Speakers

[Nish]

I know sod-all about speakers really, I'm thinking of getting a fairly standard 2.1 system, might go for a 5.1 if there's a bargain going. Budget's £50-60, any ideas? Preferably not Creative ones, I hate them.

This is for PC we're talking, I'm not necessarily after a room-filling, horrifically-deep bass sort of setup. Cheers.

[nonamebrandeggs]

I've got an Altec Lansing 5.1 system, and it's fucking hype. I don't have the speakers set up proper so it doesn't give any atmospheric effect in games, but it does make music on winamp sound wonderful. Only gripe is MP3 tracks don't play out the centre speaker and I can't find any way to remedy that. :(

Make sure you got a 5.1 compatable sound card first too, I made that mistake had to jack one out of a buddy's computer. Creative Audigy Live 2, beatiful card.

[Nish]

I'm not keen on a 5.1 system simply because I haven't got room. I've already got 2 monitors and 2 speakers on the desk, I can't cram 5 more speakers on (woofer obviously will go under the desk). Even if I did get them all on I'd probably have to put the rear ones on top of or very close behind the front ones.

[hinch]

i picked up a creative :) 2.1 system other day as my 15 year old speakers finally gave out. despite what you may think about the creative gear they're fucking amazing got sub as foot rest under desk and the 2 satellites pointing so they're creating the centre point perfectly around my head and i have to say the sound is absolutely stunning. cost £32 from pc world :)

[Nish]

There's nowt wrong with Creative's hardware, but in my experience it's a bastard to maintain (software-wise) and the tech support has been about as helpful as leprosy.

I've found a Logitech 2.1 system for 25 notes, I might go for that. The two speakers look a bit small, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily shite, does it?

[nonamebrandeggs]

Logitech's pretty good, I used to have a 2.1 system from them - had small speakers too. The sound was fine, but the cables got unsheathed and broke after about a years use.

Go to one of those big electronic stores where they have the speakers set up and you can preview each one.

[Nite]

PC World *shudders*
Logitech have got some fantastic speakers out at the moment, but I don't see why their smaller range would be any different to the super-hyped touch pad beasts that they have for £100 :p

[Avoch]

I've got a 5.1 Speaker set from Logitech, the X-540 or something, it's very good quality sound and the surround sound on it is brilliant for watching films. Only costs around £60, but works best if you've already got a 5.1-compatible sound card otherwise it probably won't sound as good.

[hinch]

great thing about speakers they're just plug in and go at least the creative ones i got were no drivers needed or anything.

as for support if they break just take them back to pc world :)

[Extirpator]

not bad:
http://www.geniusnet.co.uk/produktdetail.php?ID2=112&ID=41&ID3=472

http://www.geniusnet.co.uk/produktdetail.php?ID2=112&ID=41&ID3=473

no idea what it costs now

[.cyl0n]

If you can get them get the "Teufel Concept E" 5.1 System. Costs around 150€ after they lowered it from around 400. Noone really knows why cause it selled like mad and got 1st place in all kinds of reviews (audio and game mags) for 5.1 systems under 500€. Anyway its a really good active system with a 15kg subwoofer and made for pc systems. I believe they just released a new version with a few more watts for 10€ more too.

Heres the page although in german : http://www.teufel.de/de/index.cfm
Im not really sure if they sell outside of germany tho..

/e and the boxes are really small... but sound awesome =P

[Nish]

Cheers team. I ended up getting the x230 from Logitech. £25, two speakers + sub, does what I need it to. Big fancy fuck-off systems are for later in life when I'll have no other pleasures.