Klipsch Groove PM20 2.0 Speaker System (Black)
See it at Amazon.com for $43.00Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
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(5 out of 5)WoW
I was looking for some 2.0 speakers to use as a travel system and to use with my mp3 player and roland stage piano. I tried the Creative GigaWorks T20's, but took them back because there is a serious bass falloff. The creatives are fine except for the bass end. If you listen to anything other than maybe classical, you will be disappointed.
I saw the Groove PM20's at BestBuy for $80, so I decided to try them out. Wow...I mean WOW! First off the sound is very clear and detailed. They show their home theater system roots by the exact placement of sounds within the sound field...if you set them far enough apart you can pick out where each instrument is. And the bass is nothing short of stunning. I have a creative labs 6.1 system on my pc, but these 2.0 speakers rival and may actually beat them for bass (unless I turn the subwoofer vol way up). The volume level is fine for my 10X12 bedroom. You really have to hear them to believe them.
Don't let the size of the box fool you, they are a good deal smaller than you would expect from the box. Each speaker is roughly the same size as 5 regular sized DVD cases stacked together.
Not everything is great about them, though. There may be some mid dropout towards full volume...I'm not entirely convinced the problem isn't with my mp3 player, but be aware that near full blast the sound may get a little thin. There is only 1 knob to control all the settings, but there is no display and the knob doesn't have a stop point so you just have to guess what level it's at (full blast means turning the knob round and round until it stops getting louder). You turn it on/off by pushing the volume knob in (turning it off resets the volume to a default level). Holding the volume knob down for 3 seconds accesses the bass level control (which is something you won't know unless you read the manual because there is no indication of there even being a bass control anywhere on the speaker). Then there is the LED...it's a very bright blue. It changes to red when you cut the speakers off, so there's always that little light coming from the 1 speaker. There is an aux and a headphone port, but I wish they'd put them on the front instead of the back. It would certainly make them easier to get to.
The bottom line is that the faults are mostly minor design problems while the audio is top notch (that's what really matters isn't it). And trust me, you won't even miss having that big clunky subwoofer around.
(4 out of 5)Klipsch Groove PM20 or Creative GigaWorks T20? - depends...
I was specifically looking for a 2.0 system that I would be able to use while at work. I needed something that could be played at a low volume yet still produce full, rich music using as much of the frequency range as possible.
After doing a bit of initial research, I purchased both the Klipsch Groove 2.0 and the Creative GigaWorks T20 2.0 speakers. After reading all of the reviews on Amazon regarding each of these speaker systems, I would have to agree with most of them. Ultimately, my opinion of the Creative system is that it is the more accurate of the two systems, but its bass rolls off at the lower end. They also have a more hallow sound. I really wanted them to perform better than the Klipsch's. But, ultimately, I had to turn the volume too high to be able to enjoy the full spectrum of sound capable through the Creative speakers.
I like the Klipsch speakers. They lack the ability to adjust the Treble like the Creative speakers do, but they do have the ability to adjust Bass. You simply have to push and hold the power button for 3 seconds. Once the LED starts blinking, the bass is adjustable using the volume knob.
My inital intention was to plug my iPod directly into the speakers. However, given Apple's very limited equalizer selections on their hand held products, I didn't care for the sound I heard when coming directly from the iPod. I next downloaded iTunes and listened to my library while using the graphic equalizer. It was then that the more balanced sound was able to be produced and enjoyed. When properly equalized, I am able to enjoy amazingly good sound from these 2.0 speakers. Again, I mostly listen to the speakers at lower volume levels because of my office environment. These speakers perfect for that application.
When I did turn up the volume, as I frequently do when I'm working late, the sound is good, which is fine with me. If you want to add a subwoofer in a 2.1 system, I would highly recommend the Logitech Z2300 system. It rocks. But, these Klipsch speakers are great speakers for lower powered, smaller sized, 2.0 speakers. However, I slightly prefer Creative GigaWorks T20 speakers for higher volume levels. But regardless of the volume levels, the Klipsch speakers can achieve a lower frequency repsonse than the Creative speakers can.
Again, if you're looking for volume and accuracy while being used as a dorm room 2.0 or mini PC entertainment system, you might prefer the Creative GigaWorks T20 system. But, if you're looking for something that has the ability to produce a wide frequency range while at lower volumes, my preference is the Klipsh Groove 2.0 system.
(1 out of 5)Zero stars if I could
These speakers were completely defective out of the box. They just made a ticking noise when power was turned on, regardless of whether or not they were connected to my computer. I purchased these from ANTOnline through Amazon. In trying to resolve the problem I contacted Klipsch directly and while agreeing the speakers appeared to be defective they refused to repair or replace them. I contacted ANTOnline directly and they told me to use their automated RMA system which I did. 24 hours later I received a boilerplate email with an RMA# telling me I could return the product for possible refund based on their evaluation of the condition of the packaging. Of course, I had to open the packaging to discover the speakers were defective. No option for replacement or repair.
So to summarize: I spent $90 for Klipsch Groove computer speakers that were dead on arrival, Klipsch tells me to take a hike, and ANTOnline tells me they may or may not provide a refund based on their judgment about how neatly I opened and repackaged the speakers. Not to mention I am out the time and shipping costs to return the product and still need to go out and spend more money on some new working speakers. My advice based on my experience: Don't buy Klipsch since they don't stand behind their defective products and avoid ANTOnline like the plague unless you enjoy wasting time and losing money. In fairness, I never did actually hear the speakers working so the sound quality may be great on the non-defective Klipsch speakers.
(5 out of 5)Great speakers for the price.
I am often amused by the expectation that people have for a pair of PC speakers. They seem to expect Bose surround sound quality for $10.
To a discerning audiophile, these are probably just adequate speakers, but for the rest of us, they offer very good sound, in a convenient footprint, at a very reasonable price - and they look good too.
If you just want to listen to music while working, or want to playback internet audio, these are ideal.
(4 out of 5)very nice for the price, but not amazing
These speakers are a definite improvement over the little ones that came with my computer. They do produce a clean, distinct sound and some decent bass volume without the bulk of a subwoofer. Just don't expect them to sound like expensive stereo speakers.