Audioengine 2's or Klipsch Promedia 2.1?

Audioengine 2 2.0 PC Bookshelf Speakers - $199

Klipsch Promedia 2.1 PC Speakers - $129-$149

Audioengine Pros:

-Looks a lot better
-Takes up a lot less space when you take the Klipsch subwoofer into account

Klipsch Pros:

-Cheaper
-My brother has a pair and I loved listening to them

Questions:

-Which ones sound better? Mostly music, but I also game occasionally too.
-Which would you recommend?

 

Which one you prefer depends on what you are using them for. These two speakers are really aimed at two different market segments.

The AudioEngine 2 speakers are "low-end" powered bookshelf speakers... and I say "low-end" like how a Lexus is a "low-end" sports car. By themselves, they are excellent products. But you could spend a lot more money to get more quality, if money was no object. Powered bookshelf speakers are intended for audiophiles focusing on music, and will generally give a balanced, neutral reproduction of sound.

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s are "high-end" multimedia speakers. Multimedia speakers are typically cheaper than powered bookshelf speakers, are intended to project sound in a smaller space (i.e. the space in front of a computer monitor, rather than fill an entire room with rich sound). They focus less on pure sound quality, and more on producing "fun" sound... often by boosting low and high frequencies.

If you liked the Klipsch ProMedias that your brother has, then buy another set of Klipsch ProMedias. They are really excellent speakers, especially for the price (you can buy them used / refurbished for about $80 online).

The one real advantage of powered bookshelf speakers for someone like you is that they are upgradeable and versatile. You can add a powered subwoofer in the future to upgrade the Audioengine 2.0 speakers into a 2.1 set, you can add them to different sound systems and receivers, and use them as part of a surround sound setup. And they are easier to use in other scenarios besides just as computer speakers, because their cabling and wiring is often much simpler than multimedia speaker setups. If none of this matters to you, definitely stick with the Klipsch ProMedias.

 

I think the AE's are more for audio enthusiast/purists.

Probably will delivery more transparent sound.

The Klipsch are for people seeking just more sound, not "pure" sound so it will probably be a bit more colored. You have the sub that will be kicking out more bass something many gamers and normal listeners take as "good audio"

I would think of it like this.

If I want to listen to my music collection and its not heavily influcenced by low end bass - AE's

If I want to play video games and feel explosions or listen to music with lots of low bass (techno, D&B, etc) then I would go ith the Klipsch.

 

If you're on a budget and want great sound, go with the Klipsch. As stated above, the AE are great speakers (especially for music) and are versatile in that you can add on to it in the future or use it with other audio systems.

 

And by the way, if you're getting Klipsch 2.1s for anything more than $100 shipped, there's a problem (you can get used $70 shipped for basically the same thing).

 

I used to have the Klipsch 2.1's back in the day and the space of the subwoofer (plus having to reach down and flip the switch) became a huge pain. I live in apartments with sharing walls so having the grounds and walls shake is tough. I ended up going with the A2's about 3 years ago and I absolutely love them. The extra space not having to play that subwoofer has been amazing.

 

Flip what switch? I'm staring at my set right now and there isnt a switch. A
Anyway, the Klipsch are much better for confined spaces, and if you aren't an audiophile or have audiophile tendencies than the AE2s will sound bland.

 

To turn the power off (atleast for old versions the power button was on the subwoofer and for me that involved crawling and reaching under the desk and flipping the switch.

 

I'd give a slightly different response than what most have said.

Promedia:
Better for gaming (explosions have added impact from the subwoofer)

A2's
Better for music (unless you are a hard core bass head, or hip-hop enthusiast).
Better for not annoying people in the next room (who get to listen to a bass only version of whatever you play on them).

Audioengines are wonderfully accurate with music. Aside from absence of deeper bass and playing very loud, they really will beat the sound quality of many dedicated component audio systems!

Ultimately, I don't think you would regret either. The Promedia are good sounding, just not as detailed as the Audioengines. However, most people are pleasantly surprised with the amount of bass the A2's do muster.

Perhaps the best question is what you would do with the money you save if you get the Promedias.

Edit - Also, the detail of the A2's would be wasted if you are using it in an environment with moderate levels of background noise.

