Best Desktop Speakers

[zzglenn]

I'm currently shopping for some nice desktop speakers. I have a fairly large desk with some really old Gateway Speakers. I game on this computer, and already own a nice pair of wireless 7.1 surround headphones. Occasionally though when I want to watch something or share with others I want to have some good sounding speakers.

I can see there are some 5.1 surround speakers, but are those going to give me the feeling of surround sound without being able to put the speakers behind my chair (which I can't)?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech...&skuId=1215025

I have a Creative Audigy sound card in my PC so I know it can produce some "fake" surround. Is there a better set of speakers that can do this? I don't really want to have 5 speakers all just facing me behind my LCD monitor if they really need to be behind me to have that surround effect. Maybe it doesn't matter since they are just speakers. I'm almost thinking a TV bar speaker maybe better. I was hoping to keep the cost under $100 bucks.

 

[DigDog]

"best" when speaking of audio doesn't exist. on that budget, i would go with a 2.1 system, but if you can double it, you can actually buy some decent stuff. a couple years back Sony was producing a 5.1 that had a enormous 850w total power, out of a paper-thin digital amp.
you could probably grab the DAVTZ 140 5.1 which has 300w for about $150.

not the best sounding speakers, but enough ooomph to make you forget the relative lack of brilliance.

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks Dig I will take a look. Yeah, I figured it won't be the "best" just looking for something with good sound, and wondering if 5 speakers was overkill for a desk.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

If you can live without surround sound, the creative labs T40s sound pretty good and are close to your price range. You won't get a ton of bass out of them but they are pretty good for what they are.

As DigDog said you will probably have to up your budget quite a bit if you want to get some really nice speakers, and even then you are probably looking at a 2.1 setup. The audioengine A5+ and paired sub is a great all purpose 2.1 option, but its ~$700 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Giga...8&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+labs+gigaworks+t40

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Powered-Speaker-Systems/A5-plus-B-Powered-Speakers

 

[mnewsham]

2.1 systems are the best bang for buck generally, and good for a desktop situation where you dont necessarily need the surround setup. Or you can go for headphones if you want to save some money and still get decent quality sound. 5.1 is just going to be pretty crappy unless you are spending $500-1000+ (and I personally would spend $500 on a 2.1 system before a 5.1)

 

[Puffnstuff]

For what you'd pay for a computer speaker set you can get a receiver and speakers that sound better and offer more versatility. I will never fall back into the pc speaker trap again and I was an avid supporter of the klipsch promedia 5.1's back in the day. These days a Yamaha receiver and 5.1 speakers sound way better for less money.

 

[rchunter]

If you only want 2 channel take a look at Kef X300A. They are self powered so you don't need an amp. I'm probably going to buy a pair here shortly for my downstairs computer.

EDIT- I just read you want to pay under a hundred. These are like $700. Sorry about that.

 

[Mk pt]

Edifier Studio 6 Plus
The best sound quality for the price (in EU).
Not sure how much it costs and where to buy in US.

 

[zmaster]

z5500 by logitech.
i have years of sms's from neighbors complaining to prove they are the best!

 

[lupi]

The logitech thx certified setups are very good, don't think they come in just 2.1 sets though.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Behringer MS16/MS20/MS40 depending on budget.

 

[MongGrel]

Behringer MS16/MS20/MS40 depending on budget.

I'd say they are probably way up there, but I do not own them.

+1

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MS40

As far as best, you can go a lot higher priced than that for even small monitors.

Have a pretty large 5.1 set up with amps myself, but have been acquiring speakers for decades I guess.

Studio Monitor Speaker Comparison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfD7RnC7P6Q

 

[Railgun]

I'm a fan of B&W MM-1s. Small, and sound great.

Edit...granted, they blow your budget out of the water though.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Strictly $100? However the sweet spot would be the JBL LSR305 at $300 which is universally regarded by the pro-audio community to be the best pair of speakers for the money.

