Best Bang For Buck Speakers Today

[Cecil]

My Logitech X-230 are on their last legs (one speaker doesnt even play now). They cost me like $40 4+ years ago and have been great.

Looking for a good set for music/gaming. I have a Creative Sound Blaster Titanium, which I may replace with a Xonar.

Are there any good 2.1 or even 5.1 sets around $80 or less? More then that and Ill probably go custom with an amp.

Additional Comment:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-650
Thinking of that kit, plus a sub amp for a sealed RE SR sub I have.

[§k¥¥ |{£øúÐz]

Originally Posted by Cecil

My Logitech X-230 are on their last legs (one speaker doesnt even play now). They cost me like $40 4+ years ago and have been great.

Looking for a good set for music/gaming. I have a Creative Sound Blaster Titanium, which I may replace with a Xonar.

Are there any good 2.1 or even 5.1 sets around $80 or less? More then that and Ill probably go custom with an amp.

Additional Comment:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-650
Thinking of that kit, plus a sub amp for a sealed RE SR sub I have.

I can't say for a fact, because I'm going off of speculation, but I don't think there are any "bang for the buck" speakers that will be detailed enough to hear the difference between your SB Titanium and the ASUS Xonar. If you were going from onboard audio, I would say that's definitely worth it, but since you already have a discrete sound card, I would think that money would be better spent towards better speakers/sub.

I just got Polk desktop bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer. It's not the best setup ever, but considerably better than most PC speaker setups.

I pretty much never use it though because I have an $1900 headphone setup that I use instead. If I were able to go back in time, I would've gone with some bookshelf speakers (maybe better than the ones I got for better mid-bass), and a home theater receiver. (I have this stupid dayton audio desktop amp and it sucks.) For the subwoofer, I think about any midrange one works fine, because I just tune it down to just "enhance" the bass in my audio, without drowning everything else out or rattling pictures off of the wall.

Yamaha receiver, connected to your sound card via digital coax spdif or toslink optical spdif (whichever your sound card has), with some good quality bookshelf speakers, and a decent subwoofer would probably yield you better sound than most of the 5.1 setups. If you need 5.1 imaging for your gaming, that's a different story. I'm old school. I prefer stereo imaging for my gaming. Depends on personal preference I guess lol.

Additional Comment:

wow just realized the one you linked was dayton audio.

the amp i got works ok, but i had issues with the left/right levels being off. i then did some google-ing and found some scary forum posts and pictures.

"The Dayton DTA-100a stinks. Quality control with that product is atrocious. Most Dayton products are great, but not in this case. There were so many problems with the DTA-100, P-E had to scrap it and try to revise it. It does not seem the new DTA-100a fixes everything. I am still reading about unequal L-R volume levels and in one Amazon review, a freaking fire hazard."

link to some scary pictures:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/534115/do-n...ayton-dta-100a

I've been too scared to open mine up to see if I'm having the same issue.

[CybrSlydr]

I love my Corsair SP2500. Bit out of your price range though...

[Cecil]

I sold my Titanium, drivers drove me nuts. So I need a new sound card and speakers now.
For budget, Id say approx $150-180. I have a nice pair of stereo headphones, so looking for a sound card with built in amp, and virtual surround.

[§k¥¥ |{£øúÐz]

Originally Posted by Cecil

I sold my Titanium, drivers drove me nuts. So I need a new sound card and speakers now.
For budget, Id say approx $150-180. I have a nice pair of stereo headphones, so looking for a sound card with built in amp, and virtual surround.

oh, well i don't blame you on the drivers deal, i couldn't be paid to use creative products myself, i hate them with a passion.

why do you need the card to have an amp? unless you have some high ohm cams to drive, there's no need since your speakers will most likely be powered. what headphones are you needing to drive?

[Cecil]

I have a pair of Sennheiser's that worked well with a powered headphone jack on a Auzentech card that I had. Much better then it did with the SB-T.

Im thinking of getting a set of Swan M10s for music/youtube use, and just use the headphones for gaming.

I have some really nice car comps (Crescendo CCX65s) and was thinking of making some boxes for them and getting an amp, and using the sub I have. Not sure how they would do in boxes though instead of a door like they are designed for.

[§k¥¥ |{£øúÐz]

Originally Posted by Cecil

I have a pair of Sennheiser's that worked well with a powered headphone jack on a Auzentech card that I had. Much better then it did with the SB-T.

Im thinking of getting a set of Swan M10s for music/youtube use, and just use the headphones for gaming.

