What is the Best budget audio setup for iMac. Post up your systems please

[Mellofello808]

I am uncluttering my life.

Yesterday I started disassembling my surround sound pulling miles of wires out of the walls, and disconnecting all of my components. I put everything on craigslist for a great price, and off it all went last night.

What I am looking for the best possible sound from a small reasonably priced package. I would like to stay around $200 tops, if I find something for $100 awesome. I am not any audiophile by any means I just want clear highs and decent lows for movies/pissing off my neighbors.

So far going strictly on amazon reviews it seems that the M audio av40s are the current champs of powered speakers. They look great but if possible I think I would prefer a sub woofer and smaller satalites. Anyone have experience with the av40s? A glowing review may sway me.

I was also looking at the logitech thx certified 2.1 setup. I am a bit aprehensive about the build quality going on the online reviews. Any praise/horror stories about recent logitech speakers.

Also looking at the HK sound sticks. Oldie but goodie the retro future design hasn't aged a day in the 10 years they have been out, and they compliment macs so well. The connectivity options seem pretty limited though.

Also I was wondering what the best way to get a digital, or at least RCA out of an iMac is. I would prefer not to use a headphone jack. Any recommendations for an external sound card? Are they worth it?

Well thanks for reading so many questions, and thanks in advance for any replies.

Please feel free to post up as many details and pictures of your audio setup and iMac as possible.

 

[iAAPL]

I'm not really qualified to answer this, as I don't have an iMac yet (3 days!), but I do read Engadget often. They seem to like the new $100 5.1 Logitech speakers (Engadget Review, Logitech). This line pretty much sums up their review: "surround sound kicks ass, and these speakers are excellent boots."

To be clear, I don't own these speakers (although I pre-ordered them initially, only to realize that I don't really listen to much on my computer), but Engadget's story a few months ago, and now the review both caught my attention. I know you said you want something small, and 5.1 probably isn't what you're looking for, but based on the pics, the speakers themselves look pretty sleek and small.

 

[Iamthinking]

I am uncluttering my life.
So far going strictly on amazon reviews it seems that the M audio av40s are the current champs of powered speakers. They look great but if possible I think I would prefer a sub woofer and smaller satalites. Anyone have experience with the av40s? A glowing review may sway me.

The M-audio speakers are made for mixing/music making. They are fairly flat =not really that great for watching movies. I think you should definitely find something with a sub, like the logitech mentioned or a little polk audio, or ar-research 2.1 system or something along those lines.

-Iamthinking

 

[cobrasneverdie]

What was wrong with the surround sound?