Speakers for $70-90: your recommendations.

I would like to have your recommendations for a computer speaker
system in the price range of US $70-90 based on personal
listening experience.

I have a fair bit of experience in other audio systems but almost
none with mid-range computer powered speakers. I don't even know
if $70-90 speakers qualify as mid-range or if they're barely
entry-level. They can be either 2.1 or 4.1. They're to be used
mainly for music, but also for some gaming. They should have a
smooth rich bass and clean highs. I've listened to the Creative
Inspire 2.1 and 4.1 sets, but they lack bass and tend to rattle.

If there's a more appropriate group for my query, please let me
know. Thanks.

Look for Z560 from Logitech in your local buy and sell or ebay. The best 4.1


"ztk" <fake@address.com> wrote in message
news:de2n4o$rib$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
>I would like to have your recommendations for a computer speaker
> system in the price range of US $70-90 based on personal
> listening experience.
>
> I have a fair bit of experience in other audio systems but almost
> none with mid-range computer powered speakers. I don't even know
> if $70-90 speakers qualify as mid-range or if they're barely
> entry-level. They can be either 2.1 or 4.1. They're to be used
> mainly for music, but also for some gaming. They should have a
> smooth rich bass and clean highs. I've listened to the Creative
> Inspire 2.1 and 4.1 sets, but they lack bass and tend to rattle.
>
> If there's a more appropriate group for my query, please let me
> know. Thanks.
>
>

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:53:03 +0530, "ztk" <fake@address.com> wrote:

>I would like to have your recommendations for a computer speaker
>system in the price range of US $70-90 based on personal
>listening experience.
>
>I have a fair bit of experience in other audio systems but almost
>none with mid-range computer powered speakers. I don't even know
>if $70-90 speakers qualify as mid-range or if they're barely
>entry-level. They can be either 2.1 or 4.1. They're to be used
>mainly for music, but also for some gaming. They should have a
>smooth rich bass and clean highs. I've listened to the Creative
>Inspire 2.1 and 4.1 sets, but they lack bass and tend to rattle.
>
>If there's a more appropriate group for my query, please let me
>know. Thanks.

Years ago amazon.com was having a clearance on Cambridge Soundworks
speakers for $35. They were usually double that IIRC. The set
consisted of two small "tweeters" and one "woofer" that has a folded
horn construction - a horn in the front that opens into the back of
the enclosure. The sound turns out to be pretty damn good, especially
at low frequencies - no boombing.

I have no idea if the company is still in business, but if it is I can
recommend taking a look at their offerings. The system came with a
remote volume control that actually works as expected. The system runs
off a transformer brick so it is externally powered.

YES, Z560 by Logitech are the absolute best sounding bass pounding 4.1
ever...

Thanks


"Make-Model" <Make-Model@wink.ca> wrote in message
news:L_5Ne.47193$vj.5157@pd7tw1no...
> Look for Z560 from Logitech in your local buy and sell or ebay. The best
> 4.1
>
>
> "ztk" <fake@address.com> wrote in message
> news:de2n4o$rib$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
>>I would like to have your recommendations for a computer speaker
>> system in the price range of US $70-90 based on personal
>> listening experience.
>>
>> I have a fair bit of experience in other audio systems but almost
>> none with mid-range computer powered speakers. I don't even know
>> if $70-90 speakers qualify as mid-range or if they're barely
>> entry-level. They can be either 2.1 or 4.1. They're to be used
>> mainly for music, but also for some gaming. They should have a
>> smooth rich bass and clean highs. I've listened to the Creative
>> Inspire 2.1 and 4.1 sets, but they lack bass and tend to rattle.
>>
>> If there's a more appropriate group for my query, please let me
>> know. Thanks.
>>
>>
>
>

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:53:03 +0530, "ztk" <fake@address.com>
wrote:

>I would like to have your recommendations for a computer speaker
>system in the price range of US $70-90 based on personal
>listening experience.
>
>I have a fair bit of experience in other audio systems but almost
>none with mid-range computer powered speakers. I don't even know
>if $70-90 speakers qualify as mid-range or if they're barely
>entry-level. They can be either 2.1 or 4.1. They're to be used
>mainly for music, but also for some gaming. They should have a
>smooth rich bass and clean highs. I've listened to the Creative
>Inspire 2.1 and 4.1 sets, but they lack bass and tend to rattle.
>
>If there's a more appropriate group for my query, please let me
>know. Thanks.
>


$90 isn't a very large budget to get "smooth rich bass".
Clean highs depend more on having separate tweeters in the
satellites rather than a one-driver per satellite config.

Do you "need" 2.1? IMO, you might get best sound (if you
have available space for the speakers) by using a pair of
typical shielded audio bookshelf speakers (rather than "PC"
speaker combo) plus any-random-external amp. It's not hard
to equal or beat the quality of the amp in a $90 combo PC
speaker set.

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 05:01:17 GMT, kony <spam@spam.com>
wrote:

<snip>

>Do you "need" 2.1? IMO, you might get best sound (if you
>have available space for the speakers) by using a pair of
>typical shielded audio bookshelf speakers (rather than "PC"
>speaker combo) plus any-random-external amp. It's not hard
>to equal or beat the quality of the amp in a $90 combo PC
>speaker set.

For example some Athena AS-B1,

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...sp?sku=ATHASB1
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/athena_asb1.htm

They're fairly efficient so for typical PC uses (rather than
home stereo replacement) you'd probaby do fine with 10 good
watts of amplification, maybe even less... which in the PC
speaker, cheap integrated chip-amp world usually means units
with rating of over 30W so that first 10W has reasonably low
THD... with higher quality non-PC amps the ratings are
generally more conservative.

With their (AS-B1's) smaller woofers you'd not get big
boomy bass, but your description of "smooth rich bass" won't
be met well at all by most of the satellite + sub PC combos
either... most of which produce bass better described as
loose distorted thumps... large quantity of mud.