These speakers are pitiful!

[screwtype]

Man, I am so disappointed, I can hardly believe this!!!

Some weeks ago I was in Dick Smith Electronics and noticed a set of 2.1 PC speakers for just $58. Compared to the price of plain stereo speakers, it looked to me like they were throwing in the subwoofer for practically nothing! I decided on impulse to buy them.

So I took them home and connected them up and I couldn't believe how much better they were than the speakers I'd been using! Even though the new DSE speakers were only 9 watts RMS total, when I played a game, the subwoofer would practically shake the whole desk with every explosion!

After this experience, I started thinking, man, this adds an entirely new dimension to gaming, maybe I should invest in a real set of speakers.

So I did some research and found that Logitech had a pretty good reputation. Now, I forget the model, but one set of their speakers is regarded as just about the best you can get for a reasonable price. But you guessed it - they're not available here in Australia.

So I looked around for which Logitech speakers are available here and I had a choice between expensive but not exceptional ones or good cheap ones.

The cheaper ones were the Logitech X-530 5.1's, I read some industry reviews which said they were more than acceptable and then read a bunch of user reviews on Amazon which varied between "fantastic - bass rocks the house and drives the neighbours nuts" to "great bass but not a true hi-fi speaker, they lack midrange".

Well heck I thought, a bass that drives the neighbours nuts ain't bad for $150!

Then I was in EB a few days ago and noticed the price was reduced to just $99, that did it and I bought a set. So I took them home, set them up, sat down, and turned on my PC. Going from a 2.1 set of desk-shaking 9 watters to a full 140 watts RMS, I naturally figured I was in for a treat.

And man, did I get a shock. These speakers are absolutely pitiful!

First I went into my audio software and set it up for a 5.1 configuration. And then I tried the audio tests. I could not believe my ears. I've got a bunch of different audio environments to play with- bathroom, concert hall, underwater, living room, stone room etc etc - they all sound almost exactly the same! The only difference is that some sound muddier than others.

Then I tried playing a game, the one I happened to have in the CD, which is Civ4. I had great sound with my former cheap set, now I park the screen over the sea and the volume is unbearable, put it over some land and it's too quiet. Not only that, but it's the same awful muddiness throughout.

So then I thought, oh well I'll try an audio CD. Maybe the bass at least is worthwhile. So I put on Jimi Hendrix's "Bold as Love". Turned the volume up - and up - and up - there IS no volume!!! But if you turn it up too far, the speakers start to distort anyhow!

I am just so incredibly disappointed. Geez, you'd think 140 watts would blow away a crummy 9, wouldn't you?

This is what you get for buying speakers from some company that makes frickin' PC mice. I will never trust an Amazon user review again!!!

[Papewaio]

What is your amplifiers rating (did the speakers come with one?)

Are you using onboard sound or a specialist card?

[screwtype]

What is your amplifiers rating (did the speakers come with one?)

Are you using onboard sound or a specialist card?

Amp? I don't know. I assume the amp is built into the subwoofer. You shouldn't have to buy an amp separately for a set of PC speakers.

I'm using the onboard AC97 sound, through the Realtek audio software that came with the mobo. It supports up to 8 channel audio. I don't expect miracles but these things are rated at 140 watts RMS and they are worse than a lousy 9 watt set!

[Papewaio]

I've got a bunch of different audio environments to play with- bathroom, concert hall, underwater, living room, stone room etc etc

Okay first off match the environment your speakers are in with the audio profile... so if you have them in a pool put the setting on underwater.

The more close you get it the crisper the sound should be.

Make sure the speakers are connected to the subwoofer if they have to(some speakers connect to both the PC and sub).

Make sure the OS (Win XP I assume) is also configured for 5.1

Otherwise you may need a sound card to get the true mileage.

[Quietus]

Screwtype,

Why not just use headphones? PC speakers aren't meant to sound good.

[Papewaio]

BTW what type of speakers are you using... the exact type... I might be able to find a useful guide /specs to use.

[screwtype]

Okay first off match the environment your speakers are in with the audio profile... so if you have them in a pool put the setting on underwater.

I mentioned the profiles because with that cheap set of DSE's you could very clearly tell the difference between the different profiles. ALL the profiles sound like the speakers are underwater with these things!

BTW, I made a mistake, the speakers are 70 watts RMS, 140 maximum output. But that is still seven times more grunt than the DSE's.


Make sure the speakers are connected to the subwoofer if they have to(some speakers connect to both the PC and sub).

Yeah, they all connect to the subwoofer. It wasn't hard to set them up. I checked them out using the audio testing software - the moving audio source - and they are definitely set up right. You can't really go wrong since it's all colour coded anyhow.


Make sure the OS (Win XP I assume) is also configured for 5.1

How do you do that? I have no idea. I use WinXP. I've always assumed the Realtek audio software that came with the mobo is what you use to configure speakers.


Otherwise you may need a sound card to get the true mileage.

Oh, I don't think I want to do that. Too expensive. And the onboard sound should be better than this anyhow.

[screwtype]

Screwtype,

Why not just use headphones? PC speakers aren't meant to sound good.

Nah, I don't like headphones.

[Papewaio]

Start | Control Panel | Sounds and Audio Devices | (Speaker Settings) Advanced

Then choose the correct setup… sometimes software does it well, sometimes you do need to do this yourself.

