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Need new speaker advice

K

kur1j

Gawd
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
682
I currently have a set of Klipsch Pro media Ultras 5.1. They are roughly 3.5 years old. It sounds like the amp is going bad as they were emitting a high pitched hsss and squeal. Now they won't do anything.

While they worked they were great. However I am now looking to upgrade. I can't seem to find any comparable sounding computer speakers in a box. Correct me if I am wrong.

So I guess the next option is buying the individual components my self. I am not a huge audiophile but do like good sounding equipment.

My computer is my main consumption of media.I typically game, watch movies, netflix, music.

Keep in mind I don't have any type of speaker equipment.

At a minimum I would like to get at least a good 2.1 setup but would eventually like to expand to a 5.1 set.

I would like to keep the budget around 500-1k dollars.
 
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problem is, your either going to get a downgrade by buying a crappy HTiB, or youll get a HUGE upgrade by buyng individual components....

one problem is, your going to have very hard time finding budget multichannel power amps, so your almost forced into the reciever route if you want 5.1

how much deskspace do you have?
how much space do you have for equipment?
are you going to keep this in the nearfield?
what kind of sound card fo you have?

this might be a decent start:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/538364401/marantz-nr1402
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544829915/klipsch-hd-theater-300?s_c=site_search

but its 2x the cost what what your pro media 5.1 originally cost you.
 
Procyon12 said:
problem is, your either going to get a downgrade by buying a crappy HTiB, or youll get a HUGE upgrade by buyng individual components....

one problem is, your going to have very hard time finding budget multichannel power amps, so your almost forced into the reciever route if you want 5.1

how much deskspace do you have?
how much space do you have for equipment?
are you going to keep this in the nearfield?
what kind of sound card fo you have?

this might be a decent start:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/538364401/marantz-nr1402
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544829915/klipsch-hd-theater-300?s_c=site_search

but its 2x the cost what what your pro media 5.1 originally cost you.
Click to expand...

I don't have a ton of desk space but I feel that I can make some room for some equipment. I assume by nearfield you mean next to the computer. If so then yes, I have the built in card in my Asus motherboard, but willing to upgrade it if needed. If it costs 700-1k to get a decent 2.1 system and I can expand to 5.1 at a later time I am willing to do that. I don't *have* to have the 5.1 right this second but would like the ability to go to it if desired (which I probably will).

what are my options on just going the 2.1 route? Do you feel the a receiver is a must? I don't have any experience pricing out individual components for sound equipment. Any suggestions on some good sites to start with?
 
the problem is the future adaptability to the 5.1
you can avoid a reciever for 2.1 and go with a small compact 2 channel amp.

you can avoid a reciever for 5.1 by using a sound card as your processor, but you need a 5 channel power amp, or 3 stereo amps, or a mono and 2 stereos, you get the picture.

they generally dont make budget 5 channel power amps, so your looking at around $800ish to start. (unless you go used) thats the problem.
you can buy a $300 reciever which has an 5ch amp in it, but your cant buy a stand alone amp for $300 new.

if you dont have alot of deskspace try the marantz with this:
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-4B-Satellite-Speaker,113,90,261.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-ESW-C8...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312050481&sr=1-1

so thats about $850 for a 2.1.
itll sound good, but quite expensive. but the reason is
a) small speakers on the desk
b) upgradability to really good 5.1 later.

you could probably spend about half that, by loosing the sub, getting larger speakers, and getting 2 channel reciever.
on the other hand, in the future, add 2 more of the aperion speakers a dolby digital live sound card and if needed a center.
if you sit right in the middle of the two front speakers, a center is not absolutely needed.
 
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Procyon12 said:
the problem is the future adaptability to the 5.1
you can avoid a reciever for 2.1 and go with a small compact 2 channel amp.

you can avoid a reciever for 5.1 by using a sound card as your processor, but you need a 5 channel power amp, or 3 stereo amps, or a mono and 2 stereos, you get the picture.

they generally dont make budget 5 channel power amps, so your looking at around $800ish to start. (unless you go used) thats the problem.
you can buy a $300 reciever which has an 5ch amp in it, but your cant buy a stand alone amp for $300 new.

if you dont have alot of deskspace try the marantz with this:
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-4B-Satellite-Speaker,113,90,261.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-ESW-C8...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312050481&sr=1-1

so thats about $850 for a 2.1.
itll sound good, but quite expensive. but the reason is
a) small speakers on the desk
b) upgradability to really good 5.1 later.

you could probably spend about half that, by loosing the sub, getting larger speakers, and getting 2 channel reciever.
on the other hand, in the future, add 2 more of the aperion speakers a dolby digital live sound card and if needed a center.
if you sit right in the middle of the two front speakers, a center is not absolutely needed.
Click to expand...


What about just going with a 2.1 setup with no future ability to go to 5.1? What would you suggest for that? That also brings up a few more questions that I have. With bigger speakers would it even been necessary to have a sub?

Just for my own knowledge... A receiver contains everything, amplification, AM/FM, inputs for devices. I assume that an amplifier is just that and the "inputs" would just be coming from the soundcard which would be kinda acting as the receiver?
 
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spaceman said:
http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/s/f/1311461622.jpg
http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/s/f/1289616608.jpg

Accept nothing less than the best!

Ok so in reality go to vanns and hook it up with jamo, yamaha speakers and a denon receiver.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544158919/jamo-s506hcs3?s_c=site_search

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549100037/yamaha-ystsw216bl?s_c=site_search

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544726540/jamo-a340pdd-3?s_c=site_search
Click to expand...


