Replacing Klipsch Promedia 4.1's - limited options these days?

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Shocked

Limp Gawd
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Nov 1, 2009
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I need compact speakers with surround sound. Headphones aren't an option for me, and I really like rear speakers for gaming.

The way I see it I basically have two options:

1) Buy a Logitech Z906 (doesn't seem like you can buy anything else that is even remotely comparable these days). Probably wait and see if Amazon has them on sale for $250 again.

2) Buy used somewhere to replace the faulty components of my current setup - at least two satellite speakers and probably the subwoofer (the foam circling the woofer is almost completely gone and rattles unless I turn the bass way down).

Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts? On one hand I kind of want to start fresh, but I keep reading unfavorable comparisons of the Z906 and the earlier Z5500's to the Promedias. On the other, used equipment in this case could be who knows how old... and age definitely hasn't been kind to mine (I mean some people might not have abused theirs as much, but who's to tell?).

Have a budget of around $300, so I doubt any decent home theater speakers plus a receiver to run them are going to fit well into that.
 
I've got a similarly old set of Promedia's and I'll be very sad when they finally go out. I know the Promedia 2.1's are very good, so if you absolutely want the closest replacement you can get, go for those. Also, you might want to check with Klipsch and see if they can do any repairs. Again, this might not be your cheapest option, but it'll get you back to the sound quality you know and love.

If I had to replace mine, I'd probably grab a set of studio monitors. In the $2-300 price range, you probably won't be getting a subwoofer, so think 2.0 instead of 2.1. But, you'll get even better sound quality and something that should last quite a few years. I'd stay away from the Logitech's. I've got a set of Logis on another system and the sound quality isn't close to the Klipsch. There's a lot of bass, but it's boomy as hell compared to the nice, tight bass from the Promedias.

(ps, to all the Logitech lovers out there, yeah, they make good speakers. I'm not trying to start a flame war, This is just my opinion.)
 
quick note, I haven't used mine in surround mode in a long time. I just use the front two channels. I see your comments are more directed towards having the rears. I'd google for Promedia 4.2's, basically it's a pair of 2.1's. One is connected to the front speakers output and the other to the rear speaker outputs from your sound card. Just manage the volume through the output on the sound card and you'll be good.It looks like you can do that for under $300 too.
 
Yeah, I checked with Klipsch a long time ago about repairs, and they told me I was out of luck.

I would be fine with 2.1 if it weren't for gaming. :(

However, I'll definitely check out that 4.2 idea... no idea where I would put the second subwoofer but that sounds fantastic. I don't really need a center channel anyway (no space for it). Only concern is I read somewhere the current Promedia sattelites are of inferior quality than they used to be, but if they still beat the Logitechs that's definitely what I'll do.
 
I've listened to the Promedia 2.1's a few times in Best Buy where they're almost always on display. I've never noticed a difference between mine and the ones on display. Even if there's a difference, I can't imagine it's going to be much. A lot of audio gear reviews seem to be based more on imagined differences than anything of appreciable meaning. YMMV, as always.
 
I had a pair of 4.1 Promedias back in 2002. They went out in the first 3 months. Then got a replacement that only lasted not even 2 years. This was back when they had Bash amplifiers too. Now a days the 2.1 Promedias I hear are even worse for quality since switching to an all digital amp.
 
roaf85 said:
I had a pair of 4.1 Promedias back in 2002. They went out in the first 3 months. Then got a replacement that only lasted not even 2 years. This was back when they had Bash amplifiers too. Now a days the 2.1 Promedias I hear are even worse for quality since switching to an all digital amp.
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Mine lasted over a decade and I did anything but go easy on them. I've heard similar things about the Logitech speakers, it seems like it might as well be a toss up in terms of reliability.
 
Shocked said:
Mine lasted over a decade and I did anything but go easy on them. I've heard similar things about the Logitech speakers, it seems like it might as well be a toss up in terms of reliability.
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Agreed.. I've had great results from mine, over 10 years and counting. That makes me realize, I haven't had any failures from Klipsch, Logitech or Yamaha in probably 20 year of computer audio. Not bad at all, now that I think about it.
 
Shocked said:
Mine lasted over a decade and I did anything but go easy on them. I've heard similar things about the Logitech speakers, it seems like it might as well be a toss up in terms of reliability.
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The Z5500s, Z680s and Z2300 were fairly reliable speakers. Google the promedia complaints, they are out there, hell even on this forum there are double digit message threads about fixing promedias.
 
roaf85 said:
The Z5500s, Z680s and Z2300 were fairly reliable speakers. Google the promedia complaints, they are out there, hell even on this forum there are double digit message threads about fixing promedias.
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Oh yeah, I've seen those threads. But they've been around so long I wasn't surprised many people are in need of fixing them so I didn't think much of it.

