Help - thinking of upgrading from laptop speakers to a real sound system

[giantslayer]

Hello,
I am a newbie to the world of home audio (and to audioholics). I've been trying to read up on stuff over the last few days, but my knowledge is still quite limited.

I have become quite discontent with the sound quality of my $15 laptop speakers - no bass, muddy, very small sound, etc. I was looking around and thinking about getting a mini system and then realized that I don't care for a 5-cd changer with bells and whistles, and that some shelf speakers with real cabinets that are designed for acoustic properties instead of cool appearance would probably get me a higher sound quality (is this correct?).

The main objective is to upgrade from laptop speakers to something that has good sound quality that I won't outgrow anytime soon (I thought my laptop speakers sounded pretty good when I first got them).

My budget is not yet set in stone, but it will be pretty small (100ish). I'm open to suggestions and am willing to buy used, although it will probably can't be in person (e.g. online). I've heard good things about the latest Sony shelf speakers (SS-MB150H and MB-350H). I don't know which would be a better buy. Getting a woofer is definately an option (sooner or later; I'm open to thinking longer term and buying a speaker that needs a woofer and getting the woofer later).

The environment I would be listening would be a dorm room or other similarly small room, although these would probably be eventually moved to a living room when I get an apartment or something (that's probably a few years off). Currently, I'm looking at setting them up on my desk (my desk has a sort of second shelf about 1 1/2 feet above and 1 foot in from the front edge of the main surface). Placing speakers this close to my head may be a bad idea, though. There's actually another surface I could put speakers on that would be really good, although I might need a decently long cord (10 feet or so).

A more pertinent issue to resolve is what (if anything) do I need to buy to power these things? My current setup is laptop speakers (with their own wall wart power supply) plugged into my computer. I'm pretty clueless about this whole thing. I would like to play stuff from my computer, but if that's impractical, I don't have to.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

 

[Sheep]

don't give up on PC speakers.

You could save yourself alot of time, trouble, and money and get some nicer computer speakers. I personally use the Logitech Z2200's. They have been discontinued for the 2300's which is the same in nearly everyway. The are THX certified(don't know what one) and have to 2.5inch fullrange sats with an 8inch ported subwoofer. 200watts RMS and Frequency response on 35hz-20khz (true, I tested). You can find them for around 130 cad, online, and new.

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/LogitechZ-5500Speakers01.php

This is the 5.1 equivilent of the 2.1 system I mentioned. This will give you an idea of how they perform. Although the subwoofer is a 10inch, the 8inch is no slouch, trust me. For the money, you can't go wrong.

sheep

 

[Kurt C.]

I've heard really good things from friends about inexpensive but excellent (for your needs) self-powered speakers called Monsoon MM-1000. The system includes a decent subwoofer. I don't think they're made anymore, but you can find them if you search froogle or ebay.

 

[ducker]

I've heard really good things from friends about inexpensive but excellent (for your needs) self-powered speakers called Monsoon MM-1000. The system includes a decent subwoofer. I don't think they're made anymore, but you can find them if you search froogle or ebay.

Hm, I've heard of those as well. I think I might have a small 2.1 Monsoon system. I'll have to check tonight.

Also the Logitech system that Sheep mentioned has gotten a lot of positive feedback from magizines and reviews.

 

[ducker]

just came across this:
Klipsh Promedia Ultra 5.1 Speaker System $265
Dell Home has the Klipsh Promedia Ultra 5.1 Speaker System for $354 -
auto 15% off - $35 off $300 coupon 8$FT$Q5ZXC8G16 = $265 w/ free shipping.
review
Lowest on Pricegrabber is $340.

 

[lostsoul74]

a little late, but fyi for those looking in future.. I have the monsoon mm-2000. They are absolutely fantastic. They use the same ribbon speakers they use in theyre 1800 dollar fpf1500 home speakers. They have the best detail, and imaging I have heard to date. Yes, Monsoon (sonigix) went out of business a year ago or so, I think I heard that theyre actually Dahlquist, canadas only high end speaker company, subcontracted by sonigix and exploited by monsoon (yea.. the cheap car audio company....) because of their financial support and advertising capabilities. Theres some info anyways for anyone looking for great computer speakers, the mm2000 are quadro.1 MM-1000 are 2.1, same as the mm-700. But stick to the mm prefix, they also have 505 and others, but not impressive, stick to the mm prefix.

 

[jcPanny]

Laptop sound card.

Does your laptop's sound card support 5.1 audio? Otherwise, you will be limited to a 2.1 speaker system.