5.1 Surround sound for PC

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stephan123789

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Jan 7, 2014
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Hello.

I want to get rid of my dying 2.1 speaker set and replace it with a 5.1 surround sound system. This will mostly be used for games and music, more games then anything else.

My budget is about R1000, but I am willing to go a bit more, since speakers are not something that get thrown away every 3 years. My current speakers is about 8 years old.

for -R1000 I can get something like:
CREATIVE INSPIRE T6300 5.1 SPEAKERS
http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...speakers/creative-inspire-t6300-5-1-speakers/

or

CREATIVE A550 5.1 DESKTOP SPEAKERS
http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...-speakers/creative-a550-5-1-desktop-speakers/

but for a bit more, I can get a home theater system, something like:

LG 5.1 HOME THEATER SYSTEM DH3120S
http://www.game.co.za/electronics-c...stems/lg-5-1-home-theatre-system-dh3120s.html

The home theater system has a bit more power, max 75w for sub, total 300W, where the desktop speakers usually only have between 25-40 W for the sub + 15W for the small speakers, something around those numbers.

My pc has built in audio controls, no sound card, but it supports 5.1 ( it has 6 holes in the back in stead of 3 for audio) , and also have optical output. I would like to use the optical output, just because there would be less cables to worry about.

Any suggestions on speakers or home theater systems would be welcome. I just took the first few speakers I could find and I see that the LG home theater thing is on special at a few places.
 
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Glingfram

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Not quite an answer to your question, but have you considered surround headphones? You'd probably get better use from them when gaming.
 
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stephan123789

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Glingfram said:
Not quite an answer to your question, but have you considered surround headphones? You'd probably get better use from them when gaming.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have a headset but I do not like gaming with it. The quality of the headset I have is much better then the current speakers I have, but headsets are not for me, I like to make as much noise as possible when playing games, so that my neighbors know that I just killed 100 trolls or got a penta kill in lol.
 
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irBosOtter

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Those Logitech's are nice, just stay away from the cheap home theater systems, they are crap and you will hate the low quality sound they give.
 
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stephan123789

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irBosOtter said:
Those Logitech's are nice, just stay away from the cheap home theater systems, they are crap and you will hate the low quality sound they give.
Click to expand...

I agree, I had an old home theater system, but my small desktop 2.1 system had a lot more power and the quality was better.

I also like the Logitech's speakers, my old flatmate had a similar pair, and I can still hear him after he moved to the apartment next to mine. I will most likely go for something in the Logitech range.
 
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EmileS

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I've had a 5.1 system for 5 years now. And, if I had to replace them now, I'll go for 2.1. Fact is, my rear speakers just sit on the desk in-front of me, next to my left and right speakers. Some apps and music & video formats don't support 5.1 sound, and thus the extra speakers become irrelevant. If you're going to play LoL, there is absolutely no need for a 5.1 system.
 
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GoofySmurf

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stephan123789 said:
Hello.

I want to get rid of my dying 2.1 speaker set and replace it with a 5.1 surround sound system. This will mostly be used for games and music, more games then anything else.

My budget is about R1000, but I am willing to go a bit more, since speakers are not something that get thrown away every 3 years. My current speakers is about 8 years old.

for -R1000 I can get something like:
CREATIVE INSPIRE T6300 5.1 SPEAKERS
http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...speakers/creative-inspire-t6300-5-1-speakers/

or

CREATIVE A550 5.1 DESKTOP SPEAKERS
http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...-speakers/creative-a550-5-1-desktop-speakers/

but for a bit more, I can get a home theater system, something like:

LG 5.1 HOME THEATER SYSTEM DH3120S
http://www.game.co.za/electronics-c...stems/lg-5-1-home-theatre-system-dh3120s.html

The home theater system has a bit more power, max 75w for sub, total 300W, where the desktop speakers usually only have between 25-40 W for the sub + 15W for the small speakers, something around those numbers.

My pc has built in audio controls, no sound card, but it supports 5.1 ( it has 6 holes in the back in stead of 3 for audio) , and also have optical output. I would like to use the optical output, just because there would be less cables to worry about.

Any suggestions on speakers or home theater systems would be welcome. I just took the first few speakers I could find and I see that the LG home theater thing is on special at a few places.
Click to expand...

IF you get sound for your pc you cannot go wrong with creative.

http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...-speakers/creative-a550-5-1-desktop-speakers/ I have a set and they are awesome. The sound quality is on par with my R10000 sound system in the lounge.

Trust me your neighbours will complain if you plan on pumping it as the sub produces some epic bass.

Stay away from logitech they sound muffled when comapred to the creative speakers. I was at the supplier and we tested it next to each other with the same system/soundcard and could clearly hear the creative is more crisp.
 
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EmileS

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GoofySmurf said:
IF you get sound for your pc you cannot go wrong with creative.

http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...-speakers/creative-a550-5-1-desktop-speakers/ I have a set and they are awesome. The sound quality is on par with my R10000 sound system in the lounge.

Trust me your neighbours will complain if you plan on pumping it as the sub produces some epic bass.

Stay away from logitech they sound muffled when comapred to the creative speakers. I was at the supplier and we tested it next to each other with the same system/soundcard and could clearly hear the creative is more crisp.
Click to expand...
It really depends on the speaker model you're testing. Stating Logitech in the whole outperforms Creative is not correct.

Edit: Should be the other way round :p
 
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sybertiger

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logitech,cant go wrong with them

more watt dont mean better sound/quality or even louder
 
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stephan123789

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The CREATIVE A550 5.1 DESKTOP SPEAKERS (http://matrixonlineshop.co.za/audio...-speakers/creative-a550-5-1-desktop-speakers/) is looking like the best option, since it is within my budget, otherwise I would just have to wait another month.

I could be wrong here, but when it comes to quality, is there a big notable difference in quality between, lets say, the creative speakers mentioned above, and the http://www.comx-computers.co.za/SP-LZ506-Logitech-980-000431-Z-506-5-1-Speakers-Buy-p-37588.php ?
 
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EmileS

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Quick comparison. Doesn't say much with regards to the sound, but the logitech sub has more than double the RMS output.

Logitechs:
75 watts RMS
Satellites: 48 watts RMS (2 x 8 W front, 16 W center, 2 x 8 W rear)
Subwoofer: 27 watts RMS

Creative:

5 Watts RMS per channel (5 channels)
12 Watts RMS subwoofer
 
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EmileS

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I vote Logitech on this one if you're going 5.1. But, I also vote going 2.1 :p
 
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