• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Computer Audio

R

RaphaelVinceti

Gawd
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
600
Alright, with my new computer, i would love to have a wireless speaker setup. I was looking at some home theater systems for my 42 inch plasma, and I had an idea, well, more of a question, can i plug in a home theater system into an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum audio card(or do i need the PRO). I was thinking mainly the sub and speakers. Can i do this? or do i have to have Computer specific speakers/sub.
 
Wireless speakers suck. Don't bother.

Yes, you can use typical home-theatre based speakers. Read the FAQ for some info about how to do this and the kind of information we need to properly recommend stuff. The audigy kinda sucks integrating into a proper 5.1 system because of the poor bass management support. Talk to BO[V]BZ about that one...
 
The Audigy cards aren't too great. From everything that I've heard, I'd say you might be better off looking for a different card, such as one of the M-Audio cards. Onkyo actually makes a couple of sound cards. I think that when I move, and actually have the impetus to do anything with my HT setup, I might just purchase several different cards and compare them all.
 
I've never tried wireless speakers but I would think they can't be that good. You can use most domestic receivers and amps with the Audigy's outputs. I have the Horning Zeus speakers along with the Naim NAIT 5 integrated amp for my computer specific audio. I've got two computers going into it, currently 2-channel only but I'm in the process of expanding it to 5.1 now. One of my PC's has an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum and the other an RME HDSP9632. For casual listening with good gaming ability I think the Audigy is great.
 
The Wireless I was considering was the Sony DVD DREAM HT system. It has wireless rear speakers. It is suppose to come close to surpassing the Bose home theater systems.

Ill look into that other card. From the reviews i have read, it seemed like the Audigy 2 ZS was one of the best cards out. But, i dont know that from experience. So, any advice on audio cards would be nice.
 
The only reason I can see to get an Audigy card is EAX HD support.

If you don't play games and/or don't plan on playing any games that write for EAX HD I would say you're better off going with something else that will offer you a bit higher quality audio reproduction. The one I found that people seemed to like was the M-Audio cards. That new Mystique card that's coming out soon looks tempting too though if you can do some research and bear to wait.


Edit: An to answer part of your original question no you can't typically just plug in home theatre speakers into a sound card.. you need some sort of amp. Either a seperate amp or a reciever (which is amp + processor usually). Typically when you buy computers speakers you connect everything through the "sub" which is actually acting as an amp for the other speakers as well. Your cheapest option will probably be to buy a nice computer speaker setup depending on your taste in sound.
 
Dude, answer the basic questions. Tell us your budget, and characterize your expected use of the speakers.
 
For home theater and gaming use (>=5.1) the Audigy 2 ZS is absolutely fine. I think it's a great all-round sound card. The DAV-LF1 is what I suppose you're talking about. The infrared transmission is supposed to be quite good, but once again I've not heard it so I can't say anything. If you ask me, I'd say why take the risk for half an hour saved routing cables? I've checked the specs and the LF1 has 2 stereo analog inputs and one digital. The problem could be that I don't know if the Audigy's optical out will properly send 5.1 to the LF1. If it doesn't you're out of luck for 5.1 connections as the LF1 only has stereo inputs. A receiver with 6-channel analog inputs will work with the Audigy for analog output.
The way I'm expanding my PC audio rig to 5.0 (not .1!) is to add the Naim NAPV175 amp to the NAIT 5 integrated amp and buy three more speakers. The connection between the Audigy 2 and the amps will still be analog and I'm not putting in a sub. I hope this works - everyone tells me it should, so I'm pretty confident.
 
"It is suppose to come close to surpassing the Bose home theater systems."

That's, um, not difficult. I don't want to start another Bose war, so how can I put this diplomatically? Erm, audio enthusiasts generally consider Bose to be a company whose products would be massively improved were they to exchange their marketing and product development budgets.

Wireless speakers really are massively pointless. I mean, wireless headphones may lose quality but at least you can see the _point_. Wireless speakers still need sodding power, though. Shesh. It's not that hard to route a couple of cables around the skirting board.
 
Without a price range, things can get expensive very quickly. Do you want to spend $500, $1000, $2000 or $5000?

I agree that wireless speakers are silly.

To game, you will likely want a Creative card. To get around the poor bass management, you'll want a reciever that can do bass management on the multichannel analog inputs. Does anybody know which recievers can do this? I know that the HK new digital amp recievers can do this, but they are pricy, and there are likely other, cheaper, analog amp recievers that do the same thing.

