Can someone recommend a good set of PC speakers that are not ridiculously overpriced? If not, any good resources/reviews on the Net?
What are you looking for? 2.0, 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.1 with decoders? Also, what is your budget? "Not ridiculously overpriced" is pretty vague.
Bah! Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's are excellent. $149 @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=507846
Thanks, guys. Did a bit of auditioning at CompUSA last night. Man, virtually all computer speakers sound like garbage. I'd rather spend more and get more. I'll try the Klipsch. Or, I'll just pick up another 2-channel receiver and speakers.
you can't judge anything from the setups they have at compusa or whatever. chances are they are being driven off the built-in sound card and have been abused to no end.
I just picked up a 2.1 altec lansing set at best buy last weekend. I think it was $80 or something like that. I had a 8+ year old yamaha 2.1 set that started dieing so thought why not. They sound much better than the yamahas. It was these: http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...t=521&scat=524 Its not great but they serve their purpose.
I have a Monsoon system and they sound terrific. They took a little time to break in, but now they are awesome. They do have a small sweet spot, so the correct angle is critical.
I'll put in a vote for the Monsoon Planar 9's. You may be able to find them for about $80 (shipping included) from places like Gateway. I've had mine since January, and have enjoyed them immensely.
Hmm Then in the spirit of OVER spending.. chuck all those ideas.. KLIPSCH 5.1 Digital Dream 500 Watt PC Home Theater Sytem. 500.00
The Klipsch 5.1 had incredible "knock them dead/nothing in this world even came close" type of reviews when it was intorduced a couple years back, HOWEVER, after it's been out for a while, there appears to be quite a bit of problem with the logitivity of the Sub (I think there is a design flaw), some people have exhanged them for 4-5 times in 6 months. From time to time, you will see them at EBay selling without the Sub (people just got tired of fighting/fixing/exchanging it). From what I read, it is still one of the very best sounding 5.1 (if not the best), it's just not "robust" at all. One more "got ya": if you buy your stuff from any place other than the authorized dealers listed on Klipsch's website, no warranty. All that said, I've seen the 2.1 at EBay cheap, fairly regularly ($70 or so), may be worth a go.
We own the 5.1's and they are beyond awesome. However, yes there have been issues with the sub, and they could have made the control pods volume control a bit less sensitive. Still overall, just... Awesome.
Have you seen the new Klipsch GMX D-5.1 setup? It looks pretty cool, but I don't like how large the "control module" But, with built-in Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II decoding, I guess it's livable. They had one setup at Circuit City where I live, but the sound system they use wasn't working. I wish I could hear how it sounded.
If you could find it, this would be a great system... Get a used set of the Energy Take5+ES-8 5.1 speaker system, for maybe $300. Then pair them with a entry level Kenwood/JVC/Sony/etc. receiver from BestBuy et al, for about $300 as well. That would be one kick ass PC sound system!