Don't think you can easily buy the Z5500s or Z680s new anymore, and I think I read they cut a lot of cost-saving corners with the Z906s? I don't put much stock in Amazon reviews, but I recall reading people reporting multiple failures with them as well.

It's a bit late, I ordered two sets of the Promedia 2.1's from Best Buy yesterday - was a little pressured into a decision because they had them for $100 each and the deal was ending. Just have to hope for the best.
 
Shocked said:
Oh yeah, I've seen those threads. But they've been around so long I wasn't surprised many people are in need of fixing them so I didn't think much of it.

Don't think you can easily buy the Z5500s or Z680s new anymore, and I think I read they cut a lot of cost-saving corners with the Z906s? I don't put much stock in Amazon reviews, but I recall reading people reporting multiple failures with them as well.

It's a bit late, I ordered two sets of the Promedia 2.1's from Best Buy yesterday - was a little pressured into a decision because they had them for $100 each and the deal was ending. Just have to hope for the best.
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I saw that deal, but I can't buy another set of Promedias. I wish you the best and yes you are right you really can't find any of the older decent speaker sets. They have all been cheapened hence why I think a lot of people chose separates now.
 
roaf85 said:
I saw that deal, but I can't buy another set of Promedias. I wish you the best and yes you are right you really can't find any of the older decent speaker sets. They have all been cheapened hence why I think a lot of people chose separates now.
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If I could find four compact satellites + sub + receiver either in a kit or separately that would sound better than the Promedias for under $250, and get DTS encoding working in games for surround sound with this Soundblaster Z I'd probably return the Promedias to a local Best Buy store and do that. Sounds like a lot to ask from that budget?

I was originally going to do that when I was planning to spend a good $600, but decided I needed to trim that budget considerably. :(
 
Z906 is the only realistic option for a computer friendly setup. However if you want an awesome setup, i`d say go receiver and separates. The feature sets on some Onkyo's puts in the ballpark of say MSRP z906s and offers better connectivity and sound quality, in addition to future upgradeability (not a word but you get it)
 
Shocked said:
If I could find four compact satellites + sub + receiver either in a kit or separately that would sound better than the Promedias for under $250, and get DTS encoding working in games for surround sound with this Soundblaster Z I'd probably return the Promedias to a local Best Buy store and do that. Sounds like a lot to ask from that budget?

I was originally going to do that when I was planning to spend a good $600, but decided I needed to trim that budget considerably. :(
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The problem isn't that the Promedias arent worth the money at 100 dollars a set up for the 2.1 ,but the problem is that they all pretty much inevitably break where as a separate set up might run for years.
 
roaf85 said:
The problem isn't that the Promedias arent worth the money at 100 dollars a set up for the 2.1 ,but the problem is that they all pretty much inevitably break where as a separate set up might run for years.
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Dunno, mine are 12 years old and sound great. I'd buy another set in a heartbeat.
 
roaf85 said:
The problem isn't that the Promedias arent worth the money at 100 dollars a set up for the 2.1 ,but the problem is that they all pretty much inevitably break where as a separate set up might run for years.
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They might break, sure. But like I said, if I could afford separates...

samm said:
Z906 is the only realistic option for a computer friendly setup. However if you want an awesome setup, i`d say go receiver and separates. The feature sets on some Onkyo's puts in the ballpark of say MSRP z906s and offers better connectivity and sound quality, in addition to future upgradeability (not a word but you get it)
Click to expand...

Nevermind that I can't afford the MSRP of the Z906s for just a receiver, I am, unfortunately, done with Onkyo. In my home theater the 805 I bought burned out two of its HDMI ports very quickly and lasted about four years before not being able to playback anything except at low volume. And the 818 I bought to replace it literally burst into open flames within a few months despite proper ventilation and clean wiring. :(
 
I have the same issue. My Klipsch Sub failed. I just went with Logitech Z623 THX 2.1. I just got the Logitech.
 
My ProMedia 5.1 Ultra subwoofer's amp shat the bed (just a fluke on a very tenderly used system) and I ended up replacing that setup with a pair of M-Audio M40's which have served me quite well. I honestly don't miss the bass too much in games, and I moved the satellites to a backup home theater setup. The satellites are actually still going strong (initial ProMedia setup lasted me nearly a decade).

Is the bass from a dedicated subwoofer a big priority? Otherwise, I'll echo other posters in recommending some solid monitor speakers. I know you're gun-shy about the ProMedia 2.1's, but it's honestly a crap-shoot with a lot of PC speakers, from what I've seen. My brother has the 2.1's and they've lasted him since back in '01. Food for thought, I guess.
 
My 4.1s sit in the closet. The speakers are fine but the controls are bad :/ To lazy to take it apart and fix.

I ended up with the Logitech 4.1s and there were ok but I do not use those much anymore since switching to the laptop for gaming and using my ATH-AD900s with it.
 
are there any speaker stands anywhere that hold the Klipsch 4.1 rear speakers?
 
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