best speakers for under $200??

[HouRman]

Diva Swans M200 $199 @ av123

You may have to search audiophile forums for reviews on those.

 

[Workin']

<< Diva Swans M200 $199... >>

Well, they're not bad, but they sound like a good clock radio compared to the Altec 641's. 5 inch woofers in a very small cabinet driven by a couple dozen watts, no matter how good they are, just can't compare to the big boys. And the mids/highs are no better or worse than the competition, IMO. I would hesitate to call them "full range". Maybe with a good sub.... Plus they are somewhat more expensive.

 

[ubersam]

Anyone heard the Monsoon MH-505s? I've only seen one detailed review but the 505s seem to be well respected in certain forums. [fyi, the review was done by a regular in 'that' forum]

 

[TheWart]

<So really it comes down to a matter of personal preference and budget. Some people like anchovies. Others do not. >

well, i hate anchovies so that must mean you like them!

 

[larciel]

i really want to listen to Diva Swans M200 myself.. any idea where i can go to listen to it?? 'locally?'


*EDIT*

hmm read some reviews.. not that looking good .. maybe i'll stick to ProMedia .. this time . 4.2??

 

[handoverfist]

another vote for the logitech z-560's. I grabbed them on that dell deal a while back. They absolutely scream!!!

 

[sandorski]

Check out the Swan 200 they are only 2 bookshelf self powered speakers, but a lot of people are comparing them to $1000 speakers. They are $199 a pair.

 

[dejacky]

Just looking @ the size of those monsoon speakers (thin), I doubt they'll be able to produce the same amount of accuracy as the altec 641's. Those bose speaker designs/clones cannot reproduce frequencies @ the level of larger speakers(physically impossible). Even with a subwoofer, those tiny/flat speaker designs are lacking a fuller audio spectrum characteristic in larger speakers. So, yes, I've decided to keep the Altec Lansing 641's. I remember walking out of Fry's & everyone salivating as I found 1 of 2 sets left in the store. Even the check out clerk was like "where'd u get that?! how much is it?! I need that speaker system!" . Still need a CHEAP method of hanging all 4 speakers at a downward angle on the wall (high) I was @ best buy, & it was $49.99 for a pair of speaker mounts...ridiculous .

-dejacky

 

[Workin']

<< well, i hate anchovies so that must mean you like them! >>

LOL

<< Check out the Swan 200 they are only 2 bookshelf self powered speakers, but a lot of people are comparing them to $1000 speakers. They are $199 a pair. >>

From 5 posts above yours re: Diva Swans

Well, they're not bad, but they sound like a good clock radio compared to the Altec 641's. 5 inch woofers in a very small cabinet driven by a couple dozen watts, no matter how good they are, just can't compare to the big boys. And the mids/highs are no better or worse than the competition, IMO. I would hesitate to call them "full range". Maybe with a good sub.... Plus they are somewhat more expensive.

As far as sounding like $1000 speakers, that's pretty funny. A grand buys some pretty serious performance these days in a pair of speakers.

dejacky - regarding the speaker mounts, you can use the 2 brackets that came with the set, and then maybe rig something for the other 2 using screws that fit in the bracket mounting holes on the back of each satellite and some picture hanging wire over a nail in the wall. Make a loop of wire, screw it to the back of the satellite, and hang it on the wall. You'll probably have to fiddle with the size of the loop to get it to hang at the right angle, but I don't think you can do it any cheaper than that.

 

[sandorski]

Workin: So you have heard them? I haven't, but most people who have are raving about them.

 

[Workin']

Yes, a friend of mine has a pair. They sound good, but in my opinion they don't have nearly enough bass or play loudly enough. Also, they are even bigger than the already large Altec 641 satellites, which makes it hard to fit them on your desk if you have anything else there except your monitor.

If they were $99 then I could get more excited about them. But at $199, considering the 641's are around $160 and properly set up simply lay waste to the Swans by any measure, well....

 

[sandorski]

Tell your friend to get a headphone amp for them, it seems that the Swans need more juice than other multimedia speakers.

I'll take your experience under consideration(I almost ordered them cause I'm getting impatient with the lack of PM 5.1 availability in Canada )

 

[Workin']

I'll let him know, I don't know if he wants to spend any more money right now but it would at least help them play more loudly.

 

[Zebo]

Here is a not so swell review of these speakers? But I'll trust you workin' and get the altecs because I need new speaks and I like anchovies too.

