Can you hook up...

[TheNemesis]

Does anyone know if you can hook computer speakers (say z560s) up to a DVD player or TV somehow? Would that and a DVD player sound better than one of those extremely cheap (~$200-300) home theatre systems in a box(speakers, dvd player, etc..) or should I just get one of those instead of z560s and a dvd player.

 

[TallBill]

im guessing using the audio input fuction of yer sound card somehow? rca to stereo cable? i dunno.. i was gonna ask the same

 

[LordFortius]

No, even if you got adapters to hook up the regular speakers to the outputs on the dvd player, there wouldnt be enough power to run the speakers properly. Thats why you need a receiver, it has an amplifier to give the speakers some juice. The only way you could get away with not having some sort of receiver would be if you bought speakers that are self powered. (Maybe the z560's are, I don't know anything about them. If they have their own power cord that you hook into the wall then they probably are)

 

[JeremyJoe]

You probably need a reciever to hook up the speakers for surround sound, go check them out at bestbuy or something

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: LordFortius
No, even if you got adapters to hook up the regular speakers to the outputs on the dvd player, there wouldnt be enough power to run the speakers properly. Thats why you need a receiver, it has an amplifier to give the speakers some juice. The only way you could get away with not having some sort of receiver would be if you bought speakers that are self powered. (Maybe the z560's are, I don't know anything about them. If they have their own power cord that you hook into the wall then they probably are)

z560's are self powered... cant u use the audio in on a sound card?

 

[TheNemesis]

I'll most likely end up getting this then...

 

[LordFortius]

Originally posted by: JeremyJoe
You probably need a reciever to hook up the speakers for surround sound, go check them out at bestbuy or something

Depends. If they DVD player has a built in dts or dolby decoder, it would have 5.1 channel outputs he could use. He would just hook each specific speaker up to the channel for front left, front right, center, sub, etc.

 

[TheNemesis]

So yay or nay? We're getting some conflicted opinions here.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: TheNemesis
So yay or nay? We're getting some conflicted opinions here.

I would say maybe, although the computer speakers are expecting to get line level power(what has gone through a pre-amp stage) and the DVD is not outputting up to that level, most DVD players do output a decent level and may be enough to get sound out of the speakers. However, it won't be as loud as something having been pre-amped.

A receiver is a tuner, pre-amp, and amp all put together.

 

[Peetoeng]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: TheNemesis
So yay or nay? We're getting some conflicted opinions here.

I would say maybe, although the computer speakers are expecting to get line level power(what has gone through a pre-amp stage) and the DVD is not outputting up to that level, most DVD players do output a decent level and may be enough to get sound out of the speakers. However, it won't be as loud as something having been pre-amped.

A receiver is a tuner, pre-amp, and amp all put together.

If the speakers are powered (meaning it has built-in amp) speakers then the line level output from your DVD is ok, otherwise you need an amp like mentioned above. For stereo or dolby-surround setup, you may get ok sound; but receiver has more controls, bell and wistles if you go for 5.1 channel setup.

Basically, the analog output signal from your DVD players need to be amplified either by an amplifier, receiver, or amplifier in your speakers.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: TheNemesis
Does anyone know if you can hook computer speakers (say z560s) up to a DVD player or TV somehow? Would that and a DVD player sound better than one of those extremely cheap (~$200-300) home theatre systems in a box(speakers, dvd player, etc..) or should I just get one of those instead of z560s and a dvd player.

you don't need a receiver to connect to the Logitech.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I've actually rigged up a cable that does just that. However, it doesn't provide true surround sound.. can't have effects playing off of just 1 speaker.. plays on all 4.

Josh