Can anyone recommend a decent set of Desktop speakers?

TheBlueRaja · 16-07-2005, 21:27

Im looking for a 2.0 setup - no surround or subwoofers etc - and audio performace is key, they can look like a week old turd as long as they sound superb (well, within reason for what im paying)! They need to handle Bass at volume and not distort, be mains powered and not be too big to lug around.

Spending around 60 quid max - The Altec Lansing MX5020's have taken my fancy but its good to ask in case there are better ones out there for a similar price.

Any suggestions - I would prefer personal recommendations though.

Roy MM · 16-07-2005, 21:34

I like my Lansing, Gateway 2000 but woofer with them, cost me ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£19 on ebay including p&p

mick70 · 17-07-2005, 12:15

PC World- ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£20, packard bell flat speakers with subwoofer and remote. They are black fronted with silver surround in an orange/yellow box. Sound great for only a score.

Halcyon · 17-07-2005, 12:55

I know you want PC speakers, but have you considered the option of possibly connecting up to your Amplifier and using your Hifi if you have one.

Monster Jedi · 17-07-2005, 13:34

I use Mercury SW2500 . They have a graphic equalizer and built in fm radio.For 15quid from a computer fair you can't go wrong

17-07-2005, 13:55

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...tock&offset=10

some real nice logitech creative and harmon kardon (jbl) desktops here

I would strongly recommend Harmon kardon (jbl)

Monster Jedi · 17-07-2005, 14:14

If you want cheapo speakers got a car boot 50p should get you da bizz

17-07-2005, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster Jedi

If you want cheapo speakers got a car boot 50p should get you da bizz

Read the OP's post again you will see that Mr Raja

wants a good set at no point is cheap mentioned

TheBlueRaja · 17-07-2005, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I know you want PC speakers, but have you considered the option of possibly connecting up to your Amplifier and using your Hifi if you have one.

No as i want these for my iPod to take abroad - so i want a good sounding speaker (with no sub) thats isnt heavy and can run from the mains but dosent sacrafice sound for looks which it seems anything to do with the iPod does.

Dont want to pay extra for that little i at the start of a product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...stock&offset=10

some real nice logitech creative and harmon kardon (jbl) desktops here

I would strongly recommend Harmon kardon (jbl)

Hmmm, interesting - i thought originally you were referring to the one with the sub (the clear one) but i will need to check these out.

Thanks man

EDIT:

Seems like the Altec Lansings have a better frequency response (90Hz-20kHz) as opposed to the Harmon Kardons (60Hz-20kHz), not a definate indication of a better quality of sound but it gives them the edge at about a tenner more.

basa · 18-07-2005, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

EDIT:

Seems like the Altec Lansings have a better frequency response (90Hz-20kHz) as opposed to the Harmon Kardons (60Hz-20kHz), not a definate indication of a better quality of sound but it gives them the edge at about a tenner more.

Erm: The HK's frequency response is better from your info. being that they reproduce a lower bass frequency (60Hz as opposed to 90Hz).

That said ..... better frequency response does not equal better quality...... in fact it may just allow the speakers to reproduce more crap from the media or your sound card !!!!

TheBlueRaja · 18-07-2005, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by basa

Erm: The HK's frequency response is better from your info. being that they reproduce a lower bass frequency (60Hz as opposed to 90Hz).

That said ..... better frequency response does not equal better quality...... in fact it may just allow the speakers to reproduce more crap from the media or your sound card !!!!

Doh!

**Chris** · 18-07-2005, 13:55

Well, as an owner of the Harmon Kardon transparent set with the subwoofer that you've seen online, I can recommend them for sound quality - I don't have experience of their desktop-only versions but if my set is anything to go by, you could do far worse.

Aragorn · 18-07-2005, 15:12

Might be a bit under your budget

but I have the 2.1 version of the Altec Lansing VS2120 The flat panel speakers really do sound good - to my ears anyway

Bifta · 18-07-2005, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Im looking for a 2.0 setup - no surround or subwoofers etc - and audio performace is key, they can look like a week old turd as long as they sound superb (well, within reason for what im paying)! They need to handle Bass at volume and not distort, be mains powered and not be too big to lug around.

Spending around 60 quid max - The Altec Lansing MX5020's have taken my fancy but its good to ask in case there are better ones out there for a similar price.

Any suggestions - I would prefer personal recommendations though.

Doubling your budget would get you some M-Audio stereophile speakers but being more realistic, these are supposed to sound pretty good

http://www.ipodessentials.co.uk/prod...rs/MX5020.html

TheBlueRaja · 18-07-2005, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

Doubling your budget would get you some M-Audio stereophile speakers but being more realistic, these are supposed to sound pretty good

http://www.ipodessentials.co.uk/prod...rs/MX5020.html

Cant find anything on the stereophile's im afradi, had a look over at www.maudio.co.uk and couldnt see anything - got a link?

And i dont know if you noticed or not but the MX5020's are the ones i mentioned in my original post as the ones i was currently looking at - my benchmark.

EDIT - forget it - i found them - the search on that web site is pretty crap by the look of it - putting in stereophile showed no results.

Probably a bit pricy as you say to be hulking around though. Will keep MAudio in mind though for my next (static) PC speaker system.