2.1 Speaker Recommendations?

[RoninEditor]

Hey all!  I've been trying to find a rock solid 2.1 speaker system for my cab, it's kind of the hold-up at the moment.  Personally, for my home computer, I looooooooove the Altec Lansing VS4121, perfect crisp sound and big compact bass:

http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS4121-Computer-Speaker/dp/B0000C20XD/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204955587&sr=8-4

I'm probably just going to order another set of these but the awkard thing is how slim they are, which usually is an asset.  I'm going to route speaker lines and these might not work too well for that, especially with the bottom of the speaker being that fat circular base, which would have to be suspended, not really flush.

In Saint's book, he used the Klipsch Promedia: http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-2-1-multimedia-speaker/dp/B000VKXYDE/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1208847194&sr=1-21

Those are way outta my price range.  Have you guys found anything around $50 that kicks like the Altec Lansings and are more 'square'?

[Ginsu Victim]

I picked these up for $40 at Wal-mart the other day and they've been great

Phillips MMS171W

[massive88]

I went with these:

http://www.techforless.com/cgi-bin/tech4less/VS2421?mv_pc=google_base

After listening to them in store at Frys.

They have great sound for the price imo, and the woofer is compact.  Plus I liked the separate volume control that I mounted on the side of my rig.

[DrumAnBass]

I went with Logitech Z3 speakers; they have a nice volume dongle with a headphone jack which was important to me.  A little over $30 shipped here for open box refurbished: http://tinyurl.com/3ws4zr   - $40 for sealed refurb:  http://tinyurl.com/3nvkdm

They sound good; I probably wouldn't use them for a jukebox, but for arcade sounds they are fine.

[MK3FAN]

I know you said you had a $50 price range, but if you can hold out or decide not to go the cheap route, this is what I used...

5.25" Jensen speakers...



Kicker 10" Competion Sub with Sony Explode 300 watt amp...

[Ginsu Victim]

Isn't that a bit too much sound for a cabinet?
With mine above, I have to back off the bass because it vibrates the cab too much.

[MK3FAN]

Isn't that a bit too much sound for a cabinet?
With mine above, I have to back off the bass because it vibrates the cab too much.

Not really. I have never had a problem with it vibrating the cab. I don't really turn it up THAT loud though. It has rattled the walls many times, but the cab was solid.

[Ginsu Victim]

Mine would make the coins, marquee, and monitor plexi rattle.

[RoninEditor]

Holy crap, that JBL set up is a no joke sound system!!  It's like, friggin', Back to the Future when he plays guitar, LOL.

Thanks for all you guys' suggestions... I'm really honing in on the Altec Lansing ones, especially with this more 'boxy' design then I can route into a box easier.  I've read a ton of reviews on those and they've all been great.  Plus, I dig the volume knobs.  My 4121's are the next bump up and the sound is unreal but the design just won't work, they're not boxy enough to fit into a speaker hole.

Massive88, so the bass is solid?  I really want a lotta punch in mine, especially for that Donkey Kong intro, where it always rattled everything, ya know what I mean?  Or, Contra, where you'd hear that intro all the way across the arcade as a kid.  The bass, to me, is key.  My 4121's would be a pain but they rock... worse comes to work, I could put my current set in and keep the 2421's for my every day use... but they seem like they're gonna be great.

Also, how've you guys been holding yours in?  I'm thinking route out the holes on the front, like 1/2" (into 3/4"), then on the back, have 1/4" boxes the size of the speaker, where they sit in, then maybe take some kind of strap and drill it around the speaker box to hold it firm in there, like, going across the speaker's back.  I'm curious what you guys have done though.

[massive88]

Yeah I was really impressed with the bass on those for the size/price.  They are plenty good for my needs, I am not left wanting even when listening to music, well, I should also say that I have reasonable expectations for their performance.  My wife wanted me to get another set to replace her computer speakers.

I dont know where you are located but you could probably hop into an electronics store (I know they carry them at my Fry's in Dallas) and give em a listen.  They list for $50 there.  I think I snagged them online for like $42 when I got em.

[javeryh]

I used the $10 generic CompUSA ones and they sound great.  Certainly good enough for arcade games.   

[pmc]

I used the $10 generic CompUSA ones and they sound great.  Certainly good enough for arcade games.   

Ditto here but I used A-Open speakers from Microcenter when they went on-sale for $9.99. I shelled them and mounted the speaker cones directly to the speaker panel. They sound great for the classics.

Then I later added some power, sound definition, and bass by adding the older styled Creative T3100 2.1 which has a powered sub (pic attached). They were on sale for $20 at Circuit City at the time so I could not resist. The additional bass makes all the difference with modern shooters. And the thump thump of "Asteroids" and the explosion in "Star Castle" is awesome.

I'd definitely recommend the subwoofer.

To the OP: shell the speakers to make mounting a straight forward affair.

