need some 2.1 speakers for gaming ( do i need a separate sound card?)

fireisdangerous · 20 Dec 2011 at 11:27

Reading other threads the Acoustic Energy Aego M 2.1 Speaker System are the best. Are there any cheaper options or do you get what you pay for. My board has 7.1 built in, but if I am buying decent speakers to i need to get a better sound card?

Tony

Marsman · 20 Dec 2011 at 14:07

It depends what motherboard you have. Some onboard audio solutions are better than others. Even on the more expensive boards though, most people find even a budget sound cards sounds better.

As for the speakers. The Aego's are great 2.1 speakers, and probably the best bet, if you can afford them and a sound card.

There are better sounding speakers, but they won't offer the same level of bass you will get from the Aego's.

If you were after speakers mainly for music, I'd probably suggest Edifier R1600T's. They sound better, and are cheaper. Being 2.0 though, they will have less bass. Great affordable speakers for music in general, although maybe not for bass heavy music. Great for gaming too, if you aren't looking for big bass.

If you are after some good amount of bass for explosions etc, when gaming, then the Aego's are the one's to get.

Logitech Z523's are another option, if you want to save money. They won't sound as good as the Aego's though, but will still offer plenty of rumbling bass for gaming.

simisker · 20 Dec 2011 at 19:15

Marsman said:
If you were after speakers mainly for music, I'd probably suggest Edifier R1600T's. They sound better [than Aego M 2.1s...]

Having owned several sets of Aegos for years, and having recently purchased a set of R1600Ts for listening to music at work, I would emphatically disagree with that.

The Edifiers are good value speakers. The Aegos - as you seem to be saying at every other point in your replies, to be fair

- are good quality speakers*.

* In the land of desktop PC sound, obv.

fireisdangerous · 20 Dec 2011 at 22:13

They will mainly be used for gaming and watching films. Looking for good clear sound over base mainly because the Mrs complains if there is too much base. The other thing I need to factor in is the size of the speakers as I just upgraded to a 27inch monitor so I have less space to spare. Regarding the aegos it mentions a centre speaker but can't find it anyware online.can you use any centre speaker.

Marsman · 20 Dec 2011 at 22:29

simisker said:
Having owned several sets of Aegos for years, and having recently purchased a set of R1600Ts for listening to music at work, I would emphatically disagree with that.

The Edifiers are good value speakers. The Aegos - as you seem to be saying at every other point in your replies, to be fair - are good quality speakers*.

That's interesting. It seems it comes down one's personal tastes then. There are people who find the R1600T's, sound better, having owned both. Albeit with less bass.

Of the people that I've seen, who have owned both, you're the first person who has said the Aego's sound better. That's not to say you are wrong, obviously, it's down to preference.

Marsman · 20 Dec 2011 at 22:39

fireisdangerous said:
They will mainly be used for gaming and watching films. Looking for good clear sound over base mainly because the Mrs complains if there is too much base. The other thing I need to factor in is the size of the speakers as I just upgraded to a 27inch monitor so I have less space to spare. Regarding the aegos it mentions a centre speaker but can't find it anyware online.can you use any centre speaker.

Rather pointless getting one. No sound card outputs 3.1, so the centre speaker would only be outputting a mixture of the left and right channels, if the centre input is not used.

Going to be rather confusing, if you are playing a game, and directional sounds coming from the right, are also coming through the centre speaker!

Rather a bizarre idea from Acoustic Energy, if you ask me.

Mr Krugga · 20 Dec 2011 at 22:54

fireisdangerous said:
They will mainly be used for gaming and watching films. Looking for good clear sound over base mainly because the Mrs complains if there is too much base. The other thing I need to factor in is the size of the speakers as I just upgraded to a 27inch monitor so I have less space to spare. Regarding the aegos it mentions a centre speaker but can't find it anyware online.can you use any centre speaker.

Have you got space for an external amp for passive speakers?

If so, you can get Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 for £40 (Richer Sounds) and some budget amp like AM1 for around that too if you look on the bay.

That setup would sound way better than Edifier R1600Ts.

It's "bass" not "base" btw.