Speakers

[XBloodclawX]

I'm just looking for everyone's thoughts. What 5.1 surround sound speakers would you suggest, both for quality and price?

 

[redbox]

Hello, XBloodclawx.

The Logitech Z-5500 has served me well, and I'm very happy with it. For gaming, music, and movies it serves my purpose and hasn't let me down yet. It is plenty powerful for computer use. However, the price might be a bit higher than what you may want to pay though at $302.99 with free shipping from newegg.

That being said my computer speaker experience is limited to that system. Hopefully more members respond to give you testimonials on other systems so you can compare.

I hope that helps, and welcome to Anandtech Forums.

 

[Zaxx]

Same goes here...Z-5500s all the way. I also have a set of the 2.1 version..the Z-2300s...both are astounding, esp for the price.

 

[XBloodclawX]

Thank you for the suggestion, the Logitech Z-5500 certainly looks like a nice setup. I was however hoping to find something decent for less than $300 though. Anyone else have a suggestion?

 

[2Dead]

You could get the Z-5500 from Amazon, right now its $202 (was 192 2 weeks ago) but there isn't free shipping and you may have to pay taxes depending where you live. I didn't have the space for it so I got the g51 instead. I mostly use headphones and the speakers only occasionally. Its alright, better than my older creative setup.

 

[TidusZ]

I've had Z-5500 for 13 months, I really like it. great deal at its pricepoint, though I find the price varies greatly so shop around and save - dont overpay.

You can get cheaper 5.1 but its not gonna be nearly as good. If you really only wanna spend 100 I really dont know what to recommend cus I haven't gone down that road.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i've had the z2300 which has almost identical satellites and sub as the z5500 and they SUCKEd imo. i have trained ears from 10 years of piano, classical guitar and vocal lessons, and i can tell that the logitechs have NO mids. only squeaky highs and boomy inaccurate bass.

check out M-Audio or Swan. they have some good computer speaker stuff, else, get a small amp and power some bookshelf speakers if you want QUALITY

 

[TidusZ]

Your comparing a $130 logitech setup vs a $340 logitech setup. If you wanted to shit on logitech's sound quality surely you could of of found a more reasonable method for doing so. Sure, its not audiophile quality, but its good enough for most people including myself, and its priced accordingly. Oh, and M-Audio an Swan are garbage, you need to spend 15000+ on speakers if you really want to hear the music for what it is, and not the faults of the speakers. I meant to say $20 000. The 15 000 ones are fine for most audiophiles, but not for the real acoustic experts.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
Your comparing a $130 logitech setup vs a $340 logitech setup.

It's the same speakers. Just less of them.

Originally posted by: TidusZ
Oh, and M-Audio an Swan are garbage, you need to spend 15000+ on speakers if you really want to hear the music for what it is, and not the faults of the speakers. I meant to say $20 000. The 15 000 ones are fine for most audiophiles, but not for the real acoustic experts.

Those Logitechs you mentioned measure terribly - high harmonic distortion, high cabinet resonance, rough frequency response, disappointing high-frequency extension, and, worst of all, the sub has to cross over to the speakers above 100hz (which is a major no-no - in a good sub/sat system, you can't identify the location of the subwoofer, only the left and right speakers.)

On the other hand, even a cheap pair of studio monitors - say, the Behringer 2030Ps ($130) -measure pretty well. Frequency response is acceptably flat, distortion is much lower and while you get less bass, what you do get is of better quality.

Alesis has some decent powered studio monitors (note: DO NOT BUY STUDIO MONITORS WITH WOOFERS OF 4" OR LESS!) for a hair over $200/pair.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
Your comparing a $130 logitech setup vs a $340 logitech setup. If you wanted to shit on logitech's sound quality surely you could of of found a more reasonable method for doing so. Sure, its not audiophile quality, but its good enough for most people including myself, and its priced accordingly. Oh, and M-Audio an Swan are garbage, you need to spend 15000+ on speakers if you really want to hear the music for what it is, and not the faults of the speakers. I meant to say $20 000. The 15 000 ones are fine for most audiophiles, but not for the real acoustic experts.

THEY'RE THE SAME SPEAKERS. learn some shit.

swan + m-audio are REAL AUDIO COMPANIES.
logitech is makes MICE.

i will shit on logitechs sound quality once again, they speakers (NON OF THEM) have any mid-range sound. Their satellites only have squeaky highs and their subs consist of boomy INACCURATE BASS. the subs also rattle at mid-high volumes (not a flaw that is specific to my unit, it happens to many others)

OP, for $300:

you CAN go with the z-5500's (SUCK) or;

hook urself with an UPGRADABLE HIGH SOUND QUALITY system like:

yamaha 5.1 receiver $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16882115120

Pair of Polk Bookshelf Speakers - $99/pair
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16882290008


gives you LOTS of room to upgrade for a sub (around 100, and a center speaker (around 80)

i'd rather take all that then a cheapo bad quality sound for $300 from a mouse company

 

[coreyb]

I have M-Audio speakers and they sound WAY better then any logitech speakers I've ever heard.

 

[TridenT]

I got the Z-5500s for $180, and they are nothing great. :-/

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
Oh, and M-Audio an Swan are garbage

so logitech speakers are better? haha.. . . .

get some ear training!