-pmc

[unit416]

I used a set of Logitech X-230's in my jukebox and they are AWESOME. My cabinet has a set of Logitech X-240's and they aren't quite as good sounding as the X-230's but the satellite speakers were easy to disassemble and screw in behind the holes I cut in my cabinet. The ipod dock was easy to attach for me to have easy access to the wheel that controls the volume.

[RoninEditor]

Thanks for everyone's input!!!  I tried a couple out and eventually went with the Altec Lansing VS2421's... holy crap they're nice!!  Super crisp and nice, clear bass!  It sounds pretty close to my 4121's I use for my desktop for 3/4 of the price... and I love how the speakers are 'old school' in look, which will help to flush mount them.

Thanks again.

[massive88]

Woohoo!  I win! 

Enjoy em!  I was actually thinking of snagging another pair from that place I linked, thats a great price.

 

[RoninEditor]

LOL.  I'm sure the others are great too but it seems like, these days, nobody has anything on display so you can actually hear them.  I originally tried some $50 Logitech ones (knowing their great reputation with mice and keyboards) but they were average at best... ZERO bass and only decent mids and highs, nothing like my Altec Lansing 4121's, which absolutely thunder yet have clear sound, but would also be impossible to mount... so I've been comparing everything to them and I know the Creative T3100's come highly recommended on here as well, but I figured I'd stick with a brand I've heard before, not wanting to take another set back again. 

But honestly, I really do appreciate everyone's input, this was my current hold-up in the final stages of my cab (I'll post pix in the Project Announcement area when I have a little more to show).

[Katana Man]

For anyone else considering 2.1 speakers, the best I've ever encountered are the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1.  They are expensive, running in the $140 -170 range.  Although you can get some sweet Klipsch refurb deals on ebay.

[massive88]

I would second the klipsch as probably the best 2.1 you can buy.  Though you better be watching DVDs or doing something much more intense then emulating to justify those sweet puppies.

[DrumAnBass]

Just a note - avoid the Klipsch GMX-A 2.1 speakers - I have a set of these at work and they SUCK... They are plenty loud, but the headphone output of the dongle is barely audible. Plus they emit some weird sounds randomly on occasion, and start chirping any time someone's cellpone within 50 feet receives a call. They also have no volume threshold - they are either loud or not.

So avoid these:

[Justin Z]

Let me also just add that the ProMedia has a serious problem with the way it connects everything together.  The volume controls connect to the subwoofer using a 5 pin DIN, the same kind of connector that PS/2 keyboards and mice use to plug into the computer.

Well, the connector sucks and has a tendency to tear away -- mine did and I had to replace it.  So if you buy them, be sure to get everything set to go and just do it once -- don't keep plugging in and removing the connector -- or you might end up having to buy a new one.

[(+_+)]

Isn't that a bit too much sound for a cabinet?
With mine above, I have to back off the bass because it vibrates the cab too much.

You should try putting some rubber matting anywhere it makes contact to the cab. Something like carpet undermatting. Make sure the sub is snug so it doesn't vibrate out of place and you should be fine. Mine used to vibrate my cab until I put in some matting and now.. not a twitch. I use the Z3's and I find it was $100 well spent.

[nick-g]

Thanks for everyone's input!!!  I tried a couple out and eventually went with the Altec Lansing VS2421's... holy crap they're nice!!  Super crisp and nice, clear bass!  It sounds pretty close to my 4121's I use for my desktop for 3/4 of the price... and I love how the speakers are 'old school' in look, which will help to flush mount them.

Thanks again.

You have pics of the final install?

[RoninEditor]

Thanks for everyone's input!!!  I tried a couple out and eventually went with the Altec Lansing VS2421's... holy crap they're nice!!  Super crisp and nice, clear bass!  It sounds pretty close to my 4121's I use for my desktop for 3/4 of the price... and I love how the speakers are 'old school' in look, which will help to flush mount them.

Thanks again.

You have pics of the final install?

Nick, hopefully after this weekend I will, woo hoo!! haha  I'm getting close, I can feel it.  I built and rebuilt and rebuilt the monitor 'skeleton' this week and finally got everything to not bend.  I forgot, after using MDF for this, using real wood again and how much of a pain it can be!  So that's finally done, but now I have questions about my bezel; I'm trying to think of different ways to be mount it securely.  I can get it in for sure but I want it to look legit at the same time (I'm gonna start a threat asking about this, as well as cutting).  But other than that, once I figure out the height and angle for the speaker panel (based on the top of the bezel), I'll route myself some speaker holes and hook these bad bays up.  I'm telling you guys, these speakers are fargin' great!!  I already returned a couple pairs before finding these, by the recommendation above (thanks again).  You can't beat the sound for the money.  Also, I found them online and in-store at Office Max, as well as Fry's (in SoCal) vs. ordering online for slightly cheaper.  I wanted the ability to take them back, if they didn't work out... plus, I didn't wanna wait for shipping!  So I just got them for $49. 

But yeah, I'll hopefully get some pictures in here soon!