Speakers/Surround Sound Suggestions

[Undead]

Alright, now that I got my new Dell U2311H monitor, I'm going to need some sound for whenever I watch some Netflix movies.

I don't want to make it a theater room so I don't want to invest $300 in a complete surround sound system, but something along the lines of $30-100.

Preferably 2 frontal speakers and a sub.
Btw, would the go on the ground (carpet) or on a desk (wood)?
And a remote to control volume from a distance would be cool, but definitely not necessary.

I don't have a sound card, so I don't know if that makes a difference or if I should invest in getting one. I don't plan on playing games without my headset, so I never saw a point in getting one.

I have a GA-P55A-UD3 Motherboard with these audio specs:
1. Realtek ALC888 codec
2. High Definition Audio
3. 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
4. Support for S/PDIF In/Out
5. Support for CD In

So what do you guys suggest?

[Baron_Fel]

a good headset like the Corsair HS1, or the Altec Lansing FX3022 (http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-FX3022-Expressionist-Speaker/dp/B001IZYUS4/ref=sr_1_10?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1294979182&sr=1-10), or maybe the classic Logitech Z2300 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-2300-THX-Certified-Speaker-Subwoofer/dp/B0002SQ2P2).

[handi360]

I'm running off my board audio realtek HD and i have a 12" JLaudio sub and some polk audio mid/highs running through a samsung mixer/preout/receiver and it sounds stunning in movies. you dont need a dedi audio card.

depending on how good/loud you want it to sound you can spend 20 bucks or 20000...

i'm guessing you want to go low end home theater, so Klipche is about the best you can get for that and this is their laptop/ipod stuff (http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-Certified-Computer-Speaker/dp/B000062VUO)

[richei]

I would suggest getting a sound card or finding out if your onboard sound works. i would also wait until you can do at least $200. with your needs, i would do a 5.1, anything less won't do the movies justice.

if you really want to go with a 2.1 (2 speakers and a sub), try http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113033

[Undead]

Well I don't need my room shaking, because I don't want to disturb my family.
Just something that gives a good quality sound that I can hear from my bed that's 10 feet away.

My friend recommended me this Logitech 5.1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121044&cm_re=Logitech_5.1-_-36-) set that's only $100. Reviews aren't that pleasing though.

[Baron_Fel]

dont get a $100 5.1 set, the quality wont be good.

[handi360]

i agree w/ baron, it will sound like ♥♥♥♥, whats your budget dude?

[pmc64]

$100 budget is too low it won't sound good. If you're spending $100 get some headphones.

[Undead]

I have $30 headset and I play really well.

I'm talking about some cheap speakers for movies I can watch, it's not something that's going to be house-shaking, just something to watch movies at night time.

But yeah, people tell me 2.1 is what to get, so how about these? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014
or
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-LS21-Stereo-Speaker-System/dp/B0015C30J0/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1294985183&sr=1-3

Probably only looking to spend ~$50.

-----------
Also just noticed this: "2/4/5.1/7.1-channel"
Does that mean my MoBo won't support 2.1?

[lo3.explicit]

I have a set of these. Sound great for what your trying to do. A little pricier though. CineMate® Series II digital home theater speaker system (http://www.amazon.com/Bose-Digital-Theater-Speaker-System/dp/B000A0QIEC)

Would certainly require you to save a bit more dough.

[handi360]

well if you dont care for the bass, i'd sugest something like this (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Vizio-High-Definition-Sound-Bar/11046520?sourceid=1500000000000003142050&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11046520)

dont buy bose they r are overprice pos..

[pmc64]

2.1 just means it has a sub woofer. a sub doesn't require a seperate jack or anything.

[Undead]

2.1 just means it has a sub woofer. a sub doesn't require a seperate jack or anything.

Yeah I know, just that it says 5.1/7.1, but only 2 and not 2.1. :P

[richei]

Well I don't need my room shaking, because I don't want to disturb my family.
Just something that gives a good quality sound that I can hear from my bed that's 10 feet away.

