What are the best PC/Computer Speakers?

Gibbo

Gibbo

Gibbo

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HI there

I was wondering what the absolute best PC/Computer speakers are, they don't have to be ones just available from OcUK. I am looking for answers as to which is the best for the following configurations:-

2.0 Channel
2.1 Channel
5.1 Channel
7.1 Channel

If you guys here can let me know which you believe to be the absolute best in each category. Money is pretty much irrelevant, its all about sound quality, but if you know of particul good value yet great quality setup post that too please.
 
Are you sure about the money no object stuff?
If you are, here's a few thoughts:
- Meridian actives. Probably £10k each, but at least they have built in amps
- Nola Pegasus. Rated as being able to create one of the most complete soundstages available. £40k without amps, but you did ask
- Avant gardes. Modern day view of how horns should be. About £10k without amps, but the guy who sold me my new speakers replaced them with a pair. As I rate mine as being the dogs nuts, those must be awesome.
- Latest Quad 2905s. If you want single driver electrostatics (VERY clean), they're the nuts. About £6k, without amps
- Some of the bigger PMC actives. About £10k+. Monitor speakers, capable of massive headroom and enourmous volumes, though IMO not that amazingly dynamic.
- Tannoy Lancasters. BIG horns, about £15k. Amazing dynamics, plenty of box colouration to go with them

Is that a good starting point?

As mentioned, most of the above are passive speakers and will require amps. Plenty of available options on those. The horns are probably best driven by SET valve amps.

If you want multi channel, simply buy more, but make sure you have a big room.
Can't help but think that I wouldn't want to drive any of them directly from a PC. Probably show up just how poor the sound quality is directly from most PCs. A good DAC will partially help solve that, but a better CD transport or record deck would be preferable.
 
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It depends if you include hi-fi systems and active monitors.

If you do, obviously there is a huge range of hi-fi to choose from, as well as a good range of active monitors.

In the world of Hi-Fi, I would go for the latest and largest pair of Quad ESL's you can get, coupled with the best Quad amp for the job.

In the world of active monitoring you might try the Genelec 1038A.

Bear in mind that when you get to really high end stuff, it's generally a matter of personal preference as opposed to overall quality.

All this is 2.0 stuff naturally - although you can put any speaker into a surround system.
 
Hifi's and seperates do not qualify as 'PC speakers', which i thought the thread title was indicating.

All the same it would be great to see some budget, mid, and high end setups that are favourable.
 
I'd put the Altex Lansing FX6021's up as the best 2.1 set. I had the MX5021's but the FX6021's sound even better.

They're around the £130 mark.
 
Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1s are supposed to be some of the best PC 5.1 speakers in that price range. They're big in the states but Klipsch don't make them for UK/European voltages.
 
Not the best, but if these are product suggestions the Logitech X-530 and X-230 fill a bit of a gap for people wanting 5.1 or 2.1 on a budget. I belive they are good for the money apart from thier passive headphone jack :)
 
If you're willing to do some hi-fi combination, for £250-300, a combo of a Cambridge Audio A5 amp and some Mordaunt Short 902i bookshelf speakers sound great, get some nice cabling, a 3.5mm to phono cable for pc to amp and job done. Hifi setups like this generally sound nicer than any PC speakers I've heard, the sound quality when coupled with a good music sound card is very nice. :) You can get them from Richer Sounds, and no competitors even mentioned so even better! :D

Im using a similar setup, with different speakers, but one of my friends was using that. Sounded good, more bass than my Missions, but slightly muddier treble, but in comparison, my speakers were £400-500 new, those are 150!
If you're willing to go second hand on the 'bay, theres some awesome deals on these though, the amp can be had for under 100, and the speakers for the same, and you get a much better sound from a semi decent hi-fi integrated amp and some speakers than any PC stuff I heard :) Being honest, get nice hi-fi 2.0 and you dont need the muddy sub, you get cleaner, more controlled, nicer bass from some good speakers, and some of them produce bass almost as strong as a weak pc speaker sub anyway!
 
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