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Best Audio Setup under $100

themanwithnoname

themanwithnoname

Gawd
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
665
Hi, I was just wondering whats the best speakers that I can get for under 100 dollars. I'll b using the stock dfi ultra-d karajan onboard audio.

I've been using my headphones for an entire year and its really getting annoying. Sounds all crappy. BTW i have no understandings of audio and fiber optical cables and those doohickeys everyone keeps talking about. I basically don't even no the basics. So if someone could just help me out here.

I saw on newegg these creative 7.1 speakers http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836116153
but since they're so cheap i'm pretty sure they suck. Am i right?

Or how about these "Logitech Z-640 5.1 speakers" are they crap too?
 
Although I'm not entirely in the mood (or entirely qualified) to give you a specific rundown of audio/audio quality, etc., I can say the first question you're going to get is:

What are you using them for? All gaming? All music? All movies? Or a combination of which: in which case, what matters most to you?

Regardless of the answer, I'm sure whatever recommendation you get will include a non-onboard (can't think of the word) soundcard, like an audigy x-fi.
 
an x-fi alone is over his budget...

onboard isnt too bad if you absolutly cannot afford a soundcard...
 
lithium726 said:
an x-fi alone is over his budget...

onboard isnt too bad if you absolutly cannot afford a soundcard...
Click to expand...

The x-fi was just an example (and a poor one at that, considering his budget :p). I guess onboard sound must have come quite a long way since I last used it. Back then, I could hear my mouse moving/ hard drive working, etc. It was ridiculous.
 
If you really want to get a good sounding hookup for cheap, I would suggest getting the Chaintech soundcard everyone loves (I can't think of the name, its only $30 and stereo) and then spending your other $70 or so on a good pair of headphones. Unfortunatly $100 doesn't seem to go a very long way in the world of good sounding audio.
 
insanarchist said:
non-onboard (can't think of the word) soundcard, like an audigy x-fi.
Click to expand...

aftermarket?

i second the chaintech for music, but if hes doing heavy fps gaming, he might as well stick with onboard and wait for more money for an x-fi.
 
but wat about the speakers? If i buy the chaintech soundcard for 30 that'll leave 70 dollars left, and i'm not about to keep my headphones. I need to hear some rumbling or i think i'll go crazy. BTW i will b using this setup for movies, lots of gaming. stuff like that.
 
Soooo i'm assuming that the speakers i suggested suck a lot worse than headphones? i'm really LOOKING TO NOT RESORT TO HEADPHONES. ;)

Using some cheap jvc headphones. I also got some cheap aopen headphones that vibrate but they hurt cuz they're way too tight.
 
is ac97 good enough or should i get a card. I listen to music and game alittle. Im not that picky.
 
although everyone suggests buying a soundcard cuz it supposedly makes a GIGANTIC difference, i don't think i'll b getting one. Instead i'll just buy some speakers. My friends all have integrated soundcards and their speakers sound fine bumping and all that stuff. I don't think i'm going to b doing any of that crazy tweaking u guys all do w/ ur $300 ea. for 1 speaker and $500 for a receiver. I'm justa kid, I don't think i'll need that until i seriously get a job.

BUT when i do get a job. I'll b back for some serious suggestions. ;)
 
hahah $300 per speaker.

Man you're cheap :(

The ones i'm getting ready to buy cost much more than that :)
 
i think the chaintech is the av-710, pair that with a pair of sennheiser hd-201 headphones and you are good to go. i had that setup for a while before i got my receiver with polk speakers and loved it.
 
compslckr said:
i think the chaintech is the av-710, pair that with a pair of sennheiser hd-201 headphones and you are good to go. i had that setup for a while before i got my receiver with polk speakers and loved it.
Click to expand...


i have hd201s, hes looking for bass/treble with impact... subwoofer like sound. Those are not what hes looking for.
 
I'm assuming you're looking for speakers so here are some recommendations.

