2.1 Speakers

[dodecahedron]

hi guys.

i'm thinking of (finally) ditching my cheapo $8 speakers and getting a normal sound system - a 2.1 speaker set.

i would like to hear any suggestions and recommendations from you, your experiences etc.

some systems i've seen for sale around here:
Creative Inspire
Yamaha (a few models)
Phillips
Altec Lansing (i think it's the ATP3 set) - i think i've heard good things about this one
Logitec (Z-340 if i'm not mistaken)

also, any links to websites that deal with stuff like this and reviews appreciated too.

thansk!

[black~cobra]

hi guys.

i'm thinking of (finally) ditching my cheapo $8 speakers and getting a normal sound system - a 2.1 speaker set.

i would like to hear any suggestions and recommendations from you, your experiences etc.

some systems i've seen for sale around here:
Creative Inspire
Yamaha (a few models)
Phillips
Altec Lansing (i think it's the ATP3 set) - i think i've heard good things about this one
Logitec (Z-340 if i'm not mistaken)

also, any links to websites that deal with stuff like this and reviews appreciated too.

thansk!

Go for Altec Lansing 621 : --> 200 Watts (RMS), 143 Watts (normal use) , and if you have a good sound card , the sound will be perfect

[Boone]

Best 2.1 setup I've ever heard is the [url=http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=klipsch+2%2E1]Klipsch 2.1
[/url]. Pricy, but silky smooth and loud!

[BuddhaTB]

Klipsch 2.1 is the best, but I doubt you would want to pay that much for a 2.1 speaker system. I'm currently using the Logitech Z-560 4.1 system and loving it lots. Therefore I would recommend anything for Logitech. Yamaha and Altec Lansing are good too, but I would go to the store and listen to music coming from each speaker system yourself. Each person's ear is different. Also try to get the most power as possible.

[aviationwiz]

It all depends on what they sell over in Israel. I doubght you want to import speakers.

I will say this about speakers.

Klipsch are great speakers. Creative speakers suck. Midiland are great. Logitech suck except for the Z-680. I have tried the following Logitech and they simply suck:

Z-640
Z-560
Z-540

To test a speaker, try this. In the store, at the display, turn up the speakers you are testing to a really loud volume setting. Then decide if it is clear quality, whether you can hear it clearly etc. That is how you can tell a quality speaker from a bad one.

[eliminator]

Can't comment on 2.1 but ... since I got a CL 6600 (6.1) set to match my Audigy2 there's nothing less than 6.1 for me now, and I got both for about $80 each, with the store special rebate (B.Buy) & 1 mir.

[Asrale]

I upgraded to the Yamaha YSTMS50 back in February (it was the last one from NewEgg at a smashing price of $91) from the CSW SoundWorks Digital which I owned for about 3 years, but the left amplifier went out probably because I overdrove it.

All I can say is "Cambridge who?" The YSTMS50 rocks and it's EASILY on par with the Altec Lansing 621 and KPM 2.1. You'd need the 621s or KPM 2.1s for party-level volume of course, but 80 watts more than suffices for a computer room.

Of course you should check out speakers for yourself. But in my comparison, the SW Digital had a very sterile quality to it and lacked presence; the YSTMS50 just gives out nice, warm sound with a great musical quality. When I put on The Two Towers soundtrack and close my eyes, I'd swear I was at the local megaplex watching the movie again.

One thing I have to say about the bass is that it's very clean & natural, not exaggerated in any way. The SW Digital exaggerated bass a LOT (making bass-heavy music more exciting than it should be) so when I got the Yamahas I was initially disappointed. But it works a lot better this way, the frequency response is WAAAAY more even and the system makes a much better ref monitor for my studio.

[Action Jackson]

I have no regrets when I purchased my Klipsch 2.1's.

[Ian]

After about 6 years of the same Altec Lansing speakers, I picked up some Logitech Z-540's at Target when they had them on clearance. Its like night and day. Very nice speakers.

