2.1 Speakers recomendation

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 11:52

Hi.
For past 15 years I'm happy Altec Lansing FX6021 owner although AUX input started having fun with me recently ( already tried to take it apart to get it re-soldered but ports cover is glued on and not wanting to come apart ). Got them for £150 if remember good so I'd say i can spend £150-250 unless it's something exceptional.

Altec Lansing FX6021 2.1

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Here are some specs:

video-shielded satellite speakers with non-shielded subwoofer
12.5 watts x 2, plus 50-watt subwoofer
twelve 1" micro drivers with neodymium magnets
6-1/2" ported subwoofer
remote control
wired control pod with two auxiliary inputs and headphone jack
AC power cord
frequency response 35-18,000 Hz
satellites: 2-1/2"W x 14-1/4"H x 7-1/2"D
subwoofer: 8-1/2"W x 16"H x 7-15/16"D

What would you recommend to replace this set but have: lower frequency response (bass is not low enough) and have much more RMS power and maybe Bluetooth input? Not rly fussy about remote control as I've used it maybe 3times in 15years.

Using them for gaming everything apart of FPS games (I'm on headphones then) and listening music.

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 14:02

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 and a T-Amp.

Don't waste your money on another crappy 2.1 system.

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 14:45

I was looking at them but 50hz put me off - I'd need sub with it. I need speakers with more like 25hz as I like to feeeeel the bass...

About 20 years ago ( had to sell it when was moving house and I regret it) had Yamaha amp 4x250rms and over 2k rms total in 2 floor standing speakers...

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:16

j4ska said:
I was looking at them but 50hz put me off - I'd need sub with it. I need speakers with more like 25hz as I like to feeeeel the bass...

About 20 years ago ( had to sell it when was moving house and I regret it) had Yamaha amp 4x250rms and over 2k rms total in 2 floor standing speakers...

Then buy a dedicated subwoofer. That'll add another £300+ to your budget.

Sub Woofers - Sub Bass - Subwoofer

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:17

j4ska said:
I was looking at them but 50hz put me off - I'd need sub with it. I need speakers with more like 25hz as I like to feeeeel the bass...

About 20 years ago ( had to sell it when was moving house and I regret it) had Yamaha amp 4x250rms and over 2k rms total in 2 floor standing speakers...

LOL. No it didn't.

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:36

Of course they did as I've build speakers myself. Had two JBL 12" 500RMS in each, 200rms mid and don't remember pitchers.

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:36

If you want speakers that play down to 25hz, you'll be looking at full towers, with likely 8" or 10" woofers in them. Probably £1000+

A subwoofer will play down to 25hz, likely 10" or 12" so you'll be looking at £300/£400 minimum on the sub alone, but you can easily spend more.

I had a £150 sub and that only played down to 35hz.

THose 250W Yamaha figures and 2000W speaker figures are absolute nonsense. To get 200W per channel even £5000 AVR's can't output that amount of power, you're looking at quality dedicated amplifers £1000+ for that, minimum

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:40

j4ska said:
Couse they did as I've build speakers myself. Had two JBL 12" 500RMS in each, 200rms mid and don't remember pitchers.

That's speaker driver power handling, not amplifier power.

A good hifi speaker pair, amplifier, and a dedicated sub will outclass those Antec "speakers"

I would recommend a AVR for simplicity and HDMI connectivity, but you could get a stereo amplifier instead. With a BK, SVS or Monoprice subwoofer.

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:42

I'm not saying these antecs are very good. They are defo much better than any Creative product out there in terms of clarity.

Have you got any links with your recommendations as not been into business for 20years I have no idea what most of these shortcuts mean

EDIT - right bk svs and other are companies.

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:47

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair), Black at AV.com

www.av.com

Monoprice UK

Monoprice specializes in high-quality, affordable electronics and accessories. Since 2002, Monoprice offers a variety of products such as home office equipment, gaming accessories, 3D printing and outdoor gear to professionals and consumers worldwide.

www.monoprice.uk

OFFLINE Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel AV Receiver, Black at AV.com

www.av.com

One example system (2.1) there are other brands of speakers, subwoofers, avr...plus option of 3.1, 5.1, 7.1, atmos, multiple subse etc

Armageus · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:57

Ignore hornetstinger - as usual he ignores your budget and comes in with a £1000+ recommendation

For general PC use, Edifier are the go to - they are a step above logitech and other similar PC brands, probably a modern equivalent to your Altec Lansing.

The S351DB are £280, but should meet all your requirements, with 2x 40W Speakers, and a 70 Watt 8 inch subwoofer.

Comes with PC,AUX,Optical and coax inputs but also bluetooth as requested.

Stated frequency response is only down to 40Hz for the sub and 160Hz for the speakers, but I can almost guarantee they will be much better than your altec lansings (which I doubt come close to their spec), based on the larger drivers in the satellites.

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Edifier S351DB 2.1 Active Bluetooth Multimedia Speaker System - Black (SKU: SP-063-ER) = £279.95

Total: £279.95 (includes delivery: £0.00)

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:58

Thank you guys so much as both options looks like something I'd enjoy

(I'd have to check cheaper ones out to see if <40hz bass is low enough) Just need to ask other half for permission to stretch our budget a little bit

Question is how much she'll let me

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 15:59

If you want complete atmos system ( a different model AVR will give you that option to go that way)

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 HCP 5.1.4 Speaker Package, Walnut at AV.com

www.av.com

That isn't a bad price for that many decent speakers, it's a good system. You can buy better, like the sub is a bit weedy, but it's not bad for a first seperates foray

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 16:04

Armageus said:
Ignore hornetstinger - as usual he ignores your budget and comes in with a £1000+ recommendation

For general PC use, Edifier are the go to - they are a step above logitech and other similar PC brands, probably a modern equivalent to your Altec Lansing.

