What to look for in speakers?

[bigjimmbow]

OK, so I want to buy some speakers, btu I'm not sure what o look for. So can someoen tell me the main things I should know/look for in speakers?

[computerman]

well, logitech is a great brand, or creative. if you want best quality get like a 7.1, yes it is nice to have a system with like 500 watts of power but that much is an over kill..

[kevorocker]

Whats it gonna be for -your desktop? -your car? -your home theater system?

[victorpan320]

Yeah, 7.1, it should be creative, klipsch, logitech or altec lansing
I like ones that come with subwoofers.

[Brad_c]

If you want the absolute best in audio and quality and can afford it look into JBL, they are known for their excellent sound quality... when I buy a new system for my computer its going to be JBL JBL (http://www.jbl.com/home/products/series.asp?SerId=HMM)

[bigjimmbow]

Whats it gonna be for -your desktop? -your car? -your home theater system?

My desktop, or my room more specifically, I'm trying to make like a little mini-home entertainment center in my room

[PwrdByAMD]

I want to do the same thing. Mount like a 5.1 around my room and make a switch so I can use it for my pc, xbox/tv, music, and whatever. Just have to save some money since I bough the stuff for my blazing Sepron 2600 system.

[kennyt772]

well if u want very good sound get a regular stereo amp. use the optical out to plug into the stereo from ur sound card. then u can use regular speakers for your stereo and it will be a regular home theater amp for dvds consoles ect.

[ProApple04]

Klipsch makes some really high-quality speakers for PC's and home theater for a great price..

[techtvman]

If you want the absolute best in audio and quality and can afford it look into JBL, they are known for their excellent sound quality... when I buy a new system for my computer its going to be JBL JBL (http://www.jbl.com/home/products/series.asp?SerId=HMM)

Ill say this from an audiofiles perspective, that is a personal opinion, people hear and like different sounds, if you want the best speakers you are going to actually have to go out and take some for a test drive to see what sounds best to YOU not anyone else since everyone is different. My personal opinion that i like and if you get a chance to hear are MK speakers and Klipsch speakers www.mksound.com (http://www.mksound.com) www.klipsch.com (http://www.klipsch.com)

[SpiderJ]

I agree with techtvman. Each person has a different taste in the sound that they want. I personally like the sound of M&K and Definitive Technology. Another good brand is Boston Acoustics. JBL is good depending upon the series that you are talking about. It also depends on how much you want to spend. You should go listen to some. I would suggest going to places that will allow you to try them out with a CD or DVD that you know and like.

[fooser]

so i just noticed this post, and um nobody mentioned Polk Audio (http://www.polkaudio.com/) or Martin Logan (http://www.martinlogan.com/)
Martin Logan are electrostatic loudspeakers. Polk meets the needs of us poor geeks, while Martin Logan is alittle more into money.

[skyliner762]

polk, bose, infinity,

[[GF]Burke]

Infinity, Klipsh, ; and JBL makes the best center ch. (about all theaters use JBL).

I use all Infinity for the theater.

MK and Logi's are great for PC's.

[hungrych]

polk, bose, infinity,

Stay away from Bose. Overmarketed, overpriced garbage. Trust me.

Polk, Infinity, JBL, Klipsch, Gallos (very good value), Boston Acoustics, etc. It can get wayyyy more expensive though, some Wilson Alexandria X-2's will run you a mere $145,000 (that's a comma, not a decimal)! :eek:

[Xtremist]

To my ear, Klipsch is the ultimate and all my friends agree
Inifinity is very good
And stay away from Bose, its crap all the way through

[fooser]

who cares if the theatre uses JBL? they are trying to get sound to lots of people and JBL is one of the few that will make speakers that can handle all that space. i swear you guys need to get a glimpse of the martin logan statement e2's here (http://www.martinlogan.com/statement_speaker.html#none) they are $175,000 and amps to drive them will be an additional $60,00 minimum.. however ML does make speakers for us normal people.

[nate007]

wires

[etnlIcarus]

I'm not a huge sound buff but testing in-store is a little difficult.
the room and environment is almost as important to sound quality as the drivers themselves.

I spent $300 Aus on my speakers (I'm pov) and now that I've had the time to play around with support, insulation, obstructions and placement, I'm not as disappointed as I was when I first brought them home.

Techtvman is right though, everyone is different, I've got expensive Altec-lansing stereo speakers and I can't stand them, I gave them to my parents.

The biggest problem I’ve got is with head and earphones.
Why does every pair I own rattle in the right ear?

[computerman]

like some1 said (forget who) if you want to be able to have mutliple inputs buy a stereo reciever and speakers, than you can custom do it to how you need\want. and no matter what u end up doing when u get home play with different placements, adjustments and such cuz it will make it a difference

edit:
just realized this is from may.. guys probably gone or not looking at this thread anymore.

[klinx]

If you want the absolute best in audio and quality and can afford it look into JBL, they are known for their excellent sound quality... when I buy a new system for my computer its going to be JBL JBL (http://www.jbl.com/home/products/series.asp?SerId=HMM)

JBL = Just Bloody Loud, there nothing special there just loud....

[klinx]

Also 7.1 in a smallish room = a mess, the sound quality would be lost and mashed up, plus most things are only in 5.1, personally i''d buy a decent 5.1 amp, then some pro speakers. not some silly "bose" etc brand.

http://www.audioreview.com/ try looking around sites like that

[Hiawatha]

I have an older Klipsch LucasFilm 5.1 stereo and it works beautifully. Klipsch is an excellent brand and anything by them or Yamaha can be gauranteed to be good. The best thing, though, is just to hear them first, or else read reviews.

[redacinman]

i see people here have neglected the most basic questions, what is the person going to be listening to on this system, what type of room is this system going into, how much furnature is in the room, is there going to be sound proofing in this room...

1 piece of advice always select the right ohm and wattage speaker to suit the amp, under powered speakers can pop quicker than speakers that been designed to carry the load, the same thing applies if your running the wrong ohm and wattage speakers on an under powered amp though this time you could fry the amp...

before installing any type home theatre system in your home it pays to have a structual engineer check it out as you want collapsing the first time you turn up the volume

the best thing you could probly do is go to a place that deals with home audio installs, invite them over to your house show them the room you plan to install this system and they should be able to give some very good advice..


to be honest pick a speaker that suits your needs and what you're going to be listening too, personally speaking if i was going to go for a speaker i'd go with wharfdale or jbl though that's just my preference, i'm not knocking other brands they may have good speakers its just personal taste..

i'm no pro when it comes to home audio you best seek advice from somebody in the industry...