Speakers and Mouse Pad

Ok so I am looking for some speakers for my laptop, Sometimes when I watch videos I can barely hear anything so I am hoping that external speakers will fix the problem. Preferably black speakers that are not ugly, My budget for the speakers is $50 but I am willing to go higher. And I also want a gaming mouse pad, right now I am using a regular mouse pad and since I am new to pc gaming I need a bigger mouse pad since I keep going off the mouse pad. I don't know what the prices are for the mouse pads so just recommend me any mouse pad that is good.

 

I know yesterday Logitech was having a sale on their Z-2300 for around $80, which is fantastic considering what you get out of them. Might be worth looking into.

As for a mouse pad, if you like soft foam/cloth pads, check out the Razer Goliathus (available in both Speed and Control varieties) or SteelSeries QcK. They both come in a variety of sizes, and the large ones are enormous.

If you prefer hard surfaces, have a look at the Razer Destructor, or the eXactMat if you can find one.

 

definitely agree with pretty much everything the shroom posted.

btw: the z-2300 deal is like $84 bucks for a brand new dented box system. i would definitely hop on that deal as u will not find any set of 2.1 speakers that will compare to the z-2300, for that cheap. plus the deal usually doesn't last very long.

 

I was looking into the Z-2300 last night( I think you recommended it to someone else in another thread) But idk if they would be right for me I don't really put the volume on my laptop very loud. I am also considering the Razer Vespula, the ExactMats that I looked up on amazon are expensive .

Edit: Where can I buy the Z-2300 for $80? can you post a link please. How do you order stuff off of Logitech.com? can you ?

 

the z-2300 deal seems to have run out of stock cuz of everyone jumping on it. the deal has been going on for at least 2-3 days now, so that's not a surprise at all. there are z-2300 sales quite often so if u can wait then another $85-$100 deal will pop up again. they usually happen every month or 2. a great site for deals is slickdeals.net. that's where i go to master my penny pinching skills.

as for the exactmat, have u checked ebay? that's where i got mine from. i got the exactmat + pad for about $30 bucks shipped. it was the lowest price i could find at the time, anywhere.

p.s. - if u don't like too much sound, have u considered a nice 2.0 set up? the z-2300 will have a very strong low end (bass), so it might not be something that will fit yur sound stage preferences.

 

I bought speakers and I think I've only used them 3-4 times.

Why? Because at the same time I purchase Gamecom 777 5.1 Dolby headset (70$) and the sound is SO stunning/real why use anything else? For the first few weeks, I used to take them off non stop b/c I thought the sound was coming from somewhere in my house. Plus, when you watch tv/movies, you feel more captivated/focused.

 

apples to oranges buddy.

let's see u try to throw a party or watch a movie/show with yur GF with that headset.

 

Does this thing have its own sound card?

 

Yep...it's actually a normal 3.5mm stereo headset with a USB sound card extension; if you remove the USB bit, you basically have a GameCom 377.

 

Gaming Mouse Pad provides your mouse with a smooth surface ensuring greater accuracy, control, and faster response. Durable surface and non slip backing keep your mouse on track and performing at its best: Hellfire Commemorative Gold Gaming Mouse Pad :tongue:

 

im using the kobuto mouse pad right now and loving it so far.

 

i totally forgot to ask u if u were a high sensitivity player or a low sensitivity player. that will make a huge difference in which type of mouse pad u should get.

let's take my razer exactmat for example. it's a mouse pad that comes with both a "speed" side and a "control" side. the "speed" side is alot smoother and helps high sensitivity players. a high sensitivity user would prefer a "speed" mat where the surface of the mat is alot smoother. this results in more fast/jerky/jumpy mouse movements that high sensitivity players are accustomed to. low sensitivity users would go with a "control" mat where the mat's surface is more textured. it makes it alot smoother/precise.

i had the same problem as u where i kept going off of my mouse pad when i was playin FPS games, so the exactmat really helped remedy that as well.

 

I think you've got it backwards, houstoned...high sensitivity players tend to use smaller mouse movements, and thus prefer more control. Low sensitivity players use wide, fast, sweeping mouse motions, and so a surface that doesn't inhibit motion (i.e. a speed pad) is ideal.

 

it's the other way around.

i'm a low sensitivity user and when i use my "speed", or smooth side, my mouse movements are way too jumpy/twitchy. the smoother surface helps the mouse track better, therefore helping high sensitivity user's jerky/twitchy movements.

 

I use low sensitivity as well, and I can't stand the Control side of my eXactMat. I move my mouse in large fast movements, and if I were using the Control side, I would have worn down my DeathAdder's Teflon feet a long time ago. It feels like mousing on sandpaper.

 

then turn your sensitivity up u silly goose.

i like my sensitivity to be set where it basically mimics my hand motion. like if i moved my mouse over to the right 3-4 inches, i want my pointer to move about the same amount on my screen.

