Best Pc Speakers?

[challenger]

I was wondering what the best PC speakers out there were. I just got my Sound Blaster Live installed and all I have is a 2 speaker setup. I want to turn my room into the ultimate gaming room. I liked Creative's DTT3500 but I read some reviews when I was looking on Amazon.com and some people said they weren't good. I also like the Klipsch Promedia 4.1 Any Recomendations?

Thanks
Challenger

[Warthog]

KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA
KLIPSCH PROMEDIA

[Nighthawk]

I'd get the Klipsch if I had the money, but I like my Altec Lansing 45.1 (2+sub). They were much cheaper, too

[challenger]

Are you referring to the promedia 4.1 or 2.1? I agree though. I've heard them in CompuUSA they sound great. I just checked out there site they also have the 5.1's coming out soon. What about Boston Acoustics?

Thanks for the replys

[challenger]

Also aren't the Klipsch analog and not digital? Does that make a big difference?

[Warthog]

4.1 but 5.1 if you have the money http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

hmmmmm you probably won't go wrong with BA but you might end up spending more. In a Maximum PC review comparing all top speaker models, including BA's (can't remember model#) and the 4.1's, the Klipsch won over them all, I believe. I just remember Klipsch being better - in their review - than Boston.

I think I would still go with Klipsch speakers over BA.

Warthog

[challenger]

Thanks. Now all I have to do is save money..................

[dragonB]

Klipsch are undoubtedly the best.
But, they are expensive. For people that can't quite afford them, try the Altec Lansing ACS54. I believe they also have a digital version. They are 4 speakers and subs, and sound great. I use them to watch dvds, gaming and music. I also have a pair of pcworks 2.1. They do not sound as good as the ACS.
Anyway, the ACS54 I think can be found for around $50-$60. Which IMHO is a great deal for good sounding speakers.
good luck,
dragonB

[voogru]

http://www.aego2.acoustic-energy.co.uk/

Expensive still but i love mine! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Icculus]

New to this forum so I'd like to say hello to everyone.

I just purchased the ProMedia 4.1's and I have to say that these speakers rock! They are not designed for digital input, but there is absolutely no backgound noise or hum on the analog signal. The sat's can handle anything you throw at them with no distortion until very (I mean VERY) high volumes, and the sub will literally knock a hole in your wall. These speakers have a lot of wattage to push - I haven't had them cranked yet because - to be honest - it was too loud for me. ;-) I don't watch DVD's on my PC so I'm not too interested in 5.1, but for music I've always liked 4 channel better. Games sound awesome too. The sound is true and clear.

Klipsch is known for their horn technology, so the highs can sound shrill to some people. Just adjust it to your own prefernce and you'll be happy.

Oh yeah, I mounted the surrounds on the ceiling behind me. They certainly have enough volume to overpower the front set. Very nice!

If you can afford these things, I definately recommend them! You won't be dissapointed.

[LiLRiceBoi]

what does the new 5.1's have?

[challenger]

Thanks for all the replys guys. I couldn't get to any info on the new 5.1's. It keep saying "This is a new product" and wouldn't take me anywhere everytime I tried to look at it. It has pictures of it on their website though.

Challenger

[charmler]

Icculus, welcome to the forum.

[OuTpaTienT]

Klipsch, without a doubt. Don't even waste your time thinking of something else.

As far as digital input, no the Klipsch don't have digital input. Why? Because Klipsch is the only speaker manufacturer with enough intelligence to realize there is no need for digital input. Your sound card already has a digital/analog converter (DAC). If you send digital information to the speakers then you are bypassing the sound card's DAC and then you still need a DAC somewhere along the line, so they put it in the speakers. It makes the speakers more expensive and it disables a perfect good working part of your sound card. Unless they include a better DAC (which most don't) then it's just marketing hype.

[challenger]

Well Klipsch it is!! I can't wait to get these. Although there is the whole money thing. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif Maybe somebody might want my left kidney. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Challenger

[challenger]

That's a good idea. I'll see what kinda of cables I'll need.

[Icculus]

Thanks for the welcome charmler. Don't join many forums, but this one looks pretty cool.