Would other agree?
 
I was looking at something like this for myself but am opting not to buy something so general as to have video switching. This would be nice though if you have a need for it. It's $1k'ish processor

key audio features include:
- Full-featured surround processor/tuner with Dolby Digital EX, ProLogicIIx, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS Neo:6 and Stereo Bypass modes.
- High performance 192/24 DACs on all output channels feeding both balanced audio outputs and standard line level audio outputs. Stereo subwoofer outputs.
- Powerful configuration system with quadruple crossover bass-management, renameable inputs, automated setup for speaker size, delay and output levels.
- Stereo up-sampling of all PCM and analog input signals to 192 kHz.
- Upgradeable software and firmware via either RS-232 or USB connection.

http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000007;p=1#000000

Mind you this is just a processor, you'd need an amp. ProLogicIIx is Dolby's new 7 channel system so it'd be fairly upgrade friendly for you.

Perhaps we're totally off base here. But ya don't buy this if you're buying wireless speakers :rolleyes:
 
Monster:

The Outlaw 990 does look pretty nice for the price, but I'd really hold out unless you are literally going to die without a pre/pro right now. HDMI is the future of both audio and video, and until that standard gets hacked out and fully implemented in hardware, I wouldn't buy anything, especially nothing above the 1k range. HDMI 1.1 supports DVD-A and all the DTS, DD-EX, etc formats, but 1.2 [or whatever number they assign next] will be able to handle DD+ and DTS-HD, which are mandatory formats on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. Additionally, I'm willing to bet money that full 1080P resolution will only be available over HDMI, to prevent theft [the main reason HDMI exists... it's secure]

Basically, there will probably be a big shakeup as the next-gen DVD formats move in, and buying right now would leave you cold once they arrive.
 
I can see wireless speakers being a good plan, but they need work.

Imagine this setup: Digitally amped speakers with separate amps to each driver, digitally crossed over to be ruler-flat, fed a digital signal at 192khz/24bit wirelessly. Add in a way to wirelessly access the crossover and PEQ [naturally :D ] so you can place the speakers anywhere in the room [within reason] , set a mic at the listener position, and run a roomEQ suite to configure everything.

Give it 5 years, and I'll bet that some products such as this start popping up. AV123 will be digitally amping and crossing over their next-gen speakers, so then it's just a matter of creating a good way to get a digital signal wirelessly to each one... makes you wonder what a clever programmer could do with a 802.11N wireless card and 7 Squeezeboxes :D
 
BO(V)BZ: Edit: (heh, wow, didn't realize you had Ref's. I just got my Rockets, nice to meet ya!)

I totally agree with everything you said and am in the same boat sitting on some crap stuff waiting for the final solution. Hence my:"I was looking at something like this for myself but am opting not to buy something so general as to have video switching." I'm not buying seperates to have them do more than they should :) HDMI switching with video is easy enough to get these days but people are not jumping into the audio functionality since the specification seem to be up in the air.

Just trying to throw things out for this guy to look at... only when you know what's out in the field can you pick what you want. And he said no price range so...

If I had no price range... there's always crap like the:
http://www.halcro.com/logic/productsSSP80.asp
AUDIO FEATURES
7.1 channel unbalanced input with analogue bypass and volume control
7.1 channel balanced and unbalanced multi channel outputs
Assignable stereo balanced input with analogue bypass and volume control
4 special, programmable output channels
Play music and/or video in two different rooms
Auxiliary Manager for managing additional channels (channels 9 & 10 for stereo subwoofers, ceiling speakers, etc.)
Patented High Dynamic Bass (HDB) circuitry for advanced bass management. Choose the size of speakers & route the bass information through the subwoofer(s)
Autocalibration of speaker levels and distances with calibration microphone
- Simplifies set up for best in-room audio quality

VIDEO FEATURES
Adjustable Lipsync function
3 HDMI inputs. Digital audio & video can be sent from the DVD player direct to the processor and/or projector/plasma display :eek:
1 HDMI output. DVI fully supported via HDMI to DVI adaptor
Component Video bypass switching (up to HDTV 1080p compatible)
Analogue video to Digital, High Definition video conversion
HDMI bypass switching; passes digital video in its native resolution to the projector/plasma display
3 component video inputs, 1 output
Composite, S-Video to component or HDMI up-conversion
Component Video to HDMI conversion :eek:

just an extra zero :D
 
MonsterZero said:
BO(V)BZ: Edit: (heh, wow, didn't realize you had Ref's. I just got my Rockets, nice to meet ya!)

