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]

Screwtype,

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

Nah, I don't like headphones.

[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.

[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.