Reccommend a good 5.1 system for my PC

[digitalduck]

Ok, i would like a small black or blakc /silver 5.1 setup for my PC now and am finding that I like some of the systems that are just basic HT speakers with a coax input. Hwopever, since I have a creative 5.1 card..cant I just use that? Or do I need a coax to mini plug adaptor for teh card to work? (yeah i think I do) so how can I use a standard HT 5.1 setup with my pc rig? And if so how abotu reccomendations? inexpensive, black and small...

Thanks!

 

[Calculator83]

Originally posted by: digitalduck
Ok, i would like a small black or blakc /silver 5.1 setup for my PC now and am finding that I like some of the systems that are just basic HT speakers with a coax input. Hwopever, since I have a creative 5.1 card..cant I just use that? Or do I need a coax to mini plug adaptor for teh card to work? (yeah i think I do) so how can I use a standard HT 5.1 setup with my pc rig? And if so how abotu reccomendations? inexpensive, black and small...

Thanks!

Get the logitech z5500, check Dealnews.com for them or any of the pricegrabber esk sites.

They're great for the price unless you build your own.

 

[Tiamat]

Readme


Especially section 1.7.

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks guys... the z5500 is a bit out of my price range (i think) plus i have to get it from Amazon (stupid gift certs) I have about 75 right now nad would spend 100-150.

Also, I didnt stop and think thta the speakres would have to be amp powered for me to use HT speakers. I relaly dont want to get a whole HTIAB setup just to have PC speakers better than 2.1 but the other logitechs are estetically ugly...hmm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

$100-$150 isn't a good budget to get a HTIB set. I would recommend just looking around for computer speaker sets. I haven't been keeping up on the newest computer speaker sets to know if there are any decent ones for $100-$150.

 

[digitalduck]

YOyo..I was referring to just a PC speaker set...I didnt want a HTIB, thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: digitalduck
YOyo..I was referring to just a PC speaker set...I didnt want a HTIB, thanks

I wasn't sure if you were still considering getting a whole set based on your post before mine.

The z-5500s from amazon are $187.54 after $40 rebate which is pretty darn good for what you're getting.

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks Yoyo...yeah ill take a closer look at teh 5500's...I was thinking about just a 5 piece set but that wouldnt work if I didn't have a receiver would it? bummer..but it makes sense. I just checked my card and I have the SB Live 24 bit..so it is capable of 7.1 but thankfully I just need 5.. haha.. cool cool...

UPDATE: Shoot its $3 SH and $17 tax from Amazon...weak.. whats worse is they charge for all speaker sets...

Can I at all get a set of HT speakers that are some how amp powered so I dont need the HITB who setup?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You'll need some sort of amplification between passive speakers and your source. Usually this takes the form of a receiver.

There are powered speakers, but generally the only cheap ones are in the form of computer speakers. With powered speakers, bass management can get tricky since you wouldn't have a receiver in the path to handle it.

If you were to start with a 2.0 system with the upgrade path toward a 2.1 system (and then possibly eventually a 5.1 system with a receiver), you'd be able to get a simple amplifier to go with your first pair of speakers and replace it later.
For example, if you got a t-amp from amazon
http://www.amazon.com/PORTABLE...&qid=1225257919&sr=8-1
and then got a pair of inexpensive bookshelf speakers somewhere else (I have a list of cheap ones in the sticky thread) or used ones...
that would get you a decent music system going

I don't think it's feasible to do 5.1 on that kind of cash though. A receiver is really the best option in most cases for doing what you need.

 

[digitalduck]

Thats pretty slick YOyo... not a bad idea. I guess it comes dwon either something like that or the Logitechs. I wish their lower line of 5.1's they had looekd better and werent so bulky and estetically unappealing... Hmm... Its a toss up. With the logitechs I just have the small speakers. With this portable amp route I have that, the bright blue light (although it can be hidden) and seperate speakers....tough tough..

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: digitalduck
Thats pretty slick YOyo... not a bad idea. I guess it comes dwon either something like that or the Logitechs. I wish their lower line of 5.1's they had looekd better and werent so bulky and estetically unappealing... Hmm... Its a toss up. With the logitechs I just have the small speakers. With this portable amp route I have that, the bright blue light (although it can be hidden) and seperate speakers....tough tough..

Note that the t-amp is only 2 channel, so you'd be limited to 2.0 (or 2.1 later on if you get a subwoofer with speaker wire input/output).

I replaced the "stands" with something more sturdy, but here's what my office system looks like with the previous generation t-amp below the monitor.
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...k%20System/Stands1.JPG

 

[digitalduck]

YOyo... nice monitor...and speakes, thats not the 2405 right? Anyway, yeah thanks for the info..i relaly would want 5.1 since i Have 2.1 right now..even though the color is off but I am trying to shoot for 5.12 so I might be stuc kwith the Logitechs..hmm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

That's a 1905 at work, my speakers aren't that big