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5.1 for music ?

H

[H]ardwareNick

n00b
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
38
just wondering, if i dont care too much about gaming and listen to music on the comp pretty much all the time, is a 5.1 system even worth it ?

im considering buying a creative megaworks thx 550 cos theres a very good price on it where i am...

just for advice, if i want good music, what do you guys recommend, i can feel an m-audio revo coming but speakers ?

ta
Nick
 
Also, if you are only using 2.1, might you forgo the Revo and get a Chaintech AV-710? It's much less expensive. Roll the money back into the speaker budget.
 
5.1 systems, especially built for computer, pretty much suck for listening to music, imho.

The only time I go that route for music is when I'm listening to a SACD that was specifically mastered(and mastered well, not just a gimmick remaster to justify releasing a SACD)for multichannel. I don't have too many of those yet, and the only one I listen to regularly is Pink Floyd's DSotM.

Heh, if all you really do is listen to music, do yourself a big favor and buy a fullsize set of sennheiser headphones.
 
Hi-rez surround music is only availible with DVD-A played on a Audigy, or by buying a WinDVD audio pack. If you want SACD, you'd have to get a standalone player. Pioneer makes some reasonably priced hybrid SACD/DVA-A units.

More on topic, we need a budget for your speaker choice.
 
Forgive me for being biased, but never in my life would I get a 5.1 setup for the computer, especially for music. The majority of computing environments have very little room and bad acoustics, therefore not taking advantage of having a multichannel setup. 2.1 is as high as I would go for the computer.
 
when i referred to SACD, I was talking about a denon dvd-2900. I wasn't saying that you could, or should listen to sacd through your pc, I was pointing out the only instance that I thought 5.1 (or higher) was good for music.

...you could, if you had 5.1 analog inputs, but the player would be the transport/decoder, not your pc.
 
i have the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 THX, they are great for music!!!!!!!!
 
I'm in a similar position... I listen to mostly music although I do play some games and watch some movies. I was considering the 5.1 gigaworks s700 for around $320 because I heard they do really well with music, but would I be able to get better quality stereo speakers for around that price range? I looked at swans speakers, but they don't have the bass extension that I would like. Suggestions?
 
another vote for Klipsch PM 2.1s here. Had them almost 2 years now, and they've been great to me ever since I got them. Now I just need some kickass headphones...any idea? :D
 
if u can get your hands on the EV Sonicxs 2.1's they are awesome, super loud and sound great plus they are really cheap. i picked them up at compusa for 50 so its a steal and a half. they didn't have any left in stores, but call them up and see where they are available.
 
Recommendation

Skip the 5.1's and get good 2.1

How about a really good set of Headphones (>150 bucks) and a nice envyHT chipset Sound card?

Or a pair of Paradigm active 20's and a M-Audio Delta 2496. That would make your SACD's sing!
 
thanks for the replies guys, i dont live in the US unfortunately...

about the budget, its around 300 USD

about headphones, ive never really been a big fan of them because i like to feel the oomph of the bass and not hear it if you know what i mean. Also, if i am wearing them im definitely going to have that problem where im listening to music and cant hear anything around me esp when someone calls me or something...just a minor concern but worth a note.

speakers, well it seems unanimous that i get a 2.1 speaker set....anything else besides klipsch speakers good ?

also, im a total noob to this stuff so please clear up a few things for me

envyHT chipset Sound card - such as ?

Paradigm active 20's and a M-Audio Delta 2496 - im guessing the paradigm are speakers /headphones and the maudio is the soundcard ?

SACD - ???

hybrid SACD/DVA-A units - ???

