Hello all,

I'm using Hercules XPS 2.140 loudspeakers but there's always been a constant annoying buzzing sound in the bass box (I think it's due to the tension transformer inside).

So, please give me your recommendations for a silent and good 2.1 loudspeaker system (i.e. 2 left/right stereo satellites and a bass box) for a desktop PC. Their primary function is for delicate music (chill-out/ambient/classical).

I'd rather you told me of what you are *personally* using and satisfied with just to be sure about the absence of buzzing sound.

Also 2 questions :

- a lot of loudspeakers use a 3.5 mm jack to connect behind PC but when I disconnect and reconnect between my 2 PCs I realize I have to fumble a bit with the jack until I get a normal sound without distortion, so I guess USB connecter would be a better solution but I'm surprised that there are only few loudspeakers with USB, why is it so?

- I've seen 2.0 systems (2 satellites with the bass integrated in 1 satellite) which seem acceptable according to reviews, but I'm skeptical, did you have good experience with them?

Thanks in advance!

PS: it's getting harder to trust "review" sites, they copy-paste or summarize/reformulate descriptions/feedback from shops and link to them with a referral. How can you trust them?

A cable that costs under €10 to my amplifier and I have excellent sound. Of course this is a solution for the small flat.

If you have a restricted budget then just use USB loudspeakers. They should be ok for its price

Personally im not a fan of these small 2.1 systems. The bass always seems very locatable to me and its often too much in-your-face and imprecise. At least those standard Logitech and Co things i heard.

I use a pair of Edifier R1280 on one PC (which are pretty decent for their price) and a Yamaha stereo amp with two Dali Zensor 1 on the other. I really like this combination, but its definitely more pricey. Don't really think i need more bass, especially this close up.

So, id always prefer a decent Stereo setup over 2.1.

For many years it is creative that enables the audio experience on my desk, with great satisfaction i might add.

The creative T20 set was my first start. These days i'm using the creative soundbar, the creative stage, basically a 2.1 set which looses a bit in sound width on lower sound power levels when compared to the T20, in gaming environments but pays this back in full when the possibility of addressing the sets full power range appears. Also i have a logitech x headset, full surround for those special gaming moments which is actually quite hard to beat and certainly in Bioware productions or other high classed audio games, not looking at you here Japan ;p

Stellaris btw, on those early rise mornings where the whole world seems to be asleep for forever....

Gold!

The only speakers I would consider "PC speakers" are the USB ones.
You can connect speakers with analog connections to many other devices (an amplifier is usually built-in).

The last decent 2.1 "PC speakers" that were value-for-money were the Logitech Z2300 and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. Nowadays, most are overpriced and underperforming.

My recommendations:
- Second hand bookshelf speakers (+amp)*
- AudioEngine A5+ (I have these)*
- Klipsch R-51/41*
- A few Edifier higher end models(*)
- Audio reference active monitors (some Yamaha models aren't ideal for music listening)*

* Add your own subwoofer

One of the good things about them: you can use them on multiple devices - just get a mixer or active splitter. You can't do that with (most) USB speakers.
(and like someone already said, consider getting a new cable)

Are you expecting good quality music output from (new) sub-100$ speakers? If you consider your current Hercules ones "good enough", then just ignore everything I've said before.

1) "Good speakers" and 2) "for a PC" are an oxymoronic contradiction of terms.

Speakers that are made "for a PC" are garbage.

Just connect your PC up to a HiFi system - the sound quality is much better. Don't bother with speakers designed for computers - they tend to be overpriced for what you get.

Speakers pretty much all use stereo jacks because it's tried and tested technology. The connector has basically been around since Victorian times and just works (easy to input, analogue, fully rotatable).

I use Elac speakers, but I connected them to an AVR via wire.
PC ones weren't too great, when I last searched for them.

I'm entirely the wrong person to ask, seeing as I'm not a crazed audiophile and I'm using a Tandy MMS-10.

I had to buy a new set of speakers when my old 90's ones broke down.

I chose https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/speakers/z625-gaming-speakers.980-001258.html

After a bit of a fiddly tuning, personal taste, they work like a charm. Excellent sound.

Post I made in another topic: (Note that there's only a single speaker, not two of them, here.) I've heard that Bluteooth speakers have taken the place of USB speakers on the market for the most part.