I need help! Somebody please help! What are the best computer speakers?

[HappinessNow]

Primarily for listening to music and some playing games.

[nolliecrooked]

buy yourself a pair of studio quality headphones. it will beat any speaker system setup you will find.

[Therion]

Well... Do you want straight stereo, 2.1, 5.1 or what?

And how much are you willing to spend?

[Greg]

Both Creative and Logitech make good products.

[ddrichardson]

A headphone jack to RCA cable and a decent stereo system has worked well for me at minimum cost since, well forever.

[Therion]

What I'm currently using: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122

And worth every dime but you can certainly do better if you want...

[TheLions]

Primarily for listening to music and some playing games.

buy the cheapest you can find, there is almoust no difference between them. I sugest you if you have some HI-FI near your computer you shoud connect it together with one 3.5mm jack (for PC) and 2 RCA connectors cable.

http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC399-25_LR.jpg

[HappinessNow]

buy yourself a pair of studio quality headphones. it will beat any speaker system setup you will find.


Well... Do you want straight stereo, 2.1, 5.1 or what?

And how much are you willing to spend?


Both Creative and Logitech make good products.


A headphone jack to RCA cable and a decent stereo system has worked well for me at minimum cost since, well forever.

Ok, to clarify I do not want headphones. I already have a great pair.

let me give a little more information in this post by letting people know what I have:

1. Set of Bose Companion® 2 multimedia speaker system - I find these are more then adequate but I am giving them away for someone to use at their office, I was hoping for better quality then these. (almost 2 years old)

2. Logitech Z-5500 THX-certified, 505-watt 5.1 digital surround sound speaker system with digital equalization. - sound was fine until I picked up the low end Bose Companion speakers above. Again, I was hoping for better quality then these. (3 or 4 maybe more years old?)

I don't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money, but then again I believe on buying the best I can afford. Perhaps no more then $600 US Dollars, give or take about $400.

Also, I don't own a stereo system or other speakers. I am overall not happy with the Logitech speakers. I am happy with the Bose speakers. I did have a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card in my laptop and was very happy with their sound card, perhaps they make reputable speakers also?

[ddrichardson]

Ok, to clarify I do not want headphones. I already have a great pair.
Eh? I didn't say headphones, I suggested a connection to a stereo system - minimal cost option if you have a good system - in fact for the outlay you suggest, a stereo with good enough speakers, certainly for the fidelity in MP3 is well within reach.

[koleoptero]

These: http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/

[HappinessNow]

Eh? I didn't say headphones, I suggested a connection to a stereo system - minimal cost option if you have a good system - in fact for the outlay you suggest, a stereo with good enough speakers, certainly for the fidelity in MP3 is well within reach.
I do not own a stereo system nor do I ever plan to purchase one.

[nolliecrooked]

Ok, to clarify I do not want headphones. I already have a great pair.

if you really had a great pair of headphones, you wouldnt have even posted this thread :P

[Greg]

Ok, to clarify I do not want headphones. I already have a great pair.

let me give a little more information in this post by letting people know what I have:

1. Set of Bose Companion® 2 multimedia speaker system - I find these are more then adequate but I am giving them away for someone to use at their office, I was hoping for better quality then these. (almost 2 years old)

2. Logitech Z-5500 THX-certified, 505-watt 5.1 digital surround sound speaker system with digital equalization. - sound was fine until I picked up the low end Bose Companion speakers above. Again, I was hoping for better quality then these. (3 or 4 maybe more years old?)

I don't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money, but then again I believe on buying the best I can afford. Perhaps no more then $600 US Dollars, give or take about $400.

Also, I don't own a stereo system or other speakers. I am overall not happy with the Logitech speakers. I am happy with the Bose speakers. I did have a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card in my laptop and was very happy with there sound card, perhaps they make reputable speakers also?

