Should I upgrade my speakers?

[Xerin7]

I am building a new system, and need to decide whether or not to stay with my current speakers (Cambridge Soundworks DTT5500 5.1). I will ONLY be using this system for gaming (not for music or movies). I am willing to spend in the $300-$600 range if there is a significant improvement over my current setup.

Should I upgrade to Logitech Z-5500 (or the refresh if one comes out in the next few weeks)? How about going with a receiver and bookshelf/HT system? I definitely want to keep 5.1 for gaming.

What would be the BEST setup given that gaming is my only focus?

Thanks!

 

[herm0016]

with gameing as your only focus you will be fine just useing a logitech set or an HTIB system. If you have the money and the room the htib system will probably sound better and will be usefull for hooking up a dvd player or any other source, while the logitec or a smilar set will really only work with you computer.

 

[Xerin7]

Would the Z-5500 or HTIB be a significant enough upgrade to justify the cost, given that my Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 still works fine?

One thing I'm worried about going the HT route is whether speakers, which are designed for a further listening distance, will sound good from within arm's reach.

 

[gneGne]

I would save that money

 

[Molinjir]

If you are willing to pay the difference, a reciever/bookshelves system would outperform any set of computer speakers(or HTIB, for that matter)

I'd recommend the AV123.com merchandise (the x-series). It will cost you perhaps 1000$ all told with reciever, but it's performance will be so far beyond your current setup that it would be well worth it.

 

[shortylickens]

I wont fault anyone for not using the search, because here on Anandtech it stinks. However, we have had a number of threads on this issue already. There is even an official audio thread made by the Soundman himself.

If you are willing to spend 300-600 bucks then you should forget computer multimedia speakers. As was already suggested, go with a home theater speaker system. You get much more power and quality for a lot less money.
Even a Home Theater In A Box setup would be good for you.
Just check out your local Best Buy or Circuit City and write down the model numbers for stuff you like.
Then go online and find it for about 1/2 price.

 

[Bluestealth]

I have a 7.1 Setup, Onkyo SKS-H520 Speakers(pretty much HTIB), plus a Yamaha HTR-5860 for 7.1 analog in from my X-Fi... Expensive but it sure delivers... now with work and school I really do anything but play music on it when I get home, but when I do fire up a game or movie its worth it. EAX or OpenAL really deliver. Although, I am really starting to hope someone will implement openAL in their audio drivers so I can move away from Creative. However I don't think it will likely happen in the near future 🙁
I can't justify getting 300-600 dollar computer speakers but if you only want 5.1, you can easily get a cheap, nice HTIB as long as it has a 5.1 analog input.

 

[Xerin7]

I've read Soundman's thread, and agree it is a great reference.

I use my home theater system (Onyx Rockets, Emotiva amp/preamp, etc.) for movies and music. I also use that system for console gaming (Xbox 360 and Wii), and the sound is awesome. But my living room is a lot bigger than my study, so I don't know that the sound stage would be large enough to notice that kind of difference in a much smaller room.

This year, I will be playing mmorpgs (Vanguard, Lord of the Rings), Crysis, Spore, etc. I'm a little unclear on whether the audio would be a lot better in these games with an upgraded sound system, enough to justify several hundred dollars that could be spent on some other part of my gaming system.

For those using a non-pc 5.1 speaker setup for your gaming, have you found it to be noticeably better than the standard offerings from Creative, Klipsch, and Logitech?

 

[alcoholbob]

Lol Xerin, looks like you've showed up at all the forums in my sig =P