Need new 2.1 gaming speakers?

Well I'm in the market for some new 2.1 gaming speakers, that I can hook up to my new notebook (my sig) arriving this week. Don't really want to spend more then $100 but will be willing to budge a little higher if the product is worth it.

What I want are speakers that will not only be good just for gaming but for watching movies and listening MP3's. From all the research I've done so far it seems that the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is being recommend the most. Though the price is just be a little over budget brand new. Any other models or brands you could suggest?

I also checked out this website. Has anyone had experience with them before? I can get the ProMedia 2.1 for about $82 with shipping but they are OPEN box. I don't know if I take my chance and gamble on this deal, never bought an open box item before. Site seems to be legit though with mostly positive feedback. Here's the link. Any help will be appreciated and thanks!

Klipsch PROMEDIA2.1 Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Three-piece Computer Speaker System - Black

 

i would recommend the logitech z-2300. they are THX certified and the small 8" sub in that package provides more than ample bass for all yur gaming and movie needs.

they're on sale right now off amazon for only around $115. u can get free 2-day shippin if u have a prime account or want to sign up for a trial prime account.

 

I also vouch for the Z-2300, been using mine happily for 2 years now.

 

Throw in a rebate and it's below $100

 

More details

1. Go to the speakers

2. Ignore the currently listed price if it's above $118.99. Look toward the right side and you'll see Amazon.com offering it for $118.99. It should say "$118.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks." Add the deal to cart and buy it.

3. When you get the speakers, follow directions for the rebate located here.

 

I have a set of Promedia 2.1s. Love em.

 

For $100 you could probably get a 2.0 set with better sound than a 2.1 set. But I'm guessing you don't need the greatest of quality, as long as it is bassy enough and loud, enough, da?

Anyway, either the Logitech Z-2300's or Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 should suit you fine. The ProMedia 2.1 is a little less powerful, but the overall sound, particularly the subwoofer is much, much cleaner. There is none of the distortion in bass that the Z-2300 has, and from what I have seen, the construction quality is a little better. The ProMedia 2.1 will also take up a fair bit less space.

On the other hand, the Logitech Z-2300 is more powerful. A fair bit louder I'm guessing, but you're generally not going to push either of them to their limit, unless you want a blown subwoofer or a cracked satellite cone. The Z-2300 also has a lot more bass, to the point of being too heavy. Essentially, this is the one for gaming and movies - the bass is enough to rattle your house, and games sound absolutely excellent ( I have them). The Klipsch is the one you want if you are really into music, as they will have a nicer overall sound, and don't have a lack of mids like the Z-2300's do.

Take your poison. If it were up to me, I'd shell out on a Klipsch Sub-12 or something similar, with some nice bookshelf speakers, in a surround sound set up, but that's just my opinion.

 

Since I've never heard of that brand before, I'd say 80$ for that isnt good. I got a logitech 2.1 speaker set for $20 I think and when I put it on the tabletop, it provides a good amount of bass. The bass is OK when I leave it under the table.

My friend said he got the second best 2.1 speaker set for $50-60. I forgot what brand it was though (I think it might have been creative).

 

If you get bass distortion with your Z-2300, you might want to get them looked at; mine don't do that.

Just because you've never heard of Klipsch doesn't mean they aren't a good brand. Ever heard of Sennheiser? Audio Technica? Beyerdynamic? Are those crap if you aren't familiar with them either?

Also, a $20 2.1 setup might be worth it if your environment is as quiet as your average library, but I really wouldn't recommend it for gaming.

 

Klipsch makes its business off audio so if you haven't heard of them before you mustn't be that much into audio

But then again lots of people haven't heard of most big/deluxe audio brands like B&W, B&O, Sennheiser, M-Audio, Edirol, Magnepan and so on and so forth.