I don't think it would matter if you had a DD amp or not - all the parts you mentioned should plug into any amp out there with an available input. I used to run mine into my DD Pioneer through the AUX in. Worked great.

[Keegan]

If I were buying speakers and wanted the best bass, I'd go with the Philips MMS305 5-piece system with Philips's wOOx Technology. However, I haven't had the best of luck in finding them.

[OuTpaTienT]

I was just looking at the spec sheet for those MMS305's
http://www.pcsound.philips.com/spec_sheet/ms305_spec.pdf

and I must say they don't look all that impressive alone, and if you compare them to the Klipsch then it gets downright embarrassing. They don't even hold a candle to the Klipsch 2.1 system, much less the 4.1 (and I won't even bring up the 5.1).


Watts per satellite:
Phillips MMS305: 10w
Klipsch PM 4.1: 60w
Klipsch PM 2.1: 35w

Watts into subwoofer:
Phillips MMS305: 40w
Klipsch PM 4.1: 260w
Klipsch PM 2.1: 130w

weight of subwoofer:
Phillips MMS305: 8.2 lbs
Klipsch PM 4.1: 17.5 lbs
Klipsch PM 2.1: 16 lbs

And the Phillips wOOx technology, besides having a stupid name, is nothing new, it's simply a passive driver (a speaker cone that is not connected to anything.) In the right enclosure a passive driver can be helpful, but it not some new technology that makes more bass. I'm positive the bass of even my Klipsch 2.1's would simple blow away that wOOx ****.

[challenger]

Hey charmler, Icculus, OuT, Keegan. Thanks alot for the info and for the specs. If I keep talking to you guys I'm going to go buy them right now. Money or no money.

Challenger

[Warthog]

Congrats on your extremely wise decision, Mr. Challenger. You will not regret it. Although I don't have any of the Klipsch pc speaker setups we are discussing, I do have the "big brother" of the subwoofer (mine's 15"). I know quality from a company when I see it.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Warthog

[Keegan]

wOOx is certainly not stupid, and granted, it IS something of a reincarnation of the passive radiators used on several high-end loudspeakers in the past, but it is used in a different fashion than ever before. It's important to have a fundamental understanding of air, acoustics, and how they affect the way wOOx is designed if you want to have any respect for this technology which is filled with potential. Philips wOOx was first developed as a way to add extra bass to the small, 3-way speakers on Philips's shelf systems without adding costly subwoofers. But the wOOx-slave does not conform to the textbook definition of a passive radiator. Rather, it is a physical/mechanical mass that is designed to resonate at the bass frequencies, augmenting the bass output of the loudspeaker, or in this case, the subwoofer. So in fact it DOES increase the bass output of the subwoofer. It does not replace the bass port, as a typical passive radiator does. wOOx speakers and subwoofers DO have a bass port.

A textbook-description passive radiator instead replaces the port with a diaphragm. The diaphragm is moved by changes in the air pressure inside the box as the powered driver moves in and out of the box. The PR represents a tuned bass port having the same diameter as the PR, and the mass of the air contained in the port equals the moving mass of the passive radiator.

To give you an idea of where passive radiators work and tuned ports don't, take a look at the ServoDrive Contrabass subwoofer. The Contrabass is used in many theme park rides where it is not only necessary to hear bass, but for the bass to be felt as well. It is driven by a servo motor, rather than by a linear permanent-magnet motor like those used in traditional loudspeakers. The servo motor is coupled to two 15" cones with massive excursion. A tuned port in this application would be plagued by power compression as the port reached its maximum throughput of air. This leads to huffing, puffing, and unsightly port noises. So the ServoDrive engineers outfitted the Contrabass with dual 18" passive radiators. These have much less distortion (which is often taken for granted by most listeners as an anomaly that just comes with the bass).

And now we come to the "my dad can beat up your dad" part: I built a subwoofer (which means relatively low construction quality) with two 8" pioneer woofers (nothing big or expensive) about the same size as the two woofers in the Klipsch ProMedia subwoofer, and two 8" passive radiators, and it, coupled with my 40-watt Fried speakers from the 1970s, and driven by its own dedicated 120w aplifier, could easily kick the tail of any speaker system to be found in the CompUSA dowh the street, including the Klipsch ProMedia 4.1s. That's why I choose not to bother with all those computer speakers which, let's face it, are horridly low-fi compared to anything even the unseasoned do-it-yourselfer can dream up. And mine aren't even the best there is! If I really wanted to go out and spend big bucks on speakers, I could go out and get a set of 5.1-channel Bose Lifestyle speakers. Or some JBL or foreign-made loudspeakers.

