I thought 2.1 was dead and buried... WRONG !

[Gimpymoo]

I have wanted a surround set of speakers for a LONG time having put up with my £10 stereo speakers for 4 years.

So, I have the opportunity to purchase some when I realise that there is no point spending £30 on a 5.1 set as although it maybe OK, it wont be great.

I then think of a 2.1 setup and see it as a consolation but think its best to have a good 2.1 set in place of an OK 5.1 set (was that the right choice?)

SO, I get the Logitech Z3e 2.1 system and am gobsmacked.

Sure, the BASS is a bit too much sometimes, but for allround music and gaming, these things are awesome.

Going back to the title of the thread, I was surprised how good the 2.1 setup is having been told that "Surround Sound" is the ONLY way to go.

Ive never owned a 5.1 setup so can not comment, but on the basis of this, when I get an amp and speakers for my TV, Im going to get the best AMP and 2.1 setup I can afford (Not blow it on 5.1 straight away) and add-on the speakers at a later time when I can afford them as I feel this will ultimately give me better audio.

Once again, I just cant believe how good a semi-deecent 2.1 setup is.

 

[Irish_Tom]

I've never owned a 5.1 setup so can not comment, but on the basis of this, when I get an amp and speakers for my TV, I'm going to get the best AMP and 2.1 setup I can afford (Not blow it on 5.1 straight away) and add-on the speakers at a later time when I can afford them as I feel this will ultimately give me better audio.

This is definitely the best way to go. Bear in mind that the amp will have to be an AV amp not a stereo amp unless you want to upgrade that as well at some point. It would be worth investing in a ****-hot AV amp and then getting 2 speakers (and/or sub) until you can fill in the gaps.

Panzer

 

[Andybtsn]

To the OP post, how much and what model is the 2.1 setup?

I'm looking for one for my lounge setup so has to cater for numerous media devices (360, PS3, DVD etc)

 

[TheVoice]

I recently went from 5.1 (Logitech X-530) to 2.0 (Logitech Z-10). Quite impressed with these new speakers, occasionally I miss surround sound when playing something like FEAR or HL2, but considering I spend most of my time playing music I'm happy 2 nice, solid units, rather than finding places for 5 speakers.

 

[A2Z]

I recently went from 5.1 (Logitech X-530) to 2.0 (Logitech Z-10). Quite impressed with these new speakers, occasionally I miss surround sound when playing something like FEAR or HL2, but considering I spend most of my time playing music I'm happy 2 nice, solid units, rather than finding places for 5 speakers.

interesting

i have the x-530, but i only ever bother plugging in 3 of the speakers, the rear 2 are so weak anyway and pointless, i never use them

might invest in some 2.1 when i get some cash

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Last thursday I setup a 50" Samsung LCD, new Pioneer DVD LX60 and a new Samsung 2.1 sound system with built in DVD (can't remember the model).
I couldn't believe the sound coming out of the 2.1 system, it filled the whole room.

 

[TheVoice]

interesting

i have the x-530, but i only ever bother plugging in 3 of the speakers, the rear 2 are so weak anyway and pointless, i never use them

might invest in some 2.1 when i get some cash

I used them as 5.1 when I first got them (with the centre speaker sitting nicely on my LG CRT):


Then got my first LCD when I went to Uni and was in Halls, so used them as 2.1. When I then moved into a house in my second year, I got the rear speakers set up, but then found that my soundcard refused to let Winamp output to the middle speaker, so didn't bother with that one.

It was either the Z-10s or the Z-2300s (the nice silver THX 2.1s), but I find sub-woofers give far too much bass, whereas these Z-10s produce a very nice amount.

 

[Minstadave]

interesting

i have the x-530, but i only ever bother plugging in 3 of the speakers, the rear 2 are so weak anyway and pointless, i never use them

might invest in some 2.1 when i get some cash

I've got the same set. With onboard sound I could barely get anything out of the rears, even when I tweaked the levels.

When I upgraded to an X-Fi I saw a whole world of difference, properly configured using the THX console I get fantastic surround effects, the rears performing exactly the same as the fronts. Dead chuffed with the upgrade.

 

[A2Z]

I've got the same set. With onboard sound I could barely get anything out of the rears, even when I tweaked the levels.

When I upgraded to an X-Fi I saw a whole world of difference, properly configured using the THX console I get fantastic surround effects, the rears performing exactly the same as the fronts. Dead chuffed with the upgrade.

well i upgraded to x-fi gamer and didnt see any difference