My friend recommended me this Logitech 5.1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121044&cm_re=Logitech_5.1-_-36-) set that's only $100. Reviews aren't that pleasing though.

Good speakers, but you said ur budget was $100. after shipping, you'd be over. I have the z540's from logitech and they're pretty decent overall.

[joemtnbike]

The quality of sound is so dependent on speakers before anything else.
This makes speakers the last place to skimp.
As far as 5.1 on netflix is concerned it can only be played on a PS3 currently. All other devices are stereo only.
I'll bet the sales men didn't tell any of you that.
If you want good movie sound from speakers it is expensive and loud.
As far as the OP is concerned get the best headphones you can afford.

Good speakers, but you said ur budget was $100. after shipping, you'd be over. I have the z540's from logitech and they're pretty decent overall.

There is no such thing as quality speakers for $100

The closest thing you are going to get for quality sound without breaking the bank is Klipsch Promedia 2.1

[Undead]

I can't listen to a movie with headphones from my bed...
Nor would I want to.

I don't need any big boom or really loud rock'n'roll speakers, just something with a good quality sound.

Probably just going to get the $27 2.1 Logitech speakers.

I won't be using them for gaming, I have a headset for that...
And this isn't my theater room, it's my bedroom.

[joemtnbike]

I can't listen to a movie with headphones from my bed...
Nor would I want to.

I don't need any big boom or really loud rock'n'roll speakers, just something with a good quality sound.

Probably just going to get the $27 2.1 Logitech speakers.

I won't be using them for gaming, I have a headset for that...
And this isn't my theater room, it's my bedroom.

Get what you want but those speakers will sound horrible.

If I were talking about a theater room I'd be talking about $1000+ not $100

This is my recommendation and nothing less.
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/

[Baron_Fel]

As far as 5.1 on netflix is concerned it can only be played on a PS3 currently. All other devices are stereo only.


oh nm netflix. For a second I thought you meant in general.

[richei]

The 5.1 all depends on the setup. if you have a reciever, its not going to matter if it supports it or not. plus some speakers have the ability to split the signal internally. mine haas this thing called matrix mode, which does the same thing.

[Baron_Fel]

The 5.1 all depends on the setup. if you have a reciever, its not going to matter if it supports it or not. plus some speakers have the ability to split the signal internally. mine haas this thing called matrix mode, which does the same thing.

if its a stereo source, doesnt matter what setup you have its not going to be real surround sound.

[tororosso1]

Get what you want but those speakers will sound horrible.

If I were talking about a theater room I'd be talking about $1000+ not $100

This is my recommendation and nothing less.
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/


have they come out of a new model yet? wow, bought that 2.1 over 5 years ago lol its legendary but a dinosaur.

good quality top notch performing product, proven Klipsch product.

build quality i solid, i know this for a fact. I accidentally jammed my small toe at one of the sharp corners of that sub and the outcome wasn't pretty.



ps no go for 5.1, wait until you have your own place (you need adequate space and quality receiver for proper 5.1 or 7.1 setup) and start on htpc theater room project.


5.1 products setup on a desk shouldn't even exist

[pmc64]

You don't get it. $27 speakers are in no way good quality. You can crank those up an get loud and boomy too. If you want good quality get something more expensive. If you want something cheap it really doesn't matter what you get because they'll all prettty much sound bad.

[Dirtman73]

If your budget is only $100, just go with some Logitechs (they have several 2.1 setups). They'll probably sound fine for what you are using them for and you'll have some change left over to buy something else. You should really be relying on published user reviews anyway. Anytime someone posts a speaker or headphone question here, the audiophiles start coming out of the woodwork claiming "you just can't get good sound quality with less than $200" or "if you really want amazing sound quality, buy these, not those, because those are crap and anybody who says otherwise is deaf" and so on.

Seriously, go to newegg.com or amazon.com, browse the user reviews for the speakers you are interested in, and then make your decision that way. Better yet, find some professional reviews and go with those.

