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Topic: Best Value 5.1 Speakers (Read 4349 times) previous topic - next topic
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Best Value 5.1 Speakers

As I now encode my audio in aac which allows for 5.1 channels.  Can anyone recommend the best value 5.1 speakers?  Speakers which will also be good for DVDs.

Thankx in advance.

Best Value 5.1 Speakers

Reply #1 –
creative labs inspire 5300

5.1 speakers for $70 in pricewatch with descent quality, kickass bass and the best value around. Just make sure you have a 5.1 sound card...

Best Value 5.1 Speakers

Reply #2 –
Quote
creative labs inspire 5300
... kickass bass and the best value around.

Yes, bass is quite good, but it lacks some mids. According to a test (c't 10/02), there are weaknesses at 500 Hz to 1 KHz, -6 dB. Makes singing voices sound a bit nasal. "Sound quality for music" was therefore only rated average.

But if you want better sound, it's gonna cost you... Cambridge Soundworks 510D performed quite well (c't 16/02), but come with a hefty 300 Euro pricetag.

Best Value 5.1 Speakers

Reply #3 –
videologic makes a very nice 5.1 speakers + DD decoder package..  I think its around $400 cdn.  And there is klipsch's highly rated 5.1 system.  Personally I'd pony up a bit more cash and get some real equipment from an audio store.  Systems with tiny satellites just can't measure up to real speakers + a nice amp.

Best Value 5.1 Speakers

Reply #4 –
I have the Creative Inspire 5100 series (or 5300... whatever model was $99 at christmas time last year) and a Zoltrix Pro 6 soundcard, the $130 ($100 now?) combination of which I think sounds incredible for the price. 

I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of these relatively cheap speakers.  Plenty of bass from the 4" driver.  My soundcard is especially bass-heavy, the combination makes it very easy to add way, way too much bass, but there's an adjustable knob on the woofer.  They're good looking speakers, too.

I can say that the mids are really not that much noticeably "off", but that type of stuff depends on your listening room, speaker placement, and soundcard, as well, so maybe my room just compensates for it.

I wish the subwoofer had a sturdier grill.  All the little speakers have a plastic grill in front of them, but the subwoofer only has a plastic frame and a shroud instead of a full blown grill.  I guess that kind of stuff only matters if it's under your computer desk :)

All in all, I am very, very pleased with these speakers.  They sound *good*, especially when you consider how much they cost.  I've had several friends ask me what kind they are, how much they cost, etc, "wow, only a hundred bucks?", and I've had one friend go out and buy the exact same set.
I don't know if the soundcard and the speakers just complement each other especially well, or what, because I only have one 5.1 soundcard to test with, but I really recommend the Zoltrix Pro 6/Creative 5100 combination.