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Speakers that can fill a room.
- Thread starter LoganT
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If you want something made by Apple you could go with the Hi-Fi. They "fill a room" according to Apple.
well, filling a room with cheap speakers might mean you have cheap, crappy sound 
i highly recommend Audio Engine's speakers.
www.audioengineusa.com
higher priced but the sound is phenomenal. absolutely rock solid. i play all types of music and the speakers handle the ranges very well. and they connect to an ipod directly or better yet, to an airport express if you have one (ie. as in, right on the back of 1 speaker! = no receiver needed
Cheers,
Keebler
i highly recommend Audio Engine's speakers.
www.audioengineusa.com
higher priced but the sound is phenomenal. absolutely rock solid. i play all types of music and the speakers handle the ranges very well. and they connect to an ipod directly or better yet, to an airport express if you have one (ie. as in, right on the back of 1 speaker! = no receiver needed
Cheers,
Keebler
To fill a room with speakers... you're gonna need a lot of speakers or some very large speakers. Why would you want to fill a room with speakers again? Are you some sort of speaker collector and you want to know how to store them in a dedicated speaker room?
I'm sorry... That joke was supposed to be funnier... It sounded funny in my head but, now just reading it... it lost it's funniness. Oh well.
I'm sorry... That joke was supposed to be funnier... It sounded funny in my head but, now just reading it... it lost it's funniness. Oh well.
NO way, try Bang and Olufsen for something a lot more richer. (bad grammar but who cares?)
12 x 10 is not a large room. Standard bookshelf speakers or reasonable quality computer speakers will be plenty loud. If you want gut-thumping bass then look for a system with a subwoofer.
What's your budget?
If it's lower than $200, I'd recommend a multimedia sound system, like Logitech's or Klipsch's.
If your budget is between $200 and $500, I'd recommend a Home-Theater-in-a-Box, like the Onkyo HT-590 or HT-790.
If your budget is between $500 and $1000, I'd recommend either a 5.1 system with the entry-level systems at your local Best Buy or Circuit City, or a higher-quality 2.1 system. Consider an Onkyo AVR + Polk Monitor Series (Circuit City), or a Pioneer AVR + JBL Studio Series (Best Buy) or the the SVS SBS-01 + SVS Sub + Receiver (svsound.com).
If your budget is between $1000 and $2000, I'd recommend visiting a home theater store and get an AVR from Denon, Marantz, Pioneer Elite, or HK, with a speaker system from Paradigm, Ascend Acoustics, Bowers & Wilkins, Vienna Acoustics, Klipsch, KEF, NHT, Monitor Audio etc. I'd heartily recommend the Paradigm Monitor v5 series or the B&W 600 series.
If your budget is between $2000 or more, you should know what you're getting yourself into and probably wouldn't be asking your question here, I'm assuming...
BOSE would only be a consideration if space is an absolute premium. Dollar-for-dollar, the sound quality is not that great, compared to these options. Bang & Olufsen would only be a consideration if style is an absolute premium. Dollar-for-dollar, they are poor performers compared to these options as well.
If it's lower than $200, I'd recommend a multimedia sound system, like Logitech's or Klipsch's.
If your budget is between $200 and $500, I'd recommend a Home-Theater-in-a-Box, like the Onkyo HT-590 or HT-790.
If your budget is between $500 and $1000, I'd recommend either a 5.1 system with the entry-level systems at your local Best Buy or Circuit City, or a higher-quality 2.1 system. Consider an Onkyo AVR + Polk Monitor Series (Circuit City), or a Pioneer AVR + JBL Studio Series (Best Buy) or the the SVS SBS-01 + SVS Sub + Receiver (svsound.com).
If your budget is between $1000 and $2000, I'd recommend visiting a home theater store and get an AVR from Denon, Marantz, Pioneer Elite, or HK, with a speaker system from Paradigm, Ascend Acoustics, Bowers & Wilkins, Vienna Acoustics, Klipsch, KEF, NHT, Monitor Audio etc. I'd heartily recommend the Paradigm Monitor v5 series or the B&W 600 series.
If your budget is between $2000 or more, you should know what you're getting yourself into and probably wouldn't be asking your question here, I'm assuming...
BOSE would only be a consideration if space is an absolute premium. Dollar-for-dollar, the sound quality is not that great, compared to these options. Bang & Olufsen would only be a consideration if style is an absolute premium. Dollar-for-dollar, they are poor performers compared to these options as well.
