2.1 Speakers But No Subwoofer?

[alexander]

Hello, I am just wondering if there are any good 2.1 speakers that don't require a subwoofer? It is just that I am at university and an extra subwoofer takes up quite a large amount of space.

Or failing that, what is the smallest subwoofer I can get away with?

[staffsMike]

2.0 is what you are after.

Creative GigaWorks T20's are excellent for around £45

Got a set for £40 at xmas and they are stunning all round speakers. Very warm tones and great bass considering there is not sub. The speakers themselves are quite big but don't take up much space.

EDIT: good price here
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1060...html?srcid=867

[Eddd]

Take your pick.

[alexander]

Ah, 2.1 means with subwoofer!

Damn, I'm slow....

So 2 speakers without subwoofer are quite common and aren't crap?

[Eddd]

So 2 speakers without subwoofer are quite common and aren't crap?

Yes.
Some are crap, but most above £10 are pretty decent for a home user.
Click here to view a selection of 2.0 speakers
How much are you thinking of spending?

[TheReaFireblade]

IMO, the best mid-price PC 2.0 speakers are: Logitech Z10's ("interactive"), Creative T20's, or Creative T40's

[alexander]

Ok, just understanding it now.

Can I just ask, the thing is at the moment I have 3 audio inputs going into the speakers, PC Audio, PS3 Audio and TV Audio.

With my 5.1 Creative subwoofer there were 2 inputs, one came from my PC and the other from the freeview box, I managed to route the PS3 audio via the freeview box and so didn't need an extra input.

Would I be able to do this on these, however on those T20's the input is at the front and I usually like being able to keep the front clear, could I buy a simple 3 way 3.5mm adapter to route them all to one input or is there a problem with that?

[staffsMike]

There are two inputs, one on the front and one at the back, you can also use a splitter I think to make one input into two but that might only work on outputs..

[alexander]

Hi, thinking I'll probably get the T20's.

But can anyone clarify the situation on splitting inputs?

I have 3 x 3.5mm inputs that I want to put in the back, is it possible to use a simple 3 way splitter or would it be more complicated than this as Mike said?

[staffsMike]

I seem to remember it coming with a 1 to 2 spilter (unless my gf magiced one of thin air), and I'm sure they work as both input and output. I've never seen a 3 way splitter, so the best I could suggest is daisy chaining two. No idea what that will do to the quality or anything though.

[alexander]

Just to let you know that I have purchased both the Creative T20's and the Logitech Z-10's to compare them.

I thought that the Creative T20's would win outright with all the rave reviews.

However, in every single aspect the Z-10's win, except design in my view.

I am no audiphile or anything but the difference in quality between the Z-10's and T20's is huge. I have used both an iPod and the PC and on both occassions the Z-10s have far better quality.

[TheReaFireblade]

Just to let you know that I have purchased both the Creative T20's and the Logitech Z-10's to compare them.

Well... that's one way to make sure you get the best of the two
So whatchya gonna do with the Creative's now then?

Anyways... I'm in agreement about the sound quality of the Z10's
I've been using a set on my laptop since they came out

[staffsMike]

If they were a similar price i'd have probably got the Z-10's based on the reviews but at £40 the T20's make a lot of sense.

[alexander]

I think you both overestimate the intelligence of the PC World staff.

I went it to pricematch both sets, I found the Z-10's for £56 online including delivery. I told them to pricematch it and the idiot on the counter came out with the 110% discount as £34.

I think the two sums caused problems, he had to find out the difference and then found 10% of that, but he had minussed the wrong figures so screwed the whole thing up.

I got both sets for £80 which isn't too bad.