 

But that's not how I like to play...I prefer low sensitivity and wide, sweeping mouse motions. The Speed side goes with that style of play much better than the Control side.

 

I just bought some z2300's for myself. They should be here tomoro as they just left memphis this morning (my lappy showed up the day after leaving memphis, and it left memphis at like 11:00pm).

I'm no audiophile, but the larger equipment would probably improve the quality of sound, even if the volume was only at 5-10%. Which based on reviews will be plenty of volume. Most reviewers on newegg said 25% was what they used when they wanted loud music

Perhaps I'll post back once I get them?


Personally I like any mousepad that's not too rough. I'm usually a medium sensitivity gamer, but in certain games I'm an uber high sens. so I need something that works for both. My pad has a ever so slightly graded surface

 

Personally, I don't understand the Z-2300 craze, since all it delivers is sucked out hollow mids and uncontrolled bass that just booms bloated mush. When you have a subwoofer trying to cover upper bass/lower mids, you get a sorry scene. You COULD stuff a pair of rolled up socks into the sub port, but then you just get... quieter mush.

The most suitable setup for near-field listening is a pair of bookshelf speakers. Sound quality can be EXCELLENT, at little or no price premium when compared to a 2.1 system.

 

really? that's weird cuz that's how i play as well. low sensitivity with wide motions. that's why i needed a bigger pad like the exactmat. speed side doesn't feel right at all.

@ peli_kan: where can u find (2) bookshelf speakers + a receiver + wires for under or around $100? a big selling point in an already pieced together system is the convenience of not having to go out and try to pair different pieces of equipment together. not to mention the 2.1 systems come with a sub as well. for under $100-$150, the z-2300 is a great setup. $250-$300+ would be a totally different story.

 

Read up on T-amps. Here's one specimen that proved to be a trailblazer:

T-Amp - Class T integrated amplifier - [English]

At $39 MSRP, the Sonic Impact T-Amp is gnarly good. You can find similar T-amps from other brands for about the same price.

Alternatively, you can choose an immensely versatile integrated amp from NAD or Marantz. If you shop around, you can nail one for $50 - $100 as well.

As for the bookshelf speakers, the best sources are eBay or craigslist. Lines to look for include the Paradigm Atom and the PSB alpha, and these two can easily be found for $50-$100 per pair, depending on which generation they come from.

Wires? Speaker cables are dirt cheap as long as you don't get suckered by Monster Cable and their ilk.

I'm all for subs, just not terrible ones that try to cover too wide a frequency band. The Z-2300 is an unsatisfactory product if you expect your music to be free of crippling distortion. In terms of convenience, it's not like the Z-2300 doesn't use cables as well. I can't imagine the task of plugging stuffs in becoming dramatically more difficult with bookshelf speakers.

 

Well I can't fit bookshelf speakers in a dorm room or my bedroom. Sure they would be better, but to most people the z-2300 is many many times better than our existing equipment. To spoiled ears they may be mediocre, but to the rest they are epic

*edit: or well, thats what I assume I'll think once i get them

 

Well I am new to PC gaming although I have had my gaming laptop since January I just recently got a desk so now I can actually attempt to play PC games. So I don't really know which sensitivity I prefer but after playing the medal of honor beta I think I might lean towards low sensitivity but right now I am not too sure since I didn't play mush due to my mouse pad problem. Oh and I've never tried using ebay since I am paranoid that I might get ripped off.

Edit: And if anyone sees a good deal on the Z-2300 please let me know.

 

don't be scared of ebay. all u have to do is make sure the seller has great ratings and feedbacks, and make sure u, and the seller's, paypal account is verified. it's just like any other kind of shopping, online or brick and mortar stores, u just have to use yur head. if something sounds way too good to be true then it usually is.

i frequent slickdeals.net everyday, so i'll definitely let u know when the next deal pops up. bestbuy usually carries z-2300's and klipsch promedia 2.1 systems. u could always go to one and check them out yourself. see which one u prefer more.

 

Just ordered the SteelSeries QcK+ from newegg, Now all I need to do is get the speakers and I will be all set oh and Team Fortress 2 I have been wanting to play it and have heard great things about it.

 

lol, i haven't PC gamed in well over a year. i've heard team fortress 2 went through alot of updates and now has alot of added content. let me know if u pick it up, i might decide to hop back on and bash some guys with my engineer wrench. ahhh...sweet, sweet memories.

 

If you have a Realtek sound card (which you'll most likely do), go to the Realtek HD Audio manager > Sound Manager > Speakers tab > Sound Effects subtab > Equaliser then select the "Powerful" profile. It should amp up your volume.

Or do something similar to the software that comes with your sound card if you don't have a Realtek card and the software.

Complement that with a new set of speakers (I use Altec Lansing BXR1221) and you've got yourself some decent audio.