Differences between computer speakers and HTIB?

[duragezic]

Well my Logitech X-530s are at home and although I like my cheap Sennheiser headphones, I want some speakers! I left them there since my parents were suppose to come "soon after" with the rest of my stuff, but it's been over 2 months and nothing in sight. So I'll just buy new speakers and sell or give away the X-530s (which I realize are cheap speakers, but they are one of the better sets at the price I believe).

Except for the first time in my life, I have a budget over the standard cheap $70 sets. I would say a max of about $300. I remember seeing some good deals on Logitech Z-5550s. I would guess I'm looking for something like that. However, locally I seen someone selling a Yamaha HTIB set (5.1 speakers, sub, receiver) never used for $300 (retailed for almost $400). I should've maybe jumped on it, but I knew nothing about them. Reviews were good but described as low-end.

So what are the differences between a set of computer speakers, for example the Logitech Z-5500, and a similarly priced HTIB?


* Budget of about $300, give or take as needed
* Looking for 5.1 system
* Primarily used for PC gaming, movies/media on PC, music
* Soundcard is a Audigy Platinum eX (has the external box with optical, SPDIF, etc connections)


Jeez, now that I mention the Audigy, I realize the friggin' box is at home. So any speakers that I buy that aren't the standard 1/8" connection I can't use. But forget that and assume I'll get the external Audigy box shipped to me if needed.

Given my only experience with speakers is various $10 2pc sets, to a cheap Altec Lansing 5.1 set, to my Logitech X-530s, I'm not audiophile. So if spending $300 isn't going to be a noticeable difference to someone like me, then I'll hold off on buying. Thanks.

 

[Slick5150]

Well, the Z-5500's are a HTIB in a sense, in that they can take various inputs, decode them, and power a 5.1 speaker setup. However, the main limitation to them is that you can't swap out components. For example, if you bought a HTIB and at some point decided to get a better subwoofer, or better mains, you can do that. With the Z-5500, the system is pretty much designed only to work with the various components. you can theortically swap out the satellite speakers, but since the system is tweaked to work specifically with them, it won't help all that much.

That being said, for the price of the Z-5500, you can get a better sounding HTIB system. The Onkyo HT-S3100 for example, sells for $189 shipped from shoponkyo.com. Its refurbished, but most will attest to the fact that Onkyo's refurb stuff generally looks brand new.

http://shoponkyo.com/detail.cf...d=1&detail=1&ext_war=1

(It'll show $199, but when you regeister for a Club Onkyo account you get 10 free points that equate to $10 off)

 

[duragezic]

Well I was kind of figuring that spending a decent amount on a setup that I wouldn't have any need to swap components. Well I mean a decent amount for someone who is not an audiophile and likely wouldn't have a problem with a specific component such that I would feel the need to replace. So I think a $200-300 HTIB would be a more than adequate setup for me for the next few years at least.

That set you linked looks like a good fit for me. I see it has composite, optical, coax connections. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes but I figure I'd want to not use composite? And is coax the same as RCA SPDIF? The external Audigy box doesn't have composite/RCA out, but it does have optical and RCA SPDIF I/O. So I guess in short I'm wondering if I'll be able to hookup a regular HTIB as opposed to computer speakers without special equipment.

I've heard Onkyo being mentioned as pretty good overall. Any particular brands with models in my price range that I should look for or avoid? Logitech, Harmon Kardon, etc?

 

[alcoholbob]

Onkyo is your best bet $300 or under, pretty much everything in this price range is overwhelmingly underwhelming.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: duragezic
Well I was kind of figuring that spending a decent amount on a setup that I wouldn't have any need to swap components. Well I mean a decent amount for someone who is not an audiophile and likely wouldn't have a problem with a specific component such that I would feel the need to replace. So I think a $200-300 HTIB would be a more than adequate setup for me for the next few years at least.

That set you linked looks like a good fit for me. I see it has composite, optical, coax connections. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes but I figure I'd want to not use composite? And is coax the same as RCA SPDIF? The external Audigy box doesn't have composite/RCA out, but it does have optical and RCA SPDIF I/O. So I guess in short I'm wondering if I'll be able to hookup a regular HTIB as opposed to computer speakers without special equipment.

I've heard Onkyo being mentioned as pretty good overall. Any particular brands with models in my price range that I should look for or avoid? Logitech, Harmon Kardon, etc?

Composite is for video, coax and optical are for digital audio. Are you planning on running any video through the receiver?

As for whether coax or optical makes a difference, there answer is no. Some audiophiles argue that coax is technically a "purer" transmission, but you would never, ever, be able to discern a difference from one or the other.