Even if your budget is $1000 (which I doubt) I'd still go with the Onkyo HT-790. I have it and it sounds as good as $1000 systems for only $500.
I agree with going the separate amp/speaker set up instead of computer speakers.
I'd like to add Yamaha to the AVR list. They do a good range and very good quality for the money.
This route is far more upgradeable than just getting a decent set of computer speakers.
Don't know what you mean by "cheap" (it's always relative), but I got a Klipsch iFi system about a year ago for a g/f, and its sound is incredible. Street price is about $250. Reviews:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Klipsch_iFi/4505-7868_7-31417596.html
You can use have both a line-level and ipod inputs (actually, two line-level inputs, but the way the inputs interact is non-standard - I can't remember for sure, but I think that if the 3rd input is plugged in, it overrides the iPod input. And, I think the 1st line input is mixed with the iPod input).
Biggest negative is that the subwoofer is pretty big. The satellites can be wall mounted (hardware included).
http://reviews.cnet.com/Klipsch_iFi/4505-7868_7-31417596.html
You can use have both a line-level and ipod inputs (actually, two line-level inputs, but the way the inputs interact is non-standard - I can't remember for sure, but I think that if the 3rd input is plugged in, it overrides the iPod input. And, I think the 1st line input is mixed with the iPod input).
Biggest negative is that the subwoofer is pretty big. The satellites can be wall mounted (hardware included).
As already said, best thing to do is to buy a seperate amp then add the speakers.
A fairly decent amp will cost you around $200-300. If you want to FILL a room with sound, get an AV Receiver Amplifier (i.e. a surround sound system). This allows you to connect several speakers to the one amp and give you the option for surround sound via the optical out from the Apple TV (least I think Apple TV gives you surround sound if your source offers it). Having 2 speakers at the rear and 3 at the front, you will definitely fill your room.
Good thing about creating your own system is you don't have to buy all at once - get the amp with this month's paycheck, get the front speaker's with next month's and the rears after that and so on.
Another investment if you did go down the line of an AV Receiver is a decent sub woofer. This is what gives you the deep bass - brilliant for movies aswell as music (if you ever had a rave going on in that room!).
If you want a system to last you, your best looking at buying each part individually as opposed to a system that is ready made.
My sound system gives damn good bass response while maintaining high clarity of sound, and since I built the thing it only costed me $700. I have 2 front speakers (big tall ones) and 2 rear speakers (small ones), a 10" Sub Woofer and a 500 watt AV Receiver.
A fairly decent amp will cost you around $200-300. If you want to FILL a room with sound, get an AV Receiver Amplifier (i.e. a surround sound system). This allows you to connect several speakers to the one amp and give you the option for surround sound via the optical out from the Apple TV (least I think Apple TV gives you surround sound if your source offers it). Having 2 speakers at the rear and 3 at the front, you will definitely fill your room.
Good thing about creating your own system is you don't have to buy all at once - get the amp with this month's paycheck, get the front speaker's with next month's and the rears after that and so on.
Another investment if you did go down the line of an AV Receiver is a decent sub woofer. This is what gives you the deep bass - brilliant for movies aswell as music (if you ever had a rave going on in that room!).
If you want a system to last you, your best looking at buying each part individually as opposed to a system that is ready made.
My sound system gives damn good bass response while maintaining high clarity of sound, and since I built the thing it only costed me $700. I have 2 front speakers (big tall ones) and 2 rear speakers (small ones), a 10" Sub Woofer and a 500 watt AV Receiver.
re: the ifi speakers - klipsch is selling refurbs on ebay for $150 + shipping. looks like they may have been discontinued.
I'm perfectly happy with my JBL Creature 2 Aluminum 3-piece (subwoofer + 2 satellites) set. I use it with an iPod for a room about the size you describe. It's much cheaper than the other options suggested so far--$54 on Amazon, which is where I got mine:
http://www.amazon.com/HARMAN-MULTIM...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1174433551&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/HARMAN-MULTIM...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1174433551&sr=8-2
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Depends if you're looking for a 2.0, 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 system.
If you're looking for a 2.0 then there's some M-Audio speakers (I think) which are actually supposed to be studio monitors, but people have said they are very good quality computer speakers to.
If you're looking for a 2.0 then there's some M-Audio speakers (I think) which are actually supposed to be studio monitors, but people have said they are very good quality computer speakers to.