Looking for a new Music Setup..

[dawks]

I've had the Logitech Z-680s for about 5 years now. This last week, it looks as though the amp is on its way out. The sub keeps cutting in and out. So I'm shopping for a new system.

I'd really prefer something with awesome music quality first and foremost. With lots of CLEAN bass. I wish I could find a set of Promedia 5.1's.. Are the Promedia 2.1's good?

Bose is off the list cause their stuff is not worth the price, and has too much treble IMO.

I like my Z-680s so I could probably go with the Z-5500's if I can't find a better solution. Should I consider a decent receiver and 5.1 speaker set?

Ideally <$1,000 in total.

Also if I can go a little cheaper, like the $500 mark, I might pick up a good (mac compatible) sound card.. like an M-Audio.

 

[calvie]

If clean bass is what you are looking for then no pc speaker will give you that. Logitech is famous for "farking" bass. $1000 can get you a nice pair of bookshelf speaker/subwoofer/receiver combo. $250 for receiver, $750 for 2 bookshelf and a sub. Music will sound like music. There are too many good bookshelf speaker/sub to recommend.

 

[sxr7171]

If you want clean bass, you need to drop some cash. PC speakers aren't going to cut it.

Also you said "lots of clean bass" which is more important? "lots" or "clean" that changes the recommendation quite a bit. If you want clean and you really mean it, then I would not even get a sub but speakers that are fuller range. If you mean lots then you need a sub.

$1000 is a good budget and value for money is best found in professional monitors. Go to your local Guitar Center and audition some monitors. If you need to add a sub at a good price check HSU Research. Even a $500 pair of NHT M-00 with a sub would sound great. I think at a close range they sound fine without a sub, but that's me. I emphasize clean personally.

 

[Chronoshock]

There isn't a lot of benefit to going with 5.1 for a primarily music setup, I'd recommend going with 2.1
There have been a few threads about this in the past, but generally for speakers you options are bookshelf speakers + amp vs. powered monitors.
When I made this decision a few months ago, I went with Adam A5 monitors and they're fantastic ($500).

For a sub, look at the different internet direct sub companies, you can get a great sub for 500 or less from SVS, Hsu, Epik, eD, or Rythmik

 

[NutBucket]

It's too bad that full-size speakers are out of style these days. For music, a good full-range is definitely preferable to a 2.1 setup IMHO.

I'll bet two of these:
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/-CS-226-Floorstanding-Speaker-P260.aspx

paired with a nice receiver/amp (depending on needs) will easily outperform any 2.1 for similar money.

This is a pretty accurate representation of my main speakers. I also use them for TV/movies (which would benefit from a sub) but for music they're completely satisfying:

Boston HD10's on stands:

 

[dawks]

Thanks for the suggestions, I went cheap and got some Klipsch Pro Media 2.1s since they were 25&#37; off on black Friday. Might put some extra money in a sound card now.