Suggestions for ultra modern/minimalistic speakers for iMac?

What are you looking for? 2.0, 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1?

Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks ?

I'm more concerned with sound quality vs looks, for the money you can't beat the THX certified speaker systems from Logitech

Klipsch also has THX speakers

What's with THX?

In my opinion, HK Sound Sticks is great. You could also try the wireless version.

The Swans T200 is ultra modern looking and matches well with the iMac. They aren't cheap though.

I want to 2nd the Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks. I just recently purchased some and they look great sitting next to my imac, plus they sound great!

What's with THX?

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Lucas Films performance specs for speakers, receivers, screens...etc.


Google "thx speakers".

Bose speakers are the top notch, but very expensive. They are the best I've ever heard.

Otherwise, JBL produce also very good stuff, and Logitech looks crappy but has good sound.

I bought myself a Dared MP5 tube amp with USB input together with good old JBL speakers made for tube amps, the sound is breathtaking.

These go well with apple products.

http://www.podspeakers.dk/

logictech has the best sound for the price. you dont have to spend alot on logitechs and they still sound good.

I've been eying these for awhile. They're called AudioEngine A2's


They also come in black but unfortunately they are only 2.0's

dkersten said:

I've been eying these for awhile. They're called AudioEngine A2's
View attachment 380945

They also come in black but unfortunately they are only 2.0's

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Been using these for a few years. They have great sound and decent bass although it is moderately cut off at the low end.

Paradigm Shift MilleniaOne
Paradigm Shift A2

http://www.paradigm.com/shift/systems/index.php

Focal XS 2.1

http://www.focal.com/en/home-audio-loudspeakers/focal-xs.php

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 sound really nice too, but could be too clunky for what you're looking for.

http://www.klipsch.com/promedia-2-1-computer-speakers

El Awesome said:

Bose speakers are the top notch, but very expensive. They are the best I've ever heard.

Otherwise, JBL produce also very good stuff, and Logitech looks crappy but has good sound.

I bought myself a Dared MP5 tube amp with USB input together with good old JBL speakers made for tube amps, the sound is breathtaking.

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Absolutely incorrect. They might sound great for the size but they are way too aggressively sounding. Bose is very good in one thing: marketing. That's where it ends.

v654321 said:

Absolutely incorrect. They might sound great for the size but they are way too aggressively sounding. Bose is very good in one thing: marketing. That's where it ends.

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I respectfully disagree. Bose is very good at getting lots of sound out of very small speakers.

Everyone hates on Bose, because it's true that you can get speakers that are as good for less money, and it's true that you can get better speakers for the same amount of money. However, in both those scenarios, the speakers will be bigger and uglier.

I would think Mac fans wouldn't have such animosity towards Bose. After all, both are expensive products of the market they are in. However, Bose just works. It's a very simple set-it-and-forget-it system, in a very small form factor.

oneMadRssn said:

I respectfully disagree. Bose is very good at getting lots of sound out of very small speakers.

Everyone hates on Bose, because it's true that you can get speakers that are as good for less money, and it's true that you can get better speakers for the same amount of money. However, in both those scenarios, the speakers will be bigger and uglier.

I would think Mac fans wouldn't have such animosity towards Bose. After all, both are expensive products of the market they are in. However, Bose just works. It's a very simple set-it-and-forget-it system, in a very small form factor.

Click to expand...

I have a fair amount of Bose stuff... largely for the reasons that you state above. I think many of their products are heavy on bass, and I think that it is largely because they tend to use folded wave guides to give it bigger sound. I suspect that it is an acquired taste. I do not love nor hate the sound of Bose... but I agree that it is not really audiophile quality.

I travel a lot... and when on commercial flights, I typically use Bose QC15's noise reduction headsets. I also have some nice Etymotics ER4's. Both the Bose and Etymotics are about $300 each... but there is no contest in sound quality... the Etymotics leave Bose in the dust. However... I use my Bose QC15's about 10X (or more) often... because they are so damn comfortable. The quality is "good enough".

I use a Bose bluetooth earpiece with my iPhone for business calls. I have owned at least a dozen different BT earpieces over the years... and the Bose the the most comfortable by far.

Likewise... I have four sets of Bose aviation headsets hard wired into my personal plane. They are expensive at about $1K per pair... but there is simply nothing that is as comfortable, or as good at sound suppression (especially with a reciprocating engine) as Bose. They make flying MUCH more comfortable... and about 10X better when you actually need to hear and understand ATC commands.

My wife has a pair of Bose Computer Music Monitors on her iMac. For the size... I think they are probably pretty good... but I have no doubt there are better sounding sound systems available. The question is... would she care? They are so small that they are almost invisible on her desk. She would vastly prefer that than some clunky speakers.

I guess the bottom line is that Bose seems to hit a spot that is pretty good quality... exceptional packaging... etc. Very much like Apple does for computing. There are better sounding products than Bose in most areas (except for their true aviation headsets), but overall... their products are quite comfortable to use and have better than most ergonomics.

/Jim