I want new speakers - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

mrap1 · 09-06-2003, 11:19 PM

My current speakers are still doing a pretty nice job, but they're the same ones that came with my computer 8 years ago. The sound output is great, but the connector jacks are starting to get worn out and I have to play with the wires occasionally to get a good connection. Besides, I'd like to move up to surround sound if possible. My room is small (12' x 12'). I have a SB Audigy sound card.

I was looking into getting the logitech Z-560 since they've gotten nothing but good reviews, but then I ran across this article on the techtv website: http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/p...484624,00.html
It's a home theatre in a box (HTIB) for about $100 -$150 shipped. Which option do you guys think is better the Z-560s or a HTIB?

tinfoil · 09-07-2003, 09:59 AM

Interesting box.

I am not a fan of the Z-560's. A friend has a set and has had some issues with it. He has had to send it back to Logi twice (one of the control knobs stopped working both times. Also, the specs are highly overrated. There's no way it's 400 watts. No way at all.

I like Altec's offerings. They sound a little more natural.

slant eyes · 09-07-2003, 11:02 AM

i think the HTIB and the z560's will be used to its fullest potential if you have a sound card that does surround sound. if not, you won't get anything from the rear speakers. seeing how your computer is 8 years old, it might not have it unless you swapped out the sound card.

i have the z340's, and those are awesome. 2 speaker/1 sub setup. really kicks.

i bought the altec's for my then g/f, and they sounded like shit. played them for a bit, and they started gettin scratchy, so i got the logitech z340's for her and loved them

Johnny Rotten · 09-07-2003, 12:26 PM

An Audigy will do fine with z-560s. 400 watts is their RMS rating, which means it can do that in very short bursts, not sustained output. But it's still a nice set, and their M3D spatialization doesn't sound like ass, like most virtual sound enhancements do.

mrap1 · 09-07-2003, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slant eyes
... seeing how your computer is 8 years old, it might not have it unless you swapped out the sound card.

You misunderstood me, I don't have an 8 year old computer, I have 8 year old speakers. I never bothered changing my speakers because they sounded so great (and still do). I have a fairly fast setup now, and like I said before I have a Sound Blaster Audigy sound card. But you brought up a good point in your post in that if my sound card doesn't support surround sound, it's pointless to get more speakers. Which is why I was considering a HTIB solution, the receiver should be able to do surround sound if my sound card cannot, correct?

Also, my question was pertaining to sound quality. If I go with pc speakers, I'll most certainly get the 560s becauase they offer good stuff for a good price. I'm more flexible regarding the HTIB. I don't really need one with a DVD player (although it would be nice), because I already have a DVD drive. So what would have better sound the Z560s or a reasonably priced (less than 300) HTIB setup.

Johnny Rotten · 09-07-2003, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrap1
So what would have better sound the Z560s or a reasonably priced (less than 300) HTIB setup.

IMHO, you just can't get a good HTIB for less than $500, because you're also buying the reciever and all its decoders. The z560s are THX certified, so you should get good response from them.

If you want to get the most out of DVDs, however, I recommend a 5.1 solution like the Klipsch ProMedias or Logitech z680s.

JStrider · 09-07-2003, 05:37 PM

ive got the logitech z 560s ive been nothing but pleased with them... and after upgrading the speaker wire they sound even better... and their loud enough that i never turn em up all the way...

jhericurl21 · 09-07-2003, 07:27 PM

i have altec lansing 5100 5.1 system, sounds great(even though i dont have a soundcard yet) and the speakers look pretty cool

maximusveritas · 09-07-2003, 07:44 PM

I've got Altec Lansings also and I've been satisfied with them. They give you a good bang for your buck.

Booboo · 09-07-2003, 08:06 PM

I like Logitech a lot.. I have the z340's.. (the z560's woulda been a bit much for a dorm room) and I am very happy with them. The Blue LED could put an eye out! I would go with the Z560's If I were you.

sixate · 09-07-2003, 08:19 PM

Out of those two sets of speakers I would get the Z560's. I am a bit biased. I own a pair of the Z560's, and they've been great other than the fact that I had to RMA them once. Great for gaming, watching DVD's, MP3's, and whatever else you do on your PC. For the price they can't be beat, and they're loud as hell....

