Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Speaker sets are designated by the total number of satellite speakers, followed
by a period and a “1” if the set includes a subwoofer (also called a low-frequency
emitter, or LFE). Speaker sets are available in 2.0 (front left/right satellites), 2.1
(front left/right satellites and a subwoofer), and 5.1 (front/back and left/right
satellites, a front-center satellite, and a subwoofer) configurations.
Other than configuration, the main specification for a speaker set is the watt-
age of the various speakers. That value should be provided as RMS wattage
but is sometimes specified as the much higher peak wattage value. Don't fall
prey to wattage overkill. Just a few watts per satellite is sufficient to produce
uncomfortably loud sound, and a 100W subwoofer can literally rattle the walls.
The advantage of high wattage ratings is that such speakers have a wide dy-
namic range with full sound quality. A high-wattage speaker may typically ac-
tually use only a few watts, but when a very loud transient (such as a gunshot
in a game or a crescendo in a concert) occurs, the high-power amplifier has
sufficient power to accurately reproduce that sound at the proper high vol-
ume. A less expensive speaker with a lower-power amplifier has to strain to
reproduce such transients, and will do so at lower sound quality and volume
than the more capable speaker.
The price of a speaker set doesn't necessarily correspond to the number of
speakers in the set or their wattage. Both speaker (driver) quality and amplifier
quality are important. There are inexpensive 5.1 speaker sets with relatively
high wattage—which use cheap drivers and cheap amplifiers—and some
low-wattage 2.0 or 2.1 sets that cost a bundle but provide top-notch sound.
We recommend that you decide on the number of speakers according to your
needs and your budget. Buy a 5.1 set only for serious gaming or media center/
home theater use; otherwise, buy the best 2.0 or 2.1 set you can afford. If you
have $75 to spend, for example, you're better off buying a good 2.1 speaker set
than a cheesy 5.1 set. (Barbara uses a 2.0 M-AUDIO studio monitor set on her
primary computer; Robert uses a 2.1 Logitech Z-series set on his.)
Recommendedspeakerbrands
Altec-Lansing
(
http://www.alteclansing.com
),
Creative
(
http://us.creative.com
),
and
Logitech
(
http://www.logitech.com
) all offer speaker sets in all three
configurations in a range of prices, from $15 2.0 sets to 5.1 sets that cost sev-
eral hundred dollars. All of them offer excellent value in their price ranges,
although we admit to a preference for Logitech. At the high end,
M-AUDIO
(
http://www.m-audio.com
)
offers premium-quality 2.0 and 2.1 sets and has an
excellent reputation with audiophiles.
Keyboards
The best keyboard is a matter of personal preference. A keyboard we really
like, you may dislike intensely, and vice versa. Ultimately, your own preferenc-
es are the only guide.
Keyboards vary in obvious ways—layout, size, and style—and in subtle ways
like key spacing, angle, dishing, travel, pressure required, and tactile feedback.
People's sensitivity to these differences varies. Some are keyboard agnostics
