Two-speaker TV setup for non-audiophiles?

January 15, 2008 3:08 PM

We have an LG LCD tv with some not-very-good speakers, and they are starting to sound "blown". Is there some kind of amp-speaker set designed for people who just want decent audio, rather than surround sound?

We do not want 5 speakers. We want two small but pretty-good sounding speakers. What's a good product or approach?

posted by everichon to Technology (12 answers total)

I have the Bose Cinemate system and I like it a lot.
posted by Sculthorpe at 3:18 PM on January 15, 2008

I have some old Bose outdoor speakers that I just plugged into the external speaker jacks on a TV and put on top of the entertainment center and they sound much better than the TV's speakers. They also don't need a separate amplifier for my particular TV.
posted by TedW at 3:24 PM on January 15, 2008

Simplest thing is to buy a high quality set of computer speakers, e.g. 2 fronts and a tiny subwoofer. That will have an integrated amp and the input is via a 1/8" plug, which you might need to get an adapter to RCA plugs to connect to the TV.
posted by polyglot at 3:27 PM on January 15, 2008

You'll probably want a 2.1 system - 2 side speakers and a center channel. The center channel carries most of the dialog and "front" action.
posted by grateful at 3:36 PM on January 15, 2008

How much do you want to spend?

I got a pair of M-Audio DX-4 speakers (no subwoofer) for around $100. They sound great, better than the giant Logitech 2+1 set I got a couple of years ago. (I think Bose speakers sound like shit, but of course that's only one person's opinion.)
posted by phliar at 3:46 PM on January 15, 2008

It's not 2.1, but I love love love my Zvox. I have the 325, but there are smaller models. They match the cable box in size and the virtual surround algorithm they use is awesome. Read the reviews.
posted by jshelus at 5:11 PM on January 15, 2008

A clarification on grateful's suggestion; 2.1 means 2 speakers and one subwoofer. A 3 speaker + subwoofer would be classified as 3.1, and I can't remember ever seeing a system like that for sale. You only need to worry about a center channel if your TV is putting out 5.1 channel audio though, most likely it's plain old stereo and a normal set of computer speakers would play everything there is to hear.
posted by bizwank at 5:44 PM on January 15, 2008

i have one of those cheap 'shelf' systems (cd player, radio, etc) by aiwa. it doesn't sound too bad plugged into the headphone jack of my tv. sounds much better than the tiny things that are built in, anyway
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:03 PM on January 15, 2008

oops forgot to mention, it does have a set of 'video/aux in' RCA jacks on the back.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:11 PM on January 15, 2008

Seconding polyglot about the high end computer speakers suggestion. I bought a logitech pair with a small sub and sound is great as well as good looking
that looks great but have a good sound to.
posted by ilike at 4:06 AM on January 16, 2008

Response by poster: The ZVOX looks good, though I think I am drawn toward something like the M-Audio speakers: more within my budget. Thanks, this has been very helpful!
posted by everichon at 7:56 AM on January 16, 2008

Check the Philips Digital DVD Home Theater System HTS6500. 2.1 pseudo surround sound with upsampling dvd player built in to the amplifier. It can be found for less than $250. It sounds great for TV and music.
posted by troubleon14thst at 11:24 AM on January 16, 2008