suggest an audio setup

[ironzombie99]

I have just ordinary onboard sound (Shuttle AN35N Ultra) and Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers.

This setup is fine for low volume music and gaming but if I want to turn it up the sound is terrible. I am wondering is someone could suggest a audio setup that would be realitively cheap but with good performance. I am no Audiophile I just want something that sounds decent. I would say that $100 would be the extreme.

[Hi Ho]

If you want another 2.1 system I would go for the Logitech Z-3's. If you want a 5.1 system go for the Z-640's. Both are great systems for a great price. I really like my Z-640's and I consider myself to be quite an audiophile. Of course I would love to have the Klipsch ProMedia Ultras but I don't have $350 to buy them.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by ironzombie99 I have just ordinary onboard sound (Shuttle AN35N Ultra) and Altec Lansing 2.1 speakers. This setup is fine for low volume music and gaming but if I want to turn it up the sound is terrible. I am wondering is someone could suggest a audio setup that would be realitively cheap but with good performance. I am no Audiophile I just want something that sounds decent. I would say that $100 would be the extreme.

You should definitely look at the Logitech Z-2200s. They're usually around $110, but I've seen them on sale on deal sites for as little as $58 shipped. They're THX-certified 2.1-channel speakers with something like 200W RMS power. Very good speakers if you don't need surround sound.

If you do need surround sound, the Z-5300s are a little above your price range ($140) but they are nice speakers and in my opinion at the sweet spot in terms of price-performance. They're the 5.1-channel versions of the Z-2200s. My friend has them (recommended by me, of course) and although they don't beat my Klipsch ProMedia 5.1s, they're almost there for a lot less money. (You can't really fully utilize my Klipsches because at full volume, you'd blow out your ears!)

[Hi Ho]

Just a word of advice. Don't let wattage be the only deciding factor. Jut because a system is 200W doesn't make it all that much better than a 40W system. Speaker efficiency plays a big role. Take the Z-640's for example. They are only about 6w per speaker plus 23 for the sub. However, they get LOUD. Much louder than one would expect. They carry through my entire house at 1/3 volume. A friend has acutally built himself a system. He built the amplifier and bought some extremeley efficient speakers. The two speaker system totals 1 watt and sounds simply amazing. One would never guess that it was under 100 watts. I'm not saying the Z-2200's aren't good. They are. They probably get louder too. However, with your budget I'd say the Z-3's would be a better choice for a 2.1 system. The Z-640's would be best for a 5.1 system though because they are only a few dollars more than the Z-3's.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by Hi Ho Just a word of advice. Don't let wattage be the only deciding factor. Jut because a system is 200W doesn't make it all that much better than a 40W system. Speaker efficiency plays a big role. Take the Z-640's for example. They are only about 6w per speaker plus 23 for the sub. However, they get LOUD. Much louder than one would expect. They carry through my entire house at 1/3 volume. A friend has acutally built himself a system. He built the amplifier and bought some extremeley efficient speakers. The two speaker system totals 1 watt and sounds simply amazing. One would never guess that it was under 100 watts. I'm not saying the Z-2200's aren't good. They are. They probably get louder too. However, with your budget I'd say the Z-3's would be a better choice for a 2.1 system. The Z-640's would be best for a 5.1 system though because they are only a few dollars more than the Z-3's.

I may be mistaken, but from my experience, wattage does not simply affect loudness. My Klipsches are 470 watts (60*5 + 170), and not only can you turn them up to an unhealthily high volume (you can hear them down the block at 3/4 volume), but even at full volume with high-bitrate MP3s, there is no distortion whatsoever. I'm betting that your Z-640s get decently loud, but that sound quality probably suffers at high volumes.

With that said, there's no way I'm ever buying another speaker system -- I've spent enough on these Klipsches to exhaust my entire life's speaker budget! And if I were to buy speakers today, I would definitely go with the Z-5300s, because the slightly better sound quality just isn't worth the additional $200.

[Hi Ho]

I have never heard these speakers distort. They stay clear all the way through. He said that "$100 would be the extreme" and that he's not an audiophile. That's why I recommend the cheaper, Z-640's. Don't get me wrong, the Z-5500's are better and the Klipsch system is the best you can get but for his purpose the Z-640's are more than enough.

[ironzombie99]

thanks fors the suggestions with speakers, what about adding a soundcard? keep in mind the money issue.

I am liking the Logitech Z640 speakers with the 5.1 setup.

[mrmister1]

If you want to stick with the 5.1 sound, and don't want to spend over $100, then I would go with a Creative Sound Blaster Live! 5.1. I have this sound card, and I have no problems with it. Creative makes great sound cards as well.

[Hi Ho]

I doubt the Sound Blaster Live would offer much improvement over the onboard sound. If you want to upgrad then you should go with at least and Audigy ES. I have the same card and the same speakers and I am very happy with them.