Klipsch 3-Piece ProMedia 2.1 Speaker System @ Best Buy - $99.00

These speakers rock. Only downside is you HAVE to use the subwoofer even if you don't want to.

I have been using on old set of 4.1's in a 2.1 setup for what seems like the last 10 years and they still rock.

BananaQ said:   highly recommended.
klipsch or bose and that is it, pretty much, in non-high end exotic speakers..

Please don't ever put these two an equal playing field again.

Green for OP because of the price, but potential buyers beware, this set is nothing like the legendary Klipsch 2.1 ProMedia's from in the early 2000s. This is coming from buying the new one myself and my experiences from finicking with the older ProMedia from back in the days. Cheaper materials are used, less components used, and everything is "featherweight" compared to the original Klipsch 2.1. How this affects sound quality? I cannot contest anything to that. Whatever that may be said, the fact remains true: corners have been cut. It wasn't the same as it used to be. This is from reading other people's reviews, and some of these reviewers compared the newer and the older sets side by side. Some even went as far as gutting the subwoofer to see what materials were put into the older and new subwoofers.

Now here are my observations---

Subwoofer:
Half the weight than it used to be (I can easily palm the subwoofer if my hands were wide enough). From what should be 15 pounds weighs like 5 pounds. There is no main switch nor fuse in the back. From personal research, lower grade amps are used in the subwoofer. The earlier generations had a higher grade amp, but was more prone to overheating.

Speakers:
Speakers wires now soldered into the back of the speaker. Used to be where you plug the speaker wire into the speaker. This means that if your speaker wire is faulty, then you are out on the speaker entirely. It is also featherweight compared to the older generations. Also be aware there is no "OFF" switch so the speaker will always be on. The only way to turn it off is to pull the plug. Your other option is to turn the volume to the lowest setting to minimize power usage. The older generation had an off switch via turning volume knob down all the way. My new set also had slightly bent legs so I had to bend them back to flat position so the speaker won't wobble -- maybe a quality control issue?

My Thoughts:
Now I am not here to tell you to not buy these speakers. It is a good deal and at $99, it is hard to beat. Sound quality is probably just as good as the ones back then. However, for me personally, I could not stand the fact that the quality and care that were put into the original ProMedia's were not inherited by the newer generations. The same goes with the Logitech speaker product lines. The top grade materials and the heart put into the earlier generations are just not there anymore in the newer ones. The quality of my Logitech 2.1 Z-2200 I have from the early 2000s vs the newer 2.1 Logitechs are as different as night and day. The newer ones are missing a heatsink, an off switch, a fuse, a main switch, and the supposedly higher grade materials that made the components heavier. Is heavier better? I can't say in terms of acoustics, but in general sense yes! Klipsch and Logitech speakers are just not the same as it used to be. My 2 cents.

I've owned both. Aesthetically there's barely a difference. These are still absolute monsters. They're top-of-the-line.

They blow the competition away.

I replaced my surround system in my family room with these.
And the sub still hits.

Buy.

bose? the only bose speakers that are worth buying are the quiet comfort 15 headphones and that's only for the best noise canceling feature. sound quality isn't that good. in general, bose for the most part are for suckers and old people that don't know better. they are pricey and the store in the mall is set up all classy like an Apple Store so idiots buy it.

eliotness said:   The best value for 2.1 computer speakers out there. I got mine around 2004 & I've only had to replace the volume control pod stand because the cord that connects to the subwoofer was loose (a common problem which they've fixed in the latest model). These speakers are one of the best buys I've ever made.

"These speakers are one of the best buys I've ever made." -- No pun intended

Cheap circuitry burns out in a year or less. I've owned this junk. If you're lucky they'll last maybe a year and a half.

I own an old version of these and have loved them for years. The sub blew out last week after years of good service. I was going to replace these with the same set, but i think I may go with the Harman/Kardon Soundsticks III now. They rate a bit higher and I saw them for about $139 somewhere.