Best 5.1 Surround Sound

Logitech z-5500
http://www.refbuy.com/product_info.p...ducts_id=32669

for something cheap to go along with what you have, I would say z-2300, but since you want 5.1 nothing beats the z-5500. Don't forget to grab a sound card while your at it, or the upgrade would be almost for nothing.

you should be fine with ur mb

If you need a optical cable
http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10229

you should get the g51

it's very good

In all honestly, I think you should go with the ALTEC LANSING FX5051. Altec Lansing dropped out of the mainstream speaker scene but are still one of the best when it comes to 5.1 sound. FYI, more watts does not = better sound.

You have to hear it to believe it.

Z-5500, I wanna get them when I get some cash and get some other needed upgrades. Hopefully for my birthday I will get these.

Logitech Z-5500, at local Microcenter I seen em for 190$ sale, or if you got real cash to spend go with Creative Gigaworks S750.

Those Logitech's have a total RMS of 550wats and that's probably the highest I would go, if you do go with the Gigaworks they have a total RMS of around 700Wats. The reason I don't recommend above 500wats is because after that you start having picture frames fall off and stuff. I had the first version of the Gigaworks s750 and it made the little model planes sitting on my night table fall off at full power.

note: I don't really notice the difference between 5.1 and 7.1

I wouldn't focus too much on wattage, since the dB produced by the speakers will vary widely depending on the speaker sensitivity.

Basically to get the approximate volume, take the sensitivity of the speakers - subtract about 3dB per meter you're sitting away from the speaker, and then multiply by the wattage to generate the sound (very broad approximation). Since you're probably sitting relatively close to these speakers you don't need a lot of wattage to generate a comfortable volume.

Another thing you may want to consider is the Z-5500 have a THD of 10% which is pretty high and definitely audible.

Also 7.1 pretty much sucks with a small sound stage.

Another option would be to gradually build up your surround system and start off with a pair of decent powered speakers like these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.h...plified-Studio-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0009VT9PChttp://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-BiAmpl.../dp/B0009VT9PC
They actually use some quality components which will make a big difference if you plan on using it for music.

Dont mean to intrude on this thread but

lots of people recomend using the digital interconnect to wire up your sound source(card) to your sub/sat or receiver
Im wondering, if you have a rather expensive sound card and a similarly priced `receiver` wouldnt the sound card have the better DAC in it?
Thinking along the lines of component cost/materials and end product, as in the sound card is ALOT cheaper to make than an amplifier!
No power suppy, major output circuitry and heatsinks, a remote and a nice box with feet to house it!

Z-5500's.