Good performance, reasonably priced 2.1 computer speakers?

[GuessWhom]

Not sure if this is the right place I should be asking this, but I'm really unsure as to which speakers I should be buying. I've read glowing reviews for Logitech Z-2300s, Bose Companion 3 Series II's, Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra's etc. but every site I look at contains numerous negative reviews from people who seem to know what they're talking about (Logitech = all bass while lacking in mid-range; Bose = good but far too expensive for what you get; Altec = constant hissing when watching TV or movies)....the list goes on.

I'm no audiophile, so I suppose I'm mostly just looking the best sound quality for a reasonable price. I'd like to spend $150-$250 on a 2.1 setup for my laptop that will last me into the foreseeable future. I listen to lots of stuff, mostly rock, jazz, blues, funk, hip-hop and classical.

So now I am here looking for recommendations. Or would I be better off buying something like Creative T20's and then pairing them with a sub? Can something like that even be done on a laptop? Sorry for all the newb questions, but I'm pretty lost.

 

[bikemig]

If you want good sound quality at your price range, I'd lose the sub and go with a decent pair of powered speakers. These are three good choices that are a bit over your price range but much better than the speakers you mentioned in your post

Swan M200MkII: http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?p=swan-m200mkii&products_id=80:

Kanto ipair 5: http://www.kantospeakers.com/collections/ipair-5

and Audioengine A-5: http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-5

Both Swan and Audioengine manufacture speakers that are within your price range as well. I own a pair of A-5s (they sound great) and it is easy to attach a sub later if you want.

 

[ahblaza]

I think Audio Advisor has the Audio Engine on sale or demo priced

 

[GuessWhom]

Thanks for the replies! I should have mentioned before that I live in Canada, and apparently the Swans are only sold online via TAI (thus preventing me from testing them out first).

The Swans and Audioengines you mentioned look appealing. I realize that this may be a biased question since you already own the Audioengines, but do you know what makes them worth c. $65 more? The Swans have individual bass and treble controls as opposed to the Audioengines just volume control, which (I think) should appeal to me.

 

[markw]

Another thing to consider.

No product is perfect and pleases everybody. For every product out there you will find some people that find fault with them and the internet makes it soooooooo easy to put out that info.

Buy, OTOH, you'll find many. many more that do like them* and, human nature being what it is, they most likely won't go out of their way to praise them.

*If not, those products wouldn't be available and most likely the companies that produce them would be out of business fairly soon. All those companies have been around for a while and I doubt they'll be folding their tents any time soon.

 

[GuessWhom]

I feel like should know what OTOH means but I don't

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I feel like should know what OTOH means but I don't

http://www.urbandictionary.com


Speakers wise:
These speakers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200620748161&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

Suggested For desktop use:
this integrated amp:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-383

$100 could get you much more features and possibly more watts from refub/used AVR market, but they'd take tons of space on the desk...


option b:
search ebay for used M-Audio BX5a - these could be yours for 150-160 - no external amp needed for these active monitors

 

[GuessWhom]

Haha I thought that's what it meant but then couldn't quite figure it out in the context of the sentence.

Thanks for the suggestions btw.