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The definitive audio setup for starters!!!

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n00b
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Oct 26, 2011
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Hello, I'm currently building my 2nd rig and I like to be in the mATX form as my 1st. (Case is TT Lanbox)

So today I'm looking for an audio setup worthy of starters who doesn't know about speakers, amplifieres, decoder/receiver, SPIF, etc but want to watch 1080p movies with 5.1 audio, gaming and listening to music with the best mainstream quality possible (not going for high end)

So, which is the best price/performance setup for an audio starter???

Any advise? Thank you.
 
What is the motherboard you are looking at/considering and what is your budget for the audio?
 
SithSolo1 said:
What is the motherboard you are looking at/considering and what is your budget for the audio?
Click to expand...

Well since this is my first Audio build, I'm willing to spend 200-300dls max for this setup.

I know I'm toooooo low (after watching 2000+ being spent on audio setups in the htpc gallery thread) but it's a start for me.

PD Mobo is an EVGA X58 SLI Micro, I just bought it on ebay.
 
SithSolo1 said:
Well if you want PC speakers you could squeeze these into the budget: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121050 on sale for $310 atm.

If you want to go the receiver with 5 speakers and sub route, you need to save more money or buy it in parts, say the receiver and the front 2 speakers. Then later on add a sub and center, then finally the rears.
Click to expand...

I thought the general consensus was that a cheap HTIB would be better than those Logitech speakers? Especially since Logitech speakers lack tweeters, so they really lack in the mids and the highs.
 
Assuming that motherboard doesn't encode 5.1 on the fly won't you be limited to 2.1 outside of movies using the S/PDIF since most of these lower end receivers don't have 5.1 channel analog input?

After looking around, if your video card supports it think you can stream the multi-channel game audio over HDMI.
 
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your OP is kinda silly but my suggestion for your budget is to start checking craigslist for an older set of 5 "matched" speakers (at least 3) but not a HTIB, and receiver.
 
Yeah, I would try to find a decent 5.1 setup of matched speakers and buy a receiver.
Just make sure the receiver has the right input/outputs and other features that are needed for proper playback from a computer.

I'm not quite sure what you would need but the other people that frequent this subforum will know.
 
Yes, that comes with 5 speakers, receiver, and subwoofer.

Be warned. That is a bottom of the barrel HTiB, they don't really make them cheaper. You may like the sound, but you may not. It also may or may not sound better than that Logitech system.

What video card are you using?

If it can't bitstream audio over HDMI then you may be limited to 2.1 sound in games as that receiver lacks multi-channel analog inputs.
 
I have the older Logitech Z5500.
Here's some thoughts....

Games that have good sound{not many} these are quite good, for example FONewVegas has good surround sound, also Doom3's sounds and shotgun were pretty damn good.

Whether on Bluray or DVD, the DTS soundtrack can be impressive and is almost always better than DD5.1, but these speakers have a limit with volume before they distort, but it can be fairly loud.
These don't decode TrueHD, but that's only on bluray, but as I said, the DTS soundtrack{particularly on blu} is very good.

I also notice that distortion is relative to distance, so if you're listening from 2-3mtrs back, you can pump the volume quite a bit, but at your desk you'll have to turn it down a bit.

These are a major upgrade over a Z230 for example.
 
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