Low Cost Speakers for Desk

[dvonroeder]

I'd appreciate some advice about which speakers to buy for my desk in my home office.

I moved my office recently and due to the way my desk is set up, the speaker cables for my Creative Inspire T3030 system (a 2.1 system that cost $50 new and has been out of production for a few years) are too short. One option is to buy a longer pair of RCA cables but, if I did, I'd be passing up a great opportunity to spend some $$ and get a new toy!

My sound source will be my computer, playing music from iTunes or using internet radio. My preferred listening level is low to moderate since I usually have to concentrate pretty heavily on my work (writing software).

From the quick research I've done, the Logitech Z2300 would be a great choice but I have some options.

Due to a recent upgrade to my home theater system, I have a spare Sony STR DE695 receiver and I have a Hsu sub woofer sitting next to my desk that's part of the home speaker system.

So, I'm thinking about using the Sony and the Hsu and buying a pair of inexpensive speakers to create a 2.1 system.

One question is how to hook up the Hsu. The input to the Hsu is RCA plug so would it be OK to get a Y cable to feed the sub from the home theater system on one cable and from the Sony on another cable?

Question two - what speakers would you wise folks recommend? I'd prefer to spend about $100 or $150 for the pair (this is a low budget adventure) and need a speaker that's not much more than 8" wide and 8" deep.

I'd sincerely appreciate your suggestions.

[filecat13]

I'm having a little problem processing this statement.

So, I'm thinking about using the Sony and the Hsu and buying a pair of inexpensive speakers to create a 2.1 system.

One question is how to hook up the Hsu. The input to the Hsu is RCA plug so would it be OK to get a Y cable to feed the sub from the home theater system on one cable and from the Sony on another cable?

Could you ask it a different way? I know that SONY has a subwoofer pre out, which is an RCA jack, so that's where you'd hook up the Hsu. I don't understand if what you're asking is if the sub can be hooked up to two systems at once? Is your office in your home?

[RoadRunner6]

Well, this should be funny if you pull it off. If you discuss your 2.1 stereo system hooked up to your computer with some one who really knows their audio/HTequipment, I would like to see their expression when you tell them you have an HSU sub in the mix, Ha! Would you like to tell us which model HSU you have?

Actually I don't see why it wouldn't work except it might be a slight bit of overkill on the sub. I'm not so good on the cable flows but I think either a y-splitter or one with an A/B switch like you might get from Radio Shack would work fine. The HSU people are great and I'm sure they would give you the definitive answer. I presume your current HT system is using the sub crossover in the receiver.

That Sony model number sounds like it might be an entry level receiver and not have a selectable subwoofer crossover frequency. It might be set to a defualt at 100Hz or so. Sony should be able to tell you, maybe. Some receivers do not have the sub active in the stereo mode and you have to have the input mode in auto select or whatever they call it to make the sub active.

For the speaker if you can go 1.7 inches deeper then this Athena might be great. It is discontinued and a great price and very good sound. Several other options below.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATLS100 (a sub crossover at 80Hz or 100Hz should be OK)

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/product.php?ident=LS-100

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATWS15 (higher crossover at 100Hz or 120Hz)

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/542090141 (croosover at 100z maybe)

RR6

[kuei]

Well I have a GREAT set of bose pc speakers for sale ($150). For a small speaker they have great sound. Not sure what the model is. I'd have to check later. They are 2 small pedestal speakers with 1 small sub. These were the middle sized model that best buy was selling. I bought them 6 months ago new for close to $300 and no longer require them. They are in very good condition.
I have recently hooked my pc up to an elaborate home theater system with infinity speakers and have no more use for the bose.
bargaincnc@lycos.com

[kuei]

they are bose companion 3's

[dvonroeder]

My apologies for not responding sooner on this thread. It took "a while" for me to actually get the speakers (I got them last week)

I bought a little Y connector but that is configured to run left and right channels into one stereo RCA jack.

I've ended up putting the Sony on top of the sub and then swapping the subwoofer cables as needed.

I'll call Hsu and see if they can give me some help.

[dvonroeder]

Well, this should be funny if you pull it off. If you discuss your 2.1 stereo system hooked up to your computer with some one who really knows their audio/HTequipment, I would like to see their expression when you tell them you have an HSU sub in the mix, Ha! Would you like to tell us which model HSU you have?

Actually I don't see why it wouldn't work except it might be a slight bit of overkill on the sub. I'm not so good on the cable flows but I think either a y-splitter or one with an A/B switch like you might get from Radio Shack would work fine. The HSU people are great and I'm sure they would give you the definitive answer. I presume your current HT system is using the sub crossover in the receiver.

That Sony model number sounds like it might be an entry level receiver and not have a selectable subwoofer crossover frequency. It might be set to a defualt at 100Hz or so. Sony should be able to tell you, maybe. Some receivers do not have the sub active in the stereo mode and you have to have the input mode in auto select or whatever they call it to make the sub active.

For the speaker if you can go 1.7 inches deeper then this Athena might be great. It is discontinued and a great price and very good sound. Several other options below.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATLS100 (a sub crossover at 80Hz or 100Hz should be OK)

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/product.php?ident=LS-100

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATWS15 (higher crossover at 100Hz or 120Hz)

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/542090141 (croosover at 100z maybe)

RR6

It's been a while!

The Hsu is the VTF-2 and, as it turns out, I didn't need the splitter cable. The VTF-2 has two RCA connectors so I run one line in from my Onkyo and one line in from my Sony.

I snagged a pair of Energy C-100's on sale from some online retailer and I'm using those with the Hsu. My music source is my MacBook Pro 17".

It has worked out just fine.

[bobsticks]

Hands down, the Klipsch 2.1 system (can't recall the model number, sorry)...best thing they ever did...

[HarmonicsReview]

Check out my objective review at:
http://harmonicsreview.wordpress.com/
I'll be posting more reviews soon.