The S351DB are £280, but should meet all your requirements, with 2x 40W Speakers, and a 70 Watt 8 inch subwoofer.

Comes with PC,AUX,Optical and coax inputs but also bluetooth as requested.

Stated frequency response is only down to 40Hz for the sub and 160Hz for the speakers, but I can almost guarantee they will be much better than your altec lansings (which I doubt come close to their spec), based on the larger drivers in the satellites.

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Edifier S351DB 2.1 Active Bluetooth Multimedia Speaker System - Black (SKU: SP-063-ER) = £279.95

Total: £279.95 (includes delivery: £0.00)

Those are fine for a simple one source only PC system.

But what if you have PS5, Xbox, PC, CD player, BD player, Betamax videotape and want to route video and audio from those, then onto TV, and TV back into speakers?

Just something to be aware of "PC" speakers.

Armageus · 12 Dec 2022 at 16:14

hornetstinger said:
If you want complete atmos system ( a different model AVR will give you that option to go that way)

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 HCP 5.1.4 Speaker Package, Walnut at AV.com

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 HCP 5.1.4 Speaker Package, Walnut at AV.com

www.av.com

That isn't a bad price for that many decent speakers, it's a good system. You can buy better, like the sub is a bit weedy, but it's not bad for a first seperates foray

Again - pointless recommendation when he wants them for gaming and music

hornetstinger said:
Those are fine for a simple one source only PC system.

But what if you have PS5, Xbox, PC, CD player, BD player, Betamax videotape and want to route video and audio from those, then onto TV, and TV back into speakers?

They have 4 inputs plus bluetooth, so hardly a "one source only system"

He hasn't said that he wants an AVR, or any video connectivity at all - you've just assumed

Even if he did want to go for Hi-fi grade separates like Wharfedale 9.1, it would probably work out cheaper just to get a pair of 9.1, a SW-150 Sub, and then pair them with one of the small desktop class-d amps (SMSL, Topping, Fosi etc)

https://www.av.com/Speakers/Wharfedale-Diamond-SW-150-Subwoofer-Black/4F9D - £135.00
https://www.av.com/Speakers/Wharfedale-Diamond-91-Black-Bookshelf-Speakers-Pair-Nearly-New/4FUX - £89.00

Something like SMSL AO100 (which has bluetooth):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AO100-Bluetooth5-0-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Amplifiers/dp/B0B44T6TP8/ = £129

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 16:23

Armageus said:
Again - pointless recommendation when he wants them for gaming and music

They have 4 inputs plus bluetooth, so hardly a "one source only system"

He hasn't said that he wants an AVR, or any video connectivity at all - you've just assumed

Even if he did want to go for Hi-fi grade separates like Wharfedale 9.1, it would probably work out cheaper just to get a pair of 9.1, a SW-150 Sub, and then pair them with one of the small desktop class-d amps (SMSL, Topping, Fosi etc)

https://www.av.com/Speakers/Wharfedale-Diamond-SW-150-Subwoofer-Black/4F9D - £135.00
https://www.av.com/Speakers/Wharfedale-Diamond-91-Black-Bookshelf-Speakers-Pair-Nearly-New/4FUX - £89.00

Something like SMSL AO100 (which has bluetooth):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AO100-Bluetooth5-0-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Amplifiers/dp/B0B44T6TP8/ = £129

That's fine if he ever intends on 2.1 and couple of sources

No room eq. No bass management , no hdmi, no
Surround.

Why can't you use a avr and 7.1.4 system for gaming and music? Lol

j4ska · 12 Dec 2022 at 16:29

Nah i don't want them to be used as home cinema and what not - got home cinema with my tv. Only need LOUD speakers to my gaming room which will connect only to PC - I asked about bt as could play music from phone now and then.

Armageus · 12 Dec 2022 at 16:39

hornetstinger said:
Why can't you use a avr and 7.1.4 system for gaming and music? Lol

You can, but it's pretty much wasted. Most games don't do that much with 5.1 let alone any extra channels, and Music sounds best with stereo speakers.

It's like recommending a pick up truck when someone's asked for recommendations for a small city car - utterly bonkers.

hornetstinger · 12 Dec 2022 at 20:25

Armageus said:
You can, but it's pretty much wasted. Most games don't do that much with 5.1 let alone any extra channels, and Music sounds best with stereo speakers.

It's like recommending a pick up truck when someone's asked for recommendations for a small city car - utterly bonkers.

not the same at all. If you have a 7.1.4 system and listen to CD, press "stereo" or "pure direct" and only the main speakers plus sub, or just the main speakers produce sound.

As for that Edifter 8" subwoofer.40hz. That's very poor, floorstanders go lower than that.

I'd look at a pair of passive monitor speakers, and get a integrated amp. Don't waste your money on PC 2.1 speakers

j4ska · 13 Dec 2022 at 11:38

I know what you mean hornet. Will go round cash converters to see if there's anything interesting second hand as new is way over my budget.