best home speaker system under 10k?

cyclops · 8th June 2009, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by omishra

I spent 20K for local made Custom speakers + amp + source selectors. Result is same which I wanted.

Hi, where did you get this done from Pune? Or was it a DIY? I am on a lookout for a 2.0 or 2.1 setup (entry level) for my home audio setup. Thanks.

ST7677 · 13th January 2010, 20:31

I am planning to buy 2.1 desktop speaker. This will primarily be used with my bedroom TV (movies), games and music.

I have shortlisted

Logitech z2300 - 8.5k
Harman Kardon SoundStick2 - 13k
Creative GigaWorks T3 - 15.9k

Prices given above are best prices from ebay india. Haven't explored the market yet.

Logitech z2300 seems to have max of 200W RMS and also best reviews amongst the three. It's also the cheapest. I am leaning towards it.
Unfortunately it's a shot in the dark, as I can;t audition any of these. So any advises?

navin · 14th January 2010, 13:50

Of the above I have only heard the Sound Sticks (not the 2). I (actually my son) perfered the Altec Lansing FX 6021 (reviewed here Altec Lansing FX6021 Review - Review - at IGN Altec Lansing FX-6021 | AVguide ) to these. My wife liked the look of the SoundSticks though.

Have you considered Audioengine?

alpha1 · 14th January 2010, 14:12

From what I have heard about (not direct auditioning), Soundsticks are not too great with midrange, and neither with clarity at high volume levels. Its just for eye candy.

Creative and Logitech are much better. Logitech's subwoofer overwhelms the sound. Which is good to some ppl, and bad for others (including me).

alpha1 · 14th January 2010, 14:15

Altec Lansings, have supposedly much balanced sound output. Though I am talking based on 4-5 years old models.

Audioengine a5 will be the ultimate if you can get. But it retails around 20K.
A2 is around 10K mark, and "expectedly" so, their performance is also half of what you'll get from A5 = woofier bass, not enough deepness, resolution worsens at high volume, etc

d_himan · 14th January 2010, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST7677

I am planning to buy 2.1 desktop speaker. This will primarily be used with my bedroom TV (movies), games and music.

I have shortlisted

Logitech z2300 - 8.5k
Harman Kardon SoundStick2 - 13k
Creative GigaWorks T3 - 15.9k

Prices given above are best prices from ebay india. Haven't explored the market yet.

Logitech z2300 seems to have max of 200W RMS and also best reviews amongst the three. It's also the cheapest. I am leaning towards it.
Unfortunately it's a shot in the dark, as I can;t audition any of these. So any advises?

Bought a z2300 more than a year back for 7.1K. You should be getting it for 6 K now. My view on this:

+s:

1. Fantastic for games. Very good for movies.Overall high VFM.
2. Very powerful bass, mids are decent, treble is ok.
3. Good sound staging
4. Very loud and clear - 1/3rd of the volume dial is usually enough for an average bedroom
5. Have a Sigmatel Sound card in my Dell laptop. Heard songs/movies on Altecs and then Z2300 in the same room. Personally liked the Z better.
6. Decent build quality. High quality wires/woofer build/volume knob. Dropped a satellite/knob a few times - no issue.
7. Very responsive to sound card quality. Tried it with a high end Asus and was amazed.

-s:

1. No separate treble control
2. Very heavy woofer. Tough to move it around.
3. Songs don't sound as good as movies/games. Mids are OK. treble is weak. But i'm actually nitpicking - for 7.1 K, i still feel its VFM (all this with my Sigmatel sound card).

ST7677 · 15th January 2010, 11:12

Thanks for your inputs Navin, Alpha1 D_himan…

I was doing shop hopping yesterday trying to audition few speakers. I was able to check out Altec, Creative and Logitech, but could not find Harman Kardon anywhere (incl Reliance Digital on Cunhingam Rd, which someone referred me to). Finally after looking at couple of models I decided to go with Altec’s MX 5021. Just after my purchase I noticed Navin’s & Alpha’s reply which helped me feel good and bad. Good because I bought Guru’s recommended brand, bad as I didn’t consider 6021!

Later in the day, I did a quick & dirty setup with my run of the mill Toshiba laptop and watched few action clips and auditioned few songs in my bedroom. So a quick review of Altec 5021 goes as follows:
Pros:
Very clean & crisp sound (in it’s comparative price range category of multimedia speakers)
Over all sound is very well balanced. None of the frequency range is over focused on.
Creates good cinematic effects, decent with music too
Speakers pretty much match the Plasma TV styling – Flat black round edged rectangles, which can be wall mounted
Wired remote control + wireless remote control also
Control for both Bass and treble (available on both the remote controls)
Ability to connect to 3.5mm Stereo, RCAs, and Gaming port

Cons:
Just about enough power to get the cinematic feel in a 10x12 ft room. I had to crank up the volume to about 85% level to get the PVR like effects. Anything lesser and I would have surely regretted. This is about the overall sonic signature.
A more powerful Subwoofer is required* (for movies & games). While it does produce the rumbles of the action scene it’s just able to manage that and leaves a feeling that more would have been better in this area. Ofcourse I could have lived with different bass levels for music and higher for movies, but Altec decided to just give about enough.

Please note that for many it may be enough, but I love bass*, that too quality bass. Though Logitech z2300 would shake the gut out, I could never live with it’s 6th order bandpass boomy character. In fact I find even Altec’s bass to be somewhat loose, but then at Rs. 6.5 k setup it’s probably the best I could have got.

* This comes from the person who runs 300W RMS 15” Sealed Adire sub with over 2” ultra linear excursion in his car. Individual tastes vary so please take it accordingly. Overall they do what I expected them to do and I am quiet impressed with these speakers.

