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I'm pretty happy with the sound on the ProMedia's, but the choice of a fragile DIN plug (like those old-timey PS2 computer keyboard connectors) for the satellite connection is ludicrous. They're practically unusable now and cause me much, much stress. Beware -- it's a common complaint on the forums. I had to fiddle with the connection on the back of the sub to get a stereo signal again. I had to put my two cents in. I've tried the most amazing jury-rigging with tape and rubber bands and chewing gum (okay. Within several months, the satellites would cut out or only one channel would play. Horrible design choice.
not chewing gum) to try to hold the connection in the EXACT RIGHT SPOT to get all the speakers to work correctly. Over the years it's become less and less effective. So now I'm in the market -- against my will -- for new computer speakers, and I saw this review page. They sound great, but a mentally challenged monkey designed the connections.
First off, the sub-woofer is heavy, as in you can't lean over the back of te workstation to pick it up. This became my mantra. The sound from this system is incredible. Each speaker connects to the back of the sub-woofer through bare wires clipped into spring-loaded terminals. I would reach around, trace the cables and *WHAM*, a huge pop, when I wiggled the DIN connector on the sub-woofer, and then the sweet music returned.
I had read complaints about the connecting wires that came with it but figured I'm a clever person and would be able to fix any problems that arose with wires. The satellites are as solid and well-constructed as any small speaker I've ever seen. A DIN-plug (once the standard in any audio coming from Europe). I don't know if it was the connector or the cable but it got to the point where the sound was coming out of the Promedia less than a quarter of the time.Finally, I turned it off. It is no exaggeration to say I was thrilled to order these for my PC.
But it isn't quite that simple. Okay. Simple enough. connects a control pod on one of the satellites and the audio from the PC into the sub-woofer.
I didn't have a separate high-end sound card, only an on-board chipset and I was amazed. When I found it, I never touched it, again. The Klipsch name has represented the finest in audio speakers for me since the early 1970s. Lesson learned. Don't move the wires. This progressed until there wasn't enough wiggling to be done to fix the problem. The highs are clean and crisp without turning harsh with volume, and the lows are more mellow and well-mixed than I expected. They went silent and sat there until I got motivated to move the entire workstation, unplug the tangle of wires and haul the whole mess to the trash.
The cables connecting the system were a little different than most PC 2.1 systems I've owned. You won't match the sound coming from these speakers, at least for a while. I haven't heard sound this good from any personal computer anywhere at any time. Thus began a love affair that I couldn't imagine ever ending.Until about six months into our relationship, when one speaker or two or the entire system would cut out. (No small feat that, working my way behind my workstation and fumbling for the power switch on the lowest point at the back of the woofer. If I'd known I was going to end up throwing them away I'd have shopped for something lighter and more compact, so the whole system fit in one hand but, for a while there, we had a sweet, sweet thing going.
I have owned these for nearly 2 drunken full volume years with no isues. The actual speakers themselves have performed beautifully.
I will never look back. I heard great things about Klipsch so I switched from Logitech (shudder) to these.
Pounds the walls and hardly ever distorts. These are by far the best speakers I have owned for my PC.
The bass is GREAT. I strongly recommend these to any audiophile out there looking for some reasonably priced but great speakers.
5 out of 5 stars.
I bought these because they had by far the best sound:price ratio of the ones I could listen to in store at Best Buy.Box #1 was an open box (several other open boxes were also in the store. Then I repositioned the woofer a tiny bit. Really good sound. or did BB swap a speaker from another box due to a broken one. But reviews and first hand evidence suggest otherwise. made me go a little "hmmm, what's with the multiple returns on this item." but I went with it for the sake of a 10% discount).Got it home, unpacked, set up - found out the two satellite speakers were both the one WITHOUT the input and volume controls. The bass was a little more "thud" than actual distinguishable tone but for a set of computer speakers I paid only $115 AFTER tax, I was very happy.
This cord had a big yellow tag on it warning you to plug it in only at a specific diagrammed angle to avoid possible damage (Way to abdicate responsibility for manufacturing a thing that easily breaks) I thought I had it at the exact right angle but i must have been off by 3 or 4 degrees because it didn't immediately go in and when i did get it in, one of my speakers no longer functioned.Also, the power switch being on the back of the subwoofer, under my desk is a little stupid. right up until they break, which in my case was about 3 minutes. And that was enough to jiggle the cord connecting the satellite speakers loose. (Is this why the first person returned it and BB just put it right back on the shelf. Either way reflects badly on both Klipsch and BB)Box #2 had all the right parts. I'd like to believe this was an uncommon lemon. No box #3 for me.
Nevertheless I suspect one could do just as good with a 100$ 2.1 pc set. I was satisfied listening to Leonard Cohen.In hindsight I may have had to high expectations.
As I couldn't take it with me when I moved the last time I had to get a new system. I used to have a 1200 $ stereo system with floor speakers.
Further-more the subwoofer seemed to mostly make one kind of sound (exaggerating for clarity) and its very easy to hear where the sub is placed which screws up the stereo image some.However with other types of music the speakers performed better. I had grown tired of the large floor speakers and since I don't consider myself an audiophile I figured I could get by with just getting some good pc speakers.At first I tested my new klipsch speakers with various heavy metal and rock and was very disappointed.
It's like there's something missing between the midrange and the bass. Of course it's still "only" 150 for a complete speaker set.
You might lose a little sound quality but it dosen't compare to the inherent weakness of two sattelites and a small sub.
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