Which setup is more ideal?

[1-anh]

I am unsure what I should do with my computer speaker setup. I am planning on building a new computer next may and would also like to change my speaker setup. Unfortunately my desk can either hold my current 24" LCD monitor along with two polk monitor 30 or 40 bookshelf speakers attached to an onkyo ht-rc 260 receiver with an 8" subwoofer. Or dual LCD monitors along with the klipsch promedia 2.1 THX certified speakers. I am unsure which setup I should go with. I really enjoy good quality sound, but I also enjoy multitasking with dual monitors. The klipsch promedia 2.1 speakers I hear are great but I have read many problems with problems with the DIN plug, amps breaking, etc. I have yet to buy any of the items since I dont have an immediate need for them but I would like to know what other people think. Also the overall cost is about equivalent for either setup so money is not an issue.

[tylerversion2]

Dual monitors is definitely a huge deal. I love, love, love multi-monitor setups.

So here's a silly question. Is there anything stopping you from getting a bigger desk? One that fits two monitors AND the nice speakers?

[1-anh]

Dual monitors is definitely a huge deal. I love, love, love multi-monitor setups.

So here's a silly question. Is there anything stopping you from getting a bigger desk? One that fits two monitors AND the nice speakers?

unfortunately yes, my room is fairly small. If we move houses and I somehow get a bigger room desk then both would be awesome, however current desk real estate is very limited.

I might be able to rearrange some stuff to do that but it would be fairly difficult.

[Nubee]

Based on personal exprerience, bookshelf speakers doesn't sound as good when listening too close as opposed to being farther away. So my suggestion would be to use the smaller setup to gain more desk real estate and you can have your dual monitor.

[1-anh]

Based on personal exprerience, bookshelf speakers doesn't sound as good when listening too close as opposed to being farther away. So my suggestion would be to use the smaller setup to gain more desk real estate and you can have your dual monitor.

Oh alright, thats definitely good to know. I probably will go with dual 24" monitors. Thanks for the advice.

[_Allan_]

Another (smarter?) option is to put the monitors on arms, and move them up OFF the desk. Ergonomics say that you should have the monitor so that your eyes - with head held at normal level - are level with the top of the screen.

[1-anh]

Another (smarter?) option is to put the monitors on arms, and move them up OFF the desk. Ergonomics say that you should have the monitor so that your eyes - with head held at normal level - are level with the top of the screen.

Thats what I had in mind, I'm planning on picking up a desktop LCD mount from monoprice.com.

[1-anh]

Update: I would like some guidance as to which setup would be better. I currently have a samsung 2494HM TN panel LCD monitor, I have decided to rock dual monitors. I am considering either picking up 2 Dell U2311H monitors and dual monitoring those with the samsung in portrait mode for reading webpages and documents, or should i just get 1 Dell U2311H and just dual monitor it with my current Samsung 2494HM. Would an IPS/TN combo look terrible?

I also plan on using either one of these http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 EARN CASH BACK or 2 of these http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 EARN CASH BACK.

For sound, I am considering either the logitech z-2300 (for their price and decent sound quality) the klipsch promedia 2.1 (for their good sound quality) or if I am able to pick up a larger desk such as the ikea jerker some bookshelf speakers and run them off zone 2 of my receiver.

Any thoughts people can contribute will be much appreciated.

[Citizen Bmac]

I used to have a dual monitor setup with the Logitech Z-2300. The Z-2300 were ok for gaming and music, but sound awful for music. I really didn't get much use out of the second monitor, so I sold both my monitors and replaced them with 1 sweet 27" monitor. A single bigger, better monitor is way better for gaming (and unless you plan on doing serious multitasking most other applications as well) than 2 smaller monitors IMO. I also sold the Z-2300 to make room for bigger and way better speakers. I would go with 1 good monitor with good sound over crap sound and 2 smaller, lower quality monitors. Different strokes for different folks, but for me quality > quantity.

FWIW, my desk is a jerker, and when I moved to that desk is when I got rid of the dual monitors because they didn't fit well.

[xmdkx4u2nv]

I would say go with the dual monitors, and if your comfortable get a good stereo headset-will prob be better than any desktop speaker system.

[1-anh]

I used to have a dual monitor setup with the Logitech Z-2300. The Z-2300 were ok for gaming and music, but sound awful for music. I really didn't get much use out of the second monitor, so I sold both my monitors and replaced them with 1 sweet 27" monitor. A single bigger, better monitor is way better for gaming (and unless you plan on doing serious multitasking most other applications as well) than 2 smaller monitors IMO. I also sold the Z-2300 to make room for bigger and way better speakers. I would go with 1 good monitor with good sound over crap sound and 2 smaller, lower quality monitors. Different strokes for different folks, but for me quality > quantity.

FWIW, my desk is a jerker, and when I moved to that desk is when I got rid of the dual monitors because they didn't fit well.

Hey, thanks for your thoughts. I am more leaning towards either the klipsch promedia 2.1 since they are better for gaming, movies and music or the bookshelf speaker route. I agree with you on the quality over quantity, however I do do a fair amount of multitasking so dual monitors would be extremely beneficial for me. Also the U2311H although not as good as the U2410 is still an IPS monitor with accurate colours and good viewing angles. You don't think dual monitors will fit well on the jerker desk even with lcd arm mounts.

I would say go with the dual monitors, and if your comfortable get a good stereo headset-will prob be better than any desktop speaker system.

I am planning on the dual monitors definitely, and I am planning on picking up either the sennheiser HD555 or the beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones as well. But I don't plan on wearing them all the time, since I dont think they are that comfortable. Also do you have any thoughts on TN/IPS for dual monitors or is IPS/IPS the way to go?

[Citizen Bmac]

You don't think dual monitors will fit well on the jerker desk even with lcd arm mounts.

No. Here is an old pic of my office system. This was taken after getting rid of one monitor but before replacing this one with the 27". The monitor here is a single 22". You see the pillars on both sides of the desk? They're too narrow to stick dual 23's behind them without blocking the outsides of the screen, and if you put the monitors in front of those pillars, they're going to be really in your face.

[kennyhohoho]

No. Here is an old pic of my office system. This was taken after getting rid of one monitor but before replacing this one with the 27". The monitor here is a single 22". You see the pillars on both sides of the desk? They're too narrow to stick dual 23's behind them without blocking the outsides of the screen, and if you put the monitors in front of those pillars, they're going to be really in your face.

Where did you get those headphone holders? I could use a couple of those.

[Citizen Bmac]

They're just banana holders from Home Outfitters.

[1-anh]

I would say go with the dual monitors, and if your comfortable get a good stereo headset-will prob be better than any desktop speaker system.

No. Here is an old pic of my office system. This was taken after getting rid of one monitor but before replacing this one with the 27". The monitor here is a single 22". You see the pillars on both sides of the desk? They're too narrow to stick dual 23's behind them without blocking the outsides of the screen, and if you put the monitors in front of those pillars, they're going to be really in your face.

Hey thanks for the feedback on the image. I have decided to go with a jerker or fredrik desk without the side railings and just have the base platform, it seems to have much more space for dual monitoring.