$200 computer speaker recommendations

splinemodelsplinemodel
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Here are the players I had in mind:



<a href="http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=326"; target="_blank">Telex EV SonicXS</a>



<a href="http://www.klipsch.com/products/productdetail.asp?id=76&line=promedia"; target="_blank">Klipsch Promedia 2.1</a>



<a href="http://www.harman-multimedia.com/shop_detail.html?cart=HK2_1041884650155637&sku=SS&; id1=1" target="_blank">Soundsticks</a>



Basically, the big question regards the level of benefit from the Usb input. I have a pbg4 1Ghz and I don't think the analog output is too good.



--------------

puff, puff, puff. Learning Dvorak.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    mcqmcq Posts: 1,543member
    Not sure on the Telex or the Soundsticks. I have the Klipsch Promedia 4.1 system, and it's very good though, so I assume the 2.1 is also good.



    You can get the Promedia 4.1 at <a href="http://www.vanns.com"; target="_blank">www.vanns.com</a> for $200 shipped free.



    <a href="http://www.vanns.com/avcom/De.dna?RG=3745-2093&dt=731586&tm=50517&sku=540299657&cart=3250850 448148640&cID=0&MC=Computers&DC=Computer%20Speaker s&pTitle=Klipsch%20Promedia%204.1&objdata=naccSKU& com=shwpg" target="_blank">Vanns: Klipsch Promedia 4.1</a>
  • Reply 2 of 8
    chychchych Posts: 860member
    I'd go with the Swan M200s <a href="http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/SwanM200/"; target="_blank">(review link)</a> if you primarily listen to music, though if you listen to hard trance or lots of action movies (whatever requires a lot of bass output) the Klipsch 4.1s may be a better choice. We have two sets of the Swans and they are fantastic for music.
  • Reply 3 of 8
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    [quote]Originally posted by chych:

    <strong>I'd go with the Swan M200s <a href="http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/SwanM200/"; target="_blank">(review link)</a> if you primarily listen to music, though if you listen to hard trance or lots of action movies (whatever requires a lot of bass output) the Klipsch 4.1s may be a better choice. We have two sets of the Swans and they are fantastic for music.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Oh, I listen to music. Mostly, though, we're talkin' about really heavy stuff with maxed out low-mid to mid-range frequency bands.



    When I have the room, I'm going to buy a Yamaha AMP and a pair of JBL S38's. Boom. Mid-range power.
  • Reply 4 of 8
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    For that price don't get the Soundsticks. They're not worth the money.
  • Reply 5 of 8
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    Alright, here are some prices:



    Swan M200's -- $200

    Klipsch 2.1 -- $180

    Klipsch 4.1 -- $200

    Soundstciks -- $150



    It's still tough for me to say. The Swan's seem attractive, but I'm going to keep searching.
  • Reply 6 of 8
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    Klipsh. My friend has a 2.1 set (I have a cruddy little Cambridge SoundWorks set?Â*it does the trick at least) and the sound just had me floored. I thought my $40 Cambridge set was pretty good, at least for the money, but those Klipsh ones were better than I thought a speaker set could even sound. Amazing. If you've got $200 to spend on speakers, get 'em.
  • Reply 7 of 8
    msanttimsantti Posts: 1,377member
    I tested out a pair of Creatives new Itrigue 2.1 speakers.



    Cost is $99.95.



    Sound pretty damn nice actually.



    <a href="http://www.americas.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=496&category=17&maincategory=3 " target="_blank">http://www.americas.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=496&category=17&maincategory=3 </A>
  • Reply 8 of 8
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    I think I've found what I need:

    <a href="http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/studiophileSP5B.php"; target="_blank">http://www.m-audio.com/products/m-audio/studiophileSP5B.php</a>;



    They're $300, and I can be a complete M-Audio slut and get the Sonica for another $70. That's basically double the inital cost, but they should be good enough to handle just about every audio-need I have for the next 4 years. . . At least until I get a life, which I promise won't happen anytime soon.



    To my untrained ears, they're probably no better than the swans, but they do have theoretically better bass and are capable of being louder, which means they're good for annoying my neighbors. Plus they're smaller in size, and in the end only $100 more, because I planned on getting the Sonica anyway. The Soundsticks got the veto early-on.



    What really sold me was the circuit block diagram included on the page. I'm an EE student with a dirty fascination for signal processing, and at the moment was actually working out some details about controlling a feedback amp. . . I could go on for a long time --diving deep into geekery -- to explain why these M-Audio monitors are bad-ass, but I'll spare you.



    Anyway, I also noticed the Edirol Roland MA-10A speakers, which sold for $110. They were reviewed against the swans, though, and got killed. Still an option, though, if I want to be frugal.



    Anyway, new decision: Speaker system or renderbox. . . . I won't subject you to that one.
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