External Speakers Thread

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csj0952 · #1 Post by **csj0952** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:03 am

I want a simple external speaker solution that doesn't necessarly have to sound amazing. Just good enough for 2 or 3 people to hear a dvd movie around the laptop. What is important is that the speakers (or speaker) are super small and easily installable on the fly. Size is key.

Alright here is the problems with all of the following:

Creative Audigy ZS PCI Card:
http://us.creative.com/products/product ... duct=10769

- Doesn't this stick out of the laptop on the side? I'll end up breaking it off. Plus, you still have to have portable speakers.

Creative Portable Speakers:
http://www.creative.com/products/produc ... duct=10796

- These look rediculous, honestly. Plus it looks relatively big to fit into a laptop case.

AltecLansing's attempt:
http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details.asp?pID=XT1
- Still look too big (they have a case of thier own)...has anyone tried these?

USB Audio Interfaces:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/
http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?top ... 0000010003

- Nice and small but still no speakers.
Which one is better by the way?

Bottom line: is there any simple speaker you can just plug in, powered by USB that is super small?

I'll take whatever options you can give me.

Thanks.

hominoidea · #2 Post by **hominoidea** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:53 am

What's wrong with the laptop's own internal speakers in your case?

porsche222 · #3 Post by **porsche222** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:30 am

Is there a real big difference between a Audigy External Soundcard compared to the integrated soundcard?? I have a good speaker setup the logitech THX setup. So i think i can take advantage of a good card.

rocketman · #4 Post by **rocketman** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:46 am

The JBL Creatures sound amazing. They're about $75 and sound much more expensive:
http://www.jbl.com/home/products/produc ... escription

csj0952 · #5 Post by **csj0952** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:58 am

T42's don't have external speakers and headphones don't lend well to multiple people listening to a presentation.

Those JBLs are too big, I need something thin enough to fit into a laptop carry case.

hominoidea · #6 Post by **hominoidea** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:01 am

Yes, but your T42 still has it's internal speakers in place, right? Those things under/in front of the palmrest. They should suffice or am I missing something here?

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:09 am

I would also like a set of thin/good sounding self-powered speakers.....

AtmosMan · #8 Post by **AtmosMan** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:03 pm

I have been doing the same research cause I'm going to buy a laptop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation.) I need good speakers. I have been looking for small speakers, and the best I can find are those Altec Lansing XT1 speakers. I don't think you will find anything smaller than those as of now that are self powered. The only thing I am concerned about with the XT1 is the way they recieve audio. I think that their primary source of audio is the USB port (not the lime green headphone/output port.) If this is so, and you want an external soundcard, then I don't know how to get the audio to route through the soundcard rather than the USB port, and still have the sound come from the speakers. I emailed the company asking this question. When I get a response I'll let you know. If you don't want an external soundcard, then these are the way to go right now IMHO.

About the soundcard...If you want an external soundcard, you have 3 choices: USB, firewire and PCMCIA. the Audigy is a PCMCIA card, and yes is does stick out of the side of the computer, but all PCMCIA soundcards do that. Thinkpads don't have firewire as of yet, so unless you want to buy a PCMCIA firewire adapter, that's not useful. USB is last. One problem is that most USB soundcards out there still run on USB 1.1, which is terribly slow. The only one I know of that is USB 2.0 compatible is the Audigy2 NX. Also, some of the firewire and USB sound cards are boxy, and they are another thing to carry around in you bag...though most playback cards are no bigger than an index card and no thicker than your Thinkpad.

Hope this helps,

-Brian

jamesk · #9 Post by **jamesk** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:27 pm

Have a look at the Sonic Impact Flat Panel Speakers.. http://www.si-5.com/

The Generation-2 speakers come with a USB power cable but audio is from the headphone port.

I tried them but the left channel on mine was busted so I sent them back. The reseller messed up the replacement shipment somewhere so I decided to just do without it. They were lightweight plastic construction and did produce acceptable sound as long as the volume wasn't turned up. The bass response was the cause of the most distortion.

lfeagan · #10 Post by **lfeagan** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:34 pm

I suggest getting an external firewire sound card, in particular, the M-Audio Audiophile Firewire is a great choice. Musician's Friend has the best price on it by far. $100 less than anywhere else I have seen pretty much. I have found it to be stellar. For portable powered speakers I recommend going with some from NHT. Check out these. Price is pretty good too. If you are into audio that is.
http://www.nhthifi.com/2004/products/pr ... roductID=1

AtmosMan · #11 Post by **AtmosMan** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:07 pm

I recieved an e-mail from altec lansing today regarding the audio of the XT1 speakers. They said that it DOES send sound through the USB port. So, if you don't need an external soundcard, this is probably the way to go.

Hey lfeagan, I assume you connect the Audiophile to your thinkpad through a PCMCIA firewire adapter. How's the performance? I ask because I will be using sample libraries with my new computer, and I wonder how well a firewire sound card works with a PCMCIA adapter.

lfeagan · #12 Post by **lfeagan** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:41 pm

Works great!

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