[NeilPeart]

I own the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers, and they are the best 2.1 speakers for under $150. However, Cambridge Soundworks' MegaWorks THX 5.1 is the best 5.1 system I have ever heard; its quality is beyond the Logitech Z-680 and Klipsch ProMedia 5.1). Logitech's system is the best value of the 5.1 systems, however. While most of Creative's speaker line-up is sub-par, the MegaWorks series is probably the best system for under $500 (it costs around $300). The 6.1 series is also nice for another $50. Don't even consider any other Creative speaker series, as they are overrated and overpriced - the MegaWorks speakers are undeniably amazing, however. Think of it like the Mercedes: their regular cars are OK, but are bested by BMW, Audi, etc. But Mercedes' AMG series dominate even BMW's M series. This analogy applies to Cambridge as well. I don't have room for that many speakers, so I stuck with my Klipsch 2.1. The Logitech Z-340 series is nice for its $30 street price, but you can pay a little more for much better quality. A nice 2.1 system for a $50 is the Altec Lansing ATP3. I bought this for my fiance and it is comparable to my Klipsch 2.1, though not quite there.

[dodecahedron]

thaks for the replies everyone.

i don't think i can get Klipsch here in Israel.

Altec Lansing ATP3 - around $150 !!!

when i'll have time i'll search online stores to see if there are some more brands.

[dodecahedron]

first of all, thanks for everyone's input.

the brands i can get here, based on some internet browsing, are:
Altec Lansing, Creative, Logitech, Phillips, Sony, Yamaha, plus lots of no-names etc.
no Klipsch Promedia, no Cambridge SoundWorks (are these the same as Creative?).
Altec Lansing - no 621 (it would probably be too expensive anyway).

i'm deliberating between the Altec Lansing ATP3, which i've heard good things of, and the slightly more expensive Altec Lansing 2100.
(ATP3: $120, 2100: $140).
anyone heard of the 2100? have an opinion?
know any good websites for reading up on speakers/speaker reviews?
also, i find a set called Altec Lansing PS 330 (2.1) which is not on AL's website, anyone know what this is, how good it is?

also, i can get for more or less the same price the Logitec Z540-Z640. (Z540: $100, Z640: $140), the Z560,Z680 are WAY more expensive. i don't game, just want to listen to some music, so i don't really think i need 4.1/5.1, just want to get a good sound, so i think 2.1 is good enough for me. but do these Logitechs sound better? (i mean better than a 2.1 Altec Lansing set)
(i'm thinking of this:

After about 6 years of the same Altec Lansing speakers, I picked up some Logitech Z-540's at Target when they had them on clearance. Its like night and day. Very nice speakers.

did you refer to the Altec Lansing ATP3 vs. Logitec Z540?)

the Yamaha YST-MS50 is some $20 more expensive than the ATP3. so i think i'll stick with the Altec Lansing.

thanks in advance for any input, opinions, ideas and URLs

[dodecahedron]

one more thing:
my soundcard is an El-Cheapo Creative SoundBlaster Live! Value.
assuming i get a 2.1 set, is this good enough for decent sound (i'm not an Audiophile) or should i upgrade to something better?

[blakerwry]

one more thing:
my soundcard is an El-Cheapo Creative SoundBlaster Live! Value.
assuming i get a 2.1 set, is this good enough for decent sound (i'm not an Audiophile) or should i upgrade to something better?

The outputs on the creative SB live value are the same that are used on the regular Live (and probably the live 5.1.. atleast in the front outputs)

I think they would be more than adaquate for the speakers you're getting.

[ryus]

I actually picked up a pair of Altec's ATP3 for $76 CDN OEM. The only part OEM about them was that instead of the colour box, it came in a brown Labeled Box. These ATP3's sell retail for $129 here. I think they're excellent speakers for their size, and also look pretty cool too. I have my speakers hooked up to my built in sound card on my Asus P4PE board and sound great. The bass in this system is not the most pimpin out there, but its still fairly good, especially when you pump up the volume

[dodecahedron]

hi guys.

ended up buying the Altec Lansing ATP3 speakers.
550 Israeli Shekels = $120 roughly (incl. tax).

thanks for everyone that helped out.

[ryus]

Congrats on the ATP3! How do you like it? I did not regret my purchase!

[dodecahedron]

thanks!
i don't listen to all that much music, but when i do they're great!

i still wish i could've gotten the Klipsh ProMedia 2.1, but they're astronomically expensive here (like i mentioned in my other topic), and frankly they're a little on the expensive side for my budget even @ US prices. oh well.

[Action Jackson]

Wait until you upgrade your soundcard to at least a 5.1, then you'll need another set of speakers.

Congrats on the purchase.