to as good or as loud for $300 in cheap home audio. You have to spend $1000+ to really get anything that sounds better or you are just wasting money on cheap home audio crap.

I would get Z5500's if you have the legroom for really turning up the volume or get the Z5300's if you can't. Both sets will sound very good.

Nightingale, if someone doesn't have any sound equiptment at all, you are looking at spending $500 for a decent entry level amplifier and atleast $300 for a decent set of entry level speakers. IF you spent any less, it would be a waste of money and still not sound as good as the Logitechs. Don't kid yourself by thinking otherwise.

[Empty_Quarter]

For starters, one could merely start out with a $50-100 t-amp. At stock, I think the promedias sound better than logitechs because the bass on the Klipsch isn't bloated and boomy whatsoever, its not perfect, but its better than the logitechs.

[b1lk1]

You are also kidding yourself if you think you can build a setup that even comes close to any PC dedicated sound solution for the same money. I have heard arguments both ways about the Klipsch sub sounding washed out as well. This is purely personal taste. Besides that, the Z680 sub is different than the Z5500 sub and it has also been widely discussed and people have long said the Z680 sub is better than the Z5500 sub in terms of sound quality.

[Empty_Quarter]

Originally Posted by b1lk1

You are also kidding yourself if you think you can build a setup that even comes close to any PC dedicated sound solution for the same money.

Future Shop: Audio: Home Speakers: Energy C-Series 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (C-200) - Black

+

T-amp, or even better, any used receiver on Craigslist under $100, will outdo any PC media system in terms of quality and clarity. This is assuming you have a $300 budget, under that, you get what you pay for.

The only critirea PC media systems win on, is getting the most toys for the money, as in where else can you find a complete 5.1 system for <$300? The Z-5500 offers a powerful boomy subwoofer, 5 satellites, optical in (not that it makes a difference, but its convinient). But in sound quality, please...

[b1lk1]

You are entitled to your opinion, but you could never convince me that a cheap amp and cheap speakers bought anywhere new or used would sound better. Just as you said yourself, you get what you pay for. I have 2 different decent home theater setups that I paid over $500 for and the Z680's sound better. Those $300 speakers (since you need to buy 2 they are $300) may be cleaner sounding, but they won't pound out bass. There are massive tradeoffs going that route.

For all around performance, you cannot beat PC speaker systems for the price.

[Empty_Quarter]

Originally Posted by b1lk1

I have 2 different decent home theater setups that I paid over $500 for and the Z680's sound better. Those $300 speakers (since you need to buy 2 they are $300) may be cleaner sounding, but they won't pound out bass. There are massive tradeoffs going that route.

Of course they wont pound bass, but you would rather have unbalanced sound over crisp clean detailed sound? To each his own

What speakers do you have that the Z-680 outperforms?

PS: Those speakers I linked are sold in a pair, while they are nothing like dedicated subwoofers, they go as low as 48Hz, which for bookshelfs, are not half bad.

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by Empty_Quarter

Of course they wont pound bass, but you would rather have unbalanced sound over crisp clean detailed sound? To each his own

What speakers do you have that the Z-680 outperforms?

PS: Those speakers I linked are sold in a pair, while they are nothing like dedicated subwoofers, they go as low as 48Hz, which for bookshelfs, are not half bad.

Most people in general really don't know what good audio sounds like and so anything sounds good to them.

[Squeetard]

Home audio is still running on a 2000% markup. Way overpriced.

I found my Klipsch's at London Drugs. Last set. they sold them to me for $299.

The sub on the pro media ultras is un frikin believable. I'm constantly amazed at the crisp, smooth and powerful low end. Way better than my $400 home theatre sub and as good if not better than my $3800 David Eden Bass amp.

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by Squeetard

Home audio is still running on a 2000% markup. Way overpriced.

I found my Klipsch's at London Drugs. Last set. they sold them to me for $299.

The sub on the pro media ultras is un frikin believable. I'm constantly amazed at the crisp, smooth and powerful low end. Way better than my $400 home theatre sub and as good if not better than my $3800 David Eden Bass amp.

Depending on the cabinet the sub is in and the size of the sub is where a lot of the sound can come from. I have a feeling you understand this.

But for those who don't depending on what you want for bass response will depend on the sub you have.

8" and smaller = quicker response but you won't get as low of tones
10" and larger you lose a bit of the quick response but you get a much deeper tone

This is why you see most computer speakers use subs smaller than 8" and even some will have two smaller ones like 2x4" in a wood cabinet to give a deeper sound.