iMac Speakers

[andywhitt]

I've just gone ahead and ordered my 24" 2.8 iMac, i read somewhere on these boards that the built-in speakers are pretty good. Are they loud and clear? People that have bought a new iMac, do you find them adequate?

I have a first gen MacBook and i find the speakers to be a bit pants. So i have some £10 horrid looking ones for when i connect my laptop up at home to external monitor. I'm looking to spend about £50 and would like them to not look out of place with my iMac, does anyone have any suggestions?

p.s What is digital/analog audio out? I'm presuming this isn't 5.1 and I should be looking at 2.1?

Thanks

Andy

 

[amiga]

Digital out will allow you to connect to a 5.1 amp via an optical cable to have Dolby digital or DTS on Movies and Pro Logic on stereo signals...

I've not heard the new iMac though...

amiga.

 

[DemNoir]

The speakers in the new iMac are surprisingly good. No bass of course, but very clear and plenty loud.

 

[DemNoir]

The speakers in the new iMac are surprisingly good. No bass of course, but very clear and plenty loud.

 

[andywhitt]

The speakers in the new iMac are surprisingly good. No bass of course, but very clear and plenty loud.

I might hold off until the iMac arrives then before buying some.

Digital out will allow you to connect to a 5.1 amp via an optical cable to have Dolby digital or DTS on Movies and Pro Logic on stereo signals...

I'm confused with all this, the iMac says digital out via jack, so its not optical?

 

[Jimmdean]

I might hold off until the iMac arrives then before buying some.


I'm confused with all this, the iMac says digital out via jack, so its not optical?

It's an optical mini-jack, basically a regular mini-stereo plug that has a hole in the end so it can also send optical signals. It allows headphones, speakers, and a 5.1 receiver hookup to all share the same port.

 

[johnmcboston]

Well, a while ago I went to find some external 'computer speakers'. Well, they were all just terrible. I ended up going to the professional music store and getting a set of monitors (studio speakers). A little pricey, but I'm a happy listening camper.

 

[torrid30]

Creature II

I have these speakers and I love them. I have them in Black which I think will look nice with my 24 inch when it arrives, but here is a link to the Silver ones which would probably look nice also.

http://www.allmacshop.co.uk/?page=proddetail&prod=7698

Slightly more expensive than your price range, I believe, but they are nice speakers and I have been pleased with them.

Torrid

 

[andywhitt]

I have these speakers and I love them. I have them in Black which I think will look nice with my 24 inch when it arrives, but here is a link to the Silver ones which would probably look nice also.

http://www.allmacshop.co.uk/?page=proddetail&prod=7698

Slightly more expensive than your price range, I believe, but they are nice speakers and I have been pleased with them.

Torrid

I do like them, but i'd be stuck for which colour to go for, the black looks too shiny (although that could just be the product photo). But after saying that it would match the new black edge and Apple logo.

 

[pengu]

i have the z5500 digital 5.1's from logitech, and they are great, but im thinking about moving them to the lounge and getting a set of SoundSticks II from Karman/Hardon..

 

[torrid30]

I do like them, but i'd be stuck for which colour to go for, the black looks too shiny (although that could just be the product photo). But after saying that it would match the new black edge and Apple logo.

I think the black will look real nice with mine because the actual speaker part is silver to match the aluminum and the black for the edge and logo like you said. I don't know if the picture shows it or not, but when the speakers are on there is a soft green glowing light that illuminates on the underside of each satelite speaker. I don't konw of that would be a pro or a con for you, but I figure you should know all about them before you purchase.

Needless to say, I have them from my past system, and they will look great with my iMac. But again that is just my opinion.

And I also like to have things that are different or not a lot of people have (new iMac for example) and these speakers are no exception. they look completely different from normal computer speakers, which are generally a rectangle with a mesh covering. And maybe you're like me because you did purchase an iMac as well and Apple's Logo is: "Think Different".

Good luck in your search for speakers.

