Topic: Speakers for your PC.

[Sirgod]

Hi all, once again, I come asking about information.

My PC is pretty good, and It has slowely been turned into a media PC, along with my gaming rig.

I've been using an old Logitech 5.1 speaker setup with it, but as with me, they are getting old. About 10 years olf in fact.

So what is the word on current Speaker tech? 5.11 to 7.1 would be great. If they are really really good speakers, and built to last, I don't mind spending a couple hundred bucks on them.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

Stephen

[Javora]

Are you sure you want to do a 5.1 or 7.1 setup?  I have a 5.1 setup and quite frankly I'm tired of all the wires.  If you're like me, you may want to look at a good 2.1 setup that produces great sound.  All the speakers in the world won't make a difference if it doesn't sound good.  Good luck in your search.

[marstone]

I was the same, didn't like all the wires to run around and get tangled.  If you want a good sounding set of speakers for you machine.  check these out.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Klipsch+-+ProMedia+2.1+Speaker+System+%283-Piece%29+-+Black/9382232.p?id=1218095770265&skuId=9382232&st=klipsh

They have great sound, might be my next set.  The base speaker moves enough air it can probably blow out a match.  But the best advice I can give.  Hit a best buy or such and listen to the speaker systems.  Then if you want search for a good deal online and order them.

[Sirgod]

Hmm, that Klipsh does look nice, but I thought they picked up there ball and went home.

Might be something to consider though, having just a 2 or 3 piece set up.

Stephen

[knightstorm]

You know I'm sure someone has figured out a way to hook up home theater speakers to a pc.

[Sirgod]

I have done that in the past also myself, But I like the way you think.

Stephen

[manitoba1073]

i have my pc connected to my sony stereo receiver via coaxial cable, awesome 7.1 suuround set-up hehe

[Tus-XC]

personally, i recommend these from my use, http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en .  Of course mine are currently used in my home theater system as i haven't gotten around to actually putting together a system for me tv.

[Bonk]

The sound setup of mine that I liked best was some time ago. It was an AWE64 card connected to an old Sansui receiver and a pair of Bose 201s. The volume pot on the old amp needed cleaning but man it was the best sound I ever got out of a PC.

I don't think Bose makes the 201s anymore. Ah, wait they still do, a bit different in design, but that's the model.
http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/speakers/stereo_speakers/201_speakers/index.jsp
NOT SHIELDED! Not to be placed near crts disks or switches. The 201s like a good separation but will sound optimum about 7 feet apart, no toe (not needed).

I haven't heard the new 201s though. The old all wood tuned cabinets I had were the best!

I've been using cheap headphones for the last 10 years now, better to shut out the world. I'm thinking of splurging on a set of those active noise cancelling ones though (to shut out the world more).

For (relatively) high end now, I would use a Yamaha or Marantz stereo amp and a set of 201s.

For a surround system it depends on the quality of audio card. I'd go outboard 24 bit at a minimum, and if it's processor is adequate and line out connectors quality, connect it right to five power amps (Yamaha, Marantz, (ouch$) and five identical JBL cabinets. (matched by JBL for surround - oh maybe not anymore...). 5.1 with no sub. If it's processor is lacking or line out connecctors iffy, then I'd use a digital out and send it to a Yamaha processor in front of the power amps.
5 x JBL ES30s: http://www.jbl.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=ES30BK&accT=1&tsT=0&ovT=1

Best advice is to go to the store and listen before you buy. That is how I found my old 201s.

Now as far as "computer speakers" go. Pretty much all the ones I've heard suck.

An old amp will do, so long as it is quality and has the power.

I think I'd go with this:
http://www.yamaha.ca/av/stereocomp/AX497.jsp
and these:
http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/speakers/stereo_speakers/201_speakers/index.jsp
The amp would probably put it over budget, but seriously any old amp or receiver laying around in the garage powering a set of 201s is almost sure to better than any standard commercial computer speaker setup. At $296 the 201s are a pretty good buy (if they measure up to the old ones).

Recently I was surprised by the availability of extreme high end home computing products. I bet a little more research would turn up some equally outrageous audio gear to go with those systems. But you mentioned a budget of a couple hundred and the 201s fit that nicely.

I'm kinda with marstone on the surround for the PC thing, for the amount of time it is actually used it is not worth the trouble to me. Quality stereo output is in much more demand with my typical PC use patterns these days.

Yamaha needs to licence the M-Audio PCI tech so you can connect your yamaha processor directly to the PC at full bus speed. Yeah. I wonder if they have one of those yet? If they don't why haven't they built one yet?

[Sirgod]

WoW, such great information, Once again, I'm reminded how much I love you guys.

Stephen

[Tulwar]

Subwoofers don't work for us old rock'n rollers.  The bass was a big deal fourty years ago, and was often set to the left or right, and worked into the music just like a guitar.  A center subwoofer can distort the sound of that instrument in some really nasty ways.

I've been looking for a set, myself.  I think I'm just going to drop a C-note on a pair of Bose at the local Target.