Given the large quality gap between even your Klipsch speakers and what names like KLH and PolkAudio (as in home theater, not the HP speakers) have to offer, I'd surely go with the home theater speakers, and not little plastic things that only dream big.

Please try and show a little respect.

[Keegan]

BTW, Klipsch home theater speakers are probably awesome, but well out of most people's price range.

I'll give you one hit, though. Philips should not charge that much more for their wOOx speakers than they do for their regular multimedia speakers.

[This message has been edited by Keegan (edited 07-02-2001).]

[OuTpaTienT]

Please try and show a little respect.
lol, whatever.
...and not little plastic things that only dream big.
Ok, well I guess that respect thing is out the window.

All I can say is if you think that 40w plastic encased subwoofer (at least Klipsch uses particle board where it's needed) with a glorified passive radiator can outperform the Klipsch 260w dual-driver subwoofer, then you are completely out of your mind. I'll bet you any amount of money that it can't even touch the performance of Klipsch 130w subwoofer from the 2.1 package.

So you can BS all you want and pretend to know what you're talking about...and you almost had me fooled. But when you said if you wanted to spend big bucks to get really good speakers and then you say those speakers would be the Bose Lifestyle...LOL!!!! Either you just don't know squat about speakers or have impaired hearing. The infamous 901s are the only good speakers Bose ever made.

I recently read a review of the Bose Lifestyle 12 series II (http://www.epinions.com/content_16308735620) speakers and the author gave his acticle a simply fantastic title: No highs, no lows, must be Bose.

So I've wasted enough time here. I hope you find your Philips speakers and I hope your happy with them. But I'm not gonna stand by idle while you try to recommend them over a MUCH better built, better sounding, just better set of speakers like the Klipsch. Have a nice day. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[The Highlander]

Will the Klipsch have the positional audio. For instance. Will I hear something different when playing half life through each speaker depending on the direction that the sound is coming in the game?

Thanks

[Icculus]

I have to say I'm not an audiophile in the stictest sense, but I know what sounds good to me. Of course the 4.1's aren't going to be able to compete with home theater or commercial systems. I spent a few thousand on mine and it blows the 4.1's away - no big suprise.

Considering the application of the 4.1's vs. the home theater system, as well as the price difference, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with them. They're THX certified - granted, it's a watered down version of the certification for this class of speakers, but it still shows how good the set is all around.

I haven't heard the Philips set, but I haven't seen any reviews either.
Check this review http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/procross/provscross.html
for the lowdown on how the older 2.1's stack up to the pick of the chick over there at 3dsoundsurge - the Videologic Sirocco Crossfires.

In the end, I think Klipsch has everyone beat in price, performance and reputation.

[Icculus]

Hi Highlander.
As far as I know, the positional audio is mostly a function of your sound card and the software that comes with it. The speaker placement can affect this, but the set itself shouldn't matter. You should be able to get positional audio out of any set of 4 speakers as long as your hardware/software supporsts it.

[DUD]

QUOTE: "I recently read a review of the Bose Lifestyle 12 series II speakers and the author gave his acticle a simply fantastic title: No highs, no lows, must be Bose."

For those of us "in the know" (he-he), the complete world-wide recognized phrase is "no highs, no lows, rhymes with blows, it must be Bose".

The Klipsch system sounds very good for a PC speaker. I ran a cable from my PC to the AUX input on an old receiver, hooked up a pair of small Polks I had laying around, and I haven't even thought about PC speakers again.

There are quite a few DIY PC speaker systems around that tromp all over commercial designs. One I've seen is based on a 4 inch driver originally intended for use in a TV. The driver sells for $.69 at Parts Express.

With some knowledge you can build a PC that outperforms same-priced commercial offerings. The same applies to the speakers.