Chaintech AV-710 - this vs maudio cards, how is it ? im not an audiophile so im not stingy but id just like to know whether it is worth its price as i know that the maudio cards are available at a premium but they are worth it

btw, ppl feel free to keep making headphone/speaker and soundcard recommendations around the range of USD 300 total

thanks a heap guys
Nick
 
having a look around here in australia, there are some really pricey sennheisers, are they really worth that 300-400 ? the models im looking at are hd590 , hd 570 and well i think hd650s are well out of range for me :D

i think id definitely prefer a 2.1 setup

[edit] i have been looking around on the net and have decided that either i get those megawork 550's that are available here to me cheap - AUD 320odd or Klipsch Promedia GMX 2.1's or Altec Lansing MX5021's. I need opinions on these please.

i can also forget about that maudio audiophile 2496 soundcard, i dont think i want to pay that much for a soundcard.

ta again
Nick

btw, sorry for the delay in response, due to the time difference my replies will be rather late
 
Do not consider the Promedia GMX speakers. They are inferior to the plain Promedia speakers. Those Altec Lansing MX5021 are good.
 
Another vote against GMX.

I think that at least some upper level Sennheisers (the ones that I have tried) are worth the money, but don't forget for the 580/600/650 you would need an amp to make them sound their best.

Treyshadow said:
Or a pair of Paradigm active 20's and a M-Audio Delta 2496. That would make your SACD's sing!
Click to expand...
no
 
If you just listen to music then definately don't go with a 5.1 setup. Hell, I would skip computer speakers altogether. You could probably get a decent receiver and a pair of 2way or 3way bookshelf speakers for $300 that will sound better than standard computer speakers(notice I said decent, not great). In a good setup the subwoofer is to reinforce the lows, not to provide them completely. blah blah blah you can't hear where bass comes from anyway blah blah blah. I would much rather have a pair of 3way bookshelf speakers than a set of computer speakers with a subwoofer.
 
I could in the US, but I don't know any shops or retailers in australia. Let me know of some shops and I can find the receiver and speakers.
 
Best buy has a sony stereo receiver for $150 and sony 3way bookshelf speakers for $100. Under $300 total. As soon as you get me the names of some australian electronics stores I can look into it a bit further.
 
[edit] omfg doom3 is gold.....ok i think ill buy some 5.1s...serious. I think ill be getting the megaworks 550's then. I can get em for USD 230. Should i wait on a soundcard or should i get a ZS right now to go with the megaworks 550 ?

ta
Nick
 
Hey Nick get the soundcard buddy, it should be a big improvement over intergraded sound. Sweet setup though spend the money and have a good time! :cool:
 
jpmkm said:
Best buy has a sony stereo receiver for $150 and sony 3way bookshelf speakers for $100. Under $300 total. As soon as you get me the names of some australian electronics stores I can look into it a bit further.
Click to expand...
Sony? Uggg
 
emorphien said:
Sony? Uggg
Click to expand...
Yeah I don't really care for them either, but I was just looking for a minute. It would still probably sound better than most of the computer speakers out there. I wasn't saying he had to get those particular ones; I was just showing it could be done for under $300.
 
jpmkm said:
Yeah I don't really care for them either, but I was just looking for a minute. It would still probably sound better than most of the computer speakers out there. I wasn't saying he had to get those particular ones; I was just showing it could be done for under $300.
Click to expand...
ok :)
 
if the music hasn't been mastered in 5.1 then you will not get a surround effect

now if you are runnin audigy/audigy 2 you can enalble CMSS/CMSSv2 (v2 adds a bit of ambience to the music) to have the music play on all the channels of the speaker system

since surround systems are rediculously cheap these days, it's worth spending the extra $50 to get a 5.1 instead of a crap 2.1
 
It's even more worth spending the extra $50 getting a better 2.1 rather than a crap 5.1. Extra speakers and amplification doesn't get built for free, you know.
 
