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Building a home theater setup

N

NoStateofMind

Diamond Member
ok I know this sounds odd, maybe even a little quirky. I was thinking of buying Klipsch's 2.1 speaker setup for my PC. Then I got to thinking, what if i buy two sets of 2.1's and add a center channel speaker along with a receiver. So in essence I would have 4.2 setup with a center channel making it 5.2. Now how would I set up the subs to the receiver? Being two of them, is it possible?


And before anyone asks, I respectfully decline to build a traditional HT. Thanks and all comments are welcomed 🙂
 
What I mean is, home theater 'speakers', as in floor standing or bookshelf. Using mostly the Klipsch 2.1 PC speakers. Do you understand now?
 
go all teh way if you want a system. dont use computer speakers for it. you will be much happier with real bookshelf speakers and will get more for your budget.
 
the klipsch kits are driving the satellites from an amp in the sub. it's not really 2.1 channels, it's 2 channels with a summed mono sub. assuming your pc has 5.1 audio output, these would be plugged into the front pair. the second set would be plugged into the rear pair. the center/sub output would need a stereo 1/8" to RCA adapter, and only the center channel would be plugged into the receiver. what you'll end up with is less performance and more complexity and expense.

your best bet is a 5.1 channel pc speaker kit. people speak pretty highly of the pricier logitech setups.
 
4.2...? Hehehe.

Get a real 5.1 setup, if you can afford it. There are some decent budget ones, and if you can't afford much, go for a HTB (home theater in a box). Worst case scenario, if you must, get a 5.1 computer speaker setup (logitech has a few, there are others as well), do it right.
 
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
the klipsch kits are driving the satellites from an amp in the sub. it's not really 2.1 channels, it's 2 channels with a summed mono sub. assuming your pc has 5.1 audio output, these would be plugged into the front pair. the second set would be plugged into the rear pair. the center/sub output would need a stereo 1/8" to RCA adapter, and only the center channel would be plugged into the receiver. what you'll end up with is less performance and more complexity and expense.

your best bet is a 5.1 channel pc speaker kit. people speak pretty highly of the pricier logitech setups.
Click to expand...

I've owned the logitech z2300s and I've owned the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s, logitech doesn't even come close to the sound reproduction of the Klipsch's. Your explanation is kinds confusing to me, but i guess I could figure it out. My goal is to build a 5.1 setup at $150 intervals.
 
Why bother with $150 intervals? But more importantly, someone was right about the 2.1 systems being driven from the sub's amplifier. Your money would be better spent (quality and efficiency wise) with 2 pairs of bookshelves and 1 powered amp since you say you're getting a receiver anyway.

At your price point, I'd suggest going the DIY route, but there aren't many people who can do that.
 
Klipsch used to make a 4.2 system
http://www.klipsch.com/product...ails/promedia-4-2.aspx

This is not a good way to go for what you're trying to do.

Klipsch Satellite speakers are basically just small poor quality speakers that are 4-ohm and would present a more difficult load to the receiver if you were planning on using the receiver to power them. I don't really know how the volume control works with the sets, so I don't even know if it would really work to have the receiver try to power the speakers while sending a low level signal to just the sub.

It would be difficult to find a center channel that really matched these except for another promedia satellite/center that someone is selling separately from a complete set.

If you want to use the soundcard to control the two speaker sets and then a receiver (or I would recommend just a small amp like a T-amp) to drive the center speaker only, then it's going to be really irritating to try to adjust system volume as you'll have three different volume controls to adjust / turn on when you want to use the system.

If you wanted to use the Klipsch subs connected to the receiver with the subs powering the speakers, you'd need a receiver that has pre-outs for all channels and hook up that way (most inexpensive receiver don't have that). You'd still have to deal with three volume controls.

You can reject "real speakers" if you want to, but that the easiest way to get a system that performs well in the end and will not be an awkward mess of different systems wired together. If you want small Klipsch speakers, Klipsch makes some real ones that are small too. example: http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rsx-3.aspx

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to do a "real HT" type setup if you're already planning a relatively large system and a receiver's going to be involved.
If you're pricing Klipsch 2.1 sets at $150 each, that's maybe
$150+$150+$150(receiver)+$50(center?)
That's ~$500 for something similar to a Klipsch Promedia Ultra System?

If you want a surround sound Klipsch computer speaker set, get a set of Promedia Ultra's off ebay or something. (Looks like you could get a set for about $300 shipped off ebay?)
 
Are you using a PC monitor? HDTV?

For an actual HT setup listen to Dangler And YoY0.

I did something similiar to what you're proposing but I'm using a 5.1 AV reciever and HDTV. The spare audio Klipsch Promedia Ultra setup I had/have was used as placeholders and aren't intended to be permanent. I had a blown 4.1 sub I was able to hook directly to my AV receiver.

Original setup - 35" Trinitron, AV receiver, Promedia Ultra 5.1 audio

1st upgrade - 50" DLP

2nd Upgrade - More space, Klipsch Heresy II fronts mixed with the Promedia Ultra 5.1 audio

3rd Upgrade - Klipsch RC-25 center channel

I'm left to upgrade the sub and rears.

The ProMedia Ultra system is an excellent PC set but it can't compare to real speakers. The sub won't reach lower freq's and the sats aren't going to give a wide enough dynamic range.

Spend your money smarter.
 
The Klipsches are nothing special. If you want some powered speakers, go with some KRK powered studio monitors.

They're not cheap, mind you. But they'd work very well.
 
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