Klipsch computer speakers are considered one of the best computer speakers around. The Promedia 2.1 was introduced some time in 1999. However, they are still being manufactured and sold today, proving that Klipsch does not mess with perfection. In fact, the only thing that changed was the retail box (a different design).
When I bought mine 3 years ago, they were $179 a set at Best Buy. They were pretty pricey for just 2.1 speakers. You'd be crazy to pay that much for such speakers, but there were many who did. The prices have gone down a lot. While retail stores sells the ProMedia 2.1 for $150 now, you can find them online for around $120 to $130. At that price, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 shouldn't be passed up if you're looking for a quality sound for your PC or for anything that requires near-field listening (listener near the speakers).
Installation and Set Up
Setting up the Klipsch is not hard at all. It may be a bit difficult not having easy connectors for the satellite speakers to connect to the sub woofer, but that's how it should be: pair of stranded wires. This is actually a good thing since it gives you have the option of purchasing quality wires (such as Monster Cables) or even longer cables. The rear of the sub woofer has clearly marked jacks for the left and right high/mid range speakers and power/control.
Unlike the 5.1 ProMedia Ultras, there is no breakout box for the volume, sub, and power. All of those controls are located on the right satellite speaker. For me, this is a good thing, as I won't even know WHERE to put a breakout box on my cluttered desk. Also, it is susceptible to fall behind the desk.
Listening
The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 can sound as boomy as you want, or as accurate as it needs to be. With the sub woofer turned up, the bass still sound natural and does not overpower the satellite speakers at all. It's perfect for music that have heavy bass, such as clubbing/trance and rap. You can't expect theater-thumping bass if you use it as a home theater speaker, but considering it's a desktop speaker that's for near-field listening, it's does replicate the experience if you sit a few feet away.
Play classical music, rock, and alternative rock where there is more of a mix of highs, mids, and lows with the Klipsch at the same settings I used with the rap music have that unnatural bass sound. The best description I have would be inaccurate bass reproduction. I had to turn down the bass knob a bit for this kind of music. After this, the sound is much more natural and fills the room pretty well. The ProMedia 2.1 is so well balanced that I couldn't tell which speakers were producing the sound waves. Lets put it this way - on other speakers, I've noticed that either the sub is working hard or the smaller satellite speakers. With the ProMedia, they all work in unison that I couldn't tell! This is a far cry from the
Altec Lansing AVS 300 PC Multimedia Speaker System I own (and reviewed here on epinions), where I remember describing as "having that disconnected feeling" - where the bass sound like it was from the sub, and the mids and highs sound like they were from the satellites - and neither of their frequencies mixed correctly. The Klipsch had no such disconnected feeling. It was the way sound was meant to be heard.
Why Not 5.1?
Now, some of you may be asking "why a 2.1?" Well, first off, not all of us (such as myself) need a surround sound system for a computer. Although such sound cards exists, most computer users will not have the room dedicated for computer speakers. Now for a home theater system, I can see myself setting a surround sound system for. But all of the music I listen to are only in stereo (mp3s, CDs, etc). I rarely play DVD movies on my PC (only when I want to see a couple of DVD clips in a pinch do I really play a DVD on my PC). And as for games, though it's nice to have surround sound when I play, I don't play that often to warrant the extra cash for a 5.1 system (especially the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1s), nor the dedicated space for said system. Besides, I find that gaming with headphones gives a more immersive experience than speakers.
For us, stereo with a sub woofer is all we really need.
Durability
I actually have 2 sets. One is used on my gaming desktop (that doesn't get used all that often), and the other is used in the living room with my home theater PC (HTPC). I have both sets a little over 2 years. The desktop speakers developed an issue where the sub just didn't work after a couple of months. The satellite speakers were just fine though. This caused the sound to sound tiny since the low frequency was missing. Klipsch support was very good, allowing me to send in a email or fax of my receipt as proof of purchase (using the date purchased as a basis for warranty). They had 2 options: I can send in the entire sub woofer or (if I had the guts) I could take the amp out of the sub woofer enclosure and send that instead. Since I would be the on paying for shipping it there, I decided to send just the amp. It took several screws to hold the amp in place, but it was really easy to take out. Installing the new amp back onto the enclosure was just as easy.
The ProMedia 2.1 used on my HTPC set up never developed any problems. I leave the power on all the time, since my Kill-a-Watt wattage meter measured only 5 watts of power consumption when the speakers are not producing any noise. I find it a hassle to have to reach around the back of the sub woofer to flip the switch every time I want to watch TV. Ironically, I turn off my desktop speakers when I'm not using it - and THAT was the speaker set that developed a problem!
Conclusion
While I've read that many people had amp and connector issues with Klipsch ProMedia speakers, I've only had the amp died on me once with one set. I still rarely use my desktop set, but when I do, they sound great and haven't produced any issues yet. My HTPC set seem to be rock solid, as it is always left powered on and played louder than my desktop set.
Yeah, I know I said they were near-field speakers, but they sound so much better than the TV's built-in speakers (and that the HTPC is basically a computer), I decided that it was more cost effective (electricity consumption and out-of-pocket wise) to use the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s rather than a separate receiver and speakers. Besides, the ProMedia 2.1 seems perfectly matched with a 32" LCD TV. Not quite home theater-large, but definitely big enough to warrant good sound.
