PC Audio vs. Home Theatre

Inertia17 · 23rd July 2006, 6:32 PM

I have been trying to decide what sort of speaker setup I should use for my PC. I am looking for something for about $400-500. They will be used for gaming, music, watching DVD's etc. I'd prefer something 5.1, with decent sound quality and volume.

I was considering the Z-5500s from logitech but am unsure how they stack up against HT systems.

Thanks

Inertia17

hotshod · 23rd July 2006, 7:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inertia17

I have been trying to decide what sort of speaker setup I should use for my PC. I am looking for something for about $400-500. They will be used for gaming, music, watching DVD's etc. I'd prefer something 5.1, with decent sound quality and volume.

I was considering the Z-5500s from logitech but am unsure how they stack up against HT systems.

Thanks

Inertia17

They don't ...
get an amped system from Excel Hi Fi .......

reverendmarty · 23rd July 2006, 7:06 PM

Well seeing as they are for your P.C/dvd player the Z5500Ds would do quite nicely i think, and be a tad easier to set up. I own a set of Z5500Ds and they are pretty damn good for the price and have a pretty good sound too. Movie wise they are THX certified, but that is meaning less and less as time goes on *koff*.

Grimace22 · 23rd July 2006, 7:29 PM

That is extremely true

lol the Z-2300 are THX Certified ROFL

Inertia17 · 23rd July 2006, 8:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotshod

They don't ...
get an amped system from Excel Hi Fi .......

Such as this one perhaps....HERE ?

Better SQ, volume and etc.?

iXeR0 · 24th July 2006, 12:25 PM

For $500, I'd get the Logitechs. If your budget was double then I'd start looking at HT systems.

phreeky82 · 24th July 2006, 12:52 PM

I'd recommend ditching the 5.1 factor rather than SQ........if you only have $400-$500, get a 2-channel setup.

5.1 is the most over rated rubbish unless you:
a) have an absolute need for it (gaming where 5.1 makes it much easier/better)
b) you have lots of dosh and so the SQ wont be compromised

hotshod · 24th July 2006, 5:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inertia17

Such as this one perhaps....HERE ?

Better SQ, volume and etc.?

Something like that yeah sure ,......... 12 months latter you might want to upgrade speakers.

Logitechs just Boooommmm ...... I have them on my computer , but for HTPC run pukka stuff , at least as pukka as I can afford..

reverendmarty · 24th July 2006, 8:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phreeky82

I'd recommend ditching the 5.1 factor rather than SQ........if you only have $400-$500, get a 2-channel setup.

5.1 is the most over rated rubbish unless you:
a) have an absolute need for it (gaming where 5.1 makes it much easier/better)
b) you have lots of dosh and so the SQ wont be compromised

You can always run the Z 5500Ds as 2.1/3.1 (include center) for music

AblativE · 24th July 2006, 8:18 PM

But then you just have shit sound from 2 speakers instead of 5... Same speakers, same sq, same problem.

Inertia17 · 25th July 2006, 11:11 AM

As I mentioned in the first post, they will be used for gaming so I really would prefer to have the 5.1 setup.

I was at my girlfriends place last night and she has a Yamaha 5.1 system for her dvd player and such. Puts out some nice sound from what I could tell. So I am leaning towards the setup I linked a few posts up.

Anyone think this is a bad idea, or have anything else to add?

Also in order to get the surround sound thing happening, I assume I will need a sound card with an optical output? Yes/no?

Thanks

Inertia

underskore · 25th July 2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inertia17

Such as this one perhaps....HERE ?

Better SQ, volume and etc.?

i have this sytems little brother, its good if you are in a small room or dont need it to do high volumes. im guessing the system above would be very similar, but louder

Inertia17 · 25th July 2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underskore_

i have this sytems little brother, its good if you are in a small room or dont need it to do high volumes. im guessing the system above would be very similar, but louder

So you have something like this one here ?

