Simviation Forum - Looking for a new surround sound system.

May 28^th, 2009 at 10:51am

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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So about 3 or 4 years ago I got a hi-fi system. 5.1, it cost me like £15 and generally it was cheap and thus is getting old and starting to break a bit.

For some reason when I play sound from this computer, it plays through left and right front speakers and when I play sound from my Xbox, it plays center, right and rear... So it isn't exactly working quite as I want it to. But the problem isn't that, it is getting something new and better.

The Xbox 360 has digital audio output (Apparently that is correctly known as 'optical digital audio output' and it's basically a red light which I presume flashes a lot). The Xbox also has a standard audio cable which has a phono connection. I got an adapter which converts that to a regular 3.5mm audio jack.

My computer has got 6 connections (green, pink, blue, black, orange and grey). The pink is the microphone and the blue is apparently another Line In, but that leaves me with the Green, Black, Orange and Grey. My current speakers have black orange and green input, but I have never played around with that and just used green.

What sort of new system could accomodate for both of those and what cabling would I require for those 4 Line Outs I currently have? Looking to buy from the UK (can be online) but if I can get any reccomendations then I am sure I can find a UK alternative, I just don't quite know what I am looking for. I want to be able to get 5.1 with my Xbox 360 and pretty much the same from this computer.

Current budget is well, anything. I am just getting an idea of what products are available. Cheaper the better, but I don't know how expensive this could get. I am looking for good quality (nothing extraordinary) and I can buy online or in store.

It appears I have S/PDIF connection on this computer too, so I can use that connection as well. I believe it's digital output too, but I'm not sure.

Cheers.

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Reply #1 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 5:34am

T1MT1M Offline
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Quote:

My computer has got 6 connections (green, pink, blue, black, orange and grey). The pink is the microphone and the blue is apparently another Line In, but that leaves me with the Green, Black, Orange and Grey. My current speakers have black orange and green input, but I have never played around with that and just used green.

The reason you only get sound out of the right and left speakers is because thats all green gives you. black is sub and centre and orange is the rear 2(black and orange could be turned around, i forget and am just guessing).

you say you have s/pdif capabilities in everything that requires connections which is good.

There are so many options for sound systems its kind of hard to give you some direction

What you want is a set of speakers with an amp that has more than two s/pdif connections in it, and a lot of different settings to choose from. Different EQ's for watching movies and listening to different kinds of music. you also want the amp to do DTS because it is better than dolby digital.

As you have probably noticed by now the amp is the thing that really matters with audio.

all of these things will cost you about $400 and up

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/hometheater/yht.html?CTID=5000800

They will be great quality sound and as a teenager of low income and loves music is what i bought.

You generally get what you pay for with speakers.

If your looking at just buying it for gaming then I would go with one of these:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/3549&c...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/234&cl...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/211&cl...

Just make sure which one has the correct inputs.

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Reply #2 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 10:31am

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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Oooh, lots of options.

I do like the look of the Z-5500, but it looks expensive (£250 or so!) and the others seem to give much of the same functionality.

Really I'm just seeing what my options are... How much to invest (which I can see from going through all the links you posted) and what sort of technologies to look for.

The Yamaha ones are just going to cost too much.

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Reply #3 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:25pm

Fozzer Offline
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An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

machineman9 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 10:31am:

Oooh, lots of options.

I do like the look of the Z-5500, but it looks expensive (£250 or so!) and the others seem to give much of the same functionality.

Really I'm just seeing what my options are... How much to invest (which I can see from going through all the links you posted) and what sort of technologies to look for.

The Yamaha ones are just going to cost too much.

All my various multi-point Stereo Surround Sound Speaker Systems, including Sub-Woofer, generally cost me between £25 and £50 brand new.

They can either plug into my Computer, Musical instruments, Radio, or Television, etc...

When used for my Computer, they can plug into my Creative Labs Soundblaster Sound Card, or into my on-board sound chip.

Their Output Power is more than most Folks can tolerate in a typical Living Room, etc...

Paul... Cool

...!

PC World, Maplin, etc....

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

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Reply #4 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:36pm

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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Posts: 5255

I remember the days when we had some rather powerful speakers and we played the Top Gun intro through them full blast... You could certainly hear that outside the house! Excellent times, lol.

My previous speakers were really cheapy ones after the Christmas sales but they were very naff. I think all the digitally bits of the ones I am looking for are going to make it more expensive, just the S/PDIF connections and all that.

But that's what Christmas is all about, right...?

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Reply #5 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:24pm

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

machineman9 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:36pm:

I remember the days when we had some rather powerful speakers and we played the Top Gun intro through them full blast... You could certainly hear that outside the house! Excellent times, lol.

My previous speakers were really cheapy ones after the Christmas sales but they were very naff. I think all the digitally bits of the ones I am looking for are going to make it more expensive, just the S/PDIF connections and all that.

But that's what Christmas is all about, right...?

I eat little Children who play loud music anywhere me... Smiley

...!

Paul... Grin

...

...!

..even with all my Music Instruments, etc, detailed below, I make sure no one can hear them outside the confines of my House... Wink

...!

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

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Reply #6 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 5:30pm

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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Posts: 5255

Lol I will remember to rice up a Ford Fiesta and come play some hardcore tracks down through Hereford Grin

That might even be too low for me to go Tongue

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Reply #7 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 1:32am

T1MT1M Offline
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Naboo

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I have found that with the cheaper speakers don't really work as well with the digital inputs, gotta go the whole way or it doesn't make a difference. Then i would just go with one of the cheaper logitech options.

It doesn't matter whether or not its got digital output because i find that the cheaper speakers don't really handle it that well so it doesn't make a difference.

All I have posted is from personal experience when i wanted to buy my own speakers and the 3 or 4 sets (of 5.1 speakers) I've been through in my time.

My own conclusion when i finished going through them was that the ones I have now are awesome to fit my needs. They will probably hang around with me for the next 20 or so years (they are good quality).

I have a yamaha amp with 2 small rear yamaha speakers. 2 tower's that have 10 inch speakers in each and the centre which is also rather large. All of this only cost me $300 because i bought it second hand when it was in perfect condition.

There are more options than just logitech though. Head over to the Creative site and see what they have to offer.

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Reply #8 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 9:57am

machineman9 Offline
Colonel
Nantwich, England

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Posts: 5255

Ah cheers, I shall pop over and see what they have to offer.

I know it's not always easy to get cheap, quality, speakers but I'm trying to get good value for money.

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