Oh and one final thing. I'm sure they aren't the loudest thing out there but the bass is nice and the sound is plenty loud enough. (Again, just my opinion)

Torrid

 

[andywhitt]

Thanks Torrid, i've decided to go for the black ones the same as yours. Should look lovely when i clear my desk and set the 24" beast up.

I jumped on ebay and found the speakers brand new for £50.

Do you think that putting the sub behind the mac and then the speakers either side will be ok?

Thanks Once Again All, I'll jump back on when they arrive and let you know what i think, their certainly going to be better than the ones i have now.



Andy

 

[torrid30]

Thanks Torrid, i've decided to go for the black ones the same as yours. Should look lovely when i clear my desk and set the 24" beast up.

I jumped on ebay and found the speakers brand new for £50.

Do you think that putting the sub behind the mac and then the speakers either side will be ok?

Thanks Once Again All, I'll jump back on when they arrive and let you know what i think, their certainly going to be better than the ones i have now.



Andy

No problem Andy, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. As for putting them behind the mac, I don't see any problem with that as long as you have the desk space for Sub, iMac, then keyboard. There are adjuster knobs on the subwoofer for treble/bass so I don't know if access to those would be a problem if it was placed behind the mac.

 

[trashley]

take a look at ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGO-M
one of the best sounding multimedia speakers available. pretty good for the price range.

 

[torrid30]

take a look at ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGO-M
one of the best sounding multimedia speakers available. pretty good for the price range.

Are there any volume adjusters on the speakers anywhere? From the pictures they have on display I couldn't see any. Do they just assume that all volume adjustments will be made on the computer itself? Because they do promote it as a system for all your devices ("The package gives room-filling sound from devices like the iPod™, PSP™ or MP3 mobile phones. ") And all of these things have their own volume control as well.

Just curious as I'm a proud owner of the JBL Creature II's.

 

[cah87]

i love the speakers, they are great for me very loud and clear

 

[Killyp]

The JBL Creatures aren't very good speakers sonically. The iMac's built in speakers are superior if you don't just listen for lots of bass.

The SoundSticks are also pretty unimpressive, although better than the Creatures.

The Bose's companions are great for computers. Rubbish as far as hifi goes, but most people end up listening to music from compressed sources anyway, such as iTunes, Last.FM or MySpace. For this, you don't want anything too 'hifi', but you want something with decent tonality (Creatures and Soundsticks have neither of this).

 

[Tyr.]

I've got a couple of Z10's hooked up to my iMac. Nice and loud and they look fantastic together, sleek and shiny black

 

[torrid30]

The JBL Creatures aren't very good speakers sonically. The iMac's built in speakers are superior if you don't just listen for lots of bass.

The SoundSticks are also pretty unimpressive, although better than the Creatures.

The Bose's companions are great for computers. Rubbish as far as hifi goes, but most people end up listening to music from compressed sources anyway, such as iTunes, Last.FM or MySpace. For this, you don't want anything too 'hifi', but you want something with decent tonality (Creatures and Soundsticks have neither of this).

Yeah, Killyp sounds like he knows his stuff much more than I do. And so for that, I'm going to stick with my ignorance and live in bliss with my Creatures . This is good info for the OP though as he was in the market for new speakers. And yes, I would imagine the Bose would be better than most other speakers on the market since they are the almost the Bentley of speakers.

Killyp, since you have some knowledge in this area. I know the Creatures connect via the headphone jack which would then "disable" the internal speakers. But is there a way to have the internal and the Creatures working at the same time? Whether it is with a different style of connecting it or a setting on the computer itself. Would be cool to know if that is any way possible so I could enjoy the "superiorness" of the internal to go along with the bass that gives the music some depth and fullness.

Thanks

Torrid

 

[trashley]

Are there any volume adjusters on the speakers anywhere? From the pictures they have on display I couldn't see any. Do they just assume that all volume adjustments will be made on the computer itself? Because they do promote it as a system for all your devices ("The package gives room-filling sound from devices like the iPod™, PSP™ or MP3 mobile phones. ") And all of these things have their own volume control as well.

Just curious as I'm a proud owner of the JBL Creature II's.

the volume control knob is at the top of the sub.