Computer Speakers

[rico]

Does anyone here have a high quality computer sound system? By 'high quality' i mean anything above a pair of normal powered speakers.

I'm either getting a Apple Powerbook or a high spec pc laptop and want to add a decent pair of speakers.

I don't really want surround sound as I won't be watching many films or playing games on the computer.

I just want to buy a decent pair of speakers and possibly a sub.

Any recommendations? I'm tempted to buy a proper amp and some speakers normally used for home stereo systems. How easy are these to link up to a laptop?

Sub £200 all in is my upper limit.

[FourWheelDrift]

I've got a Boston Acoustics surround sound (ok you said you don't need it but it's great value).

www.drakewood.com/product/Boston%2520Acoustics%2520BA7900%25206-pc%25205.1%2520Speaker%2520System

They also do a budget system
www.drakewood.com/product/Boston%2520Acoustics%2520BA745%25203-piece%2520Speaker%2520System

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 26th June 23:23

[sjg]

rico said:

I just want to buy a decent pair of speakers and possibly a sub. Any recommendations? I'm tempted to buy a proper amp and some speakers normally used for home stereo systems. How easy are these to link up to a laptop?

On £200, conventional hifi is the best bet - plenty of "budget" places like Richer Sounds, Superfi and the like.

To connect it up, all you need is a 3.5mm to 2xphono lead, available from any hifi or electronics shop. I also have a long 3.5mm extension that runs around the room to the hifi.

If you do want a sub/satellite one though, the Accoustic Engergy Aego 2s are meant to be excellent. Only £150 from superfi at the moment too:

www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1312

[Robertuk]

Creative Labs have got a nice new set called the
I-trigue 3300 2.1 I think. Retails for about £90.00 .

They look realy nice, have not heard them yet.

There are versions for both windows pcs and macs.

just spotted a new product (for macs I think)

http://asia.creative.com/products/speakers/i-trigue_i3350/

Good Luck !

[rico]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I don't really want to go the Hifi route as I'll be using this laptop at university and don't want the hassle of carrying lots of hifi equipment around (already got a small hifi so if i bought new it would be seperates).

If i go apple route, what are the Apple pro speakers like? They look great..

Also, anyone got the Harmon Kardon Apple soundsticks with iSub??

Cheers. Andy

[alan_driver]

The setup I have is a bit bodged, but sounds great. I use a HiFi similar to below, powering the speakers shown.

+ the two small speakers in the picture below

+
1 x 8' sub and 1 x 12' sub.
It will probably blow up (again), but its a good excuse for a new system.

And adice for cheap speaker setup, but not portable, there are some speakers on maplin.com for £49.99 (eltax galaxy I think, but it doesnt say that)
if you buy 2 resistors to make the total to £50.01, you can use an online voucher for £5, so its only £45, next day delivery. Very good speakers for the price, but you will need an amp.

[pdV6]

rico said:

I don't really want to go the Hifi route as I'll be using this laptop at university and don't want the hassle of carrying lots of hifi equipment around (already got a small hifi so if i bought new it would be seperates).

Presumably you'll have your small hifi at uni anyway, so why not just buy a cable & run the laptop through the hifi?

[icamm]

You should be able to get a reasonable set of computer 2.1 speakers for about £50. For abit more you can get 5.1 (Creative do some good ones). Or you could just get a cable and connect to your existing hi-fi.

>> Edited by icamm on Friday 27th June 19:20

[Jnr]

Rico

I use a set of Altec Lansing ATP3 with my laptop. Two fantastic looking desk speakers and a amp/sub that can give my Bose system at home a run for its money, well not quite but you get my drift!!! You can get a set from Watford.co.uk for just under 40squid delivered and they sound great, leaving you 160 to squander on beer and baked beans !!!


Jnr

[jvaughan]

I have the top of the range creative labs 5.1 setup. £220 and it sounds awsome. turn the bass up and you can feel the music.

Also have it attacked to a cheap Technics pro logic tape deck ( free ads ) to allow me to record / input non digital music. works a treat.