Budget Speakers for PC Gaming

Flogger23m

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Looking to get some new speakers, primarily for PC gaming. Trying to find something as low cost as possible. I am thinking $50 or less. 2.0 setup is fine as I don't have much space for a 2.1 setup. I am currently using my motherboards onboard sound, and this will likely continue with a future motherboard in the next 6-12 months when I upgrade. Very minor possibility of picking up a low end sound card in the future if my next motherboard's onboard sound is notably sub par, but again that isn't very likely. I am not too sure what specifications I should be looking for though, so anything worth noting when looking will be helpful.

These are a few of the common models in the price range that I've seen recommended a few times. Any preference to which of these is the best, or if there are better alternatives in this price range would be appreciated:

Creative A250:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-A25...&qid=1492456383&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+a250
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-A25...&qid=1492456383&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+a250
Logitech Z323:
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Spe...&qid=1492456383&sr=8-5&keywords=creative+a250

Creative Inspire T10:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Ins...92456506&sr=8-1&keywords=Creative+Inspire+T10
 
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I have the Z323.

Sounds great and has proven to be extremely reliable over the years.
 
I have a pair of the Inspire T10s...They've been pretty solid and reliable. I've had them as my office speakers since 2009 in various jobs and they've worked very well for day-to-day use. Plenty of power for a small office.
 
I would go to parts express and buy a Lepai amp and their entry level bookshelves with the 6 1/2" woofer. Way better sound for about $10-15 more.
This what I was going to mention. The Dayton B652 Air speakers came to mind.
 
Had Logitech G623's; never any issues and was satisfied with the sound/quality for the price+
 
I got my current speakers from the local thrift store for only $10 for both. They actually sound pretty amazing. They are 4 feet tall kenwood bookshelves paired with a monoprice sub and a sony 5.1 reciever I got off craigslist for $25.
 
Look for a pair of Behringer ms16 speakers. Might go a bit over budget, but they are pretty good for the money.
 
If you want truly good sound on a budget, you go to the thrift store and/or Ebay, and then pair the speakers you get there with a Lepai amp. Period. Well unless the thrift store happens to have a good amp/receiver for cheap as well, but it's rare that someone would donate an amp. I did see a Marrantz one time however. I didn't buy it because I was quite satisfied in every way with my Denon AVR3806 and had no need for something with less channels (plus receivers at the thrift store tend to be pricey comparatively speaking).

One speaker brand I'd really keep an eye out for is DCM (Timeframe, CX07/17/27). I have tried out many speakers at this point, and I haven't quite heard anything like a DCM speaker. Paradigms, Pinnacle, Realistic Minimus, Design Acoustics (this brand is obscure, but their speakers are absolutely excellent, look for a PS55 if you can), B&W (had a V201, not the pair though. sounded great though; but donated B&W's are exceedingly rare here). This is just a short list. Surprisingly a lot of decent speakers get donated and if you keep an eye out you can score some amazing thrift store bargains on them if you're on a budget. It'll blow the crap out of any Logiwhateverthehell speaker.
 
Look for a pair of Behringer ms16 speakers. Might go a bit over budget, but they are pretty good for the money.

I wouldn't waste money on the M16. I bought a pair a few years ago to use for traveling speakers and they were real crappy. Unless you need the speakers to be so light and small to travel with them, get the Behringer B2030 minimum or the JBL LSR305. B2031 and LSR308 are of course even better picks.

The electronics define perhaps 5% of the end result and 95% from the speakers - that is where it pays to invest to. Most people who change amps will never even hear the difference in a blind test.
 
If you can find a used and/or new set of Insignia NS-B2111's, pick them up and pair them to a decent amp. Look up reviews on the NS-B2111s; "no speaker under $200 sounds better"
 
If you can find a used and/or new set of Insignia NS-B2111's, pick them up and pair them to a decent amp. Look up reviews on the NS-B2111s; "no speaker under $200 sounds better"

This review bashes them completely: http://hometheaterreview.com/insignia-ns-b2111-bookshelf-speaker-reviewed/

The JBL LSR305 is guaranteed to be a better option.

Competition and Comparison
Just because the Insignia's are cheap doesn't mean they automatically win any value points for there are several equally affordable loudspeakers out there that manage to actually sound pretty good. For instance Pioneer's SP-BS21-LR Bookshelf Speaker, which is sold right alongside the Insignia, at $129.99 a pair and sound rather pleasing. Polk Audio's R/T/M Series has bookshelf speakers starting at $179.95 a pair that manage to look as good as the Insignia but back those looks up with proper audiophile performance. Then of course there's the reigning king of small, affordable loudspeakers in the Paradigm Atom, which at $250 a pair is almost three times more than the Insignia bookshelf speaker but then again it does offer up 10 times (if not more) the performance.

The Andrew Jones designed Pioneer speaker has received praise everywhere. They're a bit suppressed in the highs but sound overall balanced.
 
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