Computer Speakers

[sammy2]

What should I look for in buying speakers?  One which will be used to play movies and have that surround sound effect ? 

[FiB3R]

How much money are you willing to spend?

[sammy2]

$200... Was told about a kef set being better than bose etc but it's going for $300.

How much money are you willing to spend?

 

[YounGMessiah]

Really its up to you, everyone has their own preference/styles/what they expect from speakers/etc..

 

But if you are asking, I wouldnt spend more than $200

 

I have these and I love them!  Sounds real great, clear and they bump :)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-Soundsticks-III-Multimedia/dp/B0042F3K9W

[sammy2]

I wanted atleast 5.1 

[YounGMessiah]

Why?  Now you will have to buy a sound card too which boost your cost

[sammy2]

I think the motherboard supports 5.1 already. ..

[TAZMINATOR]

Why?  Now you will have to buy a sound card too which boost your cost

 

Most sound cards have 5.1 these days.

 

If not, the 5.1 sound cards are cheap these days...  something like $20 depends the retailers or online stores wherever the buyer choose.

[sammy2]

What about using home theater speakers?  

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

Check the frequency response on the speakers. You can google and people will give range suggestions (also important for the subwoofer). Human hearing is 20hz - 20Khz.

[sammy2]

What are people using?  

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

What are people using?  

 

Logitech and Creative Labs are both reputable and safe brands to go with :)

 

Here are two models that you might want to consider: Z506 and T6300.

[sammy2]

I currently have those. .I wanted something more powerful. .. Would these make a big difference?

 

 

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/category/tower-speakers/20322.aspx?path=ad5d4202285b835da3906475db950f95en01

[Torolol]

Sound reproduction quality is important,

my friend brought some .wav files in a usb pendrive,

so he can judge the quality of such speakers

by asking the vendor to play that .wav files.

Apparently, he doesn't trust online order for his speakers needs.

[sammy2]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7486265&SRCCODE=CANWSHOPBOT&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5_BfCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-253611305-2 

That's the set someone told me was really good .. 

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7486265&SRCCODE=CANWSHOPBOT&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5_BfCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-253611305-2 

That's the set someone told me was really good .. 

 

Supposedly good frequency responses of 120hz to 30kHz +/-3.0dB for the speakers & 29Hz to 140Hz +/-3.0dB for the subwoofer.

 

Found this review though: http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/pc-speakers/260407/kef-kht1005-2

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

I currently have those. .I wanted something more powerful. .. Would these make a big difference?

 

 

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/category/tower-speakers/20322.aspx?path=ad5d4202285b835da3906475db950f95en01

 

Of course they would. However, these are passive speakers. You'll need to hook them up to A/V receiver or an amplifier in order to drive them.

 

 

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7486265&SRCCODE=CANWSHOPBOT&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5_BfCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-253611305-2 

That's the set someone told me was really good .. 

 

Sorry, the link won't open for me.

[FiB3R]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7486265&SRCCODE=CANWSHOPBOT&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5_BfCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-253611305-2

That's the set someone told me was really good ..

Somebody gave you good advice :) But you will also need a good amp to make them shine.

[threetonesun]

If you already have the Logitechs, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference until you move to an external amplifier.

[sammy2]

External like amplifiers ? And what's the cost? 

[Andre S. Veteran]

It's impossible to make any concrete suggestion without knowing more about your needs. What's your physical setup? A living room with several people or just one listener in front a computer? How large is the room, how far are you from the speakers? What are you looking for in new speakers, how are you unsatisfied with what you currently have? What is your budget? Your title indicates "computer speakers" but you say the usage is for watching movies so it's not clear what your usage scenario is. Do you use a computer as an HTPC in your living room?

 

Perhaps many will disagree with me, but I've yet to see someone properly setting up a 5.1 setup to get a decent surround effect for everyone in the room, and I think it's all but impossible in many living rooms. I always end up too close to a rear speaker and get a wildly unbalanced image. I personally see more value in getting high quality speakers than getting a surround setup. Crappy rear satellites are more of an annoyance than a benefit in my experience. So you might want to consider high fidelity 2.0 and 2.1 systems as well. For my computer I use a pair of professional powered near-field monitors and the sound quality is simply impeccable.

[Astra.Xtreme]

I personally have the Klipsch Ultra 5.1 speakers, which in my opinion are the best PC speakers you can buy.  They get LOUD!  I don't think you can buy them anymore though.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836119106

 

Even if you get the Klipsch 2.1 speakers, you will be very very satisfied.

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/klipsch-promedia-2-1-speaker-system-3-piece-black/9382232.p?id=1218095770265&skuId=9382232

[sammy2]

The one I currently have is not loud enough and it's for a single room. 

 

But it seems getting a powerful system will be costly.  My power button on my speaker set of four years is currently broken so I need a replacement I just thought of upgrading but I guess not.  

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

It's impossible to make any concrete suggestion without knowing more about your needs. What's your physical setup? A living room with several people or just one listener in front a computer? How large is the room, how far are you from the speakers? What are you looking for in new speakers, how are you unsatisfied with what you currently have? What is your budget? Your title indicates "computer speakers" but you say the usage is for watching movies so it's not clear what your usage scenario is. Do you use a computer as an HTPC in your living room?

 

Perhaps many will disagree with me, but I've yet to see someone properly setting up a 5.1 setup to get a decent surround effect for everyone in the room, and I think it's all but impossible in many living rooms. I always end up too close to a rear speaker and get a wildly unbalanced image. I personally see more value in getting high quality speakers than getting a surround setup. Crappy rear satellites are more of an annoyance than a benefit in my experience. So you might want to consider high fidelity 2.0 and 2.1 systems as well. For my computer I use a pair of professional powered near-field monitors.

 

You are damned right here. Room acoustics and setup is very important and it is very hard to do well. I think it is probably the most unappreciated part of the equation.

[Andre S. Veteran]

The one I currently have is not loud enough and it's for a single room. 

 

But it seems getting a powerful system will be costly.  My power button on my speaker set of four years is currently broken so I need a replacement I just thought of upgrading but I guess not.  

What kind of room? Please go back to my post and answer all the questions I asked. You don't get the same speakers for putting on your computer desk for yourself or in a living room for 5 people. Also we need an idea of your budget.