2.1 speakers

[JPreston]

I've just bought an X-fi card (from scan - £53 ) and want to buy some speakers to go with it. I've basically only ever used headphones til now. I don't have space to set up a 5.1 system properly, so instead want a 2.1 system that will:

a) Sound OK
b) Have a very accessible headphone jack (is 2.1 any good for gaming? )
c) look good
d) be good value for money because I am a tightwad.

eg I like the Logitech X230 or Creative Inspire T3100 or i-trigue 3400 - all about £30 - £50 - anybody have any recommendations?

[dave87]

Creative I-Trigue look the best for the money, but I am oh so tempted by these for my uni room

2.1 is fine for gaming, although I have always preferred headphones

[cdpuk]

I've just bought an X-fi card (from scan - £53 ) and want to buy some speakers to go with it. I've basically only ever used headphones til now. I don't have space to set up a 5.1 system properly, so instead want a 2.1 system that will:

a) Sound OK
b) Have a very accessible headphone jack (is 2.1 any good for gaming? )
c) look good
d) be good value for money because I am a tightwad.

eg I like the Logitech X230 or Creative Inspire T3100 or i-trigue 3400 - all about £30 - £50 - anybody have any recommendations?

I have the logitech X530 - basically the same except 5.1 and it's excellent. Headphone jack on right speaker (probably on the X230 too). Sounds great compared to all my past speaker systems and can certainly create a lot of noise if you desire

-Chris

[Daneel]

Aego M. No headphone jack but unless you are using a headphone amplifier, I'd just plug them into the sound card directly.

[snedger]

The Saitek A250 Bluetooth 2.1 portable is probably too expensive and I can't find any spec showing whether there is a headphone jack or not.
But, is quite a cheap solution for the ability to stream audio on your PC to any room within 10 metres away.
I was considering it, but have just decided that price needs to be about £40 to be viable.

[JPreston]

Cheers all I got the X230's in the end; very happy with them, they're good. The headphone jack works even when the speakers are turned off, too

[Soneji]

Harmon / Kardon Speakers are quite good, I have one of their 2.1 set ups.

Woofer has a nice kick to it

[BenW]

We've got a HK 2.1 set and they're not great. They're good as a budget setup (Think they were about £30-40) but they're certainly not worth any more

[Soneji]

Do you know the model number you have Ben?

[suniil]

excellent choice and VFM, also z-2300 is very good if you want more power.

Other one to consider is AE Aego M

Cheers all I got the X230's in the end; very happy with them, they're good. The headphone jack works even when the speakers are turned off, too

[oshta]

Ive heard all four of the below 2.1 setups
Logitech X230 (homepc)
AltecLansing 2100 (my uni pc)
Creative i-trigue 3400 (housemates pc)
HarmonKardon SoundsticksII (2nd house pc)

There all not bad, i guess it depends on personal preference, and budget.

The X230's are the cheapest i think, and there certainly the least attractive and well designed. The saterlights are bulky, and flimsy feeling, and the leads are captive, badly laided out, and short.
- However, for the price, the sounds actaully not bad, the bass is extensive and clear, and the midrange is good. Although unfortuntly the topend is a little wooly.

The AltecLansings are the speakers i have used most, as there what i have on my own computer.
- The're very neat, well built, and roubust. The saterlights are small and stylish, but very weighty and pack a fair old punch.
- The twin driver sub is a little unusual, but its works well, and all the inter conects are fairly long and use standard conectors so can be extended.
- Sound reproduction is good, clear top and bottom end, although a little lacking in the midrange. Espiscally if you dont have the sub facing you, as much of what there is comes out of there.

The i-Trigue's are very simualar to the altec's, if anything they sound slightly better. And the rotatay volume control, with seconary linein, is nice.
- However they are very fragile, my mate broke the base off one of the saterlights within a month when it fell 2ft onto a carpeted floor, and ended up CA'gluing back together. I then knocked of the otherone about a week later, with the same result. Although i managed to blag a replacment out of creative for him (note, this works)

The soundsticks are our latest addition, and considering the amount of effort they've put into syling, they still sound very good indeed. The whole "ah well, lets add another driver to the saterlights" school of thought obvously paying off!
- The touch-sensotive volume control is also very sexy. Although it means they cant use std audio conector for them.
- Also, what a shame they didnt stick a little LED in the base of each staterlight to make that in the sub!


Daniel