Speakers that can match Bose 2.1?

I went to a local Bose store this past weekend and listened to some stuff on their 2.1 speakers, and it is simply amazing. While my Logitech X-230 is good, I feel like there's lots of room for improvement in the 2.1 category. Are there any speakers that can match the sound quality of Bose Companion 2.1?

 

Harmon kardon Soundsticks II sound great.

 

lol, it all depends on price. I know my 2.1 set up will completely blow those bose away. But you have to spend around 1200 to get it(2500 retail).

 

Well I'm looking for something less than that... Preferably less than the cost of Bose 2.1.

 

Well do you have a target budget?

Also what type of audio are you planning to listen with the speakers(what type of music, games movies etc.)? Do you need large amounts of bass or do you need good highs/lows?

 

Budget is $100 give or take. Speakers will be used for music, movies, games... Music include mainly jazz, vocal, and hip-hop. When it comes to bass, the more is always merrier... only if bass doesn't bring out too much mids.

 

Hmm for ~100$ you might want to look at(or perhaps more hear ) either the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 or the Edifier s330d. Both have very good sound for their price point and they have decent amounts of bass without have weak mids when the bass is removed(or muted).

 

Hmm... is there a store where I can try out speakers?

 

Best Buy usually has the klipsch pro media, and I personally like that set(considering price).

 

I got the logitech Z2300 THX cert. set for like next to nothing at Circuit City before they closed and I personally think it's the best money I've spent in a long time! I love them!

 

I just picked up a pair of Behringer MS20 for about $80. They don't extend quite as low as my Edirol MA-15D, but what's there is accurate and tight. The mids and highs are also very good, though a little more sterile. I can't exactly fault them for that since they're sold as monitors, though, and they do sound very good. For the price, I don't think much compares.

They were just for work, otherwise I would say that the extra $80 - $100 for the Edirols (now Cakewalk MA-15D) or Audio Engine A2 is well worth it.

 

You'll find that the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 is a good set for playing music. Logitech is really popular among gamers for their excessive use of bass, and overpowered subwoofers. It's precisely this reason that Logitech is crap for anything to do with music.

 

^That's not true. Music sounds great on my Z-2300 (and no, it's not bass-happy electronica or hip-hop either). The subwoofer has its own control, so you don't have to keep it on 100% bass if you don't want.

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are good for music, as are the Z-2300. And the Z-2300 is fantastic with games and movies. Maybe their cheaper sets aren't as great, but the Z-2300 is a fantastic set all around.

 

The Klipsch is just plain better for music. Another option is Swan M10 but that is lacking a subwoofer (it has a woofer instead). That would be best for music for ~$100. The Klipsch is the best bet if the OP wants a decent subwoofer.

 

The Klipsch is a bit expensive... how is the Edifier E3350?

 

Should be able to find the klipsch for around 130. As for the Z2300's sounding more bassy, that is because the subwoofer crossover is set a tad higher, meaning the sub handles higher frequencies making it sound more muddy.

If your not willing to go over the 100$ mark then you could look at the Swan M10, I personally have not tried them but I've read good reviews about them.

 

I did some research myself and came up with these:

JBL Creature II vs. Edifier E3350 vs. Edifier E1100

Which would you choose? I've heard none of these in person except JBL and I was very very impressed.

 

i'm not sure which model i had, but i had a set of those JBL creature 2.1's about 5+ years ago. personally, i thought they were garbage. crappy highs, mids, and bass. i would rather use my laptop's speakers if they could get any louder.

like a few others before me, i also recommend the swan 2.1 system. i haven't had any real life experience with them yet, but i have read nothing but great things about that particular 2.1 system and swan as a company. i'm gonna be movin into a new house soon, and i plan on purchasing a swan 2.1 system to see how they perform.

 

Have you checked the Harmon Kardon Sounsticks II?

 

I'm sorry OP, but the best you can do for that budget is to increase the sound. Don't expect much in the area of quality until around the $250-$300 mark. (for pc speakers, that is)

That said, I think the Bose are an excellent choice for those who want the louder punchy sound with a limited amount of space. Bose was the first to do that, and still remain a leader in the size vs sound market. They have a complete selection of laptop speakers for every budget.

