computer speakers

When I got my new computer I did not get new speakers. My speakers are kind of old and were not very espensive when I got them. I would kind of like to get new speakers. The ones I have are ALTEC LANSING ACS21W. Sounds is not that great, don't know if it is cause of poor quality of the speakers, or because they are old.

I don't need a real high end pair. Once in a while I will listent to soemthing someone has suggested from youtube and would like it to have decent sound. Need to keep the cost uner 50.00. I do not have a high end sound card. I did get an upgrade from the integrated sound, but just kind of one step up. Can't remember what I got, but ere is what Belarc says.
ATI High Definition Audio Device
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio

Would like to be able to order from WalMart.com so I could just take back if there there is a problem. I don't want to have to fool with shipping them back somwhere if there is a problem. I went out and looked at WalMart.com but I just gave up. I don't want to order a new pair and have them be no better than the ones I have. I don't know what to look for and sometimes there is not a lot of information.

Any suggestions.

Fay

not a lot of help...I am thinking that one of the others might be able to help you. Or stop in and talk to the Electronics guys at WalMart and then go home and order what you want to.

Holly,

Most of the time I ask for help at WalMart or most such stores actaully, I just get frustrated and almost angry.
I usually try to avoid asking too many questions. Maybe it is just me or maybe it is just our WalMart, but it most cases, I have not found them very helpful.

Fay

No I can understand, you gotta pick the right associate with the right attitude. Can you copy the name and then do a google search for reviews on the item? Not sure if that would work or not. I think Brandon or Rrepa can help best. Or get you to someone who can help.

I have Altec Lansing speakers on one of my desktops and Harmon Kardon on the other, and both are great. The Harmon Kardon speakers are expensive. Your Altecs review as having good value for the price without compromising quality. So, they should sound good unless your speaker cones have become brittle or your audio card isn't the best. Other inexpensive speakers that should have good quality are Cyber Acoustics CA 3602 and Logitech S-220. I don't know much about the hardware stuff Fay, so this is the best I can do.

Repa,

Thanks for the information. I went to Wamart.com and looked at the 2 you listed. Looks like they are 3 piece systems which I don't have room for.

I was thinking about what you said about the audio card. I dug out my computer specs to see what I have. It says I have Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Audio

Then I went to Control Panel to see what it said. I know very little about drivers. I know you said you don't know much about hardware -so I don't know if you know about drivers either. But in case you do, I thought I wuold mention something here and see if you had any input. Don't worry aobut it if you don't know.

Under Sound, video and game controllers there were 2 things listed
ATI High Definition Audio Device and
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme audio

I don't know why the ATI thing was there - so I disabled it. I did not remove just disabled.
I don't know if there could be a conflict

It may be my imigination, but it seems to have helped a little. Anway I think I'll forget the speakers for right now.
Do you know why that other entry would be there - and/or if it could cause a problem?

My video card is an ati - 1gb ati readeon HD 4650 [DVI, HDMI, VGA'

Under display adapters it shows up as ATI Radeon HD 4650

I do not understand why there is a Display Adaapter and then also has a section for Sound, video[i] and game controllers.

Do you know whether or not having the 2 entries (the ATI and the Sound Blaster) could cause problems.

Fay

I don't know if the 2 entries conflict if both are enabled, Fay. I do know that Sound Blaster is a very good system and it is installed separate from the basic sound system that comes with your computer (the ATI). I would have only one enabled and Sound Blaster would be my choice. I have that on one of my computers with the Harmon Kardon speakers, and the sound is excellent. If it works well with the ATI disabled, go with that.

Repa,

I know so very little about things like that. Right now it seems to work ok that way. I may look into getting different speakers later if I decide I need them. But for now I think I'll just stick with what I got. I really don't have the room I would probably need for a good set of speakers.

At least I feel better about disabling the ATI.

Thanks,

Fay

Repa,

I broke down and got some new speakrs. The sound on mine was just not very good. I think they were too old - can't even remember how old they are LOL

I looked at the ones you ilsied above, but due to space and other reasons I wanted only a 2 piece set intead of 3.

You listed a Cyber Acoustins set above so I did some looking at 2 piece sets from Cyber Acoustics. I got the CA2022 - s spc set. With taxes and shipping and handling 25.59. Just hooked them up and tried them out. Right now they sound really good to me. Probaby will not know for sure tll I have used them for a while and listened to different things on them. But, I think they may suit my needs very well. Just sound so much better that what I was using.

(Now hope I can choose the right monitor)

Thanks,
Fay