External Speakers for iMac duo Intel

[wlance]

I have a new iMac duo Intel. Great computer, except for the built in speakers. I am looking for recommendations on external speakers. The output is optical digital. The speakers must connect with a 3.5mm plug on an optical audio cable. I hope to find speakers that are not too large, but improve the sound output.

[jessica.]

I have a new iMac duo Intel. Great computer, except for the built in speakers. I am looking for recommendations on external speakers. The output is optical digital. The speakers must connect with a 3.5mm plug on an optical audio cable. I hope to find speakers that are not too large, but improve the sound output.
The harmon/hardon soundsticks compliment that machine quite well.
I have them and they're very nice. I do believe I will eventually sell mine and get some altec lansings. they match my setup better.

[DrStrangelove]

This has been an on-going internal struggle for me.

I've got a great sound system in my home. I've got several rooms wired up to the central unit. I'm hoping to connect the imac directly to the stereo this week at some point so that I can pipe stuff throughout the house.

I've invested so much in my home audio stuff that I always find it tought to throw a lot of money at my computer speakers. Hence my (I think) $79 system(3 channel). No, that's not expensive but it's not $19.99 either. And I don't even use THESE things to the fullest, say at night, when my wife and kids are sleeping. The sub is enough to bother them 4 rooms away.

I agree that the internal imac speakers leave a lot to be desired, but you know- they can (do) serve a purpose from time to time in my home.

[1dterbeest]

Logitech z2300 speakers.

AMAZING sound for the price.
the 120watt sub throws the
bass around big time.

I would recommend it over
any sub-$250 Bose system
I've ever heard, and you can
probably get THIS system for
less than a hundred bucks!

[Johnny Rico]

I have the tivoli (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/home.php) model two with subwoofer and they fill up the room rather well. Not specifically "computer" speakers though.

[alexstein]

I recommend the JBL Creature II (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001DQ5YG/ref=nosim/103-5144857-9595007?n=172282) Nice compact size and the sound is decent as well.

[p0intblank]

Logitech z2300 speakers.

AMAZING sound for the price.
the 120watt sub throws the
bass around big time.

I would recommend it over
any sub-$250 Bose system
I've ever heard, and you can
probably get THIS system for
less than a hundred bucks!

Those are the speakers I am looking to get for my soon-to-be-had Mac mini Core Duo. New Egg is selling them for only $98 and the reviews have been excellent. You can't really go wrong with a system as nice as this one with a price tag under $100. I can't wait to get mine. :D

[1dterbeest]

I did extensive research through customer
and pro reviews on these speakers before
buying them. I got mine (refurbished) for
$90 including shipping. They are AMAZING.
It seriously shakes the room at less than
half volume, but performs well at lower
volumes too. BOSE be damned for their
overpricing schemes! Seriously get these
Logitech z2300s.

[crazycat]

I have the Harman Kardon Soundsticks 2 with my imac, its very well built. It fell a few times from me and i kinda banged it once or twice with only little scratches on it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001DBEM4/sr=1-1/qid=1143526481/ref=sr_1_1/002-8108619-4607257?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=pc

It looks vert well beside the imac which is the main reason i got it.

[Dopeyman]

I would have to agree with jessica. and crazycat...

I also have a set of Harman Kardon Soundsticks 2 connected to my 20" Intel iMac...... They sound great!! :)

[andthen]

I would have to agree with jessica. and crazycat...

I also have a set of Harman Kardon Soundsticks 2 connected to my 20" Intel iMac...... They sound great!! :)

The Soundsticks 2 do not appear in Sound Preferences after attaching them to the line out ... what am I missing?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thx

[Eidorian]

The Soundsticks 2 do not appear in Sound Preferences after attaching them to the line out ... what am I missing?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ThxDoes it look like this when they're plugged in?

[emaja]

i will second - or is it third now - the Logitech z-2300s. I have had them for my iMac for over a year and the sound is much better than the overrated SoundSticks IMO.

I listen to everything from jazz and classical to Rush and a little Metallica and these really handle everything very nicely. For less than $100 at New Egg, they are hard to beat.

I do like the Klipsch, but my ears can't tell much of a difference between the 2300s and them, so I went with the more affordable set.

Give them a listen if you can and compare them to the HKs. They compare very favorably to anything else I heard - even the more expensive speaker sets.

[andthen]

Does it look like this when they're plugged in?

yes ... the sound preference pane looks exactly like the screen shot you've included in your reply ...

I take it you've experienced the same difficulty ... any thoughts?