Computer speakers --> Old, used (real) HT equipment?

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PikachuMan

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Aug 22, 2004
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Hi guys. Just thought I'd get some help on this.

Right now, I've got a Logitech z560 system (4.1) hooked up. I'm pretty happy with it, but I've also recently come across a Technics 5-speaker HT system that has been abandoned (so I can get it for basically nothing, just the work involved in lugging it around). Can't find much information on it, other than this CES press release from 2000.

Technics SB-A28, 3-way tower speakers (120w rms)
Technics SB-C939 (100w rms)
Technics SB-S939 (100w rms)
No subwoofer.

I'm thinking I can use these speakers with a Pioneer VSX-D511 (100w x 5) receiver I have around for computer and Sony PLAYSTATION®3.

Work load will be near evenly split between music, games, and movies.

---
So, anyway, questions:

(1) These should be an improvement over my Z560's? I heard some FM radio on the towers, and they clearly have more "depth" to the music, but I'm wondering how they will fare in gaming and positional audio. One term I've heard is that speakers should be "voice-matched" for surround. But..I have no idea how to test for that. Being from the same manufacturer should be enough, right?

(2) The HT speakers, even though they have good enough bass on their own, definitely need a subwoofer to go with them. What criteria should I use for selecting a sub?

(3) Is the "Magnetic shielding" designed for TVs enough for computer use? I'm going to have the front tower sitting directly against my PC case, and I don't want to find out the hard way that my HDD got erased. Again, anything to test for that?

(4) The receiver... what sort of settings should I use for the speaker size? The fronts set to "large" in the speaker size, or should I leave them at "small" if I intend to use a subwoofer with them? Also, how do I know which crossover frequency to use? Just go by ear as to what sounds best?

And anything else I should know/ be careful of? I'm really out of my element with speakers, so any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
What's there to be skeptical about when all of this is free? :p

Anyway, in short-
There should be a significant improvement over your Z560s,

In my small amount of research, I think these speakers are the kind that radioshack would sell (meaning cheap construction), so I would stick with something like the Dayton 10" sub in the belief that if you're going to spend more money, it should be spent elsewhere.

No speaker is going to erase a hard drive (not even a subwoofer),

I would set the speakers to small if you're going to use a subwoofer- it seems as though the woofer in the fronts, despite being 12", isn't very willing.

I think anything else you'll need to know you will begin to understand on your own.
-You will want to connect your computer to your receiver via 3 RCA to minijack cables if you do, and your PS3 by optical.
 
illgiveumorality said:
What's there to be skeptical about when all of this is free? :p

Anyway, in short-
There should be a significant improvement over your Z560s,
Click to expand...

Ah, good to hear that. :)

Always nice to get something for nothing. :D

You will want to connect your computer to your receiver via 3 RCA to minijack cables if you do, and your PS3 by optical.
Click to expand...

I've actually done this with the Pioneer VSX-D511 using the z560 satillites and sub (plus a random center channel I had laying about). The optical audio works fine, but the computer output is a bit off.

I get full 5.1 with analog outs (confimed by doing the soundcard channel tests), but the subwoofer channel is very very weak in comparison to the others. Bumping up the LFE channel in the receiver and the soundcard software couldn't compensate for it.

If I switch to stereo mode or ProLogic on the same input, I get the subwoofer working as it should. However, if it has to use the dedicated LFE output from the soundcard, the bass just disappears.The card is a Creative Audigy 2 ZS, and it seems to be a known issue.

I've made my peace with it, but if there are any easy solutions, I'd love to know.

--
ps, Thanks, I really do appreciate the help. This is uncharted waters for me.
 
I have a 5.1 Yamaha receiver that I have some JBL's hooked up to. I had the same Z-560's you had.

In stead of spending a couple of hundred more for a sub, I just plugged the sub output from the receiver into the Z-560 sub.

The JBL's are small bookshelf's, as I do not have room for floor standers. With the bookshelf's, the Logitech sub holds its own and I save $200+.

And in the end, much better sounding (soft or loud) than the 560's ever could hope to be.
 
JC634 said:
In stead of spending a couple of hundred more for a sub, I just plugged the sub output from the receiver into the Z-560 sub.
Click to expand...

Thinking about doing that as well. The connection for doing that would be pretty weird though.

2 female stereo 1/8" connectors (to the z560s) going to one mono rca male output.

I can't think of an elegant way of doing that with the type of cables I can get at the stores here. (Online stores would want a arm and leg to ship to my location, as well). Last time I got someone to solder together something, but it looked like a fire hazard. :eek:
 
PikachuMan said:
Thinking about doing that as well. The connection for doing that would be pretty weird though.

2 female stereo 1/8" connectors (to the z560s) going to one mono rca male output.

I can't think of an elegant way of doing that with the type of cables I can get at the stores here. (Online stores would want a arm and leg to ship to my location, as well). Last time I got someone to solder together something, but it looked like a fire hazard. :eek:
Click to expand...

You only need 1 signal going to the sub, as it is a mono signal. The Logitech would never know the differance. ;)
 
Assumming PikachuMan's setup is similar to mine, which is basically what he stated, you need a male RCA to female 1/8 phono. And PikachuMan is correct, there is not an elegant method. IIRC, I got one at Radio Shack. It works is all I know, and it kept my speaker upgrades under my wife's radar, which is very important!:D

Actually the Logi sub is a pretty decent. Certainly not as good as a dedicated hi-fi sub, but much cheaper.

I think this would work: http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...egoryId=2032058&support=support&tab=techSpecs

Who cares about the mono to stereo, as you are only going to use 1 side of it.
 
PikachuMan said:
The z560s have a male input jacks, so the genders on that item would have to be switched (i.e., female 1/8 to male rca).

I've had this soldered together, but it looks kind of ghetto. =\

edit: hrm, beaten to it =|
Click to expand...

I don't understand. There are male connectors sticking out of the z560s? Are we talking about just connecting the sub? either way...

I sent a link to that item because I figured it is more likely for someone to have an RCA cable lying around compared to a 1/8th inch cable.
 
illgiveumorality said:
I don't understand. There are male connectors sticking out of the z560s? Are we talking about just connecting the sub? either way...

I sent a link to that item because I figured it is more likely for someone to have an RCA cable lying around compared to a 1/8th inch cable.
Click to expand...

The 560's have the normal 1/8 plugs the would normally go into the sound card. They go from there to the "black box" volume control. The cable to the sub looks something like a s-video plug.

So the easiest way to interface to the sub is to just use an existing Z560 1/8" plug and run it thru the complete cabling setup.
 
Hrm, I think I've hit a snag here.

The surrounds are actually 4 ohm speakers, not 8 ohm like the fronts/center. I understand this could put more stress on the amp, and possibly damage it. But, I guess I should be safe if using low volume, right?

Would this mess up the surround-balance (such that the rears would sound way softer than the front towers)? Any way to calibrate for this?

Won't get the system till next week, but it's looking less and less attractive with all these issues.
 
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