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lofty29
Infinitus Odium
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Posted - 2008.12.25 19:45:00 -
[1]
Recently, I've been attempting to research into a new speaker system for my PC. I love music, and use my current speakers (JBL Creature II's) mainly for that and movies, and my headset for games.
Having listened to a decent hi-fi system around a friends house, I can't really go back to my JBL speakers without noticing that the sound is genuinely sub-par compared to said hi-fi.
Now, I've been looking into getting a decent pair of speakers, maybe a sub in addition, through which to mainly listen to music, though what research I have done has really just led me round in circles.
First I tripped over a few names, such as KrK, Alesis and Behringer in the lower-end of high-quality speakers, though these are studio monitors (?). Could they be used for general listening or are they not recommended?
I know that I'm going to need a few things in the process -
òThe speakers themselves
òA receiver for my PC
òAmps if the speakers are passive (rather have active but it seems most hi-fi systems don't do active speakers)
A few things I'd like from the speakers -
Mainly they would be used on my PC, preferably situated on my desk.
My room is 3m x 4m if that makes any difference.
May be used at parties in slightly larger rooms (not much larger)
Whole system must cost ú250 or less.
Anyone wish to help? 
族---族
Latest Video : Relentless |
Ivana Drake
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Posted - 2008.12.25 21:45:00 -
[2]
We sell those JBL things where I work. I can see why you'd want to replace them... 
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Tzar'rim
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Posted - 2008.12.25 21:47:00 -
[3]
You can't really get high-end speakers for 250 pounds at all, or medium quality for that matter. But as you already found out; compared to PC speaker sets it's quite easy to improve upon.
If you want to listen to music as well as PC stuff you have to think about the following;
- sort of music you play mostly
- what your music source is, crappy mp3 or proper stuff
- what kind of sound you like the most, more warm "english" sound or more clinical and/or any other variation
- proper speakers/amp will show you how crappy a PC soundcard really is and how sh!tty sound is in games, so do you really want a high definition set?
Studio monitors have a very much "in your face" type of sound, while that sounds cool in the beginning it can become tiresome, they also tend to have problems with more subtle music.
It's kinda impossible to recommend anything since it all depends on tons of variables like your taste and the fact that I shop in a different price bracket, but if you want a nice clean sound try and find some Yamaha speakers, they might have something cheap(ish) that soothes your brow.
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Revonanist
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Posted - 2008.12.25 23:15:00 -
[4]
I used to be a bit of a hi-fi nut when younger and my ears were better.
I too am looking to add some 'proper' speakers rather than the 2.1 labtec things i have atm.
I'm looking at KEF speakers, 150 quid from Richer Sounds.
As for the amp, I am thinking of building one rather than buy. My requirements are modest, I don't want or need surround sound or any other fancy setup, just plain stereo will do me fine.
As for the DIY amp, I like the look of the chipamp/gainclone, cheap and gets very good reviews (a branded version sold for about a grand) but to build would cost less than 100 quid.
My old system was a Dunlop Systemdek II, Linn Ittok arm, Nagoka cartridge, Denon cassete, Marantz CD, NAD 3130 amp, AR18BX speakers. Wish I had those speakers now, they sounded awesome for bookshelf speakers.
Rev
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Kyanzes
Amarr
Utopian Research I.E.L.
Hedonistic Imperative
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Posted - 2008.12.26 00:02:00 -
[5]
Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO, Sennheiser HD580/600/650. There are other nice heaphones out there ofc, it's just my preference.
Forget about speakers.
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Unclouded by conscience, remorse or delusions of morality. |
fairimear
Gallente
S.A.S
Pandemic Legion
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Posted - 2008.12.26 01:02:00 -
[6]
Creative gigaworks s750 hands down.
Currently at ú265
Yes it's "Surround sound system" but thats just a bunch of words stuck together to say. We use 6 speakers placed around u at certain points and a fancy bit of software to make you feel like the sounds around you.
