Anyone have any experience with Swan speakers, specifically something like the Swan M50W? I was considering them and feeding the audio to them with something like a Behringer UCA202 USB external audio interface to get cleaner sound from my desktop.
I'm an outright believer in headphones for computers. If speakers are necessary, then route the sound and video through a home-theater and use those speakers with its screen.
Mercutio has a point. I had some Altec Lansing stuff for the mac that was really nice quality, but, lacked drivers for windows.
Speakers don't need drivers.
I bought a Creative set for my PC. Two desktops and a subwolfer for ~$30.00 at Wallymart.
I have Klipsch for my home system.
I'm an outright believer in headphones for computers. If speakers are necessary, then route the sound and video through a home-theater and use those speakers with its screen.
Interestingly, my setup is more complex than that. Video and audio go from the PC into a 4x4 HDMI matrix switch. My headphones connect to my monitor, which decodes the HDMI and has a tiny amp. It can't be the best quality, but it isn't bad. Other sources for the video are the receiver for the home theater, or for the master bedroom.
I use a pair of Sennheiser RS 160 headphones in my office.
In the living room I have a HTPC connected to a Denon AVR-1907 via TOSLINK. The receiver is connected to a pair of NHT 2.5i and a Boston Acoustics CRC center channel. I don't have rear speakers.
I'm using the Klipsch Pro media 2.1 4 speakers and a subwoofer for the computer in my room. Fine for anything in a smaller room, and doesn't shake the walls.
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMe...s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1302635694&sr=1-121
199.00 is a good price. Klipsch have to be careful with pricing. A lot of their stuff
is absurd, ear bud head phones I've had really bad luck.
The Hereseys, I actually have the first ones, plus the sub, two side speakers, and a center are all Klipsch. They are hooked up through a Yamaha RX-995.
I'm using the HTPC with an Explosion 7.1, thanks to DavidD, and that through cable to the Yamaha amp.
Playing Quake 4 over that sound system is VERY cool. It's pretty incredible to play movies over it as well.
For the late night stuff, I usse Sennheiser HD 595.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1302635357&sr=1-1
Handruin: Klipsch are usually for people playing music, movies, and can play the stuff LOUD.
In the old days we used to choose either Bose, JBL, or Klipsch.
Klipsch speakers sound boom-y and awful, pretty much the opposite of how I want speakers to sound. Speakers need to be at least capable of subtlety.
Most of the time I'd rather set up a home theater system to handle sound anyplace where I actually care what I might listen to. I like having a more flexible speaker configuration than is typical for computer-type speakers to have. I understand that isn't always a good answer and I do think your USB D/A converter is a good idea.
My go-to for decent but not outrageous speakers has been Logitech for a really long time. I understand that you're looking beyond that price point, but I've always thought that Logitech stuff is a good buy between $75 and $125 or so.
The beauty of Klipsch has always been they can give excellent sound with low power from the amp. In the old days of 30-35 watt a channel amps, that was a big deal.
Today, with 100-125 a channel, cheap, it's less so. That said, when I went to the Yamaha, I had a huge increase in sound quality from the old 30W a channel Kenwood amp I was using.
Mercutio has a point. I had some Altec Lansing stuff for the mac that was really nice quality, but, lacked drivers for windows.
Too bad they aren't computer speakers, because the Paradigm Atom Monitor are one of, if not the best value at the price you're willing to pay.
Klipsch makes a LOT of different speakers, some better then others. I listened to the subs, and the 12" was my favorite, value sound wise, even over the 14 and bigger.
The Hereseys are pretty incredible speakers, and, with a powerful amp, they fill in and give a much broader range, then with a small amp.
Even the book shelf speakers are very good quality, and, they are a bit less boomy then the Hereseys, by that meaning they don't have nearly the bass reproduction, or range.
The Klipsch 5.1 setup is about as good as any computer speaker setup I've heard.
I'd give a listen at a shop if you can.
Computer speakers seem, at least from my observations, to be pretty pricey.
I keep seeing HTPC amps, for REALLY cheap. Like 300 bucks for a 7 channel 110 per channel Yamaha amp.
I've also seen a bunch of HT audio setups, for cheap, or huge discounts, newegg, costco,
etc.
Sold out, but costco had this setup for 249 dollars, about the cost of the amp:
http://www.live.sonyus.webcollage.n...=&MarkupType=document&PresentationFormat=html
It said it was wireless, it is not, but, great reviews on sound.
Point being, if you save up the bucks, and wait, this is an area that can give you way more for the money then other areas. Bargains can be REALLY huge on this stuff.