Good/cheap speakers to use with HTPC?

[BoldAsLove]

I need good and cheapish speakers to use with my HTPC. Should I go with PC speakers or a receiver + sub + whatever. Anyone have any ideas or thoughts?

 

[Rallispec]

thier is a good deal on logitech x-540's posted in the hot deal forum right now.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

HT... let's go with a real system then eh?

Budget?

 

[KingGheedora]

Receiver + sub + speakers if you can afford it.

 

[sandorski]

Bose! Oh, you said "good"...hmm, also "cheap", nevermind then...

 

[BoldAsLove]

I just bought a bunch of crap some sub $200

 

[f4phantom2500]

craigslist lol

 

[BoldAsLove]

i also have a 540w stereo...would that work sufficiently through AUX?

 

[Kaido]

Logitech Z-5450 - 5.1, wireless rear speakers, bunch of inputs on the mini-receiver.

 

[BoldAsLove]

bump

 

[pennylane]

< $200 for everything?

 

[SmoochyTX]

http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=30&flcache=5840727&entercat=y

 

[BoldAsLove]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=30&flcache=5840727&entercat=y

this is technically a home theater question so it could go in either.

 

[BoldAsLove]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
< $200 for everything?

Im cheap...Those Z5450s can be had on ebay for about $200

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=30&flcache=5840727&entercat=y

this is technically a home theater question so it could go in either.

And the people wanting to know the same thing later that you're wanting to know right now, will have less help because you posted in the wrong forum.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: fanerman91
< $200 for everything?

Im cheap...Those Z5450s can be had on ebay for about $200

Answered your own question.

 

[herm0016]

go for a receiver and sub and such. much better for the money. pick up the insignia bookshelf's from best buy or the small pioneer bookshelf's from circuit city and a used or cheap 5.1 receiver.

i have gotten the pioneers for 20/pair on sale and they sound good, i use them for surrounds for my ht system

pioneer:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-...atOid/-13324/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

have found these at about 30 bucks a pair on sale
insignia:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138

receiver:
something like: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-...atOid/-12851/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

or a htib like:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasoni...atOid/-13325/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

the system with the bookshelf speakers will sound way better than the htib and will be ok with out the sub for a bit, where the htib will not be ok with out the sub. you can then save up a bit more and get a powered sub and have a great system that will last a long time.

 

[BoldAsLove]

Originally posted by: herm0016
go for a receiver and sub and such. much better for the money. pick up the insignia bookshelf's from best buy or the small pioneer bookshelf's from circuit city and a used or cheap 5.1 receiver.

i have gotten the pioneers for 20/pair on sale and they sound good, i use them for surrounds for my ht system

pioneer:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-...atOid/-13324/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

have found these at about 30 bucks a pair on sale
insignia:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138

receiver:
something like: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-...atOid/-12851/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

or a htib like:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasoni...atOid/-13325/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

the system with the bookshelf speakers will sound way better than the htib and will be ok with out the sub for a bit, where the htib will not be ok with out the sub. you can then save up a bit more and get a powered sub and have a great system that will last a long time.

How would this connect thru an HTPC...this is where I get lost.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Computer's audio ouput ----> Input on receiver

The receiver will take inputs so you can switch between inputs, and then also controls the volume.

 

[BoldAsLove]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Computer's audio ouput ----> Input on receiver

The receiver will take inputs so you can switch between inputs, and then also controls the volume.

through AUX? I have that running right now through my mac mini headphone port to my bookshelf stereo's AUX input.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Receiver + sub + speakers if you can afford it.

Really go this way if you can, even entry level real stereos blow away high end "computer speakers".

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Computer's audio ouput ----> Input on receiver

The receiver will take inputs so you can switch between inputs, and then also controls the volume.

through AUX? I have that running right now through my mac mini headphone port to my bookshelf stereo's AUX input.

The Mac Mini audio output jack is both analog and digital. Get the Mini-to-TOSLink adapter and you can run digital (surround) output from the Mac Mini to your receiver.

Use this.

 

[BoldAsLove]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Computer's audio ouput ----> Input on receiver

The receiver will take inputs so you can switch between inputs, and then also controls the volume.

through AUX? I have that running right now through my mac mini headphone port to my bookshelf stereo's AUX input.

The Mac Mini audio output jack is both analog and digital. Get the Mini-to-TOSLink adapter and you can run digital (surround) output from the Mac Mini to your receiver.

Use this.

Im going to be using a PC when I connect though.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Computer's audio ouput ----> Input on receiver

The receiver will take inputs so you can switch between inputs, and then also controls the volume.

through AUX? I have that running right now through my mac mini headphone port to my bookshelf stereo's AUX input.

The Mac Mini audio output jack is both analog and digital. Get the Mini-to-TOSLink adapter and you can run digital (surround) output from the Mac Mini to your receiver.

Use this.

Im going to be using a PC when I connect though.

What type of sound card will you be using to output the audio?

 

[radioouman]

I have the version of this that doesn't have a DVD player:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasoni...atOid/-12954/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I really like it. I bought it in December for about $170, and it is more than adequate for my family room. It sounds far better than I thought it would for the price.

However, it sounds like you are only able to connect the headphone jack from your Mac to the "AUX" jack on your stereo, so this home theater in a box would be too complicated for you. Mine didn't even have a manual in the box. I have the coaxial digital output from my sound card connected to the coaxial input on the Panasonic, and it works great. I get 5.1 surround that way. Since the Panasonic is super flexible and has optical inputs too, I have my TV connected via one optical input and my DVD player connected via the other optical input.