Speakers 2.1 or 5.1 or 7.1

[xpender]

Hi, I am looking for a new set of speakers. I am running right now Logitech Z506. The sound is just Ok. I play lots of music and games. My sound card is a Supreme FX X-Fi Discreet Card. Maybe I should get a real sound card too.:\

I got those Logitech, because some games now come out with 5.1 surround.

Thanks for your comments!

 

[xpender]

I have been looking around for a while, and it is quite confusing all the information available. First, I was going to buy a 7.1 speaker system, but I read that it is not worth it because there is not enough games out there with 7.1. The I looked at the 5.1, and again some comments on the internet said that a 2.0 or 2.1 would be better for sound quality, and that 5.1 systems don't have good speakers.

I looked at the 2.0 systems, and I can get really good speakers for about $200. Then again, comments said that a seperate amplifier for the speakers would be better than the self powered ones.

So again, I looked at the Audio card, and it has analog output for the Front, Side ...
Then I started to look for a used amplifier with analog inputs. Not easy to find.

Then I read that the HDMI on a video card could be connected to an amplifier and let the amplifier decode the 5.1 surround sound. I think that would create a delay between a noise in a game and when I will hear it from the speakers.

Anybody with experience on any of the above? Looking for a good clean sound that can be turn up fairly loud for music, and with good bass.

 

[Childs]

People seem to like the M-Audio AV40s, which are self powered. I have heard good things about the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1. A decent pair of bookshelf speakers would most likely be better than most computer speakers, although then you would want to get an amp involved. I would think you could find an older HTIB receiver on ebay or craigslist for $50 or so. I had a hard time giving my old one away for free.

I should have prefaced the above by saying I only use headphones (apt living) when PC gaming, so these are just general suggestions. I wouldn't think there would be a noticeable delay using a spdif out from your PC and letting the receiver do the decoding. I do have a Onkyo receiver that does the sound for my HTPC and PS3, and I noticed no noticable delay when gaming or watching movies. In fact, if I was going to set up speakers for my gaming rig, I would probably just get a HTIB or another refurb/used receiver and a good pair of monitors.

 

[thelastjuju]

Stick with 2.1 ... especially if music is the priority, where 2 channel stereo is THE standard format.

Just do the math to realize how much cheaper the 7.1 speakers have to be compared to 2.1 speakers for the same budget. Not including the sub and other equipment, with a $200 budget that's $100/speaker (with 2x of them) vrs a mere $28/speaker (with 7x of them).

No matter how many rinky-dink $28 speakers you kept adding on, they would NEVER produce the type of sound clarity as just TWO higher quality speakers (worth between 2-3x the price) up front.

I'll take quality 2.1 sound over mediocre 5.1-7.1 sound any day. Random sounds coming from behind me is really not important to me, especially when you consider how much you have to sacrifice on sound quality to get it done. Plus how difficult and impractical surround sound setups can be for desktop PC setups. Usually people don't position them correctly anyway and just have them as far left + far right instead of true surround.

Until you have about $350+ to invest, you shouldn't be thinking about full blown bookshelf speakers, a dedicated amp, and a separate subwoofer. Unless maybe you get used equipment, or upgrade over time.. but I'd never go with anything refurbished.

 

[futurefields]

i had the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's, they are great computer speakers probably the best stereo setup for less than $200.

unfortunately one of the speaker terminals broke after a year rendering the set completely useless for me at the time. (looking back I could have repaired it with probably a $5 part, but I was like 20 years old and really enjoyed throwing stuff away)

Anyways, I just use an actual stereo system now. I would recommend one of those if you want actual good full range sound.

Klipsch 2.1's or actual stereo like a Sony bookshelf system or whatever is what I recommend. Anything less is kind of crappy, but then again you might not need real high end sound anyways.

 

[moonbogg]

I have Logitech Z5500 and they are amazing. Their replacement model is the Z906 and I hear they are at least as good. I bet they are amazing.

