2:1 upgrade

oli356

oli356

oli356

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Current got some Logitech Z4 (great footrest!), using no sound card.

Use for speakers: Music, hardcore so bass is very important.

What would be the 'next thing up' then from the Z4's, also sound card as well?

Budget umm around £100, rough figure :p

How much difference do you reckon will be noticed as well?

Thanks,

Oli
 
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I would recommend spending more on the speakers than the sound card as they have the moving parts that create the sound for that budget it's hard to find some better speakers that are worth an upgrade does the 100 including the sound card? I was going to recommend The asus sonar d1.
 
100 smackers inc the cost of the sound card wont get anything greater than what you already have. Although I have seen one comment from someone who went from the Z4's to some Z523's. He said the Z523's were better, but he didn't say how much by. One persons comment doesn't mean everyone would have the same opinion though.

For a noticeable difference, probably the Z2300's for a sound quality upgrade and plenty of booming bass. I'd argue the AE Aego M's are better speakers over all, but the Z2300's will most certainly provide more bass. Different people have different opinions on the bass any given set of speakers provide. Creative T40's for eg. Yes they are 2.0, but quite a few people say they provide good bass for 2.0 speakers. Others feel they have no bass at all, so it's all down to personal preference. Aego's have a bass selector, so on the highest setting, the bass should be pretty strong. Whether it's enough to please bass heads though, I don't know.

If you do want a sound card as well, but can't stretch much over £100, might be worth trying to find comments on the Z523's, see how much better they are than the Z4's. If they are worth the upgrade.
 
Ok thanks, well could always just spend say £130 on speakers then a sound card at a later date.

For the price of £130 speakers compared to the Z4's which were £50 I would hope there is a noticeable difference. With the sound card from using on-board sound it would be better of course :D

Will have to watch some youtube videos on both speakers, shame I can't hear them both :(

Wow the Logitech Z-2300 are old :O "Date first available at 'thebigforest': 1 Jan 2001
 
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Judging by the Aego's reviews and comments, and CNET's review of the Z523's, the Aego's will certainly be the better choice by some margin, for over all sound quality. CNET commented on the Z523's strong bass, but lack of clarity. Go figure, all 2.1 PC speakers below £100 have strong bass and lack clarity. Some are better than others, but the old adage applies, you get what you pay for. To be fair, the Z523's got a better review than I though they would do. I think they are probably the best 2.1's below £100, but they certainly wont match either the Z2300's or the Aego's.

If I had my pick, it'd the be the Aego's. Just looking at an older thread. Aego's produce a cleaner more controlled bass, but it doesn't offer the boom boom type of bass of the Z2300's. Makes sense really. Acoustic Energy produce decent quality hi-fi speakers, speakers are all they make. Logitech, although they make some nice PC speakers as far as PC speakers go, are really a peripherals company, and certainly no speaker expert.

Depends what you are looking for. Nice controlled bass, or boom boom that makes things fall off shelves.
 
Hard choice between the Z2300s and the Aegos. No videos on youtube about the Aegos :O

Good reviews on OCUK and competitor though, 9/10 on trusted reviews. As you say though they are a cleaner bass, not sure if that would be better or not.

I guess I could lie it down on its side to be the footrest ;) The logitech would win at that hehe

Also how exactly would the Aegos connect to a PC then?

ty
 
RCA to 3.5mm cable.
No hotlinking!

Get half decent looking one though. Doesn't need to be pricey, just not one of them bell wire cheap looking things like the picture. That's just an example. :)
 
Thanks, cheap cables are great though! Posted on AV Forums to see what people think also. Hard decision
 
Cheap cables are not great, not from my experience anyway. I've bought some that have terrible 3.5mm sockets, others the plastic sheathing has cracked. Few £ more will always get something much better. I find it quite funny. People will spend plenty of money on the device itself, but will use crap cheap cables. I'm not saying one should buy into this whole expensive cables = better sound thing, but nice quality cables can be had for a just a few £ more than the bargain basement stuff.
 
Posted on AvForums and have got a different type of response, of course it means spending a lot more!

Here is a bargain that will come in with £250 price tag -

Pioneer A209R, 35w/ch, £139 (Superfi.co.uk and many others)

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, 5" woofer, 50hz bass, £99/pr (SuperFi only)

If you really want to save some money, consider the same amp, and the Wharfedale 9.0 speakers from Richer sounds for about £59/pr ( RicherSounds.com ). These have a smaller 4" bass driver, and only respond down to 60hz, but that is actually pretty good for speakers on a computer.
Click to expand...
 
