5.1 speaker setup questions

[zm307]

I am interested in buying a 5.1 speaker system for my computer. I was thinking of those $70 logitech ones off of newegg. I mainly use my computer for gaming and watching movies/listening to music. Is this a good choice?

Ps. Should I buy a sound card as well to improve the quality even more?

Pss. Would I ever be able to hook these up to my ps3 to get high quality 5.1 surround sound?

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: zm307
I am interested in buying a 5.1 speaker system for my computer. I was thinking of those $70 logitech ones off of newegg. I mainly use my computer for gaming and watching movies/listening to music. Is this a good choice?

Ps. Should I buy a sound card as well to improve the quality even more?

Pss. Would I ever be able to hook these up to my ps3 to get high quality 5.1 surround sound?

1. Not really. What is the model?

2. If you have realtek 888 then a sound card isnt exactly a must have (money would be better put to better speakers)

3. No unless you are buying the ones that have optical or coax digital inputs.

 

[zm307]

@bassbomb
1. X-540 logitech 5.1 speaker system retail $71.24 on amazon.com
2. Output: Realtek Hd audio (not sure if its 888 or not..)
3. No i dont believe these have optical of digital inputs.. but maybe somebody else could check on that?

Thanks

Ps. Can anybody find me a decent pair of 5.1 speakers with a digital/optical input? My gigabyte p35 mobo has the proper output..this way I could hook these speakers up and play my blu ray and games in surround.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: zm307
Ps. Can anybody find me a decent pair of 5.1 speakers with a digital/optical input? My gigabyte p35 mobo has the proper output..this way I could hook these speakers up and play my blu ray and games in surround.

Blu-Ray will come in surround via the optical out on a motherboard because it is pre-encoded this way. However games will be 2.0 stereo from the optical out on a motherboard, since it does not do any form of DD or DTS surround encoding, and games do not output this by default.

If you want 5.1 digital surround encoding for games and other non-DVD/Blu-Ray sources you need a sound card that is capable.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You're playing blu-ray from the ps3, right?

If you get something like Logitech z-5500s, you can use analog from your computer for games and hook up the ps3 via digital to get surround from both sources.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You're playing blu-ray from the ps3, right?

If you get something like Logitech z-5500s, you can use analog from your computer for games and hook up the ps3 via digital to get surround from both sources.

+1 That is exactly what I was getting at

 

[zm307]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You're playing blu-ray from the ps3, right?

If you get something like Logitech z-5500s, you can use analog from your computer for games and hook up the ps3 via digital to get surround from both sources.

Ok this sounds good..how exactly will I do this. If you could tell me what connections go where..etc. I understand that my COMPUTER games will not be in the 5.1 surround.. but I would expect my PS3 games like MSG4 to be in surround.

Also...Is there any slightly cheaper optical output speakers other than the z-5500's? I don't want to cheap out, but the room that these will be in is my college dorm so its not exactly a huge living room. And will I need to purchase an optical cable to plug from my ps3 to the speakers, or is that usually included?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you hook up both 5.1 analog cables from the computer (that will come with the z-5500s) and an optical cable from the PS3 (cable that you will buy), you can have surround from both sources. You just need to switch the input on the z-5500 control pod between 6 channel direct for computer and digital optical for the PS3.

I think the z-5500s (on sale) are one of the best options in this range. Alternatively you could get a cheap HTIB option, but that might not work well with the computer as source for games and the quality will be pretty low as well on this budget. z-5500s aren't really meant to fill up a huge room, so a dorm room would be fine with them. No need to blast the volume up if that's what you're worried about.

For the optical cable I believe that's not included. You can get a cheap one at http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

 

[zm307]

OK sounds good I will go with those speakers in a little bit. Your help is appriciated.