[DemonKnight]

This thread has helped me. I now know what I'm going to be using next month when I build my new computer system. (the promedia 4.1 or 5.1 whichever I have an urge to get) But for now my labtec is working quite nicely. (and sounds very good to me, for two small-smaller than a floppy, satalites, and its nice 5 or 6 inch sub woofer. for 40 bucks I think its a nice deal. They kick my old speakers ***-(kinyo, whoever the hell they are.)

[Warthog]

BTW, Klipsch home theater speakers are probably awesome, but well out of most people's price range.

hmmmm not mine. At the time I purchased my home stereo setup (not to be confused with home theater), I chose Boston Acoustic speakers without really spending much time with Klipsch. Since then, I have changed my opinion completely. Klipsch is cheaper and either meets or exceeds what BA offers.

If you think Pioneer speakers can beat Klispch, you and I (and the rest of the world) must have 110% completely different tastes in sound. Some people can't distinguish the sound of different speakers, I guess.

BTW, just a side note, I doubt Maximum PC would have given their Kick @$$ award to Klipsch 4.1 speakers if they didn't literally kick @$$ compared to the rest of the markets pc speaker setups.

Of course home stereo setups can beat a pc setup. Who are we trying to kid? Look at the price difference. That is where pc setup beats home stereo. I paid $519 for my 15" Klipsch subwoofer which has tremendous knock down power. That doesn't include the basic, bookshelf BA speakers ($179) and the cheap model, Pioneer reciever ($170). My speakers can probably compare in SQ with the speakers in the 4.1 setup but handle more volume - MAYBE - that's all.

Obviously my 300something watt RMS (800w peak) 15" sub can beat most subwoofers, if not all on the market. The majority of high quality manufacturers don't even make subs in 15" models. JBL and Cerwin Vega do....but they are **** and not high quality companies.

My goal is floor standing Boston Acoustic or Klipsch speakers - which ever is best. BA retails their top end model for $1000, not sure what Klipsch has theirs priced at.

Warthog

[This message has been edited by Warthog (edited 07-03-2001).]

[OuTpaTienT]

Wart:

You can get a couple of the top of the line Klipschorn® three-way loudspeakers (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=15&line=&1) for a measley $5,798 a pair ($6,958 a pair if you want lacquer finish). And don't let the under-rated power handling spec fool ya, I've seen (& heard) with my own two eyes (& ears) a pair of Klipschorns handling somewhere between 300-500w/ch. with crystal clearity. (This guy had more money invested in his home stereo than he did in his car.)

You can see the rest of the Heritage series here. (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/homeaudio/heritage.asp?frame=y&id=&line=&1) These are the speakers that Klipsch has built their reputation on.

But you can also get some of the newer designs for a much more attractive price.

You can get floorstanding RF-7's (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=388&line=&1) for $2,200 a pair. Those with the RC-7 center channel (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=391&line=&1) ($800) together with the sub your already have would seriously rock. And if ya added a couple of the RS-7s (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=393&line=&1) for rear channel surround...well, I can't imagine anything could sound much better.

Ahhhh, a boy can dream can't he? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Actually, for a very reasonable price, $1,100 a pair the SP-1's (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=30&line=&1) look mighty attractive. Or the SF-2's (http://www.klipsch.com/index.asp?path=/products/productdetail.asp?frame=y&id=31&line=&1) might even be a better match with your subwoofer, and they're only $650 a pair.

[Warthog]

Honestly, I have no idea about JBL speakers. I was really referring to their 350w 15" subwoofer (dunno if they make more than one). This one costs around $300-400 and can be bought at Best Buy. In most of the reviews at www.audioreview.com (http://www.audioreview.com) they rated poor. On the other hand, there were several that were outstanding. Either it's a case of people not knowing what a good sub is (read below) and/or they have quality control issues.

hehe look at the few reviews for my 15" Klipsch sub. Most say it is too big for music but great for movies. Now, what the hell does that mean? Sorry, never understood that line. But you will NOT see ANY review that says it falls apart, the amp blows, the woofer blows, etc. like you WILL see in the JBL and CV reviews (for the subs I specified).