Well in the end we bought the Cambridge audio AM 5 amp and cambridge audio SL30-B speakers. £120 for amp and maybe just over £100 for the speakers

Just wired them up and put my iPod in so I could compare sound to my Logitech Z4 (£50)

And considering this has now actually become a present to me from my dad.. and he was like "make sure there good etc" they sounded decent in the shop.

But well... My logitechs are better :@ Far more bass.... It's like I will need a subwoofer as well. The Z4 has the sub and two tiny speakers and sounds so much better for 4 and a half times less money
 
It's simple physics, little satellite speakers will never push the same amount of air as a dedicated woofer. I'm saving up for a pair of active studio monitors (which will destroy any 'computer' speakers) and although you can get reasonable accurate bass response on them i'd still need a sub for the kind of sub-bass that's in films/games e.t.c.

The Logitech subs are naff though, too bloated and muddy for realistic reproduction of music. They go loud though which is probably why people like them.
 
True

Still was expecting a bit more.

Got a few options no idea what one to go for.

1) Keep the amp and try out speakers such as the ones a 'internet' friend has: CERWIN VEGA VE 5M - 200 WATT SPEAKERS £120 - he listens to the same type of music as I do and says they're good. Though the company is in Birmingham(HTFR) so if I wanted to return them, not the easiest and cheapest thing.

2) Just buy a sub for around £100 and use with this amp/speakers

3) Probably the 'worst' option, buy the logitechs and then spend £70 on a sound card instead of using onboard sound.
 
oli356 said:
But well... My logitechs are better :@ Far more bass.... It's like I will need a subwoofer as well. The Z4 has the sub and two tiny speakers and sounds so much better for 4 and a half times less money
Click to expand...

Lol!

Now I know why so many PC owners nowadays love 2.1/5.1 speakers. Audio quality doesn't matter, as long as there is BASS!

I am amazed. You wanted something that was going to provide a good amount of bass, and you chose a stereo amp and bookshelf speakers? Did you not apply any logic to that decision? Small speakers alone are not capable of the bass a subwoofer can put out.
 
Well for the type of music I listen to you can have the best quality in the world. Still pointless without bass!

As I said I thought a setup (whatever it is) would still have more bass then 2tiny tiny speakers and a subwoofer. I guess I learn't my lesson!

Just plugged them into the PC, put on a FLAC to see how it sounded. Now just watching a youtube video of someone speaking, totally different sound. Ears would have to get used to it
 
I understand that you were looking for something that would provide strong bass, I'm just baffled you came to conclusion that such small speakers alone would be adequate. Clearly whoever recommended you go for a stereo amp and bookshelf speakers, didn't explain that such speakers will not provide strong bass

I have owned a few 2.1 and 5.1 speakers before I took an interest in going down the stereo amplifier and bookshelf speaker route. 2.1/5.1 PC speakers provide over bloated bass, plenty of treble, and zero midrange. What I have now offers nowhere near the amount of bass previous 2.1/5.1 speakers, but the quality is in a whole different league.

I think you have 2 options. Either sell the speakers and amplifier, and get the Logitech Z2300's, or buy a subwoofer to go with the CA amp and speakers. I know which setup will be better, but it depends whether you can afford to buy a subwoofer having already bought the amp and spekaers for £200 odd.
 
Think I will take the bigger risk and buy a sub. This whole thing will cost easily double the amount of the Z2300s though.

And hopefully my ears adapt to the sound. I might have to put the treble higher/lower on the amp. First though I need to go and google exactly what it is ;)


Think I'll also go back to Richer sounds tomorrow and have a look at subs. Seem's like there's a few around the 100 zone. http://www.richersounds.com/products/hi-fi-separates/speakers/subwoofers
 
I notice you did mention Cerwin Vega speakers in a previous post. They are very bassy, but decent speakers. Friend of mine is a fan of CV speakers. They might offer the bass you are looking for without the need for a sub.
 
Well went back to Richer Sounds today and we got told we had to buy a new amp as the AM5 couldn't have a subwoofer.

So went from a £130 amp to a £300 amp!
Sub cost £120.

Got home, plugged everything back in again. And the sub is just making some noise.. Nothing happens when playing music, the speakers are fine but the sub just isn't.

Rang up RS and they said to unplug the cables from the amp and touch them to see if sub responded which they did. So will be making another trip back tomorrow for them to take a look.
 
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