 

[serpretetsky]

I have seen these guys recommended before, although i honestly have never heard these in real life:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-652
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-380

subwoofer:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-633#Reviews

 

[yhelothar]

For music 2 channel would definitely be far superior. But if gaming and movies is your thing, I think 5.1 or 7.1 would be better. However, Gaming and movies doesn't really benefit all that much from high fidelity audio, but they benefit much more through positioning. You mostly just need a big beefy subwoofer that will rattle your house with each explosion.

It's a matter of which you value more, movies or games.

You could always get two very good 2 channel speakers, and add on some cheap satellite speaker surrounds.

 

[thelastjuju]

For music 2 channel would definitely be far superior. But if gaming and movies is your thing, I think 5.1 or 7.1 would be better. However, Gaming and movies doesn't really benefit all that much from high fidelity audio, but they benefit much more through positioning. You mostly just need a big beefy subwoofer that will rattle your house with each explosion.

It's a matter of which you value more, movies or games.

You could always get two very good 2 channel speakers, and add on some cheap satellite speaker surrounds.

I still disagree.. higher fidelity audio would mean every voice, every sound effect from every footstep, explosion, and gunshot etc.. is all being rendered in higher quality and would sound more REALISTIC. Not to mention how often music is playing in the background of games and movies too.

Your choice really comes down to:
> HIGH quality sound from 2x speakers up front
....OR....
> being surrounded by MEDIUM quality sound.

Also, getting very high quality speakers up front and lower quality satellite speakers in the rears would do damage to the soundstage and give you an overall muddier sound. I actually made this mistake with my first system, and to this day my rears AND center channel are just for show, because they are so inferior sounding to the 2x studio monitors I have up front.

 

[yhelothar]

Of course if you can get higher fidelity speakers, it'd be better, but what I'm getting at is that it won't make nearly as much of a difference with games/movies as it does to music. A large proportion of sounds in movies and games aren't even realistic to begin with. How often have you seen a movie with guns that sound the way they do in the Heat bank heist scene? Rarely ever.
Footsteps in games is a joke and certainly won't benefit much from "audiophile" equipment.

About the medium quality surrounds muddying the soundstage, you shouldn't listen to music with surrounds. The surrounds are for movies and games. Music is recorded for 2 channels, so of course it's going to ruin the soundstage. It would ruin the soundstage even with high quality surrounds.

 

[jhansman]

I've used 2.1 speakers for all my needs for years now, with no wish for anything else. That said, if I were a hardcore gamer (not even close) and had a dedicated room that I could set up for surround, and the budget, I'd probably go 5.1. Some games (I'm told) have immersive surround audio tracks that can really create the mood intended by the game's creators. I doubt simulated surround can create this effect, but I'm willing to learn. As for music, 2.1 delivers all I want or need.

 

[xpender]

Thanks all for you help. I went with:

2 x Polk Audio tSI200
1x Polk Audio SPW108
1x Harman Kardon AVR1650

Everything for $608.00

I was also looking at Corsair sp2500 @ $229.99 and a pair or Tapco S8 @ $499.99

Thanks again all!

 

[thelastjuju]

Woah, you decided to go all out!

Congrats! Let us know how it sounds once you get it all hooked up.

:thumbsup:

Although you did get a 5.1 receiver.. you could have gotten a simple 2 channel stereo receiver for a bit less that would sound even better, but this way I suppose you can add surrounds and a center down the road if you choose to.

 

[futurefields]

Of course if you can get higher fidelity speakers, it'd be better, but what I'm getting at is that it won't make nearly as much of a difference with games/movies as it does to music. A large proportion of sounds in movies and games aren't even realistic to begin with.

What?

The point is having high quality sound reproduction. A balanced frequency response with good transient reproduction and low harmonic distortion. "Realistic" is highly subjective and has nothing to do with having a sound system that is able to reproduce sound accurately, which is the crux.