Best speakers for the price help

[tommyfirewire]

Hi there!

I currently own a logitech z-5500 set. But I want to ditch those and buy some better ones.
I would like some very good speakers for my music, games and movie viewing which I all do on my pc.
But I would like to have a best bang for the buck kind of setup. I want to spend around 200 to 500 dollar on some speakers which supports dobly ( I don't know if it really needs dolby since my sound card is support dolby, do I need the speakers to be dolby as well? )

Movie viewing and music listening is the most important for me and it has to be superb and alot better then my logitech.

Would I be better off with a 5.1 set or a bookshelf set?
And if I'm going to need a reciever which one would be superb at that.

Thanks in advanced!

- Tom

 

[jamie2112]

Stuff

I would recommend a set of good bookshelves over a 5.1 if you are using it for pc music.Unless your computer is in the middle of your room.... There are many speakers to look at into at your price range. I would suggest looking into Axiom, Monitor audio,RBH, B&W, Jamo, all of whom have great monitors for the price. And as far as a receiver goes I would buy a starter unit as you will most likely will upgrade in the future. Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo are good bets as far as a decent cheaper model receivers.....

 

[dronezero]

Active monitors like Mackies might work out well for you. Save you having to try to squeeze in the the AVR on the budget.

 

[tommyfirewire]

What is the best type of lets say axiom of it's price range. Something that will really exploit all music effect and make it sound as pure as it can get?
I'm checking Axiom's website and i'm wondering if the Audiobyte computer speakers from axiom are superb.
How much better are they or any other bookshelf then my z-5500?

I'm still considering to buy 5.1 serround set though. But I don't really know the difference between them in terms of sound quality. I know a 5.1 set will give me 'sound all around me effect'. And that is something i'm looking for as well. But i'm wondering if that will be overkill or not considering my computer stands in my bedroom.

Can I also use my logitech speakers and a set of bookshelves at once? Or will it give me weird sound effects?

Thanks in advanced so far

 

[tommyfirewire]

Active monitors like Mackies might work out well for you. Save you having to try to squeeze in the the AVR on the budget.

I'm currently looking at mackies HR824 MK2
Active which is thx certified. So that will definitely give me good quality!
And it just fits my budget barely 500 dollars!
I got a good feeling about those. How are they in practice?

 

[jamie2112]

The mackies are studio monitors. The mackie stuff I don't even use in the studio because they color the sound and not in a good way. 5.1 seems like overkill in a bedroom. I would get the axiom m22s as they sound amazing.Yes you would need a receiver but they will smoke the mackies.

 

[dronezero]

The Mackie HR824 are usually $500 per speaker. Unless you've found an amazing deal you will have to look at their less pricey models.

If you decide not to go active you are going to need an AVR or an integrated amp, which will run you at least $200 unless you go used. Meaning you will only have $300 for the speakers. For that price AV123 xls encore will fit into your budget. I'm not sure if Axiom has anything in that price range.

 

[jcPanny]

Powered bookshelf speakers

Check out the Audioengine 5 powered bookshelf speakers for about $300. You will have enough money left to add a small sub like the Onix X-sub if necessary.

 

[tommyfirewire]

Hi there!

Thanks for your suggestion. I will scrap the mackies then.
I've just been to a audio store and they had some neat stuff. The guy suggested a 5.1 speaker set called JBL SCS 178 and a Onkyo receiver which is the only receiver to decode dobly trueHD. I'm getting a 200 dollar discount if I buy the Onkyo and the JBL SCS 178 5.1 set. I've heard the JBL and they sound pretty amazing and a bit better then the quads i've heard and a gazillion times better then the z5500.

It is over budget but i'm willing to sacrifice for more quality!

What are your opinions about the JBL, can I still get better for less or a little more money?

I'm going to put the axiom m22 on my list and the audio engine and will look in to it!

But there is a problem if I am going to buy the Onkyo then I will only be able to connect a Digital cable to my sound card which the sound card it self also decodes Dobly but it only decodes Dobly Digital and no TrueHD. So i'm afraid that it will not decode truehd and thus will only decode a lower dolby standart. And considering it supports s/pdif as a connection it can only transfer digital because the s/pdif got a diffirent design.

Anyways do you guys hear alot of sound diffirence when you put a truehd and digital next to eachother?

Sorry for the many questions but i'd like to be sure and have the best possible setup for my high end pc.

 

[emorphien]

Check out the Audioengine 5 powered bookshelf speakers for about $300. You will have enough money left to add a small sub like the Onix X-sub if necessary.

I was thinking the same thing. These have quite good reviews, and are reasonably priced. Also consider Swans M200 MK II.

I have a pair of Audioengine A2s due here on Thursday. They're on the small side but they're what will fit on my desk so I'm curious to see how they perform.

 

[tommyfirewire]

Please bring up my topic

 

[MUDSHARK]

It so happens that AScend Acoustics Se-170 are fifty dollars off right now at 298 a pair plus shipping. I really liked the detail of these last year when demo'd before purchasing the more expensive Sierra's.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html