Acceptable 2.1 Desktop System

March 5, 2022 8:13 PM

Currently rocking an old 'Cambridge Soundworks' 2.1 system which is breaking down. We can't trust Amazon or Wirecutter. Appantely the reviews on Reddit are compromised. Help!

Wants:
* self powered
* low power (low vampire draw while the host computer is off)
* decent quality
* 2.1 system (I really need big subwoofer and small tweeters, for desktop placement)

* USB powered system only - would be OK?

posted by soylent00FF00 to Technology (9 answers total)

Best answer: You might want to check out Minirigs. I recently purchased a single Minirig 3 and I'm quite impressed. It has high and low gain aux-in jacks in addition to Bluetooth. Leaving them plugged in 24/7 isn’t recommended but they claim pretty impressive battery life.
posted by brachiopod at 8:45 PM on March 5, 2022

Best answer: An audiophile former coworker recommended Swan when my old 2.1 system died, about 5 years ago. I can't vouch for the low-power requirement, but they sounded entirely decent and were pretty inexpensive, and lasted until I upgraded to two studio monitors (I still have them in a box as a backup, just in case). It looks like the set I purchased is no longer in production, but the "M10 Plus" looks pretty similar.
posted by Alterscape at 10:20 PM on March 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: i have a pair of audioengine 2 speakers, they are still in great condition after a decade of use and moving house a few times. they fail most of your requirements apart from "quality" -- externally powered, no subwoofer, each speaker consumes a handspan-sized rectangle of desktop real estate.
posted by are-coral-made at 10:26 PM on March 5, 2022

Best answer: The Klipsch ProMedia's are almost a kind of modern classic - I think they've been on the market, basically unchanged, for ~20 years by now. I've never owned a set, but I have heard them a number of times, and for the price I think they genuinely sound quite good.
posted by kickingtheground at 10:49 PM on March 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have a great sounding set of Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Computer Speakers. It has a plug in subwoofer with two satellite speaker powered through the subwoofer. The subwoofer is biggish, but the 2 smaller speakers are comparable to many computer speakers in size but the have a heavier build than most. The subwoofer connects to the computer through the audio out or headphone port. They sound nearly as good as the big fancy Onkyo/Denon/Klipsch floor speakers stereo system I used to have. I got them at Costco but I don't see them listed right now. NewEgg has them.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:49 PM on March 5, 2022

Best answer: I have been very happy with my Logitech Z625s. These replaced a Klipsch 2.1 set when the surround on that subwoofer finally rotted out after, I dunno, 15 years? Sound is crisp, bass response is tight and adjustable, and I have never, ever found myself wanting for more volume.
posted by xedrik at 7:33 AM on March 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I have the much smaller Logitech Z313s and they're very good, especially for their size (satellites are roughly 6" tall, which was the driving factor to purchase for me - they needed to fit in a pretty small space when I got 'em) and price. The satellites are connected together, though. The cable from each terminates into a shared TRS (headphone) connector. I find this makes it pretty difficult to route the cable effectively, especially with a standing desk setup with the sub on the floor and off to the side.

The Logitechs basically replaced a set of Klipsch ProMedias that were similar to the ones already linked to here but with a more stylized enclosure for the satellites. (They've since been discontinued and the later versions are better.) The Klipsches eventually died - it had a control pod with separate cables for everything and a semi-proprietary DIN connector to link it to the sub/amp/power, and that kicked the bucket. The sound quality on that set was fantastic, though, and it seems Klipsch made the connections more robust in the current model.
posted by mrg at 9:07 AM on March 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Would Harman Kardon soundsticks work? I had the USB Mac version for something like 20 years and they sounded incredible. The satellite speakers are on the tall side but their footprints are really small.
posted by edjusted at 8:04 PM on March 6, 2022

Response by poster: Great suggestions thanks:
* I see the Klipsch Promedias mentioned a lot - my only issue is I've also seen reports they had a high idle vampire draw (like 10 Watts?)
* Soundsticks: my housemate has a set, didn't know they were still being made. Interesting.

Finally - I did more investigating, and turns our my new kitten had been chewing wires behind my desk. I was able to cut out the bad sections and solder everything back together, and now my old system works again.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 7:01 AM on March 7, 2022 [3 favorites]