I'm listening to Led Zeppelin out of a set of Creative speakers right now... it's a 5.1 set that ran me about $100. I forget the exact name, but it's more than adequate for me, and I've always liked Creative's products.

[HappinessNow]

if you really had a great pair of headphones, you wouldnt have even posted this thread :P

on the contrary, I do not live alone and other people like to listen to our music collection also. Headphones serve only one purpose, a way to not wake up everybody when I am up in the middle of the night.


These: http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/

Thanks for your link, do you own these?


I'm listening to Led Zeppelin out of a set of Creative speakers right now... it's a 5.1 set that ran me about $100. I forget the exact name, but it's more than adequate for me, and I've always liked Creative's products.
So Creative does make good Computer Speakers then?

Led Zeppelin is great! I am wondering how Seether or Breaking Benjamin will sound?

[nolliecrooked]

on the contrary, I do not live alone and other people like to listen to our music collection also. Headphones serve only one purpose, a way to not wake up everybody when I am up in the middle of the night.



Thanks for your link, do you own these?

hmmmmmmm I see. if you want a solid 5.1 system, then Creative is probably the way to go.

[koleoptero]

Thanks for your link, do you own these?

Unfortunately no. I own a Logitech Z-2300 set. They're good too. But klipsch are the best.

Also if you're not insterested in power you might also consider these (http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&cat=MME&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&sType=C). They have perfect sound, but not much in power, but are also much cheaper than the others.

[HappinessNow]

hmmmmmmm I see. if you want a solid 5.1 system, then Creative is probably the way to go.

Thanks, nolliecrooked...I shall research Creative options.


Unfortunately no. I own a Logitech Z-2300 set. They're good too. But klipsch are the best.

Also if you're not insterested in power you might also consider these (http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&cat=MME&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&sType=C). They have perfect sound, but not much in power, but are also much cheaper than the others.

I actually saw and considered those (http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&cat=MME&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&sType=C) but they seem a bit toooo plasteek for me.

[koleoptero]

I actually saw and considered those (http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG&cat=MME&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&sType=C) but they seem a bit toooo plasteek for me.

Design is half the speaker, so if they don't suite your desktop, avoid them. Also creative speakers are good, but not that good. There are far better options out there, like the JBL creature, or some altec lansing speakers.

Go to www.pcmag.com and get a general idea on reviews for speakers. They're not very reliable but you can also judge by the comments.

[HappinessNow]

Design is half the speaker, so if they don't suite your desktop, avoid them. Also creative speakers are good, but not that good. There are far better options out there, like the JBL creature, or some altec lansing speakers.

Go to www.pcmag.com (http://www.pcmag.com) and get a general idea on reviews for speakers. They're not very reliable but you can also judge by the comments.

It is ashamed that Bang and Olufsen (http://www.bang-olufsen.com/) are not more affordable.

[rookcifer]

OP, post your question to the hydrogen audio (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx) forums. Those guys know their audio.

[koleoptero]

I love B&O too, but yeah they're expensive. :)

[HappinessNow]

I love B&O too, but yeah they're expensive. :)

I like to go in and visit their show room and occasional touch stuff!


OP, post your question to the hydrogen audio (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx) forums. Those guys know their audio.

Believe it or not; but I actually have a forum / Social networking phobia I don't think I could ever do much more then ubuntuforums and LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/).

[HappinessNow]

I am seriously thinking of getting the Peachtree Decco Integrated Amplifier + ds4.5 Speakers

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/DS4.5/DS4.5.html

[JordyD]

I speak computer. I think I do a pretty good job of it.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[HappinessNow]

I speak computer. I think I do a pretty good job of it.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
LOL...that is pretty funny!

[gn2]

I am very happy with my Creative Gigaworks T20 (http://multitest.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/gigaworks-t20.jpg) speakers, they are the best PC speakers I have ever heard.

