The best computer speaker system ever.
review by
twocables
My previous system was the Altec Lansing VS4121. I'd like to describe it briefly for the sake of comparison: it has a 6.5" long-throw front-firing subwoofer in a wooden cabinet with the port on the front as well. The satellites have a down-firing mid-range driver (3" I think) with two front-firing micro drivers as tweeters. The right-channel satellite has 3 knobs: Treble, Bass, and Volume - and a power button, which I never used. I unboxed them, turned it on, and left it on. lol
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On my X-Fi Titanium HD, I thought that the Altec Lansing VS4121s had a FANTASTIC sound. Excellent tight and deep low-end (no boominess or distortion whatsoever), and the mids and highs were clean and clear (and crisp). However, then I upgraded to the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. lol The Altec Lansings have an total of 31 watts of available power: 6 watts per satellite, and 19W for the subwoofer. I used to think that this was more than I needed, but the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 has 200W: 35W per satellite and 130W for the subwoofer! Not only does this obviously have a more powerful sound when I listen to it, but the mids and highs are noticeably clearer and cleaner and crisper than the Altec Lansing VS4121 system, and the low end is definitely superior as well. Oh yeah, and I forgot to physically describe the subwoofer: it has a side-firing 6.5" long-throw subwoofer with the port on the front. I don't know if this makes any difference, but maybe it does. Oh yeah, and it's MUCH heavier than the Altec Lansing VS4121's subwoofer! That's probably due to the amplifier. Another physical difference I noticed is that the subwoofer speaker itself has a bowl-shaped dust cover (that's the thing in the center that's usually a dome) while the Altec Lansing VS4121's subwoofer has the typical dome-shaped dust cover. I don't know what difference this makes if any, but it looks cool.
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I bought mine used through eBay because I wanted the older version that has the plug-in satellite design (the speaker wires can be replaced). So, I also recently upgraded my satellite speaker wires to some custom-made 16-gauge Monster Cable speaker wires (very nice ones with very nice Neutrik Rean plugs and the bare wire ends are soldered using Silver solder). These wires were made by a professional on eBay. It's the premium
16 AWG Monster XP? speaker cables cut from a spool with
these Neutrik Rean plugs on one end and bare wires that are soldered together on the other. I think the reason for soldering the bare ends is to help prevent the strands from fraying.
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The ProMedia 2.1's stock wires are 22-gauge (thinner than 16-gauge) cheap aluminum wires with the typical thin and cheap jacket. The plugs on the stock wires aren't even gold-plated. They're just cheap wires that are nothing special at ALL. The Monster cables are truly monster cables. hehe They are VASTLY superior, they're bigger, and they're heavier. The sound is quite noticeably better as well. The mids and highs are much cleaner and stronger and clearer AND SMOOTHER, and I'd even say that the sound is more natural and maybe also warmer. The sound stage has been improved as well; it's hard to explain what I mean, but it's like I have a superior stereo sound or something. I'm EXTREMELY happy with what I have now, and within my budget, I have reached the absolute pinnacle of audio quality. I know that I could spend a few hundred dollars more to get some very high-end audiophile-grade speakers, but I can tell you right now that I'll never be able to spend that much. I have to budget month by month, and spending a few hundred or more in one month is usually impossible for me.
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Come to think of it, these differences that I experienced with the better wires are basically what I experienced when I upgraded from the Altec Lansing VS4121s to the ProMedia 2.1s. So, don't feel bad if you can't upgrade your speaker wires! I'm only mentioning the speaker wire upgrade in case you're able to because it's worth it! If you can't find any good ones, then you should at least try to make your own using the best 16-gauge speaker wiring and 3.5mm mono plugs that you can afford. You'd need a soldering iron and the proper type of solder too, so keep that in mind.
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Oh, there's something I should mention about the ProMedia 2.1: you might read some customer reviews (and maybe some professional reviews) complaining that the power switch is on the back of the subwoofer, which is where the amplifier is located. The complaint is that it's difficult to reach for turning it off at the end of each day, but here's the thing: this speaker system is not supposed to be turned on and off every single day. You just unbox it, turn it on, and LEAVE it on. The only time you should turn it off is if you won't be using it for an extended period of time (like a week or more). So, the location of the switch is a smart design because it reduces the chances of the owner turning it on and off every day. Turning it on and off every day can cause a premature failure and other unexpected problems. I mean, I'm sure they could have made it possible to turn it on and off from the pod, but they chose not to, and for very good reason.
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Anyway, so yeah: the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system is an extremely awesome 2.1 computer speaker system. You won't find a better 2.1 computer speaker system! So, stop looking and buy it already. I promise you that you will love it.
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EDIT: After writing this review, I have since learned that the new versions of the ProMedia 2.1 are inferior to the older versions (like the one that I have). So, if you want to get the best ProMedia 2.1 experience, then hunt one down on eBay. Look for the systems that have the plug-in satellite speaker design (meaning, the speaker wires plug into the satellite speakers). I've read reports from experts that even on the stock speaker wires, the older (or, original) version of the ProMedia 2.1 has a superior sound. I didn't learn WHY, but it could be due to any number of things, such as superior drivers (meaning, the individual speakers), a superior amplifier, superior electronics, a superior control pod (the thing that's attached to the bottom of one of the satellites), etc. I really don't know. Either way, if you can get your hands on one of the older ones, then you would have a superior sound over the new versions, even with the stock speaker wires. Then, if you upgrade to better speaker wires (highly recommended), you'll have an even better sound!
Pros | Cons |
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Clean, clear and crisp highs, tight and deep low-end | |
Ratings