Could you tell us what the back of yours looks like?
I went to the Akai homepage and it was no help
The site you linked to didn't list any sort of 5.1 output that I could see besides a digital 5.1 out.
Does it have 6 RCA jacks in the back? (Center, FL, FR, SR, SL, Sub/LFE)
The site you linked to only mentioned stereo RCA output from what I could tell.
If I'm wrong and it does have 6 RCA jacks, you could get that system airfoil linked to. All you would need are some RCA to 1/8" converters like
these. You'd need 3 of them and then 6 RCA cables to run from the DVD player to the speakers.
The difference between those computer speakers and the ones you were looking at before is that the computer speakers are powered. Actually... looking back at the ones you linked to, the $45 one might be powered too. The other one isn't because it lists the impedence of the speakers.
If you go to walmart and look at these system, you want something that has all the inputs on the subwoofer and then all the speakers connect to it to be powered. If the subwoofer is not powering the speakers, then you need an amp or receiver to power the satellite speakers. The sub powered satellites is how a computer speaker 5.1 setup is designed.
All this so far is dependent on your DVD player having already decoded the sound and it has 6 RCA jacks in the back corresponding to 5.1 sound.
If that's the case, I think you would do well getting a set of computer speakers like airfoil mentioned. If you're ok with refurbished stuff, you can get them for
$95 shipped from Justdeals. That set will be much better than your average HTIB set that costs $100.
Ok, all that being said.... you might not actually have the type of connection needed for that.
If your 5.1 output is digital, you'll need something to decode it.
This can be solved best by 2 ways.
1. Get a set of computer speakers with a built in decoder
2. Get a Hometheater in a box (HTIB)
3. Get a receiver that will decode it and then a set of unpowered HT speakers
For option #1. You could go as cheap as
refub z-680s for $166. These will be better than anything I listed above in this post.
You could also go new with this, or get a higher end set of speakers. I think Logitech is pretty much the only computer speaker company offering this right now. (Somebody let me know if I'm wrong) You can get refurb z-5500s for $220 or go new with them for ~$270.
For option #2. There are a lot of really crappy HTIB sets. Amazingly bad. Honestly, I think you're better off with computer speakers until you get up to the ~$400 or ~$500 range where you can get an entry level Onkyo HTIB.
For option #3. You have the most upgradability here. You can get a decent refurbished receiver from denon or onkyo for $150 and then add a pair of bookshelf speakers to start with. If you have then intension of adding more to your sound system later, this could be a great option for you. If you get one of the sets above, you pretty much have to start from scratch if you want something better. In the case of option #3, as time goes on, you can add a nice center channel by the same company you got the bookshelf speakers from. After that you can add a nice subwoofer to the mix. After that, you can get a nicer pair of bookshelf speakers by the same company or some floorstanders and move your first set of bookshelf speakers to the rear for surrounds.
With option #3 you'll end up spending more for your final system but you'll have more options, the cost will be spread out, and you'll have a nicer system in the end if you put some money into it.
If you have any other questions or need help figuring out what kind of connections you have on your DVD player, let me know.
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