[koleoptero]

I am seriously thinking of getting the Peachtree Decco Integrated Amplifier + ds4.5 Speakers

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/DS4.5/DS4.5.html

:o These seem good, but did you look at the price? :o

[HappinessNow]

:o These seem good, but did you look at the price? :o
Yeah, not bad for $1200.

[racerraul]

Disappointed with all the money I wasted on computer speakers and their lack of SQ... (I am probably more anal than most since I even upgraded the sound system in my truck, even entered and won SQ competitions with it).

I finally decided that nothing less than an external receiver and speakers\sub connected to the PC via digital would suffice.

It may not be a real option for ya... but with all the proprietary computer speaker setups, the weakest link is not often the driver contruction but also the amplifier as well.

Food for thought.

[racerraul]

I am seriously thinking of getting the Peachtree Decco Integrated Amplifier + ds4.5 Speakers

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/DS4.5/DS4.5.html

Outrageous!

A 4.5' full range driver has many physical limitations to produce a wide enough audio range to justify that price. I don't care how nice you make it look, its not worth that price.

for that kind of money, you can get a much better setup, likely with more power (added headroom = less THD and stress on the amp) and a much wider audible representation of the audio spectrum with bigger drivers if you have the room. That said, if you are limited to such small drivers you could easily opt for more sensibly priced HT options and do as I did and use the digital output of your PC.
Such as this for example.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580HT3200B/Onkyo-HT-S3200.html?c=4&tp=6419&avf=N

It may take up more room, but there is a price to pay for good sound, and its not necessarily always from the wallet.

If you don't have a digital output from your PC, then I'm sorry to say that your weakest link is your analog source (PC Output) and no amount of money is going to improve that.

[Lavaeagle]

Bose Computer speakers go buy them now.

[HappinessNow]

Bose Computer speakers go buy them now.Ironically, that your post was the most recent in this thread I just bought a set of Bose Speakers:

Bose Computer MusicMonitor Speakers in Black:


http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=130570&d=1254565685http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/digital_music_systems/computer_speakers/music_monitor/index.jsp

With free ground shipping I should receive them in about 5 to 7 days.

This will be an upgrade from my Bose Companion 2 multimedia speaker system.

It was also very helpful to be able to go into the Bose Store at the local outlet mall and hear them live in person.

Awesome speakers, can't wait till I get them in. :P

[markbuntu]

I plug my computer into my stereo.

[jamesisin]

I am seriously thinking of getting the Peachtree Decco Integrated Amplifier + ds4.5 Speakers

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/DS4.5/DS4.5.html

I own a Decco integrated. I have not been able to attach my 9.10 machine to it via USB. Have you had any luck with that?

[HappinessNow]

I own a Decco integrated. I have not been able to attach my 9.10 machine to it via USB. Have you had any luck with that? I actually bought the Bose Computer MusicMonitor Speakers in Black (see quote below)...

I like the Decco speakers but found them a tad bit too expensive.


Ironically, that your post was the most recent in this thread I just bought a set of Bose Speakers:

Bose Computer MusicMonitor Speakers in Black:

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/digital_music_systems/computer_speakers/music_monitor/index.jsp

With free ground shipping I should receive them in about 5 to 7 days.

This will be an upgrade from my Bose Companion 2 multimedia speaker system.

It was also very helpful to be able to go into the Bose Store at the local outlet mall and hear them live in person.

Awesome speakers, can't wait till I get them in. :P

To follow up I highly recommend the Bose Computer MusicMonitor Speakers,...

[jamesisin]

I like the Decco speakers but found them a tad bit too expensive.

To follow up I highly recommend the Bose Computer MusicMonitor Speakers,...

I'll never waste money on computer speakers again. I have nice audio gear and have seen the error of my way. I attach all computers to the good stuff or headphones (though even my headphones tend toward the audio-phile stuff).

If you come across anything that might help me get connected to the Decco unit via USB please let me know:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1356484

[jrusso2]

These: http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/

I have these but I think my Creative 5.1's sound better.