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View Full Version : Comprehensive 2.1 Speaker Round-Up Review


Jason Dunn
01-08-2011, 08:47 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-speaker-2.1-channel-subwoofer,2835.html' target='_blank'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...oofer,2835.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Is it just us, or are 5.1- and 7.1-channel speaker systems impractical for PCs? In our 2.1 speaker roundup, we look at the Corsair SP2500 and Antec/Soundscience Rockus 3D|2.1, along with the Creative Gigaworks 3D, Klipsch Promedia 2.1, and Logitech Z623. If you're a PC user who hasn't experienced what a subwoofer can do, you owe it to yourself to try one out. Strong bass brings incredible power to game sounds, and extends the range of music much lower than a two-speaker setup can achieve. If you want to feel those explosions and rhythms, a subwoofer isn't an option. It's a necessity."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1294471714.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Keen on picking up a set of 2.1 speakers? Then check out this review - it's quite comprehensive given that speaker quality, and sound quality in general, can be highly subjective. I would suggest though that sometimes a&nbsp;sub-woofer&nbsp;is overrated; I used to think that I'd never use a set of speakers without a sub-woofer, but once I heard the <a href="http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/31342/the-sweet-sound-of-audioengine-a5-speakers.html" target="_blank">AudioEngine A5</a> and <a href="http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/88202/audioengine-a2-speakers-mighty-small-mighty-sound.html" target="_blank">A2</a> speakers, I knew that was no longer the case. I now have three sets of A2 speakers in my office, all without sub-woofers. If speakers are designed by talented people, you'd be shocked how good music can sound, even without a sub-woofer.</p>

EscapePod
01-08-2011, 04:45 PM
The rear speakers on my 5.1 PC system are pretty much useless. However, the center channel speaker seems to really add something that makes for a better sound experience. I've had this setup for about 4 yrs and now I think I'll just remove the rear speakers, and play with the sound card settings to see what works best. What would you call a setup like this... 3.1 ?

Jason Dunn
01-08-2011, 05:35 PM
The rear speakers on my 5.1 PC system are pretty much useless. However, the center channel speaker seems to really add something that makes for a better sound experience. I've had this setup for about 4 yrs and now I think I'll just remove the rear speakers, and play with the sound card settings to see what works best. What would you call a setup like this... 3.1 ?

When you have three front channels, the centre speaker is the most important - about 50% of the audio comes from there, and in a 5.1 mix, it's where the the voices come from in dialogue, etc. When you have a 2.1 setup, that centre channel comes from both the left and right speaker.

I did something similar to what you're thinking of - i had a 4.1 system and I removed the two rear channels, to make it a 2.1. :)