[Undead]

I think what people are misinterpreting is when I use "good quality" speakers. I'm not talking about studio surround sound or home theater speakers. We have a $3000 theater room surround sound downstairs. The only reason I need speakers now is because I switched from my HDTV that had built-in speakers to a Dell U2311H 23" that doesn't have speakers. So I just need something that would match the old HDTV speakers which I bet were pretty crappy quality toward audiophiles, but sounded great to me..

I don't need the whole house booming, just enough to hear a movie from 10 feet away or some iTunes music in the mornings..

[pmc64]

Just get whatever logitech speakers that are in your budget. Just get a stereo set without a subwoofer.

[Undead]

So 2.0 and not 2.1? =o

[Setarcos]

I don't need any big boom or really loud rock'n'roll speakers, just something with a good quality sound.

I'm not an audiophile by any means, but what you're missing is that it is very seldom that quality and power are separate. In fact, as someone already posted, you can get really crappy loud speakers (my wife did, for about $20 for a 2.1 setup, and at best it sounded like a cheap boombox playing an audio cassette in a bathroom). However, decent quality usually means louder because poor quality shows even more at higher volumes.

Keep in mind that a 10 feet away, you're probably going to turn up the speakers a bit further than you do sitting at a desk.

Cheap logitechs MIGHT be fine. My best advice would be to go to a Best Buy or somewhere that actually has display units hooked up so you can compare. Find the ones you like, can tolerate, and then find the cheapest price you can online for them (probably newegg.com).

[Baron_Fel]

I think what people are misinterpreting is when I use "good quality" speakers. I'm not talking about studio surround sound or home theater speakers. We have a $3000 theater room surround sound downstairs. The only reason I need speakers now is because I switched from my HDTV that had built-in speakers to a Dell U2311H 23" that doesn't have speakers. So I just need something that would match the old HDTV speakers which I bet were pretty crappy quality toward audiophiles, but sounded great to me..

I don't need the whole house booming, just enough to hear a movie from 10 feet away or some iTunes music in the mornings..

You don't get it. $27 speakers are in no way good quality. You can crank those up an get loud and boomy too. If you want good quality get something more expensive. If you want something cheap it really doesn't matter what you get because they'll all prettty much sound bad.

No dude pmc64 said it perfectly. Those ♥♥♥♥ty speakers can be turned up just fine but they arent going to sound good. Good speakers will sound better, regardless of what volume ur setting them at.

[Setarcos]

No dude pmc64 said it perfectly. Those ♥♥♥♥ty speakers can be turned up just fine but they arent going to sound good. Good speakers will sound better, regardless of what volume ur setting them at.

Crappy speakers: sound good only when off
Economic speakers: sound good at low/desk volumes, and "ok" higher.
Good speakers: sound good at higher volumes, and ok at "room" level volumes.
Really good speakers: sound good while you're damaging your hearing.
Audiophile speakers: sound good while you're damaging your neighbor's hearing.

[Undead]

I think I'm just going to get a 2.0 setup since coming from TV speakers, those were perfectly fine for what I needed, so I have no point in getting a sub that's going to be crappy and lower the value of the speakers because it's an extra item.

So now the question is, what's a "decent" 2.0 setup for ~$50 and lower.

[richei]

A sub doesn't lower the quality of the sound. Just get one that'll give you the quality you want without breaking the bank. even that 75 watt 5.1 would've sounded pretty good. At work, i have a logitech 2.1 setup and it sounds good enough at high and low volumes. Also have a 2.1 altec lansing setup somewhere, those were decent enough too.

If you want to match the tv, just get the cheapest speakers out there, because that's what is in the tv.

do what Setarcos said. if you want quality, be prepared to pay for it. $100 will get you some good speakers.

[Undead]

I'm thinking about dropping $133 down on these: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-GigaWorks-Multimedia-BasXPort-Technolgy/dp/B001S14DYO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295227868&sr=8-2

Only thing holding me back is that yellow color..

Idk if it'll match well with my 922 HAF that has 3x Red LED Fans.

[Undead]

Nevermind about speakers...

Just realized, I can hook up my HDTV as a 2nd Monitor for movies... :P