Budget Speakers

[Sabre_X]

Hi all!
I'm looking to buy myself some good quality computer and TV speakers (seperate).

I currently own BOSE Companion 3 II for my comptuer which are great, I just would quite like a change. I don't really have space for anything more than a 2.1 set-up for my computer, and was thinking of something like-

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/215201/HARMAN-KARDON-SOUNDSTICKS-II-SPEAKERS

or alternatively

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/625620/JB-LANSING-CREATURE-III-WHTU

What are your thoughts?

For my TV, I currently, and have always, only used the standard internal speakers. I was thinking of the same price as the two computer speakers I just linked (~£100). For this price, I doubt I can achieve wireless rear speakers, so would have to find a good 2.1 system. As for my TV set-up- I use Sky+, but the Sky+ box is not actually in the same room, and therefore, any speaker connection, would have to come from the TV itself.

Do you have any advice?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

 

[MEgamer]

byt he way for teh soundsticks, u can buy it for about half price i think at amazon.

byt eh way the soundticks and the creature have a poor crossover.

 

[MEgamer]

the creature is sed to be crossed over at about 180hz, according to some reviewrs.

 

[Sabre_X]

Couldnt seem to find the soundsticks any cheaper on amazon, but the creatures are available for about £55.

I'm sorry at my lack of lingo what what is crossover exactly and what are its effects?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[MEgamer]

oh and yes my spelling is poor, but thats only cos i dont bother proof reading

 

[MEgamer]

crossover is teh frequency point where the subwoofer plays.... more info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_crossover

if crossovers a set too high, then the soudn coming out from teh speakers soudn as if there are 2 differnet speakers. subwoofer needs to blend in with the sattellites, which is why subwoofer crossover tends to be lower then 100hz where teh sound is near omnidirectional. and gets more omnidirectional as it goes lower.

Most cheap speaker sets tend to have high crossover, this can also give poor imaging and stereo soundstage, (imaging and soundstage are much more clearer and wider if full audio spectrum output is at one point, such like, a floor standing speaker where they have both a tweeter and a woofer near teh same point)

 

[astrallite]

Do you have access to M-Audio (the AV30 or AV40) or Edifier in the UK? Both are much better brands.

And the crossover is not where the subwoofer starts to play...it's it's the point where the rolloff occurs.

 

[Sabre_X]

The M-Audio speakers seem to bulky. I want something reasonably small and attractive- thats why the creature appealed to me.

I think that I can buy edifier speakers, they look good too! But which ones would you suggest?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Sabre_X]

Wow. Edifier have some great speakers that seem to get really good reviews too!

The MP300 Plus look really good for my TV, as they have a slim subwoofer, so I would just be able to place that under my TV.
( http://www.dabs.com/products/edifier-mp300plus-2-1-portable-speaker-system---silver-5JK1.html?q=Edifier )

What do you think?

The M3200 speakers look great for my PC. They are attractive and seem to have fantastic reviews.
( http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Edifier-M3200-21-Speaker-System-16W-RMA )

Thoughts?

Thanks again for the advice!

Mike

 

[MEgamer]

oh and yes, astrallite explains better.

 

[MEgamer]

oh let me reword that, its that exactly where the roll off the frequency band occur, its where the roll off of 2 consecutive frequency bands 'crossover' hence the name crossover.