I have some really nice car comps (Crescendo CCX65s) and was thinking of making some boxes for them and getting an amp, and using the sub I have. Not sure how they would do in boxes though instead of a door like they are designed for.

hmm, with the exceptions of the hd650 and hd800, most all sennheiser headphones are really easy to drive so you shouldn't need to get a soundcard with an amp. should save you a few bucks to put towards the speakers. (though they can help it sound better, which is probably what you experienced)

as far as the speakers in a box, they'll probably sound even better than in a door lol. better seal for better compression. (i cant' imagine doors being air-tight)

[Cecil]

Car speakers are designed for in door use, and usually dont work as well once sealed in a box. Going to contact Crescendo to see what they recomend.

[§k¥¥ |{£øúÐz]

Originally Posted by Cecil

Car speakers are designed for in door use, and usually dont work as well once sealed in a box. Going to contact Crescendo to see what they recomend.

I had pretty good luck using my kicker components in an MDF box I made myself. I'm sure it varies from model to model, but it sounded great. They're probably made knowing car doors aren't air tight, so for a box they might sound better if you ported the box. I'm curious to see what Crescendo recommends. Should be a fun project nonetheless.

(I worked at Stillwater Designs and have had a lot of hands on time with mobile audio, definitely fun stuff)

[Perkomate]

They're probably out of your budget, but I love my A2s. Not too expensive an give some really nice sound.

[RAJOD]

The best PC 2.1s right now are the Swan M50w. Very high quality much much better than logitech, klipshe corsair etc.

Even better than the famed MX5021s.

The swans are more like REAL speakers. They are very accurate, tight bass none fatiguing on the ears.

Only thing is they are 284.00

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/produ...oducts_id=167&

for the price 150.00 the Klipshe pro media are not bad.

Originally Posted by Cecil

My Logitech X-230 are on their last legs (one speaker doesnt even play now). They cost me like $40 4+ years ago and have been great.

Looking for a good set for music/gaming. I have a Creative Sound Blaster Titanium, which I may replace with a Xonar.

Are there any good 2.1 or even 5.1 sets around $80 or less? More then that and Ill probably go custom with an amp.

Additional Comment:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-650
Thinking of that kit, plus a sub amp for a sealed RE SR sub I have.

[Doubles]

I can't really comment on speakers since i have bene using headphones for as long as i can remember. But the Xonar with the built in amp is nice. I currently use mine to push some 250ohm DT990s and it is pretty sweet.

[DC]

You can get the Klipsch 2.1 pro media's for +/- $100 when on sale.

Great speakers.

[§k¥¥ |{£øúÐz]

logitech 2.1's aren't terrible, if you get the one that has an actual powered sub. (they aren't the greatest, but considering how dirty cheap they are, you can't complain)

Additional Comment:

Originally Posted by Doubles

I can't really comment on speakers since i have bene using headphones for as long as i can remember. But the Xonar with the built in amp is nice. I currently use mine to push some 250ohm DT990s and it is pretty sweet.

I concur /10char

EDIT: these! they're dirty cheap ($39.99) and have a powered sub. not bad considering the price. highs and base extension are a little on the lacking side, but the overall experience for the money is pretty good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121034

[Dil-tech]

Originally Posted by DC

You can get the Klipsch 2.1 pro media's for +/- $100 when on sale.

Great speakers.

They're nice. I prefer my Logitech z680's (had em since 2006, STILL yet to disappoint me), but I've had the klispch's as well, and they're definitely worth $100, no questions asked.

[onewecallgod]

I bought that kit for my brother two years ago for his birthday. I haven't heard the speakers, but he says they're really clear and he likes them. I do have a T-amp and it's easily one of the best speaker amps you can buy for under $500 or so. It's not the most powerful, so you can't blow the clothes off women, but it's more than enough to fill a 1500 sqft house.

[Witchdoctor]

hey C, just slapped in a Recon 3D, 600 ohm headphone amp built in in defining with an efficient par of headphones

best Creative product in the companies history IMO, but there was no place to go but up ..............


Seriously though I am very happy with it. got it on sale for 88 bucks shipped

Speakers, Obviously a head unit and some real speakers would be superior, but if you just want some plug and play speakers on the cheap I think these are about as good as it gets for 2.1 on the cheap

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121048

If subs are not your thing a plain set of PC speakers that have a decent sound although lacking bottom end a bit

http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-...&cagpspn=pla&=



Good luck

[Cecil]

I went mini ITX so no sound card anymore. For speakers, Im going to go see what my local "deal shop" has where Ive been getting everything lately. Said they have some really nice monitor speakers there.

[Witchdoctor]

Far out, ITX is way cool, love the portability,

Wait a minute, No SLI .............

Best of luck with it bro ..........