Help me turn my dorm into one big speaker

[uokingdev]

Hey everyone, thanks for reading this and helping me with my sound. I'm residing in a somewhat small college dorm room and i'm in a big dillema, i dont have any music except from my laptop. I would really like to get a good system going here. So i pose this question to the community, can you please assist me in assembling a respectable sound system to be used from my computer. My knowledge in this area is severly limited but here is what i had in mind.

Budget: $200-300 ish (a small budget i know, but i still need money to eat)

So yeah i was thinking of the primus 150's for speakers and the rest i dont know. If anyone happens upon any amazing deals for my price range please point em out to me. Also maybe a link to a guide on setting up a system like this.

will this reciever work? http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STR-DE698-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/B0007Y6ANA
I found a never used one on craigslist for $75, deal or no deal?

That's all for now, thanks for hearing me out and i hope we can all make beautiful music together sometime.
-Devin

 

[patnshan]

swan

If your goal is to get good sound from your laptop, these are the best PC speakers out there.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836136102

Pat

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'd recommend getting either the Klipsch or Logitech THX systems. They'll fill a room nicely, and without messing with separate AVRs or amplifiers.

 

[Tom Andry]

While not exactly what you are looking for, this guy has one of the better dorm rooms I've seen recently.

 

[uokingdev]

Thats a nice dorm room there. I dont quite need anything like that, but i really could use some help with this stereo thing, How about a link to where i get the cord to put into the reciever to the 3.5mm computer jack. I think i can figure most of the assembly stuff, but that was a big one. Also if you could help me look for deals, comment on the items i link, and reccomend me good equipment that would be swell. I think for speakers i'll go with primus 150's, but i still need a bass and reciever. Is there anything else i might have missed? Well thanks again for the help, peace

also if you think a setup like the one i'm talking about is way too overkill, then i guess i could settle with the conventional computer speakers. I just think that if i am able to get an apartment and make a real home theater that it would be best to go with the heavy duty setup. It also just seems higher quality, upgradeable, and will stand the test of time.

 

[Mr. Lamb Fries]

The computer speakers is a GREAT idea. Look into that. They would be perfect in a dorm room. Great sound too. I have logitecs in my office, and am very happy with the sound, astetics, and volume! if you want a stereo, I would get a part time job for a few weeks and up your budget a few hundred (not trying to be an a$$...but you will be MUCH more happy with something in the 5-$600 range.) It would last you a little longer too! In this hobby, to a certain extent, you get what you pay for.

If you cant spare the time...look on craigslist for something used...it will hold you over for the time being, and you wont care if it gets trashed! I wish someone had given me that advise a long time ago (craigslist wasnt around, but the suggestion of used would have been the way to go). I spent thousands on stereo stuff while I was in college and it all went in the dumpster! I had a lot of fun with it, but I still wish I hadnt!

 

[uokingdev]

ok so can you put this in terms of importance. What componenet of this set would most likely have the best cost/benefit and future proof ratio. I can't really afford anything big but if i had just one good part and the rest bad, i could always upgrade. I've been looking on the portland craigslists, and i think i see some good deals there, but im not sure. I'll try and post what i can find and maybe get a rating from all of yall. What does everyone else think about $300, is that really too low to get something decent? i'm not looking for anything outrageous here but from what others have said the budget systems have some kick to them.

edit: ok what about this for reciever and sub?http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/214376730.html



ok yeah and i will probably need to get magnetically shielded type speakers, should i be watching for that kind of thing?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

The Klipsch ProMedia setup would sound better than that. Kenwood gear is pretty much junk, and that subwoofer won't hold a candle to the Klipsch or Logitech setup.

If you want a cheap system that cranks, why not get an older two channel receiver and 12" 3 way speakers that were popular back in the 80's? You could probably hook in an Ipod to an rca input somehow, and really wouldn't need a subwoofer in this case. I'm guessing you could pick up the receiver for about $35, and a set of large 12" 3 ways for under $120 shipped. To get a subwoofer and bookshelves to provide that much slam would set you back several hundred dollars. The bass won't dig down below 30Hz, but as far as music goes, unless you're into pipe organs, it really won't matter.

