Breaking In New Speakers

[VinnieColaiuta]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta
What about the THX 2.1 Klipschs? Are they pretty much known as the best of the 2.1 multimedia speakers? (I know that's a completely subjective question, but I'm asking anyway)

If you want throw down a whole lot more money, Creative\Cambridge soundworks made some nicer ones. There ya go

Thanks, Nebor, but I'm not sure I wanna drop that much cash in this transaction. Would you say the Klipsch 2.1 THX's are the best in the 0-200 dollar category?

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Rubicante

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta

Well, I'm gonna open the can. Why do you feel buying Klipschs is a mistake? I've heard the 2.1's and 5.1's before, and they sounded great to me. Is there something I don't know?

i just don't like them. the sub is anemic and the sats dont hold up.

...just my experience. and the initial listening experience is wonderful... klipsch images really well. for DVDs, theyre great. for music, esp. music with bass... not so nice. the sub is tight and sharp, but its underpowered and not good at low tones... i know this for a fact. and some bass justs sounds "wrong" to me; if you listen to something like victor wooten, or what have you... the logitech sub sounds like youre actually hearing the bass amp, live. the klipsch sub sounds like a cheap imitation. but maybe thats just my ears... and its also true that the logitech sub can be boomy at times. tbh, like i said, youre probably going to be quite happy with the klipsches, and from what i understand, the Ultras are much improved as far as the sub goes. just watch out for the tweeters going bad on you if you play loud music. four of mine have stopped working, and/or started rattling/buzzing, and the fifth (center channel) only works because for a while, i couldnt get the center channel to work with my sound card.

edit: oh, and pink noise is garbage. who actually listens to pink noise? play a couple of your favorite music tracks, dvds, and/or games.

First off, you said that Logitech speakers were better than Klipsch at any single thing. There goes your credibility, right there. This just makes you look like an envious noob who can't afford the Klipsch 5.1 Ultras, and got Z-640s instead.

Second, why should we believe any of the problems you had when you admit you didn't know how to hook everything up and set it up properly in the first place?

And anyone that thinks the Ultra's dual port subwoofer is "anemic" is just crazy, that thing is a beast.

sound is really subjective...Ive heard the Klipsch 5.1's side by side to the Logitech Z-680's and to me the logitechs sound much better...I guess the word would be "richer".
right now im running the z-560's and I have compaired those to Klipsch's promedia 4.1's and the logitechs to me still sound better...granted both are great speakers....but theres no reason to call anyone an "envious noob".........and on a side note I can afford the Klipsch's

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: rnp614
In the end I really dont care. I find the 5.1s to be the best of computer speakers, but my cheap 100 dollar 10" dayton sub and RTi38s rock the SH!T out of any multimedia speaker set. IF YOU CAN GO HIFI. That is my advice and I'm stickin to it.

p.s. i listened to the gigaworks and klipsch b4 i bought the 5.1s. Klipsch easily wins that contest. In addition if you kind of bottle the sub up under a desk or something you can kill enough base that it balances easily.

.... Another person who's credibility is shot. Putting the sub under a desk will make it more powerful.

Hifi is alright if you're only doing stereo sound, but it's just not good for games or movies, unless you use analog channel connects to a reciever.

No, I realize that it might add some resonance, but if you turn it down, it reduces the ridiculous amount of impact this sub creates. Also, if the cabinet is very small it WILL suffocate the sub (like the box under my desk).

Also, I DO use the analog connects. And I'd have to say that for games AND movies the sound is more clear and adds much more impact to things like FPS. Movies are fantastic as well. DEFINITELY an improvement over a 5.1 Klipsch.

 

[Pariah]

From the manual of my speakers:

"...however, an extended break-in period of 20-40 hours or more of fairly loud playing is required to reach full performance capability. Break-in allows the suspension to work in and results in fuller bass, a more open "blossoming" midrange and smoother high frequency."

To be honest, I didn't really notice any difference, but then again, I wasn't paying all that close attention to it, and since the break-in is gradual that may be an additional reason for not hearing a difference. Maybe if I could hear a before and after side by side the difference would be noticeable. I tend to lean towards the folklore side of speaker breaking in. For a set of computer speakers, I can't see it making any difference at all. Anyway, the manual doesn't recommend any specific break-in material, and really, it shouldn't matter. Playing whatever you are going to listen to will do the job fine.

 

[Bistromath]

And in all truth, I must agree, I can't see the point in breaking in computer speakers either. Compared to a dedicated amp and preamp situation, it is hard for me to see how the source could be capable of the kind of clarity you would need to actually hear a difference in your speakers.