Good luck with your choice, but you already have the field narrowed to two winners!

 

I have a question about the Promedia 2.1

Are they 200 watts RMS or 200 watts peak? Also.....is there a non THX certified one of them or something? It doesn't exist on Klispch's website. But I've seen it out there on eBay and stuff.

I thought they were 200 Watts RMS but for some reason they say 150 watts RMS 200 watts peak which seems low for THX certified.

 

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers are 35W RMS per speaker, and 50W continuous on the subwoofer (130W max).

Pure wattage is not a very good indicator for desktop multimedia speakers, because they are intended to have the listener sit only a few feet away from those speakers (200W RMS per channel on a multimedia speaker setup would melt your face). Multimedia speakers are not required to fill an entire room with sound, like high-wattage home theatre speakers.

 

Ok that is the THX certified one right?

The reason I ask is I bought them on eBay and it says THX certified, but I thought it was also 200 watt RMS and it said 200watt peak. I thought it was the same RMS as the Logitech Z623. I just wanted to make sure the guy didn't send me the wrong one.

 

Does it even matter if it's THX certified? IMO marketing BS...

 

Well I think Klipsch sells two models one which has less power.

The one I bought was advertised as being the one with more power.

It does matter in the brand if they sent you the "cheaper one" over the more powerful one. The only thing is the 2nd one doesn't even exist on Klipsh's website so maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about and Amazon just has an incorrect listing. But eBay seems to have a difference between the THX certified one and the non THX certified one as well.

I bought this: Amazon.com: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System (Black): Video Games

I want to make sure I didn't get this: Amazon.com: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1: Video Games

 

However, the promedia 2.1 CAN fill a fairly large room with sound and can go much louder than most people need.

 

... not that I am aware of. I am pretty certain that Klipsch only made one model... Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers.

The two Amazon links you listed are the same speakers. One may have "THX" in the description, and the other does not. But that is an error with the way they are listed. The actual speakers you buy are identical.

Yes, this is correct. The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s are probably the best-sounding 2.1 multimedia speaker set that I have heard, that cost under $150.

If I were in the market for a 2.1 multimedia computer speaker setup, I'd seriously consider buying the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s, or Corsair SP2500s. But then again, for that kind of money, you might as well consider powered audiophile-level bookshelf speakers from M-Audio or Swans.

 

Oh cool thanks.

I was really confused, because on eBay and Amazon they sell the one without THX in the same at a lower price.

Maybe its just natural economics or something for why they have the lower price. I thought there were two different models. The Amazon specs were slightly different for the second one.

Thanks for clearing that up. Yeah I was really considering the SP2500s but I didn't think I could go as loud as they go.

 

I have another question does the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 come with an instruction manual?

Mine said it was brand new, but no instruction manual and the box was pretty badly banged up. I just want to check before asking the seller.

 

You wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It's an unfortunate realization but 90% of these measurements are pure marketing hype. It's like saying a car has a top speed of 150 mph but tells you nothing on how it handles at that speed.

At best, they may offer a comparison to other speakers in the company's own line. Outside of that, they're basically meaningless. You have to "listen" to a speaker to be able to tell anything. THX means the component will meet specified standards.

 

Mine came with an instruction manual.

 

Thats interesting. Another weird thing about my Speakers is that if I start turning up the volume to a lot higher I get a lot of distortion. Is that common? That is basically at 65% to 75% of the max volume on my MBP + max volume on speakers. So I don't know if that is too high.

I think next time I'll just eat the $50 and get them from a non eBay source.

 

How can you even turn them up that high? With my speaker volume at 1/4 of maximum and computer volume at about 1/5 it is about as loud as I would want it... With the PC level at 75% and speakers at 100% these would literally blow out my eardrums if they didn't explode first; I honestly don't see why they can go so loud.

 

Parties.

Extra text so it is over 10 characters.

 

Honestly these are too loud for that, unless you have your computer in a 50 x 50 room for some reason...

 

Absolutely! And that will happen with any speaker system at any cost. Although the more expensive ones will have a limit a whole lot higher than the cheaper ones.

Like many things, the closer you get to its operating limit, the more unstable it becomes. Since most of your power goes to your bass output, if you remove that (I know, blasphemy right?), you would be able to increase your volume a bit more.