Back to the topic, I'd also recommend either the Promedia 2.1 or the Logitech Z-2300. I suppose if you think a 20$ 2.1 Logitech gives decent amounts of bass either will be overkill for you lol

 

It's not that it's necessarily distortion, but the subwoofer does not have a very clean sound at all. It's extremely powerful for the price, but the sound quality you get from it isn't really all that good. It's also quite boomy (louder at around 100 - 150Hz than below or immediately higher). Nevertheless, I'm happy with my set. In games and movies where critical bass isn't required, it sounds excellent.

Tip for OP - if you do get the Z-2300, I have found that with music, it sounds the best with around half to two thirds bass, if you have it on full bass when playing music, it sounds a little bottom heavy.

 

Hmm, mine's always sounded pretty clean to me. *shrug*

And yeah, definitely don't keep bass on full for music (unless it's electro, hip-hop or anything like that. )

 

I have a pair of Bose Companion 3 series II speakers (2.1 system) and they're pretty good. It's at a premium though, and a set of Klipsch speakers (can't remember the exact model, but Klipsch are very good for performance/money ratio) would be cheaper.

Really, the only thing that is a plus about the Bose is the relatively small size of the speakers (as they can be unmounted from their stands). The bass response is very nice, but don't expect it to knock down your walls. As the poster above said, don't keep bass on full all the time, it's meant to balance out the sound (too much treble and it'll sound tinny, too much bass and it'll be muddy).

 

I would HIGHLY recommend the Cambridge SoundWorks - Extreme 2.1 Multimedia System: Cambridge SoundWorks - Extreme 2.1 Multimedia System - Special Build | Cambridge Soundworks

and will beat just about anything mentioned in this thread.

 

the problem with the computer 2.1 setups is they ar eusually pretty under powered. You can buy a much higher powered 5.1 set up and jsut connect the 2 speakers and sub and you'll get crazy good sound compared to a dedicated 2.1 system and you'll have the ability for 5.1 surround for movies in the future if you ever change your mind.

 

No. Just no. You are not going to get good sound from a $100 5.1 system, no matter what you do to it. The drivers that are used in a $100 5.1 system are on par with the drivers from a $60 2.1 system. I call that inferior.

 

The odds are the klipsch will eat the z2300 in terms of audio quality, have z2300 in mind if you want "Noise", especially for movies and games, these are great.

Now when it comes to looking at speakers you wan't to be looking at rated output sensitivity as well as THD percentage,

The z2300 are within cheap plastic enclosures so you may also find they are not harmonically ballanced and may either over emphasize/under emphasize frequencies,

That 8 inch subs very powerful though, and you can't faulter logitech on reliable products .

Now in terms of quality, if i recall the Klipsch have a dedicated woofer, dedicated midrange drivers in the satalites and not only them, but a dedicated tweeter, (Running in two way configuration i believe.)

What this will mean is, you should be able to force more high quality audio at higher volumes out of the individual drivers , and the Klipsch are made from a much better material.

All in all, both are very good, but its down to what you wan't out of your speakers, and availability of course.

 

Hi everyone I appreciate all the input/advice given. I decided to take a chance on the open box ProMedia's from the link I posted in my original post. They arrived middle of last week. They came in the original box with warranty and manual but it was sort of banged up from the shipping I think. I inspected the speakers and sub, and they looked good as new! No cosmetic damage of any sort. Tested them out with my old desktop, since my new laptop hasn't arrived yet. They work great and sound fantastic! Very happy with the purchase. Thanks again for all the help everyone!

The website I ordered from seems to be out of stock now on the ProMedia's, when I went to go write my review about the site. Not really surprised for $85 and free shipping w/ 12% Bing Cashback it was a gamble worth taking a shot on I guess.

 

Hehe, they should be very good,

Now there was apparently 1 issue with the 2.1 klipsch speakers,

Its that the speaker grill is to close to the woofer driver (I think this was the problem but i cant be sure).

If you feel they underperform this could be the reason,

Glad your enjoying them though!