Best speakers for laptop w\o external sound card?

Hello guys, my question is related to the laptop-speakr relationship but a bit differently. I have a HP 8510p laptop and i would like to buy a speak+subwoofer.

I would use it for gaming and some music, and my budget is max 150-200$.

My questions:
1. 2.1 set (like Z 2300) or 2. 5.1 set? Can I use 5.1 at all?
2. What would you recommend for me to buy?

thank you in advance

best
anpe008

 

Gaming should be done on headphones ideally, not even a 5.1 system will give you the level of spacial positioning.

For that budget, pick up some Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's.

 

Thanks for your quick answer. and what headphone do you suggest (around 100$?

 

Etymotic ER6i or Shure E2c are both good. E2c is discontinued since they released a new model but it's still fantastic sound and can be had for sub-$75. If you prefer over-ear, Sennheiser HD-555's are a good choice.

 

For speakers I'd go with the Klipsch pro media 2.1 also. Don't get the wrong idea about a external sound card, even if you do get a Klipsch system, your on board sound card can push it and you'll probably like the sound, but if you were to get a external sound card you'd realize that it sounds better, but they can be used either way. For headphones, first off I'd avoid anything from Etymotic, but thats because of personal preference(etymotic doesn't put very much bass in their phones, if any at all) but more importantly, I don't think you'd like to use IEM's for gaming. IEM's just aren't nearly as comfortable as a real set of cans. Over all though I'd suggest Ultrasone hfi-780's but they cost 200$.

 

+1

IEMs are an awful suggestion for gaming - not only for the comfort factor of having them in for hours of gaming, but also because of the soundstage. As for speakers, the Klipsch 2.1 set is probably the best computer 2.1 set, but even better would be to get a decent set of bookshelf speakers.

 

OK. One more question. Isnt worth to connect my laptop to my hi fi set? I have 4 quite a big ones, they sould sound better these this 2.1 ones.

Can i do it? How?

 

I use a Logitech Premium 350 Headset for gaming...it's nice sound + mic, but can be pretty tight on your head so I wouldn't recommend it unless you try wearing one first.

As for external speakers, I just bought these, and they're really amazing for the price. Crisp and clear, great sub.

And yeah, as others have said I don't think we can take advantage of 5.1 with the 8510p's sound card, so I'd go with 2.1

edit: as for connecting your comp to the big speakers, I used to do that myself with two tower speakers. I just got an RCA to stereophono cable and plugged it into my laptop on one end, then to amp on the other. Worked great :O (alternately you can just buy stereophono-RCA adapters instead)

 

Headphones you can get in 150$-200$ will sound way better than PC speakers you can get in 150-200$. Do you really need capability of speakers?

Also, if you are to get PC speakers, don't get 5.1 speakers - I'd rather recommend getting better 2.0 (or 2.1) speakers with that price. That being said, for speakers, receiver+bookshelf is way vbetter than any PC speakers you can get.

 

thanks the replies again

I have thought it over, i think woodgypsy has right. I woulndn^t use the speakers too much and maybe it worth to buy only a decent HP.

Therefore, i ask the same question but a bit differently.

What kind of HP do you suggest me to buy with the max. budget of around 200$?

 

Do you have any experience about this: Koss PortaPro?

Looks good and it is cheap, but is good for gaming as well?