Replacing computer speakers

[Spike]

Klipsch Energy RC Micro 5.0 just popped up for $99 shipped also.

I saw that, this was just a few hours after I panic purchased an AK meaning now I'm well and truly broke.

Though come to think of it, whats another $100 when I'm this far in debt? ugh...

*EDIT pulled the trigger. Now I just hope those amazon giftcards come through for Christmas so I can get the Yamaha receiver and the Polk sub to go with the energy micros.

 

[Spike]

Alright, got my Yamaha 373, Energy Micros, and Polk PSW10 all hooked up and so far they sound great, though I need to setup that little microphone thingee to get them dialed in.

What I want to know now is how the heck to get all 5 speakers working when playing games? I have the pc hooked up to the received via coax and when playing bluray I get all channels and it sounds nice. However, when playing games I'm only getting 2.1 and thats with the in game settings set to surround. Any ideas how to get surround working? If I can't do surround in games then all of this was for nothing...

Thanks!!

 

[fralexandr]

maybe a better way?: you might be able to connect the gfx card via HDMI to the receiver and have it count as a more or less phantom display by sending only audio. http://www.overclock.net/t/1212983/eyefinity-questions-with-a-hdmi-receiver
I wasn't aware that one could actually do this , but I guess it's possible now.
Assuming you have an extra HDMI output and 1 HDMI cable, you can get uncompressed 5.1 audio this way <3.


Otherwise, you can't send uncompressed 5.1 over optical, so you will need to compress it to DD 5.1 or DTS.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/302145-28-wont-play-optical-spdif-output
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/342112-31-motherboard-audio-receiver
the game needs to support dolby DTS/DD 5.1, or you need some way to encode it into that format. Otherwise the game's probably just outputting PCM and clipping the extra channels. Some of the newer games are going the dolby route, but i'm not sure if it's that common (derp: I can't believe I forgot to realize that many games don't do dolby audio).


http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1708835
Your realtek alc892 should have an option to encode sound as Dolby Digital Live before outputting it via optical [see hardforum link for pictures]. You might be able to find it in windows, though I doubt it [playback devices > device > advanced]
Link to the asrock z68 extreme4 download site, if you need to download the realtek HD audio manager (win 7 64-bit)
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?cat=Download&os=Win764&Model=Z68 Extreme4

[size=-2]otherwise if the above doesn't work, creative happens to have software that can do this on specific cards (note the xtremeAUDIO is not included since it technically uses audigy chipsets)
http://us.store.creative.com/Dolby-Digital-Live-and-DTS-Connect/M/B006GK76QE.htm
the cards supported are:
Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
Sound Blaster X-Fi
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series

x-fi xtremegamer sb0770 $28 (the half height xtremegamers don't have optical hah)
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Creati.../dp/B0093L6SCG[/size]

 

[Spike]

maybe a better way?: you might be able to connect the gfx card via HDMI to the receiver and have it count as a more or less phantom display by sending only audio. http://www.overclock.net/t/1212983/eyefinity-questions-with-a-hdmi-receiver
I wasn't aware that one could actually do this , but I guess it's possible now.
Assuming you have an extra HDMI output and 1 HDMI cable, you can get uncompressed 5.1 audio this way <3.


Otherwise, you can't send uncompressed 5.1 over optical, so you will need to compress it to DD 5.1 or DTS.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/302145-28-wont-play-optical-spdif-output
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/342112-31-motherboard-audio-receiver
the game needs to support dolby DTS/DD 5.1, or you need some way to encode it into that format. Otherwise the game's probably just outputting PCM and clipping the extra channels. Some of the newer games are going the dolby route, but i'm not sure if it's that common (derp: I can't believe I forgot to realize that many games don't do dolby audio).


http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1708835
Your realtek alc892 should have an option to encode sound as Dolby Digital Live before outputting it via optical [see hardforum link for pictures]. You might be able to find it in windows, though I doubt it [playback devices > device > advanced]
Link to the asrock z68 extreme4 download site, if you need to download the realtek HD audio manager (win 7 64-bit)
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?cat=Download&os=Win764&Model=Z68%20Extreme4

[SIZE=-2]otherwise if the above doesn't work, creative happens to have software that can do this on specific cards (note the xtremeAUDIO is not included since it technically uses audigy chipsets)
http://us.store.creative.com/Dolby-Digital-Live-and-DTS-Connect/M/B006GK76QE.htm
the cards supported are:
Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
Sound Blaster X-Fi
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series

x-fi xtremegamer sb0770 $28 (the half height xtremegamers don't have optical hah)
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Creati.../dp/B0093L6SCG[/SIZE]

Thanks for all the info!

In my case HDMI is probably not the way to go since I am running triple LCD's so am using both DVI's (means the HDMI is not available) and one displayport. I could get another displayport to DVI adapter though and free up the HDMI...

I'll try it the software way first, if that does not work then the adapter for the 6970 would be the next cheapest route, assuming I can send 3 video signals and 1 audio signal from the card. If that does not work i guess I'll have to look at a new sound card... ugh.

Just surfing amazon and noticed this, would this work for a somewhat cheap solution? It says it supports DD live as long as your receiver does.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound...=creative+x-fi

 

[fralexandr]

yep that should work, the x-fi i linked to is cheaper (~$33 w/ software) but I guess the USB option would be good if you don't have an extra PCI slot.

your onboard sound should work though.

 

[Spike]

yep that should work, the x-fi i linked to is cheaper (~$33 w/ software) but I guess the USB option would be good if you don't have an extra PCI slot.

your onboard sound should work though.

I did some more digging and it appears that ALC892 does not support DD so it won't sent out 5.1 via the coax though the lower numbered ALC889 does... go figure.

I do have a spare PCI slot, I just figured USB might work better so it could be moved around if needed easier.

 

[Spike]

I refer to this site to you http://bestpcspeakers.org/best-computer-speakers/

Thanks for the link though I'm glad I did not look at that site first, their surround recommendation is the Logitech Z906. While these speakers are not terrible they are a step down from the previous Z5500's who themselves were a step down from a self assembled HT setup in the same price range, except for maybe the sub.

Either way I made my orders and am fairly happy now, though once my SB Z arrives I'll be much happier as I can get 5.1 in games again! Total cost for the entire system, including cables, was about $580. More than I originally wanted to spend, and almost double the Z906 cost, but in the end it will sound much better and last a lot longer. Plus I can now upgrade it piecemeal later on if I want.

Thanks everyone who helped out!

 

[gus6464]

I refer to this site to you http://bestpcspeakers.org/best-computer-speakers/

Any site that puts Bose in the recommended list is just not to be trusted.

 

[Spike]

Any site that puts Bose in the recommended list is just not to be trusted.

Yeah, there's that too. From what I've seen (heard actually) Bose speakers put out some decent sound but they are never worth the price. And even when you finally find one that is almost worth what they charge I can't bring myself to buy it based on principle