 

[Workin']

I saw the review Carbonyl linked to before I bought my 641's. Which made me scratch my head a little bit , but since I liked the sound of the previous 3 sets of Altecs I had (ACS295, ACS345, and ATP3) I thought I'd give the big boys a shot, especially since I had listened to the Z-560's and was seriously underwhelmed, and the ProMedia's really hurt my ears.

The 2 main criticisms in the review were slightly boomy bass and flat highs - here are my thoughts on that, we did discuss this about 2 pages back in this thread, but for those just tuning in:

I've found the 641's bass performance is VERY sensitive to the placement of the sub. Also, even in the best position I could find for the sub I still had to "dial back" the bass control 3 little clicks from the default setting. Now the bass sounds clean, tight, and detailed. But it can boom if you want it to.

For my tastes, the highs are just right. The frequency extension is there, but the 641's are definitely not as "bright" as the ProMedias (which just screech to my ears) nor as "spitty" as the 560s. And the 641's midrange is much smoother than either of the other 2. Again, placement of the satellites makes a big difference.

The only complaint I have with the 641's is that the satellites are on the large side of things for the desktop and the bass unit is bigger than my computer case.

I did some measurements using a pink noise generator and sound level meter, taking measurements from the chair where I sit in front of my PC. Bass response was relatively flat down to about 35Hz (specs say 27Hz - there was output there but it was down about 8db from reference) and highs were relatively flat out to about 19kHz - that is excellent performance from a $160 set of speakers. The frosting on the cake was a measured clean peak output of 115db (again, measured in my chair which is "near field") listening to some old AC/DC. That's as loud as the loudest rock concert and can cause serious hearing damage in a very short period of time.

As everyone knows (or should know), sound quality is a personal thing. Everyone likes something different - that's why there are several hundred models of speakers on the market. So please don't take my word (or anyone else's word) on which speakers sound the best - you have to trust your own ears and tastes. Try and listen to as many different setups as you can - and remember that with ANY speaker set, the placement of the speakers in your room can play as big of a role in their sound quality as anything else.

 

[Toxie]

Hey, ide have to vote for the logitech z-560's for sheer $ value. I personally prefer the Klipsche to either of those sets though.

About panel speakers, I am persoannly a Maggie freak- and with high quality speakers, all topple to panel speakers in imaging and accuracy of reproduction. They are shy on bass, and very critical on placement however.

 

[dejacky]

Toxie u referring to the Mackie 824's or 624's or what? I'm really thinking of getting the MAckie 624's.

 

[Workin']

<< Toxie u referring to the Mackie 824's or 624's or what? I'm really thinking of getting the MAckie 624's. >>

He's referring to Magnepan planar-magnetic speakers.

 

[geckojohn]

I'm seriously considering the Logitech Z-560's when I move into my new apartment. I like the cost and the bass factor of the Logitech speakers. Let's keep this thread going with opinions for the best speakers! This thread has been a great help.

 

[Zebo]

This thread is still ALIVE. Anyway I saw the 641's for $109 at emscomputing.com recently and posted in hot deals. I paid $199 and think I got a good deal.

 

[whitelight]

best surround definitely have to go to the logitech z560's. the gold medal award from 3dss convinced me and when i got the speakers, i'm totally blown away by the price/performance ratio.

 

[Workin']

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
This thread is still ALIVE. Anyway I saw the 641's for $109 at emscomputing.com recently and posted in hot deals. I paid $199 and think I got a good deal.

$109!!! Holy shiznit, that's a fantastic deal. And for 20 bucks less than the 560's, simply amazing. Although I already have a set of 641's I'm seriously considering buying a second set for $143 shipped...

For those who have or are contemplating getting Z-560's, keep in mind that they while they are great for gaming their musical accuracy is pathetic. The Altec 641's are by far the best all-around "mutimedia" speakers you can get for under $200.

 

[geckojohn]

That is a great deal for those Altec Lansing speakers! Nice find. I can't decide which to buy still !

 

[Workin']

If you can't decide between Altec 641's at $109 or clearly inferior Z-560's at $127, you must be nuts!

 

[geckojohn]

Based on the Reviews, it seems like the Logitech Z560's are superior speakers... I read awesome reviews about the Logitech speakers from Maximum PC and Toms Hardware. Any other opinions before I buy?

Thanks, John