I totally agree with everything you said and am in the same boat sitting on some crap stuff waiting for the final solution. Hence my:"I was looking at something like this for myself but am opting not to buy something so general as to have video switching." I'm not buying seperates to have them do more than they should :) HDMI switching with video is easy enough to get these days but people are not jumping into the audio functionality since the specification seem to be up in the air.

Just trying to throw things out for this guy to look at... only when you know what's out in the field can you pick what you want. And he said no price range so...

If I had no price range... there's always crap like the:
http://www.halcro.com/logic/productsSSP80.asp
AUDIO FEATURES
7.1 channel unbalanced input with analogue bypass and volume control
7.1 channel balanced and unbalanced multi channel outputs
Assignable stereo balanced input with analogue bypass and volume control
4 special, programmable output channels
Play music and/or video in two different rooms
Auxiliary Manager for managing additional channels (channels 9 & 10 for stereo subwoofers, ceiling speakers, etc.)
Patented High Dynamic Bass (HDB) circuitry for advanced bass management. Choose the size of speakers & route the bass information through the subwoofer(s)
Autocalibration of speaker levels and distances with calibration microphone
- Simplifies set up for best in-room audio quality

VIDEO FEATURES
Adjustable Lipsync function
3 HDMI inputs. Digital audio & video can be sent from the DVD player direct to the processor and/or projector/plasma display :eek:
1 HDMI output. DVI fully supported via HDMI to DVI adaptor
Component Video bypass switching (up to HDTV 1080p compatible)
Analogue video to Digital, High Definition video conversion
HDMI bypass switching; passes digital video in its native resolution to the projector/plasma display
3 component video inputs, 1 output
Composite, S-Video to component or HDMI up-conversion
Component Video to HDMI conversion :eek:

just an extra zero :D
Click to expand...

I wouldn't invest in HDMI until they fully integrate the audio signal formats.. it's all just first to market stuff right now.
 
It's probably going into the realm of 'what I would like' isn't it? I'd say buy a reasonable receiver with 6-channel analog input and optical in (with common format acceptance). Haven't heard of Outlaw but the midrange receiver market is quite crowded and it shouldn't be a problem to hunt out some good ones. Get the best wired speakers your budget allows and do some homework. If cables are a problem, budget for a professional install. And as much as researching over the Internet has given me a lot of information, it has still worked out best for me to go to a shop and ask for advice & a demo.
 
MonsterZero,

I take it you jumped on the 2000$ deal for the 750's and Bigfoot, then tacked on another pair of surrounds? :D They are definitely nice speakers, as I'm sure that you have found out!

hamm3rhead:

I think that that's what MZ's post was generally about.. then just pimping the latest and greatest pre/pro on the market.. I actually think that Denon has them beat.. I checked the detailed specs list and saw nothing about HDMI1.1, so I'm assuming it's just 1.0 right now. Denon's 5805 and 4806 receivers support HDMI1.1, so they are currently cream of the crop, at least in that respect.

That pre-pro looks very nice, but I'd really like to see them add another 7.1 input. Screw all those damn S-Video and composite jacks, give me more jacks that I could feasibly use! Too much legacy shit on processors and receivers these days... Give me 2 each of S-Video and composite, then how about 2 7.1 in's, 10 digital in's [2 AES, 3 optical, 5 coax] 5 component and 5 HDMI in's. That would be nice to see for a change, and it would focus on the future, not people that want to be able to hook up all 5 VCR's they have in their closet.

Raphael,

If you have any sort of estimate as to what you are willing to pay, it would be very helpful. Audio is a hobby without any upper limits; give me a figure, I'll figure out how to spend it for you =] For instance, maybe you are willing to spend 500$ right now, but if there's something really better at 700$, you'd spring for that, etc. Give a figure you'd happily spend, then some sort of absolute limit you cannot cross. That way we have some extra leeway in case there's a big benefit to spend those last 200 dollars.
 
Alright. Ill give a limit. I dont want to spend much more than 1.5k on a card and speakers.(I just spent 4k on my HT system, 10k including the TV, I dont think my computer needs quite that much) If the performance is a significant jump, i would go up to 2k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top