I assume that Yamaha, Denon are a few of the bigger names in higher end sound equipment? I have actually only heard of Klipsch and Yamaha but obviously bose but i know enough not to buy that stuff.

Should I be looking at more expensive speakers or should I be willing to spend more for a better receiver? Where would the most ideal place to put the money? What would you suggest for a receiver? Are receivers like computer PSUs? Buy a good name brand one with enough power to do what you want and you are good? Or do I need to be more picky than that?

Also for comparison if the satellites and the bass module were priced independently in the Pro Media Ultra set what type of price range would they fall in? I am just looking for a general terms so I can kinda compare the cost of the speakers.For example is that $100 yamaha sub comparable to my current sub?
 
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Everything I listed is far and away better than your old 5.1. The Jamo speakers are excellent for the price. A real steal.
 
kur1j said:
What about just going with a 2.1 setup with no future ability to go to 5.1? What would you suggest for that? That also brings up a few more questions that I have. With bigger speakers would it even been necessary to have a sub?

Just for my own knowledge... A receiver contains everything, amplification, AM/FM, inputs for devices. I assume that an amplifier is just that and the "inputs" would just be coming from the soundcard which would be kinda acting as the receiver?
Click to expand...

depending on your preference, and what you listen to yes, you can avoid a sub by using speakers more full range speakers. the satellite speakers i listed are designed to be used with a sub, they only go down to about 120hz.

if you wanted to avoid a sub i would reccomend something like this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P163BK/Infinity-Primus-P163.html?tp=186
or larger budget:
http://www.crutchfield.com/s_760IMGB6C/PSB-Image-B6-Dark-Cherry.html?tp=186

this is a decent budget amp:
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-DTA-10...8BDK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1312091562&sr=8-3
but i prefer this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548188-REG/AudioSource_AMP_110_AMP110_Power_Amplifier.html

and yes, in this situation, you can use your sound card as a processor budget dependent. skipping a pre amp is doable, but im not a fan of this method for nicer systems.

either way, at this level of performace, looking at upgrading you sound card might be a good idea.The $100 asus xonars will do fine.
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DX-Chan...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312091842&sr=1-1

you can also replace your sound card with an outboard dac which serves as your preamp/processor AND soundcard:
http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/tube_magic_d1

asus xonar dx + dayton + ininity = $450 for good sound
maverick + audio source + infinity = $700 for really good sound.
with the PSBs for musical bliss: $950.
 
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kur1j said:
Also for comparison if the satellites and the bass module were priced independently in the Pro Media Ultra set what type of price range would they fall in? I am just looking for a general terms so I can kinda compare the cost of the speakers.For example is that $100 yamaha sub comparable to my current sub?
Click to expand...

the speakers are decent satellites, maybe worth $40 a piece = $200
the sub is OK for a nearfield sub maybe $125.
they suffer from shitty amps, not just build quality wise, dirty power, lifeless. but there isnt alot left in the budget since they are selling them for what $400 for everything?
 
Procyon12 said:
depending on your preference, and what you listen to yes, you can avoid a sub by using speakers more full range speakers. the satellite speakers i listed are designed to be used with a sub, they only go down to about 120hz.

if you wanted to avoid a sub i would reccomend something like this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P163BK/Infinity-Primus-P163.html?tp=186
or larger budget:
http://www.crutchfield.com/s_760IMGB6C/PSB-Image-B6-Dark-Cherry.html?tp=186

this is a decent budget amp:
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-DTA-10...8BDK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1312091562&sr=8-3
but i prefer this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548188-REG/AudioSource_AMP_110_AMP110_Power_Amplifier.html

and yes, in this situation, you can use your sound card as a processor budget dependent. skipping a pre amp is doable, but im not a fan of this method for nicer systems.

either way, at this level of performace, looking at upgrading you sound card might be a good idea.The $100 asus xonars will do fine.
http://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DX-Chan...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312091842&sr=1-1

you can also replace your sound card with an outboard dac which serves as your preamp/processor AND soundcard:
http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/tube_magic_d1

asus xonar dx + dayton + ininity = $450 for good sound
maverick + audio source + infinity = $700 for really good sound.
with the PSBs for musical bliss: $950.
Click to expand...

Sorry to keep jerking this thread around and you subsequently you but something else kinda just got thrown in the mix.

I was asking a buddy of mine some questions on what to get knowing he is into home theater. To make a long story short I ended up impulse buying an ONKYO TX-NR609 off of him for $125 bucks. He said he had it for about 2 months never used it and it is still in the box. The little research I did shows it isn't a bad receiver and was a good price for it. Ebay has them new for ~400. I figured I would be able to sell it easily for 200 bucks.

So now less the 125 for the receiver what would be suggested? I feel I have a little more breathing room to go for a 2.1 system with the above receiver. Would you still recommend the the PSB speakers? I found this from newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882780078 would you recommend it for a sub?

I am having a hard time comparing speakers because the specs are so close together I can't see any major differences in specs with speakers in the same price range. And on top of that I am not familiar with the companies. The few I do know are Klipsch, Yamaha, Paradigm, JBL.
 
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IMO: get just about any 12" subwoofer and then get 2 floorstanding speakers, by Polk or Klipsch (tsi 500 perhaps). Can get a good pair for around $300 each, and then spend $2-300 on the subwoofer -- and you'll have some incredible music from all that, almost regardless of what actual brands you go for.
 
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PSB, Jamo, Energy, HSU speakers and subs will all give you great quality sound. Stick with those and you will be happy.
 
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