However, if you've never read a reference to speaker break in in a review, I will gladly point you here

This is one of those hot button topics on audiophile web forums. There is very little agreement amongst different types of audiophiles, and even less, traditionally, ,between audiophiles and engineers. So, I guess you just gotta quote the Digital Underground, who said: "Do what you like, do how you like."

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta
What about the THX 2.1 Klipschs? Are they pretty much known as the best of the 2.1 multimedia speakers? (I know that's a completely subjective question, but I'm asking anyway)

If you want throw down a whole lot more money, Creative\Cambridge soundworks made some nicer ones. There ya go

Thanks, Nebor, but I'm not sure I wanna drop that much cash in this transaction. Would you say the Klipsch 2.1 THX's are the best in the 0-200 dollar category?

I would say they are. I have had mine for a year and a half or so and still love them. I think they are tough to beat for computer applications, at least for me. I have no interest in hooking up a reciever or any external "normal" stereo gear. I like my computer set-up to be no hassle and low clutter. I also have no interest in getting surround for my PC, at least anytime soon. The only reason I would do that is for games down the road maybe. For movies and serious music listening I have a HT that I have put the cost of roughly 75 to 100 Klispch ProMedia sets into, lol.

Anyways, I highly recommend the ProMedia 2.1s.

 

[Nebor]

Yeah, the Klipsch PM 2.1s are very very good. Also consider the Creative Megaworks 250D, they're in the same class as the Klipsch.

 

[Rubicante]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Rubicante

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta

Well, I'm gonna open the can. Why do you feel buying Klipschs is a mistake? I've heard the 2.1's and 5.1's before, and they sounded great to me. Is there something I don't know?

i just don't like them. the sub is anemic and the sats dont hold up.

...just my experience. and the initial listening experience is wonderful... klipsch images really well. for DVDs, theyre great. for music, esp. music with bass... not so nice. the sub is tight and sharp, but its underpowered and not good at low tones... i know this for a fact. and some bass justs sounds "wrong" to me; if you listen to something like victor wooten, or what have you... the logitech sub sounds like youre actually hearing the bass amp, live. the klipsch sub sounds like a cheap imitation. but maybe thats just my ears... and its also true that the logitech sub can be boomy at times. tbh, like i said, youre probably going to be quite happy with the klipsches, and from what i understand, the Ultras are much improved as far as the sub goes. just watch out for the tweeters going bad on you if you play loud music. four of mine have stopped working, and/or started rattling/buzzing, and the fifth (center channel) only works because for a while, i couldnt get the center channel to work with my sound card.

edit: oh, and pink noise is garbage. who actually listens to pink noise? play a couple of your favorite music tracks, dvds, and/or games.

First off, you said that Logitech speakers were better than Klipsch at any single thing. There goes your credibility, right there. This just makes you look like an envious noob who can't afford the Klipsch 5.1 Ultras, and got Z-640s instead.

Second, why should we believe any of the problems you had when you admit you didn't know how to hook everything up and set it up properly in the first place?

And anyone that thinks the Ultra's dual port subwoofer is "anemic" is just crazy, that thing is a beast.

since you failed to read what i wrote, let me clarify: I have owned both. I gave the Z-560s to my girlfriend and the klipsches are sitting in the basement because nobody wants them, not even my little sister. I did say the sub on the *original* promedias was anemic; I also noted that the Ultras were supposedly better, but I do not own them because i cannot justify spending that much money on an incomplete revision of what i considered to be a flawed product. and my problems with the center channel had nothing to do with my knowledge or experience. the problem was in a faulty sound card, but thank you for assuming the worst about me. the center channel worked once i bought a new card. and it remains the only satellite that sounds anything like new.

thus my purchase of home stereo equipment, through which my PC now plays much more happily than it ever has.

 

[ZetaGouki]

I'll give you $50 for the speakers no one wants...

 

[jl123]

Originally posted by: VinnieColaiuta
What about the THX 2.1 Klipschs? Are they pretty much known as the best of the 2.1 multimedia speakers? (I know that's a completely subjective question, but I'm asking anyway)

I've had the 2.1s for a while now. At first they sounded nice but there is just so much port noise on that sub that I took the plateamp off and made my own box and hooked it up to a higher quality 8 inch sub. Works great. Amp hasn't fried because of it even with a 4ohm load on it instead of 8. I did fry a logitech amp tho.

 

[dkozloski]

The "break in" period allows the salesman sufficient time to get out of town before the customer realizes he's been bilked, and/or, the excuse the buyer needs to explain to his friends why the things don't sound as good as advertised "yet". Audiophiles are just like used car saesmen, lawyers, and Democrats in that they can say almost anything with a straight face.