There's also the surround AVR/Best Buy route. You can pick up a 500 series AVR at Ubid for around $100, and get a pair of Insignia bookshelves for under $50. There's a few places to pick up a 12" subwoofer for under $150 as well. That system would be better for movies, but not provide the same dB output as the 80's setup mentioned above.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-SX-650-Vintage-Stereo-Receiver-NR_W0QQitemZ220033291142QQihZ012QQcategoryZ39789QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-R-X40-Stereo-Receiver-EXCELLENT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ280032739343QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39786QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PIONEER-CS-705-SPEAKERS-200W-15-WOOFER-MINT_W0QQitemZ150040634036QQihZ005QQcategoryZ71570QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-vintage-70-Pioneer-speakers-CS-A700-mint_W0QQitemZ320034091382QQihZ011QQcategoryZ71570QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Sheep]

I heard the klipsch 2.1 system and it suffers from port noise and subwoofer bottoming. I've never heard a logitech THX sub fart. Ever.

SheepStar

 

[uokingdev]

oh alright, i think ill stick to the logitech or klipsch 2.1 systems i just need to figure out which one. The other ideas sound really good but in the end i guess it is just too complicated for me and i'm gonna take the easy route and go for the computer speakers. Well i guess all i have to ask now is, what system to get and where to find it. Well im gonna do some research right now.

 

[Mr. Lamb Fries]

You can wheel and deal on craigslist...the prices are usually negotiable, and some offer trades.
here are some used speakers...One is the 5.1 thx logitech

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/ele/215274891.html

Some yamaha bookshelf speakers for 80$

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/215252031.html

300$ is not out of the question...especially with this crew (some people here know how to find deals) I think you would be happy with the set-up buckeye mentioned. But if you want something you would be happy with for a few years, 4-600$ would be a great range.

150-200$ for the receiver
200-250 for the speakers
50 for the DVD/CD player
and $50 for wires/cables

You can build as you go (like you said) but remember, your system is only as good as your weakest part. That is why I suggestd getting something used. You could get a decent receiver and some used (older & decent) speakers, that you could build off of, or vice versa. Keep searching and keep posting, somethings bound to come up...thats part of the fun!

Just my two cents...

 

[uokingdev]

i like your style lamb fries, i'm gonna check into that guys computer speakers, but they probably arent as good as the thx certified ones, plus my soundcard wont support 5.1. But yeah, i'll be on the look out for great deals. I'm torn between the complicated setup and the easy way. Actually with todays technology would it be possible to combine computer speakers with the other type if i need to in the future? Is there any gripe with that reciever i posted earlier?.

 

[Mr. Lamb Fries]

They dont look like the "new" style, but there is a THX logo on the back (shown in the pictures).

Not new style=great price (sometimes)

About the receiver, like buckeye said, not that good of a product. But, see if you can get that receiver and speakers for $50...that way, if you dont like it, just re-list it or throw it out the window! You could always upgrade later, and $50 is a night out at the bars!

 

[uokingdev]

ok thanks, what about the fact that i dont have 5.1 compatability? will it still sound good or even better than a 2.1 system?

I kind of want to get something soon, the more and more i listen to this laptop the more i think my ears are going to fall off. So if you bargain hunters might keep your eyes open for me that would be awesome. I'm probably going to look in the $150 ish range. but cheaper is better

 

[WorldLeader]

The Logitech z5500 has some excellent bass, and respectable mids/highs in a self contained THX system. I like mine a lot for the price. Just to throw that out their.

 

[uokingdev]

ok, any conflict with my soundcard? and what price and where did you get them?

 

[dp_pb]

are you familiar with http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t.html ??

for $50 it sounds incredible - just use decent psu and it iwll sing. for the money you cant go wrong

 

[dp_pb]

are you familiar with http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact/t.html ??

for $50 it sounds incredible - just use decent psu and it iwll sing. for the money you cant go wrong

and of course this allows you to get the best hifi speakers you can afford - MS902i or similar would do it..

 

[uokingdev]

i heard someone say negative things about that on this board. Any idea why?

 

[uokingdev]

OK, after looking carefully those swan speakers really look apealing. I do have a few questions regarding them though. Do they come with everything to hook them up to my computer? Will they integrate with a big sound system should i chose to upgrade later, and where can i find theese? Newegg is out of them untill the 24th. Also what is a good price for theese? Is there some else that would sound almost as good and is maybe a little cheaper and in stock at the moment? I'm a little antsy to get sounds. So reccomend me the best alternative to the swans please. Thanks for all the help everyone, just a little bit longer im almost ready to buy. i wish they had the swans though =[