You running them on a TV or PC?

underskore · 25th July 2006, 11:54 AM

no, i mean little, little brother (or sister even)

the http://www.excelhifi.com.au/prod385.htm

i actually have the older version of it, it looks to be the same but without all the dicky features like 'night listening mode'.

i used to use them from my pc for dvd watching, but now i only use them with my laptop to watch movies/listen to music in bed, the lappy only has stereo out so the yamaha box is a bit underworked at the moment.
but i must say that listening to music thru 5.1 on this compared to my old flatmates set of logitechs this one hands down on the quality front but in terms of volume the LT's came in miles ahead (but do you wanna listen to boom zzzt zzzt boom or music)

edit: optical makes life easy, very easy but i guess digi over coax would do the same thing if its more your style.

phreeky82 · 25th July 2006, 12:35 PM

whether something sounds half descent is largely a personal thing, not all that much use asking if something sounds good

imo those 5.1 setups with small satellites suck, terribly, but others like them. i'm sure a few here would agree.

what does that mean for you? if you like how they sound then sure, go for it.

as for "night listening mode", imo that's an excellent feature if it does what i think (dynamic range compression most likely), sure the dynamic range is compressed (naturally) making it sound not as nice, but i means you can hear the vocals on movies without the explosion scenes waking somebody up in the next room. i wouldn't touch it during the day, but at night it'd be very handy.

23rd July 2006, 6:32 PM	#1
Inertia17 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 12	PC Audio vs. Home Theatre I have been trying to decide what sort of speaker setup I should use for my PC. I am looking for something for about $400-500. They will be used for gaming, music, watching DVD's etc. I'd prefer something 5.1, with decent sound quality and volume. I was considering the Z-5500s from logitech but am unsure how they stack up against HT systems. Thanks Inertia17

24th July 2006, 12:52 PM	#7
phreeky82 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Townsville Posts: 9,099	I'd recommend ditching the 5.1 factor rather than SQ........if you only have $400-$500, get a 2-channel setup. 5.1 is the most over rated rubbish unless you: a) have an absolute need for it (gaming where 5.1 makes it much easier/better) b) you have lots of dosh and so the SQ wont be compromised __________________ Successful trades: eyusuf, andy8, stuartl, michaeliam, theDarkHorse, bob

25th July 2006, 11:54 AM	#14
underskore Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 3122 Posts: 3,936	no, i mean little, little brother (or sister even) the http://www.excelhifi.com.au/prod385.htm i actually have the older version of it, it looks to be the same but without all the dicky features like 'night listening mode'. i used to use them from my pc for dvd watching, but now i only use them with my laptop to watch movies/listen to music in bed, the lappy only has stereo out so the yamaha box is a bit underworked at the moment. but i must say that listening to music thru 5.1 on this compared to my old flatmates set of logitechs this one hands down on the quality front but in terms of volume the LT's came in miles ahead (but do you wanna listen to boom zzzt zzzt boom or music) edit: optical makes life easy, very easy but i guess digi over coax would do the same thing if its more your style. Last edited by underskore; 25th July 2006 at 11:57 AM.

25th July 2006, 12:35 PM	#15
phreeky82 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Townsville Posts: 9,099	whether something sounds half descent is largely a personal thing, not all that much use asking if something sounds good imo those 5.1 setups with small satellites suck, terribly, but others like them. i'm sure a few here would agree. what does that mean for you? if you like how they sound then sure, go for it. as for "night listening mode", imo that's an excellent feature if it does what i think (dynamic range compression most likely), sure the dynamic range is compressed (naturally) making it sound not as nice, but i means you can hear the vocals on movies without the explosion scenes waking somebody up in the next room. i wouldn't touch it during the day, but at night it'd be very handy. __________________ Successful trades: eyusuf, andy8, stuartl, michaeliam, theDarkHorse, bob

23rd July 2006, 7:06 PM	#3
reverendmarty Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201	Well seeing as they are for your P.C/dvd player the Z5500Ds would do quite nicely i think, and be a tad easier to set up. I own a set of Z5500Ds and they are pretty damn good for the price and have a pretty good sound too. Movie wise they are THX certified, but that is meaning less and less as time goes on koff.

23rd July 2006, 7:29 PM	#4
Grimace22 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Perth Posts: 1,157	That is extremely true lol the Z-2300 are THX Certified ROFL

24th July 2006, 12:25 PM	#6
iXeR0 Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Melbourne 3195 Posts: 1,351	For $500, I'd get the Logitechs. If your budget was double then I'd start looking at HT systems.

24th July 2006, 8:18 PM	#10
AblativE Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WA Posts: 290	But then you just have shit sound from 2 speakers instead of 5... Same speakers, same sq, same problem.

25th July 2006, 11:11 AM	#11
Inertia17 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 12	As I mentioned in the first post, they will be used for gaming so I really would prefer to have the 5.1 setup. I was at my girlfriends place last night and she has a Yamaha 5.1 system for her dvd player and such. Puts out some nice sound from what I could tell. So I am leaning towards the setup I linked a few posts up. Anyone think this is a bad idea, or have anything else to add? Also in order to get the surround sound thing happening, I assume I will need a sound card with an optical output? Yes/no? Thanks Inertia