I currently have a 7.1 system (not as nice as the gigaworks) and i stick all 6 speakers in front of me and the sub on the floor and trust me its more than aqueduct for what your describing.
get the right wires and you can use it as a guitar amp. a tv surround. mp3 player speakers. ECT ECT ECT
Bringing a type of class to PL. |
EmperorPirk
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Posted - 2008.12.26 01:08:00 -
[7]
how about the logitech Z-5500? not sure how much they cost, but they do got a lot of bang for the buck (and I mean a LOT).
but then agin, this signature isn't really relavent to this topic, now is it? |
Taua Roqa
Minmatar
Branching Out
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Posted - 2008.12.26 01:26:00 -
[8]
for the pc i suggest logitech. they do the job reeeally well for their price, even their cheap as hell 2.1 speakers produce suprisingly good sound, even at higher volumes ^_^ Considering the garbage that creative et al put out at lower (and higher) price brackets i was amazed tbh. infact i've noticed logitech are a pleasinly good company when it comes to quality across the board.
for the amp considerations...
my high-fi is a stupidly heavy audiolab 8k setup feeding some custom (read: i'm a cheap bastard) speakers, so i know what good sound-sounds like :P
on a budget i reccomend NAD hi-fi ****zle, it's basically as good as the audiolab just cosmetically cost-concious and a tad less fidelity/bass, still very impressive for the price, especially if ya scoop it second hand.
also, you will probably be using digital out, so you'll need a DAC, recievers have lots of these anyway :)
I really can't advise you on speakers though, other than that good high fi speakers cost money.
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KingsGambit
Caldari Knights
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Posted - 2008.12.26 14:25:00 -
[9]
I spent ú200 on the Logitech Z-5500 speaker set (they're only ú170 now). The sub is massive (10" cone) and provides 180W RMS of bass, the sats are about 60-70W RMS and they are THX certified. They support DD and DTS, the decoder has a handful of inputs and outputs, and being designed for a PC, they're obviously magnetically shielded. The sound quality is incredible and combined with an Auzentech Prelude X-Fi 7.1 (with DD Live on) music really does sound great, as does gaming with environmental audio effects 
It took a little time to get it to sound just right, but that's mostly I think down to my PC/soundcard, rather than the speakers. The creative labs X-Fi crystalliser is supposed to make compressed (ie MP3) music sound better, but I found only added distortion. If you want to buy decent, normal speakers, be aware they may not be magnetically shielded so you need to keep them well away from your PC and monitor (flat panels aren't so affected like CRTs used to be, but there it is).
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HankMurphy
Minmatar
Pelennor Enterprises
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Posted - 2008.12.26 14:53:00 -
[10]
get
these
or
these
(pretty much the same thing)
Affordable, compact and you will NOT regret the purchase
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Seasons Greetings and have a Happy Alvis Time |
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Neo Rainhart
Beyond Divinity Inc
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Posted - 2008.12.26 16:17:00 -
[11]
 Originally by: HankMurphy
get
these
or
these
(pretty much the same thing)
Affordable, compact and you will NOT regret the purchase
QFT..Bose tops the list of best sound system producers of the world. I recommend looking into what they have to offer
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Tzar'rim
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Posted - 2008.12.27 00:14:00 -
[12]
Originally by: Neo Rainhart
QFT..Bose tops the list of best sound system producers of the world.
Bose? Quality? Err, not even close.
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Sleepkevert
Amarr
Rionnag Alba
Triumvirate.
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Posted - 2008.12.27 01:22:00 -
[13]
Originally by: EmperorPirk
how about the logitech Z-5500? not sure how much they cost, but they do got a lot of bang for the buck (and I mean a LOT).
Bang does not mean good sound. Sure it goes loud, (and I have to admit that the Z-5500 doesn't sound _that_ bad) but good sound doesn't generally mean it has to go loud. :)
_
Add your own line! |
lofty29
Infinitus Odium
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Posted - 2008.12.27 14:55:00 -
[14]
Originally by: Neo Rainhart
Originally by: HankMurphy
get
these
or
these
(pretty much the same thing)
Affordable, compact and you will NOT regret the purchase
QFT..Bose tops the list of best sound system producers of the world. I recommend looking into what they have to offer
You think that sound producers would even think of using Bose?
Bose is the top end of the general consumer market, also known as 'Best Buy'. They're the best things that are mass advertised, and as such they sell at prices ridiculously high, and the masses flock around going BOSE BOSE BOSE.
Even I'm not stupid enough to think Bose is 'high end'
族---族
Latest Video : Relentless |
Benco97
Gallente
Friendly Archaeology Group of Inder
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Posted - 2008.12.27 14:59:00 -
[15]
Speakers are for wimps, Real men convert all their audio to WAV and play it through the internal beeper!
(Who remembers having to do this back in the old days? I remember sitting in the Office trying to get Monkey Island to play on my break and despairing that each sound slammed the old 486's CPU into the dirt as it attempted to encode and play in real-time. And then it sounded like farts in a tin.)
Originally by: P'uck
You're a DUMBASS - bold italic underline at the VERY LEAST.
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