Speakers for under $100 review....

[Al]

I've been trying out various speakers for my Macs and have concluded some information that may be of interest.

The four 2.1 speaker systems that I have sampled range from $40 to $100.

These are:
Labtec Pulse 420 -------- $40
Logitech Z-340 ---------- $50
Altec Lansing ATP3 ------ $80
Creative I-Trigue 3300 - $100

Labtec Pulse 420 - $40

The Labtec Pulse 420 is a budget system and shows it in it's sound quality and looks.  Not as handsome as other systems that cost more.  The sound is okay, highs are good, mids are a bit low, but the bass (lows) is weak and if the volume is turned up a little to high the sub will distort.  Also, the power supply is not built-in to the enclosure.  Still an okay set if you don't mind the cheesey looks and need a budget set of speakers.

Logitech Z-340 - $50

The Logitech Z-340 is a step up from the Pulse 420's.  It's looks are a lot nicer, much more modern looking.  Sound quality is really good for the price.  Crisp highs, a bit weak in the mid areas and the 6.5" sub performs admirably at regular to mid high volumes, if turned up to high the sub will start to distort.  The power supply on this model is built-in, which is a plus.  Over all these are nice sounding speakers for the money.

Altec Lansing ATP3 - $80

The Altec Lansing ATP3 is my pick out of the four as the best system.  It's slimline design with big sound will fit in small spaces.  They are very stylish and they sport an interesting design that gives it something that the other systems don't.  Each ATP3 satellites are equiped with two 1" tweeter drivers and in the base of the satellites is a downfiring 3" midrange driver that delivers a very real and full sound at all volumes.  The 6.5" sub is a little weak in wattage, but makes up for it in tight lows that is controllable from distortion with the bass controller.  These also have the most control with volume, treble and bass adjustment controls and the power supply on this model is built-in, which is another plus.

Creative I-Trigue 3300 - $100

These are the most impressive looking set that I tested.  Great modern and compact design.  Each satellite houses 3 Titanium tweeter drivers that produces rich sound in the upper frequency range, and they also do a good job with the midrange sound too.  The real plus comes in the 6.5" sub, it is rich, tight and very deep.  But, these speakers come with a big flaw that is in the amplifier.  Creative boasts 80 watts peak output, the most watts out of the four reviewed, but the top volume is low in decibels in the upper to mid frequency range.  Comparing to the others, with the volume control turned up all the way, I still had to turn up my computers volume almost all the way up to get anywhere near the volume of the ATP3s.  If your not looking to turn up the volume, then these are great sounding speakers.  But if it is loud full room filling sound you're looking for these won't be your choice.  It does have the best bass output.  Power supply is not built in on this model and does get quite warm.

In conclusion, I like Altec Lansing ATP3's the best for realism, fullness, control and total output.  Next would be the Creative I-Trigue 3300 for it's great looks and deep sound.  Then the Logitech Z-340's for it's inexpensive and modern design with above average performance.  Lastly is the Labtec Pulse 420's because of the cheesey design and lack of overall sound quality, price is good.

[Al]

To many images.

This is an image of the Creative I-Trigue 2.1 3300

[iGuy]

Thanks for the review Al.  I have been considering getting speakers for my Quicksilver PowerMac since it sits under my desk.  Makes hearing the speaker difficult.  I had seen the Logitech speakers in a catalog and liked the price although never hearing them before didn't know the quality level.  Thanks for sharing your experience.  I may look into the Altec Lansing set.  I like the looks of them and your review reads well.

By the way,  how were you able to try all them out?

Ryan

[kelly]

Nice job Al.

These could be good.

Refurbished Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX speakers for $100

http://dealmac.com/articles/51595.html

[iGuy]

Gateway Price

Gateway has the ATP3 system for $55!

Ryan

[Al]

Hi Ryan,

I have three Macs and a PS2 that I bought speakers for (not all at once).  Tested each one on my B&W.  I ended up returning the I-Trigues and picking up a second set of ATP3's.

This week, CompUSA has a sale on the I-Trigue 3300's and the ATP3's.  The I-Trigues are $70 after rebates and the ATP3's are $50 after rebates.

I haven't tried those Klipsch speakers, Kelly, it was out of my price range.  But I suppose for the price and if you can try them out first, see how they sound, they would be a good bargain.

One thing about trying speakers out at the store, they never sound the same when you get them home.

[sandbox]

Thanks Al, I was just looking at speakers for a friend at Staples not too long ago.  