[screwtype]

BTW what type of speakers are you using... the exact type... I might be able to find a useful guide /specs to use.

They are Logitech X-530's. They are a 5.1 set. The subwoofer is 25 watts RMS into 4 ohms at 100hz at 10% THD clipping.

Satellites 5 x 7.4 watts into 4 Ohms at 1khz at 10% THD clipping.

Peak power 140 watts at <10% THD

10 x 2" satellites, 1 x 5.25" subwoofer.

[screwtype]

Start | Control Panel | Sounds and Audio Devices | (Speaker Settings) Advanced

Then choose the correct setup… sometimes software does it well, sometimes you do need to do this yourself.

Okay, thanks, i checked it out and they appear to be configured properly. They are configured as a 5.1 set anyhow. The volume sliders are only about 3/4 of the way up, but somehow I don't think that's the problem.

[Quietus]

Nah, I don't like headphones. I take it, it is new. Break it in first. Keep in on for long periods at a time (eg. 6-12 hours).

[screwtype]

I take it, it is new. Break it in first. Keep in on for long periods at a time (eg. 6-12 hours).

What, you mean, the speakers?

[Quietus]

What, you mean, the speakers? Yes. Keep it on on at least half the sound volume and keep it on for some periods of time.

[screwtype]

Yes. Keep it on on at least half the sound volume and keep it on for some periods of time.

I'm sorry, but you shouldn't need to do this to get decent sound out of new speakers. Yeah, maybe they will improve a bit over time, but they shouldn't be as bad as this from the outset.

[Papewaio]

Is the volume knob on the subwoofer only for it or does it also control the satelite speakers as a matched set?

[Quietus]

I'm sorry, but you shouldn't need to do this to get decent sound out of new speakers. Yeah, maybe they will improve a bit over time, but they shouldn't be as bad as this from the outset. For the 2" tweeters it's not necessary, at least do it to your midrange or subwoofer. At least give it a try.

Also, your sub is 5.25" so it will naturally distort at high volumes and it's still stiff so break it in.

[screwtype]

Is the volume knob on the subwoofer only for it or does it also control the satelite speakers as a matched set?

There are two volume knobs, one on the subwoofer and the other on the right front speaker. The one on the subwoofer is for the subwoofer only, the other one is the master volume.

[screwtype]

For the 2" tweeters it's not necessary, at least do it to your midrange or subwoofer. At least give it a try.

Also, your sub is 5.25" so it will naturally distort at high volumes and it's still stiff so break it in.

Dont worry, it'll get broken in!

But I really can't see it improving things that much.

[Kekvit Irae]

I dont trust, nor enjoy, my onboard sound system. I'm perfectly happy with my Sound Blaster Live! setup. Good, cheap, and enjoyable.

[Quietus]

Dont worry, it'll get broken in!

But I really can't see it improving things that much. You're right. The bigger the subwoofer, the bigger the improvement, but the smaller, the lesser it can be improved (unless it is a headphone).

[Sjakihata]

You're right. The bigger the subwoofer, the bigger the improvement, but the smaller, the lesser it can be improved (unless it is a headphone).

How do you improve headphones?


About the speakers, it's almost 100% sure that the soundcard is not able to handle a 5.1 setup. That's the problem. Onboard souncards are bad, as kek says.

[Husar]

I use an onboard-soundcard of my NForce2 MCP-T and just bought a set of 2.1 speakers (SpeedLink Gravity 2.1) for 35€ and I like them. They have 800W P.M.P.O.(and I have not much of an idea what P.M.P.O. means) and they sound quite good, though I&#180;m not a music expert. It&#180;s scary to hear that 99$ speakers can sound bad.~;)

BTW: To break the subwoofer in means to use it heavily so the material gets more soft? I don&#180;t want to get on my neighbors&#180; nerves, so I think I&#180;ll keep them below 1/4th of their power.

[screwtype]

How do you improve headphones?


About the speakers, it's almost 100% sure that the soundcard is not able to handle a 5.1 setup. That's the problem. Onboard souncards are bad, as kek says.

What if I disconnet three of the speakers and configure it as a 2.1 set? Ya think that might work?

[Slyspy]

Although there is a possibility that your speakers are faulty I suspect the main problem with your system is your on board soundcard (I'm assuming that all the obvious things like wiring and windows configurations are ok). Is it even capable of 5.1 sound? Check your mobo info. Its not too pricey for a basic 5.1 soundcard these days. Plus it will free up system resources, upping performance in general. I've never understood why people will spend so much on graphics cards but ignore sound quality completely.

[Quietus]

How do you improve headphones? The same way as as 'breaking-in' a regular speaker. Results vary depending on the size and quality, of course.


BTW: To break the subwoofer in means to use it heavily so the material gets more soft? I don´t want to get on my neighbors´ nerves, so I think I´ll keep them below 1/4th of their power. Regular, periodic use will do it (eg. 6 months-1 year+). But if you want to hasten the process, you can turn it on for periods of time (eg. 6-12 hour blocks). It's to loosen and acclimate the rubber diaphraghm that's attached to the cone. And it doesn't have to be on full volume (and it shouldn't be). Normal listening level is more than enough ( I only suggested half the volume to Screwtype because pc speakers are weakly driven, especially the subwoofers).