In my opinion, the logitech X-230 are the BEST 2.1 speakers you'll ever find under $100. I've tried many such as the creative i-trigue 3300 and the creative t3000. The logitech X-230 beats both of them on ALC850 and Audigy2 ZS. Plus they are cheaper than the creatives and under $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121119

If you want 5.1, i suggest you stay away from the creatives again and go for the logitech X-530. They are also under $100 and are comparable to the higher end creative models which cost over $100.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121118

If you don't want to use onboard sound. You can get the Audigy 2 ZS or the X-Fi XtremeMusic which are very good upgrades but that would go over your budget wouldn't it? ;)
 
i probably will end up buying those x-530s they're looking pretty good right about now.

how about the logitech z-640? or is the x-530 better.

Or how about these? Logitech THX Z-5300e. They're like 2x more but they're THX! iono lol
May b i'll b able to find them cheaper eventually or a sale or something. Any ideas?

I can buy the Logitech THX Z-5300e for 97 shipped. Worth it? Refurbished though.
 
If you are willing to go over the budget, the logitech Z-5300e is a very good choice. Personally I would go for the Z-5500, but thats me :p . The Z-640 are discontinued. I wouldn't go for those anyway.

- edit

If you're willing to take a risk on refurbished items then it's a good deal if you get them all in good condition. BUT if you're buying online with no way of testing it and you get like 1 bad speaker on arrival then you're pretty much screwed. :rolleyes: It would cost at least $30+ to ship them back. The subwoofer is gigantic and pretty heavy.
 
good point. I think i'd rather just buy it new. But i might b looking for it on ebay so I can get it cheaper than retail. Thanks for the advice.
 
Ebay... I doubt you can find new speakers on it. Most of them are either refurbished or "recertified" which I think basically means refurbished. I'm not quite sure though but you can give it a look.
 
Answering your question about the P7800s. They have nice quality, just you have to buy another cable to actually make them 7.1. As they are out of the box they are 5.1
 
I have the Z-2300e's, and I'm no audiophile but they sound great for music (mainly what they are used for, I wear HD201s for gaming). I wish I had the space for the Z-5500s though...

But if you are mainly looking for nice bass (I'm not into the whole 'thumping' thing but this subwoofer can definitely handle that) the Z-2300e's can be had for under $100...sometimes you'll even come across deals that place them more into the $50 range.
 
those are speakers only, you need a receiver for that, which would run at least another hundred for a entry level one. But if you did compare them to the logitech's... they would be WAY better. Since I do own the R30's.. a floorstanding version of those, and with a bit bigger driver. I compare them to my z-5500's, HUGE difference. With the Polk being much better. But if you are looking for a 5.1 system, stick with the logitech's unles you want to spend more and buy those R15's...

2xpair R15- 90 shipped? CSi25 center-70 more bucks, and a receiver, which is another 100 or so. and a subwoofer, another 100 for really entry level.
 
Well, I would have reccommended the logitech Z-2300 a week ago since it was on sale with a MIR at around $50 on Tigerdirect. Too bad it's gone now and I don't think it would be wise to buy a 2.1 solution for over $100 when you can get 5.1. They sound just as great and usually better. If I were to look for speakers here is my opinion of what I would get.

2.1
Logitech X-230 [Below $50] (Budget, IMO best 2.1 Solution as in Price, Quality, Performance)
Logitech Z-2300 [Around $115] (ONLY if they are on sale under $80)

5.1
Logitech X-530 [Around $70] (Budget, best 5.1 solution compared to its competitors)
Logitech Z-5300e [Around $135] (Mid-range 5.1 soultion for those people who want a little more ;) ]
Logitech Z-5500 (What I want if I had the money :D )

Why aren't any Creative speakers up there? Because the logitech speakers have better sound than the creatives and cost less.

What about the Klipsch speakers? The Klipsch Promedia 2.1 is good and comparable to the Z-2300 but it is way overpriced for a 2.1 where you can get a better 5.1 system.
 
i would say the klipsch promedia 2.1's....they are incredible for the price...klipsch has an ebay store where they sell "recertified" speakers....the 2.1's are 80 I think. I would use onboard for the time being...I recently got an Audigy NX and could definately tell the difference but it wasn't huge....so when ever you save up a few bucks you can get a sound card. Depending on the dimentions on the room your using it in the promedia's can provide LOUD fairly clean bass.
 
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