 

Ugh, Bose is overpriced garbage. And yes, you can get decent sound for $80 - $200 with Behringer and Edirol. Sure you can do better for $300 (Audio Engine, or NHT M00 for a bit more), but that doesn't mean everything less will be junk.

Of the things everyone else is mentioning, I wouldn't go near JBL, Edifier, or Harmon Kardon. Logitech is great if you're a boomy bass head, but it's very much dominant and not at all accurate. Swan would be the best choice, but the mids are muddy and the bass does get a bit boomy and the highs a bit shrill. That's based on my experiences with a 2.0 part, though, so the 2.1 may be better or worse. But I'd expect a similar sound signature.

I still say get a nice low end monitor, which tend not to be sterile like a proper monitor, but are far more accurate than any multimedia speaker under $200. In most cases you'll get two separate channel inputs that can be played simultaneously, and nice digital/analog input options. They'll be 2.0, but most also extend quite low and have a subwoofer output if you decide you need more. But even in a matched 2.1 system, you'll have problems with a subwoofer matching the satellites. The holy grail of audio is a single full range driver, but seeing as there are issues with the physics of that, you'll at least get better results by keeping to a minimum number of drivers, and keeping them in the same cabinet.

 

Yeah, but you can't get a real good 2.0 set up that will fit on your desk, if you want floor standing speakers then well, thats a whole different game. I personally have some Wharfedale Evo2-10's sitting on my desk and they sound great, but they DO need a sub woofer. As do the Swan D3's that I have. In fact, the only speakers that I have that sound good without a sub would have to be my floor standing NHT 2.5's. But even those could benefit from a nice sub woofer to get those last few Hz.

 

You aren't going to even approach getting everything without spending in the $800+ range. Personally, I'd rather have accurate sound down to around 50-70hz without compromising on mids and highs. My MA-15D get plenty low for my musical tastes, and for casual movie watching. The MS20 are a little more bass heavy (though not as low, or accurate), so I figure for someone who wants more of that the MS40 would be an excellent option.

Any 2.1 system less than $200, and many that cost more, are going to push way too much midrange into the sub and destroy it with a driver that just can't handle detail. Then it will take the lower frequencies it can't reproduce and boost them to a higher frequency it can, drowning out the sounds that are supposed to be there in the first place. At least with my MA-15D which get down to about 65hz I have the option of adding something resembling a proper sub to take it further. Something like a Hsu VTF-1. With a 2.1 system that's relying on the 'subwoofer' to reproduce half the midrange, you're pretty well screwed.

 

Have you checked out Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II? I think that they sound great. They are one of the best sounding 2.1 multimedia speakers.

 

Personally RIGHT now. I must say if i was to go with speakers it would be Altec Lansing. They have a REALLY good PC speakers lineup right now.

 

Altec Lansing is another speaker company that realized that there's a market in catering to the computer enthusiasts. They, like Bose, make a variety of acceptable products for that market. Just don't confuse a laptop/desktop speaker for a true media center speaker. These are not the same.

One more thing, when dealing with speaker sound remember--there's no accounting for taste.

 

This chap has spoken about those speakers a number of times on this thread. Just how good are they?

 

Wow. I am surprised no one else has seconded this recommendation for speakers. These literally are one of the best 2.1 systems out there. If not the best for their price.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-23...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260803115&sr=8-1

I have heard them, and I have heard the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks. While the Soundsticks look cool and sound great, the Logitech speakers blow them out of the water. The bass is ridiculously huge on the Logitech btw, and it sounds ridiculously good too.

Edit: If you wanted more information...

http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-speakers/z-2300-2-1/4505-3179_7-30993080.html?tag=mncol;lst#cnetReview

 

I vouch for the Z-2300 as well.

 

Just read the reviews online. You will know how good they are.

 

Logitech (the subwoofer) has too much bass, so the high end sounds muffled. In terms of crisp & clear sound, the Soundsticks II win Logitech by a landslide.