[Age]

i have my pc connected to my sony stereo receiver via coaxial cable, awesome 7.1 suuround set-up hehe

Make sure you turn it down when baby sitting those nieces of yours.

[manitoba1073]

i have my pc connected to my sony stereo receiver via coaxial cable, awesome 7.1 suuround set-up hehe

Make sure you turn it down when baby sitting those nieces of yours.

 I generally dont use it when my nieces and sister is around as it tends to literally vibrate the whole house when it starts going over 50% lol
 And the quality is marvaleous.

[Sirgod]

Mani, what kind of sound card are you using that has a Coax cable output? Or did I miss read how you was set up brother?

Tulwar, I hear ya man. OF course for me, it was a jazz band, and the Monitors where directed right at me as I played Lead Trumpet for years and years and years. If not for Nemesis and his decade long pursuit of helping me with white noise generators, My Tenatis and hard of hearingeness would have drove me insane years ago.



Stephen

[Bonk]

Extremely sensitive hearing is both a blessing and a curse. It has probably saved my skin on more than one occasion, but it has also nearly driven me insane.

However, I think I would prefer to have super-sensitive hearing rather than not. It has partially defined me. I grow more and more convinced that I am a reincarnated Mi’kmaw shaman - and I'm a purist empirical scientist - I guess the two are not so different as one would initially imagine... Um how did I end up on this topic? Oh yes, super-sensitive hearing and being a deer attractant... Anyway...

So, I am both sympathetic to your hearing loss and jealous of it at the same time! (I like how my Grandmother takes her hearing aid out when she wants to tune things out and read her book...)

EDIT: wait... do you have the stats on your hearing? A frequency-response curve? Investing in quality speakers might be a bit of a waste? On the converse one might argue that the full frequency range may stimulate re-training your hearing?

[Sirgod]

That is a good question, Give me some time, and I'll try and Post a copy of my last hearing test.

Have to run over to my sis-in-laws to scan it, then transfer it to a readable form.

Why do I have this image of Bonk in my mind now, wearing a little Daredevil suit, but instead of Double D's he has Double J's?

Stephen

[manitoba1073]

Mani, what kind of sound card are you using that has a Coax cable output? Or did I miss read how you was set up brother?

Tulwar, I hear ya man. OF course for me, it was a jazz band, and the Monitors where directed right at me as I played Lead Trumpet for years and years and years. If not for Nemesis and his decade long pursuit of helping me with white noise generators, My Tenatis and hard of hearingeness would have drove me insane years ago.



Stephen

 Its on board HD sound believe it or not.  My Mobo is a M2N-SLI  Deluxe mobo. It sounds sweet. Comes with the coaxial outlet and when I make my pc's thats one of the things I make sure it has is the coaxial audio output. Not sure if theres a card out there that would be good.

[Sirgod]

I'll have to look into that then. lol, I can hear the wife now.

Honey, I'm gonna build PC #4, just so I can use my stereo speakers.

Stephen

[FRA.E.Kehakoul_XC]

Funny i used a aw64 gold for  almost ten years  connected to a minimalistic Alchemist: kraken amplifier,signal went from there into a yamaha natural sound av/processor/amplifier DSP--E492.

Front speakers are from, audio physics and are phase real?(phasen echt) i use are directly connected to the kraken amp while all other surround speakers are connected to the yamaha,volume is controlled though the yamaha. they can be decoupled to work as normal speaker without surround by switching a switch on the Kraken this way.

BAss comes from a bass reflex system in the main speakers, i don't use a subwoover because  with the wave  length of bass waves you cant achieve phase synchronicity in regard to high and mid range waves.

I use 2 back speakers from B+W, small center speaker from Canton, and that's it.

Although i should mention most of the time  the center speaker is disconnected and i emulate it through a phantom option in the yamaha.

Two years ago i build my new rig and i had a hard time  to get the digital output into that analogue highend system.
But i was successful.
I build  a quad system with a gygabyte main board  that comes with a realtec hd audio component,
to get the required connectors on the back of the pc i  found the best that's available after some  search and sweating.
THe  ESI Audio Juli@ comes with a swapable i-O socket

http://www.alternate.de/html/product/prodPicPopup.html?cmd=none&artno=KK%23V20&view=0#0
For a picture.allows the same connection type used with the AW64 Gold.

THe sound quality of this setup is beyond words even for audio phile types.

Although the yamaha produces only dolby surround pro pogic its more then sufficient. i could upgrade that system by switching to a newer yamaha external surround decoder but even thinking about the hassle to get this right makes my head hurt at the moment.

Audio from the sat dish (tv) goes from the box(selected for its audio component) into an old panasonic video recorder with a excellent audio part both were selected at that time for that reason. Tv set is a samsung full hd flat thingy.

 But at the moment i use the pc for watching  1080p movies through that  tv set  with ac264? audio and games etc,not the dish , to early for that.

And i need to find a way to get the dish signal i will get from a hd settop box  i still need to look for, into my pc.. someday i will do that .

There are no attractive HD sat  packages for Astra available atm imo.


Anyways you all want to ge t that sound card,  over here it costs 127Euros