Sledge · 09-07-2003, 09:12 PM

Monsoon MH-505: $150, rave reviews (esp. regarding sound-quality) everywhere. Google it. People love it. And so do I; it's great in my dorm room.

3zos · 09-08-2003, 05:36 AM

Ive the Z680'z, and hardly a system rivals the sound, at least in a condusive room (ie, smaller). awesome sound reproduction across the range, powerful highs and mids, and the sub is insane :P THX certified, sounds great with dvd-audio and movies. downside, fairly expensive. i bought mine a few months ago at 310$, might have declined since then, dont know for sure.

[edit]
if you end up getting either z560 or 680, count on buying your own speaker wire.. whats supplied is flimsy at best, can cause audio anomalies when pushing the limits of the ranges.

tinfoil · 09-08-2003, 06:45 AM

Please note that the THX cert on any of these speaks is not the same THX as you see on high-end audio gear or in the movies.

Dan's Data has more info.

Quote:

Take, for a start, that "THX" logo plastered all over the system.

The Lucasfilm THX specification for movie and home theatre sound systems doesn't guarantee great sound - movie systems can be poorly maintained, home ones can be set up badly - but it does guarantee that the gear can manage a ton of bass, solid even sonic imaging, and very blooming high sound pressure levels, assuming the people in charge of the sound system have their act together.

Go to see The Fellowship Of The Ring in a THX-certified cinema and, when the Balrog decides to shout at someone, you will be left in no doubt whatsoever that when Morgoth corrupted Maiar into fire demons, he would appear to have spent some time with a great big bicycle pump, filling them full of very high pressure pure unadulterated Bass. With a capital B.

The Z-560 system does not have that sort of performance, and it does not have that sort of THX certification.

Instead, this system meets the "THX multimedia speaker specification", which is mentioned a few times on the THX site, but without a word anywhere on what it means, exactly. Well, not that I could find, anyway.

The multimedia standard is obviously a great deal less stringent than the other flavours of THX. THX-certified home theatre speaker systems have, according to the spec, to be able to manage flat in-room response down to a dust-raising 20Hz. Sorry, but no easy-to-carry subwoofer comes within cooee of managing that.

I would go so far as to say that it's my opinion, in the absence of any hard data from Lucasfilm saying the multimedia flavour of THX certification means anything in particular, that it's just a bunch of marketing wank.

The THX logo isn't going to make a computer speaker system sound any worse, of course, but THX certification of other gear is quite expensive, and so I presume Logitech had to pay Lucasfilm a tidy sum to get these badges on the Z-560. I hope Z-560 buyers enjoy them, therefore, because they're certainly going to pay for them.

Link:
http://www.dansdata.com/speakersets.htm

mercury-hg · 09-08-2003, 09:01 AM

i'm another with z-560's and they've worked great, considering that they are computer speakers (as opposed to a home theater setup).

as far as a "surround sound" setup goes for you, there's nothing to stop you from getting sound out of 4 speakers, but you won't be able to play any dolby digital or pro-logic tracks. your soundcard can't pass a 4.1 or 5.1 signal, so even if you get a reciever it won't have the proper signal to decode. that being the case, you might as well get a 4.1 computer setup, because you (1) won't find a good reciever/speaker out-of-the-box combo for under $300 and (2) you won't be able to play true 5.1 material on either home theater or computer speakers.

09-06-2003, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	I want new speakers My current speakers are still doing a pretty nice job, but they're the same ones that came with my computer 8 years ago. The sound output is great, but the connector jacks are starting to get worn out and I have to play with the wires occasionally to get a good connection. Besides, I'd like to move up to surround sound if possible. My room is small (12' x 12'). I have a SB Audigy sound card. I was looking into getting the logitech Z-560 since they've gotten nothing but good reviews, but then I ran across this article on the techtv website: http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/p...484624,00.html It's a home theatre in a box (HTIB) for about $100 -$150 shipped. Which option do you guys think is better the Z-560s or a HTIB?

