Hey, i want to upgrade my PC's sound to 5.1 surround and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on what speakers to buy. I'm not looking to spend tonnes - probably anything up to £100 ($200). The most important factors for me is that the mid/high range has to crystal clear/crisp and the bass has to be smooth and punchy with no distortion at medium volume.

I don't care how loud they go, as long as it's reasonable (i've noticed that mid price-range sound systems with very high power outputs generally sound shit). Also dont care what they look like.

I've got a (up to) 7.1 sound card on my motherboard but a (not too expensive) sound card recommendation would be nice as well.

I've always been pleased with Logitech's 5.1 systems. Not sure what the latest and greatest today is, but Logitech is pretty solid for the price.

And if anyone wants a great 2.1 system... Logitech Z2300 is affordable and the best in its class.

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Well you should then go with the the Logitech Z-5300e which is around 200 or less

^^ I've had these for 3 years now, and I just could not be happier.

Beware, if you live in an apartment, the bass is just crazy sometimes. I have to turn it way down and take the sub out of the corner.

Also, these speakers sound a lot better for movies than they do for music.

quote:

Originally posted by Orko Also, these speakers sound a lot better for movies than they do for music.

That system looks pretty good but what do you mean by this?

Even though i want surround, i wont be watching too many movies - i'll mostly just be listening to music. i just want it coming from all directions

Also, does this system have separate control knobs for bass and treble?

Last edited by Quantized on May-08-2007 at 15:24

You have to remember that movies are made for multiple speakers, and music is only ever for 2 speakers.

Since the satelite speakers are small, they do a better job of letting you hear were the sound is coming from, which is good for moives, because that way you feel like you are actually there.

With music, since it is only ever two channels, you would want a system with two BIG front speakers, not 5 small surround speakers. The small speakers just do not give you the same feeling for music, because it just does not sound as full.

These speakers has a great Matrix Mode, which will convert any 2 channel sound (music, movies) into 5.1. Mind you its not real 5.1, but for movies it works really really well, because the voices come out of the middle speaker, and the background noises from the rear speakers. This feature works well enough for music too, but again it doesn't sound quite right.

The sub also has a switch on the back, which will convert any 2 channel sound, to 4 channels. So if you are listening to music, usually the music will only come out of the front two speakers, and the sub. With the switch flipped on, the music will be mirrored in the rear speakers, so the rear speakers will play the exact same sound as the front speakers. This is a nice feature, that way you get nice even sound in the entire room.

The matrix feature will give you a dynamic feel, which makes the music sound more alive, but not as full. The mirror effect, will give you a more even sound.

As for controls, you can control fade (front, back), center channel (loud, quiet), or sub (low, high). There is no treble control.

quote:

This is a nice feature, that way you get nice even sound in the entire room.

This is what i am sort-of hoping to achieve. In this mode, will you still be able to easily distinguish between left and right channel sounds? i.e. instead of having stereo sound at the computer with 2.1, will the whole room have stereo sound?

quote:

With music, since it is only ever two channels, you would want a system with two BIG front speakers, not 5 small surround speakers.

The 2.1 system i have just now has 2 small speakers as the main ones which are probably smaller than (and not as loud as) the satellites for the Z-5300e but i think they're still good, so this wont be a problem.

Thanks for the info. btw.

Edit: Damn, the Z-5300e seems to be a non UK model as i cant find any UK shops selling it

Last edited by Quantized on May-09-2007 at 13:40

quote:

Originally posted by Trancedewd This is what i am sort-of hoping to achieve. In this mode, will you still be able to easily distinguish between left and right channel sounds? i.e. instead of having stereo sound at the computer with 2.1, will the whole room have stereo sound?

Yup, the room will still have stereo sound, as long as you put the speakers in the right places.


FL ------------ C ------------ FR






RL ------------ ------------ RR

So you should still experience those sounds which pan from left to right, or vice versa.

Klipsch Promedia 5.1 Ultra
/thread

I have the Logitech Z5500.
They can be loud, with a deep bass.
I have heard sounds in movies that I hadn't heard in the cinema when I first watched them and friends usually bring me music so they can hear it on a proper soundsystem.
I usually have it playing on low volume since turning it up can make everybody in the house have a night club experience.
Of course there are far better sounding and powerfull speaker sets, but not for a computer/video game console setup.

They also come with a very useful remote control that most other sets don't have. And a cool control unit too.

Logitech Web site
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/p...,CONTENTID=9486

Random Review Googled
http://www.thetechlounge.com/articl...Speaker+System/

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