Notes on current prices (SP road, BLR):
I bought Altec MX 5021 at Rs. 6400++ (Rs. 6556 total)
I bought V-Guard Digi100 stablizer for Rs. 2400
Logitech z2300 was available at Rs. 6900++
Edifer was also available but I had not done any homework on that

ST7677 · 20th January 2010, 13:26

Over the weekend I connected this system to my HT receiver and the sound output increased by about 30% (which tells that my laptop sound card simply sucks...).
Over all sound quality also improved to be more airy and better imaging.

So over all power is comfortably sufficient for a 10x12 room. However I still feel a more powerful sub is required to go deeper and louder. Some quick & dirty tests showed that the frequency starts to roll of sharply below 50-60 hz. (Already started to get calls from the neighbors, so practically I can;t really complain for more).

IMO, a very good SQ buy in 6.5k range.

13th January 2010, 20:31	#47
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 99 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	I am planning to buy 2.1 desktop speaker. This will primarily be used with my bedroom TV (movies), games and music. I have shortlisted Logitech z2300 - 8.5k Harman Kardon SoundStick2 - 13k Creative GigaWorks T3 - 15.9k Prices given above are best prices from ebay india. Haven't explored the market yet. Logitech z2300 seems to have max of 200W RMS and also best reviews amongst the three. It's also the cheapest. I am leaning towards it. Unfortunately it's a shot in the dark, as I can;t audition any of these. So any advises?
	() Thanks

14th January 2010, 13:50	#48
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,412 Thanked: 9,959 Times	Of the above I have only heard the Sound Sticks (not the 2). I (actually my son) perfered the Altec Lansing FX 6021 (reviewed here Altec Lansing FX6021 Review - Review - at IGN Altec Lansing FX-6021 \| AVguide ) to these. My wife liked the look of the SoundSticks though. Have you considered Audioengine?
	() Thanks

14th January 2010, 14:12	#49
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,178 Thanked: 3,008 Times	From what I have heard about (not direct auditioning), Soundsticks are not too great with midrange, and neither with clarity at high volume levels. Its just for eye candy. Creative and Logitech are much better. Logitech's subwoofer overwhelms the sound. Which is good to some ppl, and bad for others (including me).
	() Thanks

14th January 2010, 14:15	#50
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,178 Thanked: 3,008 Times	Altec Lansings, have supposedly much balanced sound output. Though I am talking based on 4-5 years old models. Audioengine a5 will be the ultimate if you can get. But it retails around 20K. A2 is around 10K mark, and "expectedly" so, their performance is also half of what you'll get from A5 = woofier bass, not enough deepness, resolution worsens at high volume, etc
	() Thanks

15th January 2010, 11:12	#52
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 99 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	Thanks for your inputs Navin, Alpha1 D_himan… I was doing shop hopping yesterday trying to audition few speakers. I was able to check out Altec, Creative and Logitech, but could not find Harman Kardon anywhere (incl Reliance Digital on Cunhingam Rd, which someone referred me to). Finally after looking at couple of models I decided to go with Altec’s MX 5021. Just after my purchase I noticed Navin’s & Alpha’s reply which helped me feel good and bad. Good because I bought Guru’s recommended brand, bad as I didn’t consider 6021! Later in the day, I did a quick & dirty setup with my run of the mill Toshiba laptop and watched few action clips and auditioned few songs in my bedroom. So a quick review of Altec 5021 goes as follows: Pros: Very clean & crisp sound (in it’s comparative price range category of multimedia speakers) Over all sound is very well balanced. None of the frequency range is over focused on. Creates good cinematic effects, decent with music too Speakers pretty much match the Plasma TV styling – Flat black round edged rectangles, which can be wall mounted Wired remote control + wireless remote control also Control for both Bass and treble (available on both the remote controls) Ability to connect to 3.5mm Stereo, RCAs, and Gaming port Cons: Just about enough power to get the cinematic feel in a 10x12 ft room. I had to crank up the volume to about 85% level to get the PVR like effects. Anything lesser and I would have surely regretted. This is about the overall sonic signature. A more powerful Subwoofer is required* (for movies & games). While it does produce the rumbles of the action scene it’s just able to manage that and leaves a feeling that more would have been better in this area. Ofcourse I could have lived with different bass levels for music and higher for movies, but Altec decided to just give about enough. Please note that for many it may be enough, but I love bass, that too quality bass. Though Logitech z2300 would shake the gut out, I could never live with it’s 6th order bandpass boomy character. In fact I find even Altec’s bass to be somewhat loose, but then at Rs. 6.5 k setup it’s probably the best I could have got. This comes from the person who runs 300W RMS 15” Sealed Adire sub with over 2” ultra linear excursion in his car. Individual tastes vary so please take it accordingly. Overall they do what I expected them to do and I am quiet impressed with these speakers. Notes on current prices (SP road, BLR): I bought Altec MX 5021 at Rs. 6400++ (Rs. 6556 total) I bought V-Guard Digi100 stablizer for Rs. 2400 Logitech z2300 was available at Rs. 6900++ Edifer was also available but I had not done any homework on that
	() Thanks

20th January 2010, 13:26	#53
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 99 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)	Over the weekend I connected this system to my HT receiver and the sound output increased by about 30% (which tells that my laptop sound card simply sucks...). Over all sound quality also improved to be more airy and better imaging. So over all power is comfortably sufficient for a 10x12 room. However I still feel a more powerful sub is required to go deeper and louder. Some quick & dirty tests showed that the frequency starts to roll of sharply below 50-60 hz. (Already started to get calls from the neighbors, so practically I can;t really complain for more). IMO, a very good SQ buy in 6.5k range. Last edited by ST7677 : 20th January 2010 at 13:28.
	() Thanks