I couldn't imagine having TWO 15" subs....holy ****. How do you run it? Two amps you said? yikes

I went through 2 other subs before I settled on this one - 10" BA, 12" Klipsch and then the 15" Klipsch, in that order over a 3 week period. I have a reputation at that place now. Me and the owner of the audio place were on a name to name basis. I went back last month (bought this stuff last October) and he STILL remembered my first name. I guess I left quite the impression lol http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Out - haha, the $650 pair sounds good to me http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. Yay! They finally changed their site from the sucky one before. Looks nice.

I listend to Boston's $1k pair for the fun of it once. ohhhhhhhhhhhhh man they sounded BEAUTIFUL!!! Not kidding! My audio goal in life is to get a pair of really nice floor standing speakers http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

OUT!!!!! Why did you have to give those links!!!! Now I am pondering the thought of getting those $650 speakers (seriously). Not now, but maybe in...the fall. Every single audio purchase of mine has been in the fall...weird.

You suck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Warthog

[This message has been edited by Warthog (edited 07-02-2001).]

[DemonKnight]

I know people who have 4 15" subs in the trunks of their cars, with like 4 or 5 6x9 tweeters for the highs in the passanger section. running off very large "punch" amps. I couldent stand that.. I dont even like riding in a car with slightly pounding bass (cause most of the time I'm in the back seat and feel it more than I hear it. it just gives me a headahce. But a home system, I can take those being fairly loud)

[Warthog]

A car is completely different. A good portion of people I know want a car stereo simply to impress people. Big difference between car stereo and home: with a car stereo, many, many other people will actually here/feel it. Those can turn into "showboats" primarily. Of course not all are like that (definately not).

Virtually no one my age (teen) has a home stereo. Know why? Can't show off in public with a home stereo. I want good sound everywhere I go. Those who put quad 15s in their trunk are - IMHO - either looking for attention or doing competition style audio.

Warthog

[Spanky]

I plan on using my home stereo as I have before, after I get that hum problem figured out(outlined in an earlier post).

THe one thing that always bugs me about computer speakers is the plastic enclosures and the inflated wattage ratings.

LOL they are a joke as far as I'm conserned.

Personally I run a Nad 50+50 power amp from about 1983 through my sherwood preamp(yeah I know I'm looking for a replacment) into a pair of clements bookselfs. And it sounds freaking great, better then any ANY computer speakers I have ever heard.

My buddy just picked up a nice Nad intergrated amp from the 80s and its only 20 watts a side, still amazing full sound and plenty of volume, He is running through a pair of PSB alphas, that will be his computer system.

Wattage means alot less then alot of people seem to think, never pick your stuff soly on the wattage, OH yeah if you blow speakers, its not cause you need a speaker that has a larger wattage rating, its cause your amp is distorting and you keep turning it up, buy a better amp (easier said then done I know) or turn it down a bit.

[OuTpaTienT]

A pair of these (http://www.nearfieldacoustics.com/brochure2.htm) will run ya about $80,000.

[DemonKnight]

I'm a teen as well (turing 18 the 12th of next month) I cant stand the load pounding thumping when I'm trying to drive. I'm quite happy with the factory speakers in my car.) But for home use, I'm going to get somthing good. (i've got 16,000 comming when I turn 18, supposed to be for college.. about 14000 of maybe will be http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif U'm building me a new computer. ) Most of the guys I know with quad 15s are just doing to try and look cool. I know one guy who set his tunk on fire cause he didnt know what he was doing. I dont rememb erexactly what he did but he melted a wire or somthign and set his carpeting on fire. I lauphed for a week on that one.)

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

With respect to others opinions, I think the older Advent had the best sound around, though they don't make home stereo speakers anymore, the highs were very clear, they are not bass cannons, but they will pierce your ears with clarity (Providing you have a good amp and not one of these technics/kenwood/pioneer/sony and other low end amps). new amps are a joke, these mini systems 300W RMS only 10% THD, which means you hear more distortion then anything, if you want good speakers look at the THD spec just as much as the power, I'ld much rather have 50W at 0.1%THD then 300W at 10%THD. (Total Harmonic Distortion). this means 300W will have frequencies blurred together. Eg, that glass breaking at 10Khz will splatter to 9-11Khz. anything that was playing in that frequency becomes distorted. but with .1% thd, that same 10Khz sond will only spread from 10.01Khz to 9.99Khz leaving much more of the sound intact. This is more a property of the amp, if you want loud then go for raw power, ut if you want to hear speech then go for clarity even if it means sacrificing some loudness, (Btw the difference in sound loudness from 30W to 300W is only twice as loud.)

