So I am thinking of Going Surround Sound - Overclock.net

Dethredic · 04-17-08

I have some extra cash, and I want to improve my audio setup. I currently have some 2.1 speakers, and the sound card that comes with the ASUS P5N32-E SLI motherboard.

Firstly, I will be mainly be playing videos, music, and occasionally some games, but mainly music and movies.

Will I need to upgrade my sound card? If so, recommend me one. I am not looking to get the best sound in the town, just something that sounds good and works. If you know that it works well in Linux, that is a bonus.

Umm, I was looking on some ways to set this up in my room, and I am not sure if it will work. Here is an close to scale diagram of my room.

The pink things are likely where I would put the speakers. I am not sure if that would work, or if those are the optimal setup. The black outline are the walls.

My current speakers are the Logitech X-240. The doc station has an Aux input so I can plug my iPod into it and play it from there. I would really like this feature on new speakers if I were to get them.

Ya, so give me some suggestions in different price ranges.

zacbrain · 04-17-08

i like 5.1 i really enjoy it, i would try to see if i can at least get a z-5300e setup, got mine for 90$ on ebay.

triggerc · 04-17-08

Do you have a budget? How important is sound quality vs # of speakers to you?

In terms of sound cards, you can have a good sound card like the Chainteck AV-710 for around $40, for between $150 and $200 you can get higher end sound cards like the HT Omega Claro Plus+ or the Auzentech Prelude among the numerous choices.

For the speaker setup you could get PC speakers such as the logitech Z-5500. But you could also go with home theater setup connected via optial. For superior sound quality for your budget you could do a setup with a quality receiver from Onkyo or Denon, couple that with a pair of good bookshelf speakers and a decent subwoofer.

Dethredic · 04-17-08

Ok, lets try to keep the whole thing at $200max. More suggestions welcome.

Truambitionz · 04-17-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dethredic

I have some extra cash, and I want to improve my audio setup. I currently have some 2.1 speakers, and the sound card that comes with the ASUS P5N32-E SLI motherboard.

Firstly, I will be mainly be playing videos, music, and occasionally some games, but mainly music and movies.

Will I need to upgrade my sound card? If so, recommend me one. I am not looking to get the best sound in the town, just something that sounds good and works. If you know that it works well in Linux, that is a bonus.

Umm, I was looking on some ways to set this up in my room, and I am not sure if it will work. Here is an close to scale diagram of my room.

The pink things are likely where I would put the speakers. I am not sure if that would work, or if those are the optimal setup. The black outline are the walls.

My current speakers are the Logitech X-240. The doc station has an Aux input so I can plug my iPod into it and play it from there. I would really like this feature on new speakers if I were to get them.

Ya, so give me some suggestions in different price ranges.

The way the back speakers would be set up wouldn't sound very good.
I'm not sure the details of the room but maybe it's possible to turn the desk against the left wall, that way you could have space for all the speakers.

triggerc · 04-17-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dethredic

Ok, lets try to keep the whole thing at $200max. More suggestions welcome.

For that price range you probably will be looking at the Chainteck AV-710 and the Logitech G51. If sound quality isn't your priority you can even stick with onboard for a little longer and wait for a good deal on the Logitech Z-5500. But unless you are playing your audio out of a multi-channel source like DVD or Foobar2000/Winamp, you are better off getting a good 2.1 system with better sound quality. Or if the subwoofer doesn't matter to you very much you can ditch that and get a T-amp with a pair of bookshelf speakers like a http://www.amazon.com/PORTABLE-CLASS-T-DIG-AMP/dp/B000WCBKLE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1208452072&sr=8-2 with a pair of bookshelf speakers like the Insignia NS-B2111 from Best Buy or the http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MGNDHE along with Chainteck AV-710.

Dethredic · 04-17-08

Well, TigerDirect does have the Z-5500 for $199.99, so with the price match guarantee at futureshop I could probably get them for like $200 with taxes. Maybe I can get them used somewhere. Thanks for the help guys.
I think I could possibly rearrange my room to make these work.

balake777 · 04-17-08

I'm guessing you need a sound card. I'd go w/ something like x-fi extreme music.

Then for speakers, something like the 5300e suggested earlier would work.

Also, I think most log Logitech speakers are made so you can mount them to the wall or ceiling. My friend Mounted his to the ceiling and pointed them down. Sounds good and it keeps the wires and everything out of your way.

GoneTomorrow · 04-17-08

Whatever you do, don't stick with that horrible Supreme FX "sound card" that your board came with, it does 5.1 absolutely horrible, signal delays, quite rear channels, static.

Any of the above sound cards are good, but let me add the bluegears bEnspirer to that; a very good card with a very good price.

Also, for your right rear satellite, you could get a speaker stand. I don't know about the Logitech, but my Klipsch satellites have standard sockets that will allow it to attach to a third party speaker stand. But it would certainly be pointless to put it so far back.

Or, do you have bed posts? You might be able to rig the satellite to stick to it.

triggerc · 04-17-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoneTomorrow

Whatever you do, don't stick with that horrible Supreme FX "sound card" that your board came with, it does 5.1 absolutely horrible, signal delays, quite rear channels, static.

Any of the above sound cards are good, but let me add the bluegears bEnspirer to that; a very good card with a very good price.

Also, for your right rear satellite, you could get a speaker stand. I don't know about the Logitech, but my Klipsch satellites have standard sockets that will allow it to attach to a third party speaker stand. But it would certainly be pointless to put it so far back.

Or, do you have bed posts? You might be able to rig the satellite to stick to it.

The b-Enspirer is a very good card, CMI8788 FTW because they actually have decent drivers. Though at $100, buying the b-Enspirer won't leave very much left of the budget for speakers. It probably would be the best to stretch the budget a little bit if b-Enspirer is being considered, good source + bad speakers = bad sound quality nontheless. At the sub-$100 price range the Chainteck AV-710 based on the Envy24 HT-S chipset, with a little modding it'll probably end up as good as if not better than the b-Enspirer, though the only problem is availability on the AV-710.

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So I am thinking of Going Surround Sound

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