09-07-2003, 09:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	Interesting box. I am not a fan of the Z-560's. A friend has a set and has had some issues with it. He has had to send it back to Logi twice (one of the control knobs stopped working both times. Also, the specs are highly overrated. There's no way it's 400 watts. No way at all. I like Altec's offerings. They sound a little more natural. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

09-07-2003, 11:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
slant eyes Psycho Location: cali	i think the HTIB and the z560's will be used to its fullest potential if you have a sound card that does surround sound. if not, you won't get anything from the rear speakers. seeing how your computer is 8 years old, it might not have it unless you swapped out the sound card. i have the z340's, and those are awesome. 2 speaker/1 sub setup. really kicks. i bought the altec's for my then g/f, and they sounded like shit. played them for a bit, and they started gettin scratchy, so i got the logitech z340's for her and loved them __________________ no man or woman is worth your tears - and the one who is, won't make you cry question authority, don't ask why, just do it!

09-07-2003, 12:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Johnny Rotten lost and found Location: Berkeley	An Audigy will do fine with z-560s. 400 watts is their RMS rating, which means it can do that in very short bursts, not sustained output. But it's still a nice set, and their M3D spatialization doesn't sound like ass, like most virtual sound enhancements do. __________________ "The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine

09-07-2003, 05:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	ive got the logitech z 560s ive been nothing but pleased with them... and after upgrading the speaker wire they sound even better... and their loud enough that i never turn em up all the way... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

09-07-2003, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
jhericurl21 Banned	i have altec lansing 5100 5.1 system, sounds great(even though i dont have a soundcard yet) and the speakers look pretty cool

09-07-2003, 07:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
maximusveritas Winner	I've got Altec Lansings also and I've been satisfied with them. They give you a good bang for your buck.

09-07-2003, 08:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Booboo Insane	I like Logitech a lot.. I have the z340's.. (the z560's woulda been a bit much for a dorm room) and I am very happy with them. The Blue LED could put an eye out! I would go with the Z560's If I were you. __________________ "Your life is yours to live, go out and live it" - Richard Rahl

09-07-2003, 08:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
sixate Registered User Location: Somewhere in Ohio	Out of those two sets of speakers I would get the Z560's. I am a bit biased. I own a pair of the Z560's, and they've been great other than the fact that I had to RMA them once. Great for gaming, watching DVD's, MP3's, and whatever else you do on your PC. For the price they can't be beat, and they're loud as hell....

09-07-2003, 09:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sledge Pasture Bedtime	Monsoon MH-505: $150, rave reviews (esp. regarding sound-quality) everywhere. Google it. People love it. And so do I; it's great in my dorm room.

09-08-2003, 05:36 AM	#13 (permalink)
3zos Insane Location: USA	Ive the Z680'z, and hardly a system rivals the sound, at least in a condusive room (ie, smaller). awesome sound reproduction across the range, powerful highs and mids, and the sub is insane :P THX certified, sounds great with dvd-audio and movies. downside, fairly expensive. i bought mine a few months ago at 310$, might have declined since then, dont know for sure. [edit] if you end up getting either z560 or 680, count on buying your own speaker wire.. whats supplied is flimsy at best, can cause audio anomalies when pushing the limits of the ranges. __________________ S U C C E S S some people dream of success, while other people live to crush those dreams

09-08-2003, 09:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
mercury-hg Psycho Location: U of MD	i'm another with z-560's and they've worked great, considering that they are computer speakers (as opposed to a home theater setup). as far as a "surround sound" setup goes for you, there's nothing to stop you from getting sound out of 4 speakers, but you won't be able to play any dolby digital or pro-logic tracks. your soundcard can't pass a 4.1 or 5.1 signal, so even if you get a reciever it won't have the proper signal to decode. that being the case, you might as well get a 4.1 computer setup, because you (1) won't find a good reciever/speaker out-of-the-box combo for under $300 and (2) you won't be able to play true 5.1 material on either home theater or computer speakers.