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sanlyn
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Location: Long Island, NY, USA
TV/Projector: 42-in plasma, 32-in LCD (samsung)
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: Lookin' for cheapo self-powered PC speakers for my tv |
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Yeah, I know: what would I want with PC speakers? Well, it goes like this:
Everyone knows what those tinny in-frame tv speakers sound like on LCD's and plasmas. Really, really atrocious. And, look, I already have $25K tied up in Adcom, AR, Denon, MSB, Dynaco power amps, B&K speakers, etc., for my main audio system. I'm not willing to rock the building lest I get kicked outta here by the coop board. So all I'm really looking for is some smallish budget 2-way maybe 3-way PC speakers to hook up to my headphone output jacks on my two tv's. Listening to a car crash on 7 channels doesn't do it for me, people, and my neighbors have no interest in it (thank heaven!).
Please don't suggest Bose. For weeks I made the rounds in the big store showrooms and IMHO there's no way to judge speaker quality with the gruesome audio being fed into those things. I don't need bass down to 30Hz; thanks, but my B&K's get me down to 22 which is already too much for my neighbors and keeps me listening thru my Grado headphones most of the time anyway. Ever hear a Dynaco '400' send 22Hz thru Grado phones? Heaven. But not for a tv.
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Will never be persuaded that any HD display available anywhere at any price will ever equal a properly calibrated 125-pound CRT or 30-pound PC-CRT monitor. Don't even try to debate it with me.
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Tom.W
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 6635
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sanlyn
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Location: Long Island, NY, USA
TV/Projector: 42-in plasma, 32-in LCD (samsung)
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:17 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the link, Tom. Reminded me that I'd earlier heard the previous model (Z-2200) and kinda
suspected they might be OK, but the audition material was sooo bad. But your link set me to looking
for some stray 2200's. I've seen comments that the newer 2300's have a feeble midrange, which
might not fly well with movies (I thought the 2300's I heard sounded rather dim in that regard, but
the 2200's I heard a while back seemed smoother and richer, with less bass).
Lo and behold, I found a bunch of 2200's on some net auctions will go back for a second look.
Klipsch sounded hard to me. Does THX have something to do with movie loudspeaker or audio
standards (or for that matter, anything similar to Monster Cable hijacking the THX logo and
pretending THX has something to do with wire?) I thought those were in the domain of the
SMPTE. (Just ribbing, folks, but ain't marketing wonderful? 
Anyway, Tom, you might be on to something with the Z's. It was the audiiton material that made
me a little iffy on those; the piped audio always had hard, thumpy bass. A dominant low
end isn't what I'm looking for. Overall clarity is the goal, I'm not worried about response at the
extremes, but would be happy with a smooth rolloff at both ends -- and not even most of the pricey
stuff has that.
PSI made a small, really sonic 2.1 channel set that offered an optional accessory amp for hookup
as self-powered PC speakers. Only problem: the set cost $850. I guess that's why they weren't
hot sellers.
Obviously, finding audiphiole levels in this price range and speaker range is pure fantasy. I
thought of making my own with drivers from MadiSound Speakers, but couldn't find a small amp
board to drive them. Has anyone tried that novel idea?
_________________
Will never be persuaded that any HD display available anywhere at any price will ever equal a properly calibrated 125-pound CRT or 30-pound PC-CRT monitor. Don't even try to debate it with me.
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jarseneau
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 323
Location: WI
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Another good alternative is the Z-5500 which can be had for around $250. The beauty of these is the included digital input that decodes dolby digital from your source device. It also has 5.1 analog in. The satellites are small, flexible and capable and the sub is reasonably powered.
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Jerry
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sanlyn
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Location: Long Island, NY, USA
TV/Projector: 42-in plasma, 32-in LCD (samsung)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| jarseneau wrote: | | Another good alternative is the Z-5500 which can be had for around $250. The beauty of these is the included digital input that decodes dolby digital from your source device. It also has 5.1 analog in. The satellites are small, flexible and capable and the sub is reasonably powered. |
Thankee, jarseneau. Well, the idea is a simple 2-way setup that works thru a tv's headphone output, as I already have plenty of 5.1 add-ons that play thru my main audio system -- which unfortunately can't be used at any appreciable volume level without incurring the wrath of my neighbors and our co-op board, no one of whom appreciates the capabilities of a PSB subwoofer, even if the PSB is a pretty good one.
I managed to get a PM from someone who reminded me of the decent PC stuff that use to be made by Altec and Soundworks, which today are replaced by newer and bigger models that cost 5 times as much (and offer 5 times the distortion, for those who think it's cool). Bose was suggested yet again, but anyone can get inexpensive PA drivers and a couple of RadioShack capacitors to build a Bose system (I know someone who did just that, even if the enclosures are really ugly). Anyway, I see those older Altec and SW products in auctions all over the 'Net and am looking into it now.
But FYI, folks, last nite I hooked up my old Gateway/Altec 20-watt 2.1 setup (circa 1998, at $85 !!) to my plasma's headphone output. It worked beautifully  with smooth treble and tolerable bass from a 5" sub. But now I don't have speakers on my wife's PC. So now I'm still shopping for something similar at auctions or new.
_________________
Will never be persuaded that any HD display available anywhere at any price will ever equal a properly calibrated 125-pound CRT or 30-pound PC-CRT monitor. Don't even try to debate it with me.
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