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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Hi,

I currently have the Logitech Z5500 speakers for my higher-end PC. I like them, but I know they're not audiophile grade (and I'm well aware of how reviled these are in audiophile forums). I have a Claro Halo sound card (waiting on the XT accessory to arrive for analog 5.1 out). I'd like some recommendations on better quality speakers that I can purchase for about $1,000. I may decide to put out an extra $300 on top of that for a sub, if necessary.

Any thoughts?
 
jonnythan

jonnythan

Audioholic Ninja
Your sound card does not provide any sort of amplification. You will need a receiver or at least a 5-channel amp (not recommended).
 
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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Ok, that makes sense. Then yeah, I guess I'll need to spring for a $400 or so receiver in addition.
 
jonnythan

jonnythan

Audioholic Ninja
What kind of usage will they see? What's the layout like, and where will you be sitting?
 
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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Large desk in a room about 10x10. Speakers placed on either side of my monitor with a center channel above. They're all about two or three feet from my face. PITA to position the rears properly behind me, so I haven't bothered. I game a lot and listen to a ton of mp3's in varying quality. I'd say most of them are self rips from a decade or so (Exact Audio Copy) at 192 bit. In the last few years I've been collecting 320's and FLAC when I can. Got a few hundred CD's to re-rip to lossless, but haven't had the motivation to, since I doubt they'll sound a lot better on my current system.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
If you have a Frys around, you better jump on those P163s for $100/pr. You'll be hard pressed to find a better deal right now. The jamo SUB650 for $299 is looking like it will be a good choice as well. If you can get two pairs of P163s and the matching center with that sub, you'll be well below $1K for speakers including sub.
 
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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Thanks for the tip. I do have a Fry's in my area, but noticed that Amazon has the P163's for $108. I've got prime, so free shipping on that. Do you know how the jamo compares to a sub like the Polk Audio PSW110? I have that in my livingroom downstairs and like it.
 
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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Oh ****, I read that as $100/per and not $100/pair. Nice.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
The Polk 110 is not a very good sub. The Jamo should easily destroy it.

Oh ****, I read that as $100/per and not $100/pair. Nice.
Exactly why I mentioned it :) Check your Frys for availability and see if you can get a second person to pick up the second pair because they were limiting to 1 pr/ per person. I think the deal is only good until Thurs too.
 
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cheesyc

Audiophyte
Heh, I didn't realize Jamo was Klipsch. I was thinking "Never heard of this brand, and it has a really stupid name". I'll check it out, thanks for the recommendations.
 
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shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
+1 on the Infinity Primus speakers, that is a fantastic deal. When you go for the center channel, try to get the Primus c351 over the c251. Alternatively you could simply use another p163 as a center, that would be cheaper. Hell, at the p163's current price, you could easily swing a 7 channel set. If you need a good mount, the best affordable bookshelf speaker mount is the AM40 Pinpoint side-clamping mount, you can get those for $60 a pair. If you aren't in a rush for the subwoofer, Outlaw ought to have a sale on their LFM-1 Plus sometime this holiday season, those sales typically go for $500 shipped, and is a true 20 hz sub, some seriously deep bass.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
Yeah, Jamo used to be a good company but they may have fallen on tough times and then Klipsch bought them some years ago.
 
ahblaza

ahblaza

Audioholic Field Marshall
Heh, I didn't realize Jamo was Klipsch. I was thinking "Never heard of this brand, and it has a really stupid name". I'll check it out, thanks for the recommendations.
I agree on everything suggested here, the primus P163's are great speakers in that price range, used them for awhile, full big sound from a small package. Vann's has the Jamo Sub650 for $299. Get it while you can. here is a good review of it.
Jamo Sub 650 Omnimic Frequency Response Graphs

Jamo SUB 650 12" 650W powered subwoofer | Vanns.com

Cheers Jeff :)
 
jonnythan

jonnythan

Audioholic Ninja
I would recommend strongly against the P163, actually.

These will be desktop speakers, 1-2 feet away from your face, with a center channel above a monitor? The P163s with a matching center will look comical and ridiculous, and not sound all that good either. They're not designed for nearfield listening at all.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
They are pretty big for a desk, but they should do fine for nearfield; excessive for that application, but functional for the price. I listened on a pair last night for hours while I was working and I am pretty pleased with them. Otherwise I'd say Behringer 2030P, though there is no center for those, so you will have to get pairs.
 
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shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
I would recommend strongly against the P163, actually.

These will be desktop speakers, 1-2 feet away from your face, with a center channel above a monitor? The P163s with a matching center will look comical and ridiculous, and not sound all that good either. They're not designed for nearfield listening at all.
There is no reason why they wouldn't work, in fact there are many reasons why they would work very well. Perhaps not at 1 ft though, but it is unlikely they will be that close to the listener's ears. Since they will be close you will not have to have them cranked to be loud at all, this helps keep distortion down. They will also have fairly good bass extension, which is most desktop sound systems do not have, this will help with a lower crossover and less localization. I don't know why you think they wouldn't work, really what is the difference between the design on the p163s and, say, some studio monitors, aside from not being self-amplified?
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
I moved them to the bedroom and did some nearfield listening with them and they work great listening within a few feet. My small amp in there is only 30W@8ohms so being within a few feet means it had no problem driving them as shadyj notes. With the front port, they can be placed closer to the wall which I need to do because of their location unfortunately. They are a bit large though, for a desk.

They have good bass, but you aren't going to be using them without a sub in a large room realistically. In a smaller room, they are fine.
 

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