[JimiMac]

I heard someone say they thought the prospeakers sunded bad when they went to check out the new iMac. Is this why Apple is throwing them in on the top line models? They look cool, but if they sound cheap, so what. When they are plugged in, does anr sound still come out of the base speakers too or not? How would you add a separate sub woofer later? And where else could you use the Pro speakers? They won't work with an iBook will they?

[davester]

I've heard them before and it seems they're good in the mid to high range (as you could imagine from their size), but naturally suffer in the lower frequencies. The only way you could add a subwoofer would be to add it to the headphones socket, though I'm not sure if this then cancels out the digital-out audio. Further use of the Pro speakers would be in a G4 I'd imagine..? Not sure about the iBook. Let us know, if you find out, whether or not you can still connect an iSub upto the new iMac with the Pro speakers also connected.

One quirk I have about them is the lack of speaker protection. They just seem a little vulnerable all exposed like that.

[scarab]

Perhaps the plastic speaker covers were on (read the PowerMac picture thread).

[Phanguye]

yea you can use them with anything cause they use the 1/8 inch jack

[kstevens]

Apple has already said you can use the iSub with the Pro speakers, just plug the iSub into one of your USB ports.

Ken

[mitchell_pgh]

I was at the Apple Store a week ago checking the new iMac out and (just like every electronics store) some guy cranked the volume up for about 10 seconds before an Apple employee came over to "help"... The sound was great. If I had one in my dorm room, I could actually use it to listen to CD's without feeling like I was playing it on cheap computer speakers. I would compare it to a $150 Sony portable radio... Not wonderful, but good enough for 90% of iMac users. It's MUCH better then the old iMac as you can place the speakers farther apart and get better stereo effects.

[Jansar]

First of all, the speakers need the plastic fronts removed. Keeping them on keeps the sound trapped inside. Second of all, the only problem I have with those speakers is that there's no outside volume control, so all in all they don't project volumes at high levels.

[driven]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
<STRONG>I was at the Apple Store a week ago checking the new iMac out and (just like every electronics store) some guy cranked the volume up for about 10 seconds before an Apple employee came over to "help"... The sound was great. If I had one in my dorm room, I could actually use it to listen to CD's without feeling like I was playing it on cheap computer speakers. I would compare it to a $150 Sony portable radio... Not wonderful, but good enough for 90% of iMac users. It's MUCH better then the old iMac as you can place the speakers farther apart and get better stereo effects.</STRONG>

The HK Soundsticks are even better!

[cdhostage]

Just use an iSub. iSub and Pro Speakers- excellenet audio system. I use Soundsticks and an iSub (or whatever they call the subwoofer that looks like an Isub that's ncluded with te hSoundStricks)_

Originally posted by Jansar:
<STRONG>First of all, the speakers need the plastic fronts removed. Keeping them on keeps the sound trapped inside. Second of all, the only problem I have with those speakers is that there's no outside volume control, so all in all they don't project volumes at high levels.</STRONG>

Yep, just about every store I've seen these speakers in, they didn't know the plastic cover (with the three big holes) is supposed to be removed. They sound *much* better with the covers off.

And to the guy with concerns about them being out in the open, I wouldn't worry about them, they'll shake any dust off of them by themselves. And if you spill coca-cola on them, well, you could do that to any speakers.

[JoeG4]

What is this with everyone having the soundsticks.. I want soundsticks now

But I have pro speakers with the isub, and must I say, my G4 dp800 has an excellent amplifier, it is more powerful than the imac one (20 watt minimum/35 max), and can still go higher than the soundsticks one from what I know.

With the isub, it's the best sound I've heard, it even rivals my 300 watt stereo.

Unfortunately, the pro speakers don't cancel out bass with the isub plugged in (new drivers?) But they still sound great except for some music.

Great for rock, rap, and jazz, as well as KDLang's song on iTunes (OS 9)

[JoeG4]

Oh btw, the USB version of the pro speakers works on any mac with USB

[nick h]

I've heard the soundsticks. Not impressed. Heard the Pro Speakers. What a disappointment. This is one of my gripes with Apple: give you excellent multimedia machines and software like the iMac and iTunes, but then they throw in these speakers that match the machines, but don't sound that great (at least I think they don't sound great).

I'm getting a base iMac when they come out to pair up with my 600MHz iBook DVD. I've had my Klipsch Pro Media 5.1's for a year now with 3 computers. The Pro Speakers do not even compare to the Klipsch. I can't wait to set my iMac between those square black speakers.

If you aren't really worried about EXCELLENT sound though, the Pro speakers are fine, you'll be satisfied.

[happygoodies]

You might want to check out the reviews at www.epinions.com , in general they say the pro speakers are pretty good but the isub and sound sticks are not-so-good

Strangely, the www.amazon.com reviews are opposite of this (for the isub at least), so who knows

[JoeG4]

The pro speakers alone are O-K.

The pro speakers + iSub are NIIICE

The iSub + Klipsch Promedia 5.1 Now we're talking

Two isubs + USB pro speakers + apple pro speakers = Nice setup

Pro speakers are cool, small, cute, and are great speakers. The iSub has great sound. Get the setup together, I think they're fine

When I first got the pro speakers I fell in love, and blasted volume a lot, and when I first added the iSub I thought it was horribly noisy.

Now that I got used to it, when I unplug the iSub, it feels like a cheap radio. lol

[Nephron]

Hiya,

I have the Soundsticks with subwoofer in my office. I think the sound is excellent. Nice and clean with a bit of low end oomph from the subwoofer. Compared to my home stereo (NAD amp + Angstrom speakers), the Soundsticks are shite, but I have never had such good sound in my office before. More than good enough for me.

Cheers!

[boardsurfer]

Hey All,

When I visited the Apple store for the first time, I checked out the JBL Sonnet set up. (I'm not an audiophile) I think thought they sounded freakin awesome, and now in my home, even better. For a hundred bucks, they rock.

I agree that the pro speakers sound good, but not at high volume, and they have no low end.

&lt;&lt;Brass Monkey, that Funky Monkey. . . &gt;&gt;