Kelly, the price is right on those Klipsch’s but the shipping charge is $22.
Well I suppose they weigh some?

Al have you ever considered running a central amplifier/receiver?

[Al]

Hi SB,

Yes, I have thought about it, but since my house is made of single wall construction (tongue and groove, yes, the house is 40 years of age), that would leave a whole lot of wiring through the ceiling.

Why do you ask?  Do you have an idea for me?  

[sandbox]

Hey Al, I just wondered. I run my audio through a Sony digital receiver on a remote control connected to 7 speakers, I thought maybe it would be cool to have all the computers piped into the receiver and use the power of xxx watt system to to vibrate your inner ears, and pull sound from your 8 tracks among other things. It just dawned on me that if a guy was willing to buy three sets of speakers, he might just want to test drive a receiver. I think kBear is piped to a receiver as well.  

[Al]

Hi SB,

Sounds like a cool set up you got.

My thoughts were to have one Mac, one reciever, a speaker controller box and speakers throughout the house and outdoor patio (including the bathrooms).

Now with iTunes 4, I can grab music from one central Mac and play it where I like.  Exception in the bathrooms yet.  

[sandbox]

Sorry Al, didn’t mean for your thread to get off course.

OK, Mac to receiver will work, but since you have three you could plug each one into a separate IN (like #1 in CD, #2 in phono, #3 in tape (or video 1,2,3, red&white only) and have them all connected. (maybe??) I have a remote control so I can change the pathway from a distance, speakers too. If I want to use the CD player I just click it. If I want the Mac audio I just choose DAT/MD, the outlet it’s plugged into.

I also have a TV plugged in the TV slot, I can run the TV audio and video through the receiver and record on a VCR that’s connected as well. My receiver is pretty old, 96 or something, you can find them in hock shops for $50 bucks just to experiment. It’s really nothing elaborate, I got a new system and just used the old one in the office, a lot of trial and error but it works. One thing it doesn’t have is S-Video plugs, which would work real smooth, my new system has them, makes connections a snap.



This is the newer version of my old receiver, which is a str-D650z.




kBear seems to have a more elaborate audio system, if I remember right, and I think I used some of his suggestions to get my system working.  

[Mrious_be]

Hey, we have found us a tester at TS, i think we didn't really had that amongst us
I'm not planning to buy speakers but i still feel it's a very interesting test Al, thx
I also feel that it's a good chance to "promote" this Revolution 7.1 soundcard for Mac.



Seems to support Dolby Surround II from the card and Dolby Digital (DTS?) if you have an external amplefier/receiver.
With such a receiver you can use the spearkers connected to that system i guess... sounds great to me.
I sure would buy it if i had a tower Mac, only $89.

[Al]

Hi SB,

To me that is elaborate, very cool!  Since wiring is a problem in my home, I don't think I can go that far.  but since having a Mac on both sides of the house (one in my living room and one in my family room) I don't have much problems with getting good music.

Marcel, I saw that card in CompUSA the other day and was reading about it on the internet.  It seems that not all functions are complete without the reciever.  They predict that all bugs and functions will be complete in a year or so.  Still, it is intriging and tempting to try (I almost bought it the other day).  No real room to put more than a 2.1 system up around my Mac stations anyways (plus, I am out of PCI slot in my B&W ).  Thanks for the heads up.

[Mrious_be]

QUOTE(Al @ May 29 2003, 12:41 PM)

They predict that all bugs and functions will be complete in a year or so.  Still, it is intriging and tempting to try (I almost bought it the other day).  No real room to put more than a 2.1 system up around my Mac stations anyways (plus, I am out of PCI slot in my B&W ).  Thanks for the heads up.

 Oooh, didn't know about the bugs, i guess they won't add that to their review, hehehe
Hey, can't you kick out one pci thingy you don't use, or can replace?
Actually, i never saw a computer that had all the pci attachements filled up
What do you have connected to your puter? the Pentagon?

[Paddy]

Another option:

About a year ago I looked into speakers for my Mac and decided instead to move my Teac mini system (receiver/CD player + 2 speakers) over to my desk and just hook up to that instead. It's great - I can listen to iTunes radio stations, local stations or my CD's, and the sound is pretty good. A little pricier than the speaker-only option, but more flexible. Costco (and BJ's) used to have this system - at about half the MSRP, but I haven't seen it there for a while. It seems to turn up around Christmas time though.

http://www.teac.com/ref/100/100.html is a slightly newer version of what I have, but pretty much identical specs.