GodsMadClown said:
It's even more worth spending the extra $50 getting a better 2.1 rather than a crap 5.1. Extra speakers and amplification doesn't get built for free, you know.
Click to expand...
EXACTLY!!! Which do you think is better quality - a $100 2.1 setup or a $150 5.1 setup? With the 5.1 setup you are distributing the money over more parts so the money put to each part is less than the 2.1 setup. BTW, 2.1 is not 2.1 in the sense that 5.1 is. With 5.1, you actually have six discrete channels going feeding the speakers. With a 2.1 setup there are only 2 channels feeding the speaker, and the lows get split off to a subwoofer. It's not really .1 of a channel; it's just creatively rearranging the drivers.
 
jpmkm said:
EXACTLY!!! Which do you think is better quality - a $100 2.1 setup or a $150 5.1 setup? With the 5.1 setup you are distributing the money over more parts so the money put to each part is less than the 2.1 setup. BTW, 2.1 is not 2.1 in the sense that 5.1 is. With 5.1, you actually have six discrete channels going feeding the speakers. With a 2.1 setup there are only 2 channels feeding the speaker, and the lows get split off to a subwoofer. It's not really .1 of a channel; it's just creatively rearranging the drivers.
Click to expand...
these days i think x.x just refers to the number of speakers when it comes to a lot of marketing. I've seen 4.1 systems that are nothing but glorified stereo and at least one 5.1 that was the same. 2.1 just means two speakers and a sub.
 
Altec Lansing's flagship 2.1 models has always impressed me - the ACS48's, 621's, CS21's, and now the MX5021's.
 
Speakers are just like any other product in that they have a target market. Personally, I have the 5.1 CS Megaworks 510D's and they fit my needs well. I use my computer for music (DVD-A too), games, and movies equally, and it excels in all 3. I also live in a room that's smaller than a dorm room, so their compact size is good for getting surround in a small area.

Personally, I'd love to get a HT setup, but I have neither the space nor the funds to do so at the moment. When I move out of the house, I'll definantly look into it since I'll be in a different product market (HTPC w/55" HDTV woohoo!).

And the 550's are by no means bad speakers. They're actually excellent, beating out many crap Home-Theater-in-a-box setups they sell in stores. Sure there's something better, but that's always true. Why buy a corolla when you could get a celica? :p

Price doesn't always equal quality, though I generally agree with current computer speakers. Price usually equals perceived quality. Case in point: Promedia GMX speakers vs. the EX Sonics (Damn i wish i woulda picked up a pair for $40). Which would you choose?

Have fun Nick! Oh, and get the ZS at the same time too for better quality. For fun, you could try using your integrated sound, and then trying the ZS. You'll notice a big difference.
 
thanks for all the replies guys, and by the way, i do NOT used integrated shite. i use an old audigy DE software hacked to Audigy 2 :D
but yeah i sure will eventually get the ZS after i get those megaworks 550s. I dont think the music quality can be that bad and besides, ill be shooting myself in the head if i dont get the full experience of D3 and HL2.

ta heaps for the feedback guys
Nick
 
Just as a note Chaintech vs Revo equal if doing digital out but if you are using analog out Revo is way better.
 
I will be getting the megaworks 550's. Whats the input for them and also what is the diff between an analog and a digital input ?

ta
Nick
 
If you use digital outputs you are just pretty much using your soundcard as a pipeline out it doesn't do much if anything to the sound...just a straight output. You rely on your speakers or reciever to adjust sound. Analog lets your soundcard handle adjustments.
 
Big vote for the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's. Best 2.1 multimedia setup on the market.

As for those who hate 5.1 for music, it nice to have the extra volume when you are trying to fill a bigger space with a multimedia set, like my Ultras ;)

And you can read some about this on the Klipsch website, but stick with the analog signal, since sound is an analog signal and allows a better response. Digital is just a bunch of handwaving in most cases and won't improve the sound.
 
ehZn said:
Big vote for the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's. Best 2.1 multimedia setup on the market.

As for those who hate 5.1 for music, it nice to have the extra volume when you are trying to fill a bigger space with a multimedia set, like my Ultras ;)

And you can read some about this on the Klipsch website, but stick with the analog signal, since sound is an analog signal and allows a better response. Digital is just a bunch of handwaving in most cases and won't improve the sound.
Click to expand...
You can tell your speakers are inadequate when you have to add speakers just to fill the room with sound.

Computer audio is stored digitally, so converting to analog in the soundcard isn't going to necessarily sound better than converting to analog externally.
 
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