topic External Speakers AR21S in PCs & Accessories

External Speakers AR21S

jumbles1971 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:38:40 GMT

While the speakers on the AR21S are surprisingly good for a laptop, I've decided it's time to get some external speakers. I've read the User Guide and had a look on Google, but I can't actually find what level of speakers are supported via either the headphone socket or the digital out.

Does anyone know if it supports 7.1 and if so can anyone recommend a decent set for less than £100?

thanks
Jumbles

Re: External Speakers AR21S

MattWilson — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:10:00 GMT

Personally I would say 2.1 would be perfect because you need several outputs for 7.1. As for a suggestion try this .

I have them and they are really good. Louder than you could ever possibly use and you have a separate bass unit which has its own volume control.

Re: External Speakers AR21S

Blencogo — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:25:12 GMT

Depends how much you want to spend Jumbles.

I agree with Matt that Logitech offer an excellent range and the ones he links will be great.

I have the 2:1 Z-2300 200Watt Speakers - awesome!

If you want 5:1 (optical connection only with the AR21S) have a look at the Z-5500 505Watt Speakers - I can only imagine what they are like!!!!!

Re: External Speakers AR21S

MattWilson — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:30:21 GMT

If only I had that much money to spend on speakers!

Some on the logitech site are so expensive. Its almost ridiculous!

Re: External Speakers AR21S

Blencogo — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:41:18 GMT

You are right Matt,

I suppose you get what you pay for and I have found the Z-2300s pretty good for £100. I'm not sure I would pay £200 for the Z-5500s.

Re: External Speakers AR21S

jumbles1971 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:44:27 GMT

The Z-5500s are a little out of my league but at least the crazy old woman downstairs would actually have something real to go on about!

The 2.1s probably sound very good, but I'm after surround sound. When I'm not doing proper stuff on my laptop I'm probably playing HL2 or one of the many mods for it and I'd love to have it in glorious (or not so glorious as I'm on a bit of a budget) surround.

I just had a look on eBay and they've got a 5.1 system for £27 inc p&p! Worth a shot?

Re: External Speakers AR21S

apierc1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:45:35 GMT

Personally matt I would consider JBL or harman/kardon as my first choice (JBL are essentially the cheaper version but the same company), that's if you are going for a 2.1 system, my harman/kardons have lasted quite well over the last 4 yrs or so, and give a very good sound. You might nered to get an external module for a 7.1 system, you could try creative labs, also they do quite good speakers.

If you have an amp and 7.1 system already in the house you could possibly wire it up to that.

Andy

Re: External Speakers AR21S

jumbles1971 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:21:42 GMT

I've spent the last half hour searching the net and I don't think there is such a thing as a (quality) sub £100 5.1 system with an optical input.

Trying to figure out what I'm looking at and what all the stupid model numbers mean has completely done my head in. I've got this thread on my watch list so I'll come back to it with a clear head in the morning and see if anything makes more sense then.

Thanks for trying to help me out.

Re: External Speakers AR21S

kee-lo_ — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 10:59:27 GMT

I like those Soundsticks that Harman Kardon make.

Re: External Speakers AR21S

apierc1 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:01:54 GMT

Harmon Kardon are class, afer all they do use them in Rolls Royce

Re: External Speakers AR21S

jumbles1971 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:05:17 GMT

Something along the lines of a Creative DDTS-100 would be ideal for me but they're a little hard to come by these days. You can get one with Inspire T7700 speakers but apparently the T7700s suck. The Inspire T7900s get some good and some bad reviews and are fairly cheap.

Maybe I should just keep saving till I can afford a proper AV setup.

ps Aren't JBL speakers built by convicts?