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Geek Culture / a 5.1 audio system for $100-$200

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 14:02
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i looked up some good home theater systems for my computer, I want to get 5.1 system so i can use the full potential of my home theater soundcard. I looked at a few but many of the reviews complained about bad subwoofer or constantly breaking. I stopped at SVEN HT480. it seemes to be my best chice. There is also the AVE ECM 320 but thats a 5.0 system. Altho it has great sound, i kinda want a 5.1 system. So can anyone reccomend me anything good?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Ocho Geek
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 14:13
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I have a 5.1 by a company called "trust", very reliable and I was very happy with the sound.

here is the website, My set is the soundforce 5.1 I believe, although my set is outdated now

£27 was the lowest price from a retailer I know (started at £23)
£27 is about $41

You could spend more on a more professional kit but these ones are very good for any purpose

Ocho Geek - Pretending to be a useful contribution to the forums since 2005
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charger bandit
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 14:39
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Logitech Z 5500 will blow all of the competition at around 130€. I own Logitech X530 myself and they kick ass.


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BiggAdd
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 15:40
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I have to agree with the vote for Logitech there. Their audio systems are generally really good. Decent amounts of bass and lots of power in the speakers.

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 18:31
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I've not used logitech for their surround sound, but have used other products of theirs and found them to be reliable.

I spent £20 on a Technika system (it was half price at Tescos) , my advice, never buy anything from Technika, dirt cheap, but crap. Three of my speakers are broken, the line-in cable is faulty, so sometimes I get only one channel playing through. The sound is terrible too, it's what I get for being such a cheapskate. Logitech did 2:1 for the same price, so I should have gone for them instead - it's not as if I can get 5:1 when 3 of my speakers are broken.

Click!
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bitJericho
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 18:35
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I've had a $70 (on sale) 5.1 logitech surround purchased years ago and it's still sounding great. Higly recommended!

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 21:07
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i am guessing technika is a russian company (the name sounds russian the word technika in russian means... anything mechanical or electronic)

there is another soviet company called Radiotechnika (its now a latvian company) that makes these kickass 90w speakers called S90) they are now $1k/pair but you can get a pair of used old soviet ones for $100 but youll need a reciever or amplifier for them) i was thinking of buying a pair of old S90's just because they look retro and i like retro stuff if anything i can just replace the original actual speakers with some better quality ones.

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Eminent
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 21:08
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Yeah Logitech owns for surround sound


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Lemonade
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Posted: 12th Sep 2010 21:33
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Just don't get Creative speakers if you want them to last...

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 13th Sep 2010 02:06
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so logitec is that good huh?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Lemonade
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Posted: 13th Sep 2010 09:14 Edited at: 13th Sep 2010 09:15
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I like Logitech. My bro got a cheap $20 Logitech 2.1 set (which actually sounded very good for the price) about a year ago, and they are still going strong. He just switched them out for a better pair though (Creative, so hopefully the volume pod will last).

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 13th Sep 2010 15:02
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I really want to get some nice looking wooden speaker system but according to varios reviews and forum posts, anything below $500 is pretty much crap. the only good systems for less than 300 are infact logitec as many people pointed out but they look kinda ugly. This is a stupid thing i have about myself is i pay more attention to the looks than the functionality. and often when i go with the looks, i suffer the consequences of bad quality.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Lemonade
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Posted: 13th Sep 2010 20:48 Edited at: 13th Sep 2010 20:48
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Quote: "I really want to get some nice looking wooden speaker system but according to varios reviews and forum posts, anything below $500 is pretty much crap. the only good systems for less than 300 are infact logitec as many people pointed out but they look kinda ugly. This is a stupid thing i have about myself is i pay more attention to the looks than the functionality. and often when i go with the looks, i suffer the consequences of bad quality."


This is the bamboo version of my Audioengine A5 speakers. Check out reviews online. I have yet to find a bad one, and for good reason! The speakers are so crisp and warm compared to my old 4.1 Creative set. You will need a sub because they only go down to about 50-60 Hz.

http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-A5N-Bamboo-Powered-Speaker/dp/B0013IZ3FA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284399793&sr=8-5

The normal cheaper version (which I have) doesn't look so bad either, and its made of sturdy stuff. It comes in white and black:

http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-Powered-Multimedia-Speaker-System/dp/B000OABTPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284399793&sr=8-1

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 14th Sep 2010 01:40 Edited at: 14th Sep 2010 01:48
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those are nice looking.
i came upon a set of logiteck X540 for about $130.

i had the money, almost bought them but decided i should do some more reading first. There was another BBK 5.1 set there too, the speakers were bigger than logitek but i didnt know anything about that company. anyone know of BBK?

btw this set right here microlab h 500 it a real eye candy, it cost around $300 but turns oout its nothing but eye candy, they constantly break and have all kinds of problems


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Metal Devil123
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Posted: 14th Sep 2010 15:38
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Quote: "those are nice looking.
i came upon a set of logiteck X540 for about $130. "

Lol, looks like R.O.B the Robot...

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 15th Sep 2010 01:37
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after plowing trough countless forums and user reviews decided to get this. Unlike everything else in the category of active sound systems (100-500) this one is nearly flawless. every user review i read about these were either very happy or didnt have any defects like static or popping or speakers burning out or anything. theyre insolated on the inside so having them close to another high voltage device (like a crt monitor or the subwoofer) dosent create that chorrible cracking like most audio systems. Also they have protection boundries against burning out while still being very loud. the builtin amplifier is really good (altho i might want to get a dedicated amplifier if i want to replace the sattelite speakers with better ones in the future) but this hsould be more than enough for my room. Also the Bass is supposed to be amazing on this thing. The neighbors are really gonna enjoy this lol. They are of course the most expensive ones ($500) in the the class and from what i read the best too. all the similar ones with the same price and charecteristic apperently dont even stand close to this monster. I figured id rather spend more on something that will last me more than 2 months and something i dont want to constantly take to the service to get it repaired. What do you think?

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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 18th Sep 2010 21:36 Edited at: 18th Sep 2010 21:45
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I finally bought it the above Edifier S550 its amazing (cost me $500). the only thing is i think the center channel on my sound card dosent work but otherwise this thing is amazing. the Subwoofer is the size of a minifridge and heavy as hell, you can feel the subs vibration all over the apartment even on not very loud. I was surprised that Edifier is actually a chinese company yet this is a very good quality product looks like china makes some good stuff after all. I am amazed. The only problem is the center channel on my audio card dosent work but i have some money left and ill use it to buy some high end sound blaster or something. Once i have some more money i will buy a logitek x540 for my other computer

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Phaelax
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Posted: 18th Sep 2010 21:47
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I must be the only person who wouldn't buy logitech, I think they're way overrated. I'll admit, they have great, powerful, responsive bass, but the rest of the speakers sound too muffled to me. Lacks solid midrange. I'd still take them over Bose, which aren't worth half of what they charge.


What you want for a solid 5.1 system is a Denon receiver and some B&W speakers. Just another $5k and I can get mine!


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" ~ Arthur C. Clarke
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 18th Sep 2010 21:53
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Thats awesome, i am planning to get this system upgraded in the future with a reciever (it has a built in one now but still wouldnt hurt) and some bigger speakers. But idk i am more than satisfied with this system now (i hope the neighbors like it )

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