Onboard Audio question

J

JOSHSKORN

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 29, 2007
Messages
262
I have the P5N-E motherboard in my computer and I don't have any speakers. I've been looking around and have seen that it has "6-channel audio". I really don't know what that means when you compare something to 2.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 9.1 speaker systems.

So I'm looking at the Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Digital Speaker System. I'm hoping once I buy it, that it'll last for my next computer, which I plan on getting in the next year or two.

My question is this. Based on my OnBoard sound, how will my speakers perform? How well to their full potential will they work? Will I achieve the 5.1 effect? Or am I trying to power the Space Shuttle Discovery with a glass of water?
 
Onboard is fine, it will just be supplying a digital signal to the Z-5500 which will do all the work. The 5.1 Dolby Digital and dts tracks from movies will be passed to the Z-5500 for decoding and power.

The Z-5500 has exaggerated bass. But if that's all you can afford it's a decent first time surround system. Once you get the Z-5500 continue researching for your next pricey surround system.

I should note that if you're expecting 5.1 out of games you will need a soundcard that does 5.1 Dolby Digital encoding. IIRC onboard audio hasn't done this since nvidia's Soundstorm.
 
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A "channel" is a another name for a speaker. A six channel system = six speakers. Dolby Digital 5.1 is a 6 channel system (Center speaker, L front, R front, L rear, R rear, subwoofer).Typically on board sound does not perform as well as a sound card but most people would be happy. As long as you have a 5 speakers, subwoofer, a DD 5.1 processor and a source (such as a dvd movie encoded with DD 5.1) Dolby Digital 5.1 will sound great. Another compeating 5.1 channel system is DTS.
 
Yes its a 5.1 setup. Traditionally there are 5 "full range" channels (does the full spectrum) and then the final channel for the subwoofer that only does the lower portion of the spectrum (bass) so is a .1 of a full channel.
 
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