Sorry to go off on a rant but too many people list power and not clarity, and as far as I'm concerned clarity is far more important.

Wizzard Of Ozz

[Warthog]

Mini systems? haha those are a joke. They are great for the price and all (I guess...) compared to a full stereo but don't even come close to one. What really bugs me about them is that they always look like they are from another planet.

Warthog

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

true true, all the stupid lights in silly patterns with bad choices in colours with rediculous power levels that would in a "REAL" amp cost you thousands of dollars. I personally think they are quite funny to look at and obviously intended for the young and ignorant crowd, the ones that don't care what music sound like as long as it has a lot of boom (Thinks of Honda Civics that have stereos so loud in them that it shakes parts of the car off but has no clarity)

[OuTpaTienT]

What bugs me about them is NONE of them have a friggin' usable EQ...they ALL have 3 or 5 preset EQ settings, bah!

I'd never purchase one of those mini systems, but the other day I was in Best Buy and waiting for friend to finish up their business so I'm wandering around the equipment. And I come to all these contraptions that look like they were made by NASA...until you touch one and realize how cheaply they are constructed. They all have these silly flashing disco light displays and most of them have a multi-MULTI-function control gizmo. It's like they take one knob and make it do 15 functions, you can turn it up & down, push it in and turn it up & down, pull it out and turn it up & down, tilt it 3 different directions, etc. They are so unintuitive and un-user-friendly...I'd swear they were designed by Apple (like the wonders they can do with their 1-button mouse.)

There must have been 35 to 40 of these "mini" systems at the Best Buy I was in and I was astonished that all of them were POS. After seeing a dozen or so I became determined to find at least one of them that was decent qualtiy. Surely one manufacturer must make a mini system that's not ****. Nope...they were ALL ****.

[Keegan]

You didn't happen to check out the... wOOx systems, did you? :p

(They have a Philips (wOOx) 5-piece home-theater system at my local Best Buy. Again, wOOx is not so much about having more, but making better use of what you have. Remember, manufacturers are already hard-pressed to get decent sound out of smaller-than-decent speakers. In the past, manufacturers have had big trouble with trying to market "minisystems" with giant speakers, because that kind of defeats the purpose of having a "mini" system.)

[Keegan]

It goes almost without saying that those "1000-watt" ratings on computer speaker systems are phony, and are just designed to gyp you into ****. Some of those things have even been known to catch fire.

One of the annoying things about those minisystems IS the disco-lights display which is more for show than for functionality. I'd take my Sherwood reciever over one of those things any day. But I prefer to build my own loudspeakers, from original designs (i.e. my Isobaric Push-Pull 8" subwoofer with a bass cutoff frequency of 25Hz.) I'll be making a web page about my DIY audio endeavors sometime this year, with complete details about how the speaker systems were designed and built, as well as the results.

[OuTpaTienT]

<FONT COLOR="red">Wizard~of~Ozz</FONT c>, you got me thinking about the THD of my Promedia's. Embarrassingly that's something I neglected to investigate prior to purchase. But since reading your post I decided to find out the THD% of the amp in these 2.1s.

Looked on the Klipsch web site and all through my manual and nowhere is this spec listed. I took this as a bad sign, but went ahead and asked for the info from Klipsch (and held my breath while waiting. I mean, it sounds great to me and surely if it were something like 10%THD I'd be able to hear that, but still I'd like to know the "official" specs.)

I sighed a pleasant relief when I got my answer. According to the Klipsch Tech, the THD is 0.1%. He said if you're pushing the amp to it's limits and you're right on the edge of clipping, then the THD is probably in the 1%-3% range. Considering I can't get the volume knob over 50% without it being too loud, I shouldn't have to worry about getting close to clipping the amp.

