I might need new desktop speakers

[Mark]

my old ass klipsch 4.1 V-2 system is giving me fits, i am going to take them apart and see if i can figure out the problem some day.

i need something with surround sound for gaming and really decent quality for lossless music playback.

a subwoofer is need as well.

using the onboard sound from my asus X79deluxe mobo Realtek® ALC1150 chip.

not sure on a budget but maybe like $300 max or so ? ?

i have seen some swan speakers mentioned, but not sure what models ?

suggestions are welcome please, or should i go to some kind of headphgone solution ?

[Philip]

I am in a similar situation, I have a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 and I haven't been able to find a similarly well sounding system for a decent price. I replaced the speaker on the sub, and my only other problem is that the volume potentiometer makes this crackling noise when changing volume. What's wrong with yours, can it be fixed ? I think you'll be hard pressed to find a similar system, still, I hope I'm wrong.

I heard good things about the HiVi Swans M200 MKII (or MKIII ?).. They were on sale at Newegg for ~200 at some point, but they're just 2 big PC speakers, not a surround system.
Maybe the HIVI M10, or HIVI M50W (2 fronts plus a sub) will be similar, haven't heard them though.

As far as headphones, I use Sennheiser HD580 and highly recommend them (almost the same as HD600, same drivers a bit better matched). The hd600 cost $3-400, but you can sometimes steal a used hd580 on fleabay for ~100, amazing headphones. Seems there are many more choices in this category than good PC speakers though, idk if you want a headset with a microphone.

[Mark]

the volume issue on yours might be fixed by using contact cleaner on the rotary switch, it fixed mine years ago.

my issue is if i power the speakers off for any length of time, they would sound very distorted until they warmed up, but the other nite i was in bed and heard a squealing noise in my office, went to investigate and smelled the scent of electronic component failure, they had been kind of sketchy for awhile though as far as the sound goes.

i will take the amp apart to see if it is anything that i can find, but after 15 years i guess i have got my money worth out of them LOL


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106515&cm_re=Sennheiser_HD_558_Headphones-_-26-106-515-_-Product

looking hard at these headphones, for the money supposed to be good.

i will check your suggestions as well, not sure if i could get used to headphones though.

thanks

[Philip]

Yeah, I've tried the contact cleaner once, it worked for a while but started again. I'll have to open them up.
Your problem sounds more like some capacitor (or another component) went bad.

As for the headphones, the big over-the-ear Sennheisers are super comfy (at least the hd580/590/600 are). I am not familiar with the hd558 you linked, but the brand is solid.

[Mark]

this looks suspect right ??

[Mark]

this looks suspect right ??

http://i.imgur.com/fAeXCp8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fAeXCp8.jpg

[Mark]

well ****, replaced that cap and it does the same high pitched squeal, i guess i have to start checking resistors ?

i saw nothing else that looked suspect to my untrained eyes anyways.

[Philip]

Usually when caps go they tend to bulge on top like that, yes.

Does the sound change with the volume, or if you unplug some of the cables ? Does it come out from all speakers ? That may give a clue as to where it is, but yeah, usually too much gain will give out squealing noise from amps... This could be caused by lower resistance, so yes, it could be a resistor. Another bad capacitor may cause a short also, and caps have a limited lifespan, they're somewhat more prone to failure... Of course I'm not an expert either :)

I just found a thread about the amp board on Hardforum, they seem to suggest that the H1/H2 chips can cause a high-pitched noise as well: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1268387&page=11... But it could be the two 100mfd 35v capacitors, some diode, or a number of other components, really.

[Mark]

my system makes a high pitched squeeling noise even if no music is being played, kinda like feedback i would guess.

thanks for the link. will look through it later.

for now i am looking at either decent headphones or a pair of JBL LSR305's

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1DEI8G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3KOLNOXNK0RX2&coliid=I14E1BICPT24H5&psc=1

[downhill]

I am in a similar situation, I have a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 and I haven't been able to find a similarly well sounding system for a decent price. I replaced the speaker on the sub, and my only other problem is that the volume potentiometer makes this crackling noise when changing volume. What's wrong with yours, can it be fixed ? I think you'll be hard pressed to find a similar system, still, I hope I'm wrong.

.

Philip get some De - Ox - Id spray and hose that potentiomenter. It'll probalby fix it.

[Mark]

have had my JBL's for a few weeks now, they really are nice sounding for the money, so clear and un-colored sounding, and decent base extension as well.
made some stands for them to bring the tweeters up to ear level, and have adjustable legs if i need to tilt them as well.

i have them set to level 5 out of 10 on the back volume control, they get way louder than i need them to be. no equalization is needed in my case it seems, running foobar2000, flac files in WASAPI output mode, sounds great.

on Alanis Morissette - Space Cakes - 04 - Perfect, i have never heard her voice so clearly, i have really missed the details before.

i do have some sound deadening foam coming to treat the walls a bit, not sure if it helps, but was cheap enough to not worry about.

i highly recommend these speakers, they are on sale all the time on amazon, even now they are cheaper than what i paid for them.


http://i.imgur.com/d99kMGS.jpg (http://imgur.com/d99kMGS)

http://i.imgur.com/8WGLJOa.jpg (http://imgur.com/8WGLJOa)

[downhill]

sound deadening will help if it's in the right place. If your room is a cube it'll really make a difference for your sound stage.

[Easto]

I use these under my monitors and they really helped decouple the speaker from the desk. A lot less "rumbly" bass.

http://www.auralex.com/product/mopad-mopad-xl/

[Mark]

I use these under my monitors and they really helped decouple the speaker from the desk. A lot less "rumbly" bass.

http://www.auralex.com/product/mopad-mopad-xl/

i looked at those as well.

i like making stuff so i did :)

there is a 1/4" foam pad under speakers inside the stands, and the legs have foam glued to bottom of legs as well

[Philip]

I ended up buying Bose Companion 2 Series III, (I hear the Companion 20s are great as well, maybe a bit more bright).

My Klispch Promedia was disintegrating in other places besides the volume potentiometer.. I had replaced the sub speaker a couple of years back (the paper had disintegrated on the original), the caps are starting to bulge, the s-video connector cable between the speakers and the sub was getting way too finicky (I had to move it around to get stereo), etc. I just got tired of all the hassle.

I am very happy with the sound from the Bose companion 2s (Series III), I can frankly say they exceeded my expectations. They have better channel separation, clear highs, plenty of bass for such a small package, no sub to deal with and I prefer full range front speakers anyway, I am not a big fan of satellite fronts. The volume button feels much more solid and it can actually turn them off as well, there is a headphones jack and an aux input too. The funny part is those Bose speakers sound more like my Klipsch HD 580 headphones than the Promedia 2.1. There are of course a couple of downsides - the Klishes are much more efficient and their amp was better, so volume is cut down somewhat with the Bose Companions.