Need a new speaker setup

[L33tMasta]

I just bought a Creative X-FI Titanium HD and it only supports optical out fpr surround sound. So I think it's time to ditch the analog 5.1 that I'm using right now on my integrated sound card and upgrade to a digital solution.

The things I need:

• Optical in

• 5.1 surround sound

• Optical pass through option (for my Turtle Beach PX5 headphones)

• THX certified

• Dolby Certified

Now I have a budget of $500 and am looking for something to give me an awesome sound experience that matches the new sound card I just bought.

 

[alcoholbob]

You bought a $180 sound card just for Dolby Digital Live?

 

[SithSolo1]

• Optical pass through option (for my Turtle Beach PX5 headphones)

Your headset base already has this option, why do you need it again?

• THX certified

• Dolby Certified

You don't "need" either one of those and wanting them will definitely limit your options.

Do you have a receiver? Do you want a receiver? Do you want an all in one computer speaker setup or actual speakers? What will you be listening to? We need more info.

 

[L33tMasta]

Your headset base already has this option, why do you need it again?



You don't "need" either one of those and wanting them will definitely limit your options.

Do you have a receiver? Do you want a receiver? Do you want an all in one computer speaker setup or actual speakers? What will you be listening to? We need more info.

You're right. My headphones already offer a pass through. That's my bad. I forgot that. I want a setup mostly for playing games, watching movies and listening to music. I would LIKE them to work with Dolby and THX, I don't mind having a receiver, I do not have one right now. As for speakers I think actual speakers would get me better quality. The rear ones need to be small enough to sit on a ledge.

 

[SithSolo1]

Alright, this isn't an audiophile setup but I think it will do well given the budget and without knowing space restrictions.

Receiver:
http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...hannel-3-D-Ready-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

Front pair:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290200

Center:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290210

Rear pair:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290026

Sub:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290034

Total: $551 out the door, budget another $10-20 for speaker wire.

Alternate Center(Smaller):
http://www.amazon.com/BIC-AMERICA-DV-32CLR-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00006JPDG


Alternate all in one speaker packages for use with the receiver:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirage-Nanosa...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327123651&sr=1-10

or

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Classi...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327123651&sr=1-1

Price with the receiver and either of those two will still be around $550.



For under $550 you are probably going to see a sizable step down in quality given everything you need. The Polk mix-in-match will probably be the best for music given the larger front speakers. All the systems should be comparable for games and movies.

If you want to go the PC speaker route your best option is the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121050 and I don't think it will compare sound quality wise to a receiver/speaker setup but it is cheaper.

 

[L33tMasta]

SithSolo1, What kind of setup am I going to get if I had a larger budget? Because I can start off with a decent 2.1 setup and expand from there and buy piece by piece if I have to/ Honestly I just threw a budget out because I have to go to vegas in April, but I'm willing to do $700 or $800 in total.

You mentioned space restrictions so maybe I'll flesh it out a little bit. Please see the following picture for the space restrictions:

Soon I'll be moving the set up in to it's own space (maybe keep the spare bed but move the TV and bookshelfs.). Also Canada. I notice one sites say "Can't ship outside of the US".

 

[SithSolo1]

Ah Cananda, well thats a whole other ball game.

I don't know much about speaker buying there but from what I've read your best best is local big box stores and hi-fi shops. If you are able to, I highly recommend visiting some and listening to some speakers. Local hi-fi shops are also likely to haggle on the prices. Also canadian prices will be higher than those found in the US on most brands. One brand to keep an eye out for is PSB, they seem to have lower canadian prices.

If you must buy internet direct I think acessories4less will ship that receiver to canada. Also it looks like futureshop.ca will ship to you. One final option is Ebay.ca, you might find some deals on there.

 

[L33tMasta]

Well I'm chilling out in BestBuy right now and they have the Onkyo TX-NR509 for $400 "sale price". I saw the one you linked for $300 online free shipping. They have a pioneer van-521-k for $279 and a Sony STRDH520 for only $250. The Sony seems to be almost the exact same only 7.1 surround, 85W (more than the Onkyo) and no Bluetooth. The pioneer interests me because it's Bluetooth compatible, 110W but no USB. The Onkyo has an iOS app which is awesome, 80W per channel, Internet radio.

 

[kornphlake]

If you're choosing a receiver solely on the power, you'll probably be disappointed with the sony, they're known to over-rate their receivers. Toslink doesn't have enough bandwidth to carry 7.1 channels, only 6.1 so unless you abandon your fancy sound card an use HDMI you're not going to get 7.1 anyway.

Honestly if this is only for connecting to your computer I'd troll some pawn shops for a decent used receiver with optical inputs, it shouldn't be too hard to find one since a lot of people are upgrading their receivers to receivers with HDMI ports. While your at the pawn shops you might want to look for some speakers too.

 

[L33tMasta]

Well I'm going to be using it for a full tv setup eventually. 5.1 is enough for me. I'm ready to buy new. One piece at a time if I have to.

 

[Exterous]

If you're choosing a receiver solely on the power, you'll probably be disappointed with the sony

Agreed. IIRC the mid to cheap ones drop off rapidly in terms of deliverable power after you connect more than 2 speakers. A pioneer or onkyo will serve you significantly better

 

[L33tMasta]

Cool. I'll go take a look at that Onkyo one again. Seems like a version higher than the one that SithSolo posted. I like the fact that there's an iOS app for it.