New sound system for Editing

[SketchMaster]

A few days ago the rear speakers started to die on my Creative 5300 that I got two years ago for $100. (Big surprise)

Anyways, Now that I am getting pretty serious about video editing I needed a sound setup that would better suit me. So I ran out to best buy and slapped down $200 on the Logitech 5300e, got home and set it up expecting to hear the sounds of angles singing!

It was more like one humming while reading a paper.

Don?t get me wrong, it sounds good. But I really didn?t hear THAT big of an improvement over my old speakers. And the sub is kind of weak, it sounds like it is distorting a bit when there are loud bangs or any sort of heavy bass. Just didn?t have a good ?thud? sound to it.

So what I want is a good sound 5.1 system for under $500 (if that?s at all possible, if not suggest something for around $500-$600) that I can hook up to my Audigy 2. I also game on my PC a good bit if that makes any difference.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Humm.. Z-5500 the digital ones might be down your lane. If you could fork up a lil more, the S750 are where you should be.

 

[jamesbond007]

Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1s?

If I had $500 to spend, I'd rather get a nice Yamaha receiver and some small monitors with a decent sub. However, it might be tough to get a voice-matched THX certified solution, like the Klipsch, for the same cost.

 

[SketchMaster]

Hmmm.. Thoes S750 are looking pretty tasty!

However, How much would it cost to get a nice THX Set up like you were talking about, James? and what parts would you suggest for that kind of system?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

THX on computer speakers doesn't mean much... I think the 5300s might even be "THX"

If you have $500 to work with, you could easily get a basic HTIB setup...

The onkyo 770 is a nice setup.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
Hmmm.. Thoes S750 are looking pretty tasty!

However, How much would it cost to get a nice THX Set up like you were talking about, James? and what parts would you suggest for that kind of system?

http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=712

I use to have a set of the regular ProMedia 5.1s before there were the Ultras....definitely sweet sound! A friend of mine got the Monster Cables for his set, but I stuck with the regular cables...not sure if his were really louder or sounded any better, but both setups worked great. He got a set of stands for his rear speakers, too. Everything was from the Klipsch.com site. Might want to check around for prices, too. Maybe NewEgg or ZZF will have them cheaper.

If you have the real estate space, I'd go with that Onkyo setup YOyoYOhowsDAjello linked. Onkyo makes some SWEET stuff...the thing about a real home theater receiver is that you can expand your setup anytime or change satellites without having to worry about lack of power. You get an infinite amount of I/O ports, a nice remote, and lots of decoding abilities.

All I can say is that they're the best sounding setup I've heard. I personally dislike the Logitech series because of the unecessary boomy bass and ugly satellites. I feel when I buy Klipsch, I buy the one of the best engineered speakers that I can afford. The satellites are sexy, the bass is incredible and delivers many hours of enjoyment. If you want an all-in-one solution, I wouldn't look anywhere else.

 

[SketchMaster]

Well if I go for the all-in-one setup I don't know if I want to go with that Klipch or the creative 7.1 system. Part of me is thinking "Klipch is a good name and you know they have good marks" and the other part of me that plays Counter-Strike is thinking 'HOLY CRAP! 7.1 That?s like 1...2... 2! 2 more speakers than I have now!" But I also like the s750 for it better response range.

If I went to the Onkyo, would I really get better sound than with any PC setup? Also I just realized that that since I have just the ZS I don't have any sort of fiber or coaxial out on my card, so I would have to upgrade to a platinum card if I wanted to go with the HITB

 

[gsellis]

A relavent discussion at DVInfo... DV Info's Now Hear This forum

A discussion about speakers and soundcards. Some of the options are not in your price range though

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
Well if I go for the all-in-one setup I don't know if I want to go with that Klipch or the creative 7.1 system. Part of me is thinking "Klipch is a good name and you know they have good marks" and the other part of me that plays Counter-Strike is thinking 'HOLY CRAP! 7.1 That?s like 1...2... 2! 2 more speakers than I have now!" But I also like the s750 for it better response range.

If I went to the Onkyo, would I really get better sound than with any PC setup? Also I just realized that that since I have just the ZS I don't have any sort of fiber or coaxial out on my card, so I would have to upgrade to a platinum card if I wanted to go with the HITB

Kinda dragging this up from the dead... didn't notice you said this....

If you get a receiver that has 6 channel direct input (the denon 1705 at ecost.com for $200 if it's still there for example) will allow you to get surround sound from your current card. You just need some 1/8" to RCA adapters.

You wouldn't be able to get a 5.1 system for $400 anymore though. You can get a sub from partsexpress for $125 that is very nice, and then for speakers you could either get a pair of nice speakers to start and use a 2.1 system until you have more money, or you could get a full 5.0 set for $300-ish (like the Fluance SX-HTB set I got).

 

[tr1kstanc3]

people who are serious about video/audio editing use studio monitors and not computer speakers. good companies to check out are Event, Mackie, Genelec.. to name a few. if you have to have 5.1 check out the Alesis ProActive 5.1 which you can find online for $400.

alesis 5.1

 

[SketchMaster]

Thoes look alot like Logitech's Z-5500.

Think they are the same?

Edit: Close

"This Alesis-branded product is actually an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the Z-680 system designed and manufactured by Logitech. Logitech sells their $399 list version through computer stores and other consumer outlets. Alesis's version is available at musical instrument and pro-audio stores. For the extra cash, Alesis throws in heavier gauge speaker wire and a free subscription to a surround magazine."

Link

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
Thoes look alot like Logitech's Z-5500.

Think they are the same?

Edit: Close

"This Alesis-branded product is actually an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the Z-680 system designed and manufactured by Logitech. Logitech sells their $399 list version through computer stores and other consumer outlets. Alesis's version is available at musical instrument and pro-audio stores. For the extra cash, Alesis throws in heavier gauge speaker wire and a free subscription to a surround magazine."

Link

You mean z-680s?

EDIT: yep, you've got it now

 

[sharkeeper]

Rush Monitor, Tannoy, Westlake Audio, Celestion come to mind to for nice sounding un coloured audio. Get a DECENT sound i/o device (Event/Ego/Edirol/Creamware etc.), a preamp and nice outboard amp such as NAD/Adcom (entry level) or Mark Levinson/Krell/Accuphase (higher end). That would be a good start anyways.

High fidelity playback is never cheap. Almost Hi Fi is fairly cheap. Computer speakers are not even on the radar haha!

 

[tr1kstanc3]

lol now you are definitely past the $500 mark.

 

[SketchMaster]

Well Right now I have the Klipsch 5.1 ultra and I like them, but I'm starting to think I may be tone deaf.

I am going to try out the Logitech 5500's at a store and see if they are any better. I may wait until I have more money to throw at speakers, I only got new speakers because my old ones died and I just happened to get my tax refunds.

I just got an internship at a pretty good production company so I'll get to work with what they use so I'll have a better idea of what I want.

Anyways, thanks for all the help guys!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
Well Right now I have the Klipsch 5.1 ultra and I like them, but I'm starting to think I may be tone deaf.

I am going to try out the Logitech 5500's at a store and see if they are any better. I may wait until I have more money to throw at speakers, I only got new speakers because my old ones died and I just happened to get my tax refunds.

I just got an internship at a pretty good production company so I'll get to work with what they use so I'll have a better idea of what I want.

Anyways, thanks for all the help guys!

If you have promedias already, I really don't think you should be looking to "upgrade" to z-5500s.