Cheap 5.1 surround speakers

Can anyone recommend me cheap 5.1 surround speakers? My budget is around $100. I'm just wondering what your choices might be when it comes to the budget 5.1 speakers.

I'm currently eyeing the following:
Altec Lansing 151i
Creative Inspire P5800
Creative Inspire 5200
Creative Inspire M5300
Logitech Z-640
Logitech X-530

I'll be placing my speakers on the desk inside my room. It's going to be hooked to my laptop that has a Realtek (Intel) HD Audio Azalia sound card.

So any suggestions? Pros and cons of each speaker?

 

Any cheap 5.1 surround sound speakers are going to be absolutely horrible. I guarentee u it will be more worth it to spend that 100 dollars and buy a decent 2-speaker system. If I had to choose though I'd go with the Logitech just because everything I've tried from them has been excellent quality wise, and cheap Altec Lansing and Creative speakers seem to have distortion and crackling issues.

 

Absolutely horrible? Hmm. Anyway, I'm not an audiophile. I just want a decent sound system for my laptop when playing DVDs and games that have surround sound options. I don't think 2.1 systems can do that.

So any other suggestions?

 

Well its just u may not be getting the surround sound expereience you think u will. In general cheap 5.1 systems dont put out enough power to actually give volume to all 5 speakers in addition to the subwoofer(which is usually pretty much useless in a cheap system). But if you must have surround sound options, the Logitech Z-640 is the best out of all of them.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll take the Logitech Z-640 into consideration. BTW, how can I have a 5.1 setup for my laptop if I only have one audio out. I'm not familiar with this one. It says "SPDIF Out". I remember 5.1 system requiring like 2 more outlets for the left and right channel. So is it really possible to have a 5.1 setup with my laptop?

BTW, why did you recommend the Z-640 to me? Isn't the X-530 newer and thus having better performance?

Off-topic: Oh no! Ana Ivanovic got thrashed by Justine Henin... >_<

 

the logitech 530/540 looks and sounds decent for around 80 bucks or less depending on thedeals. good reviews and sounds really good at the store. but the z640...*drools

 

Umm... Can you guys tell me why the Z-640 is better than the X-530? The X-530 is supposed to be the new Z-640 right?

 

I have 530s and they are decent. I think the X540 replaces them.

You only have 2 channel output from your laptop. You will either have to get a PC card sound card or USB external card to get surround sound. Or and external DAC with S/PDIF input and the proper cables. Your best bet is gonna be the USB external souncard and Creative makes a decent one.

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10702

There are several others on the Creative site but they don't list them for sale in the USA.

I think the Logitech speakers are decent for the price. I've never used Creative speakers, but I have several Creative products that are VERY good.

 

Thanks for the input. Seems like I'll have to buy that USB Sound Blaster or the PCMCIA Audigy 2.