I suggest you don't skimp on speakers, think of it as a long term investment because unlike video cards speaker technology is more or less stagnant and are much more reliable. It's easy for them to last for 10+ years.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Honestly, did anybody take notice that the op is running an audigy soundcard? He could get away with some string and dixie cups and count it as speakers. Really though unless you plan to get a modern sound card don't waste a lot of money on speakers.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I will again recommend these:

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-GigaWorks-Multimedia-BasXPort-Technology/dp/B001RNOHDU

 

[StrangerGuy]

Honestly, did anybody take notice that the op is running an audigy soundcard? He could get away with some string and dixie cups and count it as speakers. Really though unless you plan to get a modern sound card don't waste a lot of money on speakers.

A mere ~$30 for a Behringer UCA202 which is already well within sonic transparency for a DAC with stereo line outputs.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well, the OP put in his initial link for a Logitech 5.1 speaker-set.

The ratings at BBuy seem to be encouraging on the Z506. You get what you pay for, but $70 would be a decent price for those.

The BestBuy specs say "no On/Off switch," but I see at least one or more knobs on one of the surround speakers. You're going to get total output of a modest level from those -- about 100W.

I had been considering to buy a similar 5.1 system, and I'm tempted to pick up a Z506 kit. I have four speaker systems connected to two computers in this room: another Logitech (Z740?) 5.1 with what looks like a more elaborate center-speaker with switch, fadar, balance and other knobs -- better than the Z506; a 20-year-old set of LabTec 2.1's; my ONKYO 7.2 (configured for 5.1) with a set of JBL speakers; and a "creative" 2.1 kit to augment my TV's native audio capability.

I can switch between two 5.1 systems on one computer, and between a 2.1 and 5.1 on the other one. I could probably find a home for something like that Logitech set, but I'll "look around for a while." I obviously am adequately equipped at the moment.

 

[Cerb]

Honestly, did anybody take notice that the op is running an audigy soundcard? He could get away with some string and dixie cups and count it as speakers. Really though unless you plan to get a modern sound card don't waste a lot of money on speakers.

If it's an Audigy or Audigy 2, maybe (they were worth it back when EAX was a competitive advantage, as a gamer). If it's an Audigy FX, it will likely be as good as any other single-ended internal audio implementation.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If it's an Audigy or Audigy 2, maybe (they were worth it back when EAX was a competitive advantage, as a gamer). If it's an Audigy FX, it will likely be as good as any other single-ended internal audio implementation.

I just found an Audigy 2 ZX PCI card I'd put back in my parts locker, and was thinking to install it in one of my systems. But -- the card is too big and would block off the top SLI card's ventilation, while the PCI slot below both gfx cards is inaccessible. I seem to have the Win 7 driver for the Audigy.

I seemed to have acquired the ability to switch between different sound stacks and outputs with Media Center, and once done, it can leave the last-chosen configuration available for system sounds as well as MC.

So I'm trying to sort out a possibility -- of using the Intel HDMI output on my motherboards to support a speaker system like the Logitech Z506. It requires a decoder with HDMI input and 3.5mm 5.1 output:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-LPCM-7-1-5-1-Multi-Channel-Audio-Decoder-Amplifier-/350247932081

The source of that particular decoder has a web-link that eludes me, but it's a $127+ device. And it occurs to me that you could insert an HDMI switch like the Sewell IBIS between computers and the decoder -- thus using a single set of speakers switchable from one system to the other.

The other possibility arises with my new BenQ XL2420Z monitor, which perfectly supplements the video portion of a 20-year-old KVM switch. I could insert the decoder between either of two computers and my monitor, with output to a common set of 5.1 speakers with 3.5mm input plugs like the Z506 system. The HDMI video would simply pass through to the monitor.

 

[davewnelson]

The logitech thx certified setups are very good, don't think they come in just 2.1 sets though.

These are amazing, fills the lower floor of the house.:biggrin:

Logitech Z623 200w 2.1 THX
130w 7"
35w Sats
$140

 

[kiwi_gurl]

Genius SW-G2.1 2000 50W GX Gaming 2.1 Speakers they are pretty damn good

 

[alcoholbob]

Check out Klipsch iFi on eBay or a pair of Altec Lansing 641s.