Adding Speakers ontop of speakers

[Coldkilla]

ok, I got this setup of speakers. I want to have all around surround, I am currently also in the process of buying a sound card for my system...

Since I have 2 speakers and a subwoofer, I want to know:
Is it possible to add speakers to my current setup?
Is it possible to have 2 Subwoofers, (1 infront, 1 behind)

How would this be done? I don't know sound from anything..

 

[Zepper]

You only need one subwoofer as low frequencies are basically non-directional - so if you want more bass, get a bigger subwoof. For the rear channels, just get a stereo pair.
. Most mobos have at least 4.1 channel sound already - no need for a sound card unless the integrated sound really sucks.
.bh.

 

[Coldkilla]

Tell me: Whats

"just get a stereo pair"

 

[Coldkilla]

Will just buying 2 more speakers work? Will I be able to connect 2 new speakers to the 2 that are already there without buying anything special?

 

[Gunbuster]

what do you want surround sound for? movies? games? ....?

 

[Coldkilla]

Well, I already bought a set of speakers... I need more lol

The speakers would be primarily geared towards games

 

[Zepper]

You already have a set of 2.1 speakers (left/right/swoof), correct? Well a stereo pair is a 2.0 set. Just a left and a right speaker (no subwoofer) - self powered. One of the other audio jacks (possibly the line-in) on the mobo becomes left-rear and right-rear outputs when you change a software setting from two-channel to four-channel. Read your mobo manual...
.bh.

:moon:

 

[The J]

If you do want to just buy another set of speakers to connect to the rear, I would recommend getting a system with a subwoofer. The reason for this is that if you just get a 2.0 system for the rears, you'll have no bass for the rear sounds since no sub is connected to them. Ideally, it'd be best to get the same speakers for the rear as you currently have for the front.

 

[Zepper]

Bass frequencies are NON DIRECTIONAL = ALL BASS comes thru one SWoof., don't need rear SWoof. If you need more bass GET BIGGER SWoof - comprende? In true surround, the rear channels should be pretty much bass-free (120 Hz and below) from the decoder.
.bh.

 

[Apotherix]

If you want a good setup for a good price...try the logitech z5300. I'm thumping on it right now...

 

[Coldkilla]

So it works like this:

Connect the speakers to the SWoof.
Connect the SWoof to the Headphone port in the Mobo
Connect my 2 new speakers to the left/right port on the mobo

There, thats easy now an't it? Unless thats the wrong assumption of mine

 

[Goi]

Is this for a computer setup or a HT setup? For most cases you won't need 2 subwoofers, but some high end HT systems do have dual subwoofers, though I think they're both in front rather than 1 in front and 1 at the back. There are some merits to dual subs, despite bass being said to be non-directional. In fact, some high end preamp/processors such as the Lexicons explicitly support dual subwoofer outputs.

But, for the most part, Zepper is right - unless you're spending tens of thousands of dollars into your HT gear and you have a huge room, one sub is enough.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Bass frequencies are NON DIRECTIONAL = ALL BASS comes thru one SWoof., don't need rear SWoof. If you need more bass GET BIGGER SWoof - comprende? In true surround, the rear channels should be pretty much bass-free (120 Hz and below) from the decoder.
.bh.

Hang on here...

I have a Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here, that has a song on it Welcome to the Machine with bass alternating between the right and left channel. With allot of modern speaker systems having only one subwoofer you wouldn't here that alternating R/L bass note very good, maybe not at all, through the small satellite speakers.

IMHO, the "bass frequencies are non directional" mantra is short changing allot of people from a better listening experience. It's true that for the most part, a single subwoofer will suffice, but in some cases it DOES make a difference. That Pink Floyd song I listed above has always stood out as an example the it does matter sometimes.

 

[Coldkilla]

Lets stick to the speakers then.. If I wanted to add speakers to:

this-- http://server5.uploadit.org/fi...omputer04-P1010002.JPG

That setup, there are 2 speakers and 1 SW. I would like to know if buying 2 more speakers (just 2 speakers) would work.. Is there any type of special connection tpye of connector for them?

 

[Coldkilla]

27 Days later.. Bump

 

[Coldkilla]

1 day later bump

 

[Coldkilla]

*Sigh

 

[stevty2889]

You have yet to answer an important question, are you using onboard sound, or a sound card? Does it support 4 channel sound? IF your sound card/onboard sound supports 4 channels, then just get 2 more speakers and plug them in, and change your settings to 4 channels.

 

[chilled]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
You have yet to answer an important question, are you using onboard sound, or a sound card? Does it support 4 channel sound? IF your sound card/onboard sound supports 4 channels, then just get 2 more speakers and plug them in, and change your settings to 4 channels.

Agreed. You must tell us whether you are using an onboard chip or a sound card and whether is supports more than 2 channel output.

Look at the back of your PC. Your current speakers are plugged into one jack. How many other sound jacks have u got next to them?

Otherwise look in your sound card/chip software. Has it got an option for 4 channel sound or more?

 

[Thegonagle]

What motherboard (or separate sound card) are you using?

That will help us determine whether you need a new sound card to do what you want to do.

If it supports 4 analog channels, then yes you can add another set of 2.1 (L+R+Sub) for the rear, although, as mentioned already, the second sub probably isn't necessary. In fact, you may hear little to no bass from the rear channels in most cases, because little to no bass is sent to the rear channels in movies or games. That is the reason it was suggested that you just get a pair of stereo (L+R w/o sub) speakers in case you didn't want to spend much money.