[Keegan]

Before I go too far in my talk about loudspeaker design theory, let me make something clear: I was not trying to recommend the Philips speakers because they were BETTER than Klipsch ProMedia, but rather because they were a cheaper alternative to the Klipsches that wouldn't suck like the kind they sell on eBay. Jumping to conclusions often results in arguments, like this one. And arguments only end with both parties more firmly convinced that they are right. That's not what I want to accomplish here.

This also applies to my comment about the Bose Lifestyle system. I would not buy Bose if I had $80,000 to invest in a massive home theater. I would buy Bose if I wanted to fit a respectable sound system around my computer desk and bed.

If I had $80,000 to invest in a home theater system, I would noy buy speakers. I would build my own speakers. I would build transmission-line enclosures and use drivers from foreign manufacturers like Morel, Vifa, and Scan-Speak. The only domestic component I would use would be a Seismic-Systems (formerly Aura) 18" subwoofer. But only one. Two might crack the windows (not suprising with a 1.8cm RMS excursion, the longest stroke ever recorded from a cone speaker driver.)

(People who challenge my intelligence make me mad.)

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

OutPatient.

Very well done in checking this out, .1% is very good quality for computer speakers. especially at the power they boast. I know my home stereo is 100W x 4 @ .01%THD. very nice amp but friend screwed it up melted the solder off the relay (He's a bass Junkie) , have to fix it. My Amp is a TEAC, and I'll buy another for my next amp, but the weakest part of any stereo is usally the speakers, as for my comp speakers I have Altec Lansing, (Wife bought them for Me). I was amazed at how loud these little things go.I Imagine you'rs are quite a bit louder. It a shame about the cost of those speakers, if thier house speakers carry any quality I might consider buying them to replace my mains, (Rears are advents) But thanks for checking into that.

[mds]

OuTpaTienT
Nice sonic tower's might need a large studio to enjoy the full effect, and you would need one h@!l of an amp to power them- I do like how they you min cone excursion that with make them last a lifetime, great db & freq. responce- now if they were only a bit cheaper. Until then I'll just have to keep my old Altech towers I got 10yrs. ago they still sound great with 4-10" in each tower.

[AuraEdge]

The Klipsch 4.1 are going for 199 in my local best buy. (Clearance sale or something)

Now I just need to scrounge up 199 from somewhere...

[Warthog]

made by NASA
I'd swear they were designed by Apple

LOL! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

If I had a lot of money, I'd build an ultra loud, ultra bass system just for kicks...not sure exactly what model but I'd find some. I'll take a couple of Peavey speakers and some dual 18" subwoofers http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Warthog

[OuTpaTienT]

Before I go too far in my talk about loudspeaker design theory.
Sorry, but that's as far as I got. After reading that sentence I was simply compelled to immediately skip to the next post. <IMG SRC="http://216.37.9.58/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm7.gif" border=0>uTpaTienT

[OuTpaTienT]

(¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.->BumP<-.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯)

I'm bored, so I'm on a bumping spree of old post with good info to share.

[ash451]

No doubt that the Klipsch rule, but for less money the Altec Lansing ADA 890s will rock the house and are THX certified as well. (Whatever that means.)
I love mine together with an Audigy card. They sound better than any bookshelf system I have ever heard and are my sole source for audio.

[Potlicker]

My 2cents, Go some place where they know and need absolutley the best audio sound reproduction. Someplace like an Opera house or a fancy shmancy theater ( not a movie theater ) and what do you see. Klipsch Monitors. They have been used in ultra high end stereo's for years. The best sound I ever heard Before CD's or DVD was back in 1976. A reel to reel On Klipsch studio monitors.

[shadow]

The cheapest and best is to go to a garage sale or pawn shop, buy an old decent quality home integrated amp or reciever rated at least 30WRMS per channel and some decent home speakers.

These items can be had for $5-20 depending on your dickering skills and will blow away most any computer speaker setups.
Just keep the unshielded speakers away from monitors, media and drives ;)

[OuT]

·

[wing7788]

Well they have mentioned it all so... :)

[The Clank]

New King:
Logitech Z-560
THX 4.1 speakers

[piyopiyo13]

Agreed... can't understand how these people can make a 400W system that schools the Promedias for under $200. Go on Yahoo! and you'll find all sorts of reviews praising these new puppies. Can't understand either why stock is so limited (or maybe I do)...