Hardware Looking for new PC speakers

[the_randomizer]

Heya, so I'm looking for some new PC speakers to replace the ones I have, and to make it easier, I have a limit or range of 50-70 dollars, as I don't want super high end speakers, I don't want pieces of crap either The speakers I currently have are Logitech Z523, and while the sound quality is very good for the price, there is one fatal flaw that has developed in less than three-four years' time, I'm not sure if it's interference, a bad connector or what, but I hear hissing/buzzing when I use the headphone jack. I know it's not my headphones as I've tested them on other devices and the issue isn't present. I also hear the same faint squeaking/buzzing when they're unplugged, so something in the speakers themselves is awry; I've tried plugging and unplugging, reseating cables multiple times, no dice. So, I come to you in hopes of getting some advice on what speakers to get

The main things that I'm looking for are:

- Physical knob to adjust the bass
- Headphone jacks and red/white RCA jacks to accept console input
- A surefire way to avoid hissing/buzzing/squeaking when using them

Again, 50-70 dollars, I might be able to go a bit more, but I don't want to go overboard, thanks.

 

[FAST6191]

By and large I find PC speakers beyond basic ones to be a complete scam. Far better to get a proper amp and just use that instead. You might also prefer a soundbar but I don't know if you will find one for the price with the connectivity you want.

What is the hum you are hearing anyway?
Is it something like

 

[the_randomizer]

By and large I find PC speakers beyond basic ones to be a complete scam. Far better to get a proper amp and just use that instead. You might also prefer a soundbar but I don't know if you will find one for the price with the connectivity you want.

What is the hum you are hearing anyway?
Is it something like

No, no humming, but squeaking/hissing at low to medium volumes, when nothing's going on and it's quite noticeable. I don't need anything complex, just enough to avoid the squeaking. An amp is all well and good, but that very well could go beyond my budget. So yeah, it's more of a hissing/squeaking, think of the sound like tires spinning from a really old car when revving the engine in park, that kind of odd sound, and it's not normal. What are some good brands?

 

[FAST6191]

On amps I tend to find there are some great things going second hand if you only want stereo speakers -- everybody wanting 5.1 and SPDIF and HDMI switching and so on seems to have driven the prices right down around here and I am picking up nice old gear at prices I am happy to instead pull it apart at rather than tweak and resell. That said I can fix amps (they are usually fairly basic electronics and have manuals out there in the world) so I tend to go that path for anything I want.

Any chance you can open the speakers? If it is fairly modern then it is likely to have a switch mode supply in, if filtering or isolation has failed (and it does often enough) then it could inject some high frequency in there and it could be a simple replacement of a component (a $3 capacitor if you buy the fancy stuff in the real world, or pennies online or similar for ferrite inductors or something).

 

[mgrev]

I know you said you are looking at speakers, but why? you could of course get some used stereo speakers from something like a cd player from craigslists etc, and use headphones for the rest of the time?. the speakers should be good enough

 

[VinsCool]

I go the badass way and plug my pc directly to the AMP system hahaha

I use my headset when it's not plugged on it.

 

[the_randomizer]

On amps I tend to find there are some great things going second hand if you only want stereo speakers -- everybody wanting 5.1 and SPDIF and HDMI switching and so on seems to have driven the prices right down around here and I am picking up nice old gear at prices I am happy to instead pull it apart at rather than tweak and resell. That said I can fix amps (they are usually fairly basic electronics and have manuals out there in the world) so I tend to go that path for anything I want.

Any chance you can open the speakers? If it is fairly modern then it is likely to have a switch mode supply in, if filtering or isolation has failed (and it does often enough) then it could inject some high frequency in there and it could be a simple replacement of a component (a $3 capacitor if you buy the fancy stuff in the real world, or pennies online or similar for ferrite inductors or something).

I just need 2.1 speakers with bass control, Logitech or similar, 5.1 is overrated for my purposes, as long as I have good bass and decent highs/lows, that's all I really care about in the end. I've never taken apart speakers or much of any kind of electronics in depth, so I wouldn't know how to fix it, but it seems with this particular model, this is a known issue. Speakers I had before lasted 10 years before they kicked the bucket.

I know you said you are looking at speakers, but why? you could of course get some used stereo speakers from something like a cd player from craigslists etc, and use headphones for the rest of the time?. the speakers should be good enough

Used electronics are things I try to avoid, as they could have defects and I like to have something that I know to be new and less likely to fail or wear out faster, if that makes sense, unless the used product is in near-new condition, otherwise I try to avoid secondhand if I can.

I go the badass way and plug my pc directly to the AMP system hahaha

I use my headset when it's not plugged on it.

Yeah, I don't know, I haven't tried that, but I know something's amiss with my speakers


I'm just trying to get some recommended brands to go with and brands to avoid mostly.

 

[loco365]

Used electronics are things I try to avoid, as they could have defects and I like to have something that I know to be new and less likely to fail or wear out faster, if that makes sense, unless the used product is in near-new condition, otherwise I try to avoid secondhand if I can.

Trust me, sometimes you can find hidden gems at garage sales if you know what to look for. I managed to score a pair of Harmon/Kardon PC speakers for a mere $2 at a garage sale years ago and they sound fucking fantastic even after years of intermittent use.

Specifically, these ones: http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=756115

 

[Joe88]

heck I found a boston acoustics ba790 in the trash about 10 years and they are still working fine, a few more years and they will be 20 years old...