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I am wondering, now in 2007, what the word is on the latest 'best' not ultra-pricey, small speakers to run off a computer these days? I'm looking for something to use not as a home critical listening system (that's a separate project here at home..) Rather, just a decent sounding system to have tunes up at the cabin, in a large room, where different extended family members will come and go. I was thinking of just leaving something like these Logitechs there and people could plug in their iPods, laptops, watch movies, etc.. Need to keep it simple, hence the 2.1 system, vs surround. With the explosion in computer audio, iPods, and new speakers all over the place, I thought you all might have other tips on this..A second need is for a real portable solution - besides headphones which I have... to haul in a suitcase for travel.. ie, a just a 2.0 set up.. what's good and small these days? again, not looking to spend over a couple hundred for either of these setups..
Follow Ups:
Well, many of us here use high-end speakers and use a PC as a digital audio source.A PC is a great source, but powered PC speakers usually have rather cheap fullrange drivers in them, and the subwoofers are closer to noise-makers than real subs.
I have heard some Monsoon computer speakers a long while back that sounded soooo AMAZING I almost bought a pair! lol
So, I don't think we're "stale" on PC speaks as much as it's pretty hard to find good quality (or so it seems). I really think low to middle end consumer electronics has gotten 10 times worse (SQ wise) in the past 5 years especially. It seems that since Ipods exploded, sound quality is simply lost on most people.
No offense, but c'mon. Turn up one of them "silver subwoofers" you get with modern multichannel speaker systems. Even at low volumes, the thing is bloated and sloppy, and sounds better when it's OFF. But you need it because the individual full range speakers are cheaper too, and don't go low enough to work WITHOUT the sub.
Hey - I listen to music on PC speakers all the time. They're old Altec Lansings that cost about $50. And honestly, I've heard the new $200 multichannel systems and they sound no better and worse in a lot of cases (especially with the floppy sub).
So there ya go. Change my negative thinking. Tell me a modern system that is worth the drive to Best Buy to listen to, and I'll give em a listen.
But I am not holding my breath!
I have the logitech 5.1 surrounds right now in a 12x12 room. They really fill my room up, but I can see them being less than stellar in a bigger room. For the $ they sound pretty good though. For your use, an d if you're room is not very big, they would probably be great. Otherwise they might not fill it up like you need.
The last 2.0 speaker setup that i bought was the Bose Companion 2 speakers. They seem to be on a new revision...I had the previous model. I went from Cambridge Soundworks (who's speakers I think highly of) to Bestbuy and there was no comparison, for 2.0. Bose generally gets a bad rap, but for their size these speakers give a very full rich sound, due to processing, but at that size you really need all the help you can get. If you wanted to spend a little more (the Boses are $99) Cambridge Soundworks makes a portable 2.1 setup that sounds excellent--the Model 12. It's $499 but if you can find it in the outlet store it will be a hundred or so dollars less. Just as a disclaimer: the reason Cambridge Soundworks was so "great" was Henry Kloss, who died in 2001. The Model 12 and many other speakers were designed by him. Other newer items weren't.
Few of the plastic, powered computer speakers available are intended to play tunes in a large room. Get some second-hand monitors, an inexpensive sub, an old integrated amp or receiver and you're done.This is essentially the configuation I use on all my computer systems these days. The setup I have in my home office is particularly nice - a separate power amp (placed off in an equipment rack with my computer) and a Channel Island Audio passive pre on the desk. Makes volume adjustment via the passive very handy. My setup at work has an integrated amp, but it's located on a bookshelf off to the side, so volume adjustment isn't nearly as convenient.
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