Surround Sound recommendations?

Ruyo · 01-30-2010, 07:15 AM

My brother and I are planning to get surround sound for our PCs this weekend. We're both pretty dumb when it comes to sound cards and speakers though, so does anyone have some good, reasonably priced recommendations?

Baron_Fel · 01-30-2010, 07:41 AM

People like their Z-5500s.

01-30-2010, 08:34 AM

In terms of speakers the Z-5500 is nice but expensive. The G51 is excellent as well for about half the price. Both are 5.1.

In terms of sound cards you have quite a few choices, depending on how much your budget is and what kind of interface or bus slot you have available.

I have the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro (a mouthful, I know) with the Logitech G51 and it's fantastic.

NJuice · 01-30-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalidian

In terms of speakers the Z-5500 is nice but expensive.

Relatively speaking, they are rather reasonably-priced. Decent audio quality and great features in one package.

01-30-2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJuice

Relatively speaking, they are rather reasonably-priced. Decent audio quality and great features in one package.

Fair enough.. I guess I'm just a cheap bast@rd. lol.

02-28-2010, 11:45 PM

i would recommend something in the Sound Blaster range... Do have a lookout...

Razear · 03-01-2010, 09:44 AM

A little more in the budget category but check out the X-540s, excellent value for the money.

Overnight_Guy · 03-01-2010, 01:10 PM

The Z-5500s would be the best recommendation IF you need the speakers to do Dolby Digital/DTS decoding and are planning on hooking up a PS3/Xbox as well.

I have a set of them for 4 years and I haven't been happier!

Baron_Fel · 03-01-2010, 01:57 PM

it doesnt do DTS HD though does it? 192kHz and all.

YahooElite · 03-01-2010, 10:11 PM

Logitech 540 5.1 should do very well with an excellent price tag of around 80 or $90 depending on where you go.

As for soundcards, depending on your motherboard the integrated sound should be very well suited to your taste.

i went from a soundblaster audigy SE in my previous comp to use the Integrated sound on my current PC and the integrated easily beats the dedicated soundcard.

UnLoki-13 · 03-01-2010, 10:20 PM

I've been hearing this sound card is good for the money. Don't know much about it but for the price, you can't go wrong.

I've had an X-Fi Prelude before my X-Fi Platinum and I ever regret downgrading. Sound was much more rich and clear with the Prelude then this Platinum. But a Prelude is almost $200 for just the card. Don't know if you're willing to buy it but I can tell you it'll be the only sound you you'll need.

03-02-2010, 01:52 AM

yeh nice work

ralphh41 · 03-04-2010, 06:29 AM

I have the Z-5500 and Z-2300, and gotta say, the Z-5500 is for me the best PC surround set. I use it in combination with a Creative sound blaster audigy 2 platinum zs (THATS a mouth full lol)

ive listened to other surround speaker sets (creative, cambridge soundworks etc) but logitech has a pretty good sound for its price

HL2-4-Life · 03-04-2010, 06:54 AM

Before getting my Z-5500, I was looking high and low for Klipsch PM5.1, it was the best sounding multi-media speaker system I'd ever heard. But alas, my search was in vain, then the regular gameshop I go to had the excellent Z-5500 on sale, asin they were selling not (not that it was going for lower price....wish it were though), so I snagged it w/o a second's thought. Together with my X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS, it literally rocks my room when I'm playing game or listen to MP3's. My other rig has an Auzentech X-Mystique 7.1 Gold but I have it hooked up to a set of Klipsch PM2.1 and for music, I'd swear it sounds as good, if not better than my Z-5500.

To the TS, if your budget allows for it, get the Z-5500, but don't forget that you'll need a pretty kickbutt soundcard to make the most of the Z-5500. The card that UnLoki-13 has linked looks pretty good, I would suggest you get that card, or something similar to it for aural nirvana in games and music/movies.

01-30-2010, 07:15 AM	#1
Ruyo Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 9 Posts: 809	Surround Sound recommendations? My brother and I are planning to get surround sound for our PCs this weekend. We're both pretty dumb when it comes to sound cards and speakers though, so does anyone have some good, reasonably priced recommendations?

03-01-2010, 10:11 PM	#10
YahooElite Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 782 Posts: 6,954	Logitech 540 5.1 should do very well with an excellent price tag of around 80 or $90 depending on where you go. As for soundcards, depending on your motherboard the integrated sound should be very well suited to your taste. i went from a soundblaster audigy SE in my previous comp to use the Integrated sound on my current PC and the integrated easily beats the dedicated soundcard. Last edited by YahooElite: 03-01-2010 at 10:30 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-30-2010, 07:41 AM	#2
Baron_Fel Join Date: Jul 2006 Reputation: 1931 Posts: 8,811	People like their Z-5500s.

01-30-2010, 08:34 AM	#3
Kalidian Guest Posts: n/a	In terms of speakers the Z-5500 is nice but expensive. The G51 is excellent as well for about half the price. Both are 5.1. In terms of sound cards you have quite a few choices, depending on how much your budget is and what kind of interface or bus slot you have available. I have the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro (a mouthful, I know) with the Logitech G51 and it's fantastic.

02-28-2010, 11:45 PM	#6
lilcyn Guest Posts: n/a	i would recommend something in the Sound Blaster range... Do have a lookout...

03-01-2010, 09:44 AM	#7
Razear Join Date: Jan 2009 Reputation: 124 Posts: 223	A little more in the budget category but check out the X-540s, excellent value for the money.

03-01-2010, 01:10 PM	#8
Overnight_Guy Join Date: Jan 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 79	The Z-5500s would be the best recommendation IF you need the speakers to do Dolby Digital/DTS decoding and are planning on hooking up a PS3/Xbox as well. I have a set of them for 4 years and I haven't been happier!

03-01-2010, 01:57 PM	#9
Baron_Fel Join Date: Jul 2006 Reputation: 1931 Posts: 8,811	it doesnt do DTS HD though does it? 192kHz and all.

03-01-2010, 10:20 PM	#11
UnLoki-13 Join Date: Oct 2006 Reputation: 133 Posts: 1,801	I've been hearing this sound card is good for the money. Don't know much about it but for the price, you can't go wrong. I've had an X-Fi Prelude before my X-Fi Platinum and I ever regret downgrading. Sound was much more rich and clear with the Prelude then this Platinum. But a Prelude is almost $200 for just the card. Don't know if you're willing to buy it but I can tell you it'll be the only sound you you'll need.

03-02-2010, 01:52 AM	#12
milfner Guest Posts: n/a	yeh nice work

03-04-2010, 06:29 AM	#13
ralphh41 Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 96	I have the Z-5500 and Z-2300, and gotta say, the Z-5500 is for me the best PC surround set. I use it in combination with a Creative sound blaster audigy 2 platinum zs (THATS a mouth full lol) ive listened to other surround speaker sets (creative, cambridge soundworks etc) but logitech has a pretty good sound for its price

03-04-2010, 06:54 AM	#14
HL2-4-Life Join Date: Feb 2005 Reputation: 824 Posts: 7,062	Before getting my Z-5500, I was looking high and low for Klipsch PM5.1, it was the best sounding multi-media speaker system I'd ever heard. But alas, my search was in vain, then the regular gameshop I go to had the excellent Z-5500 on sale, asin they were selling not (not that it was going for lower price....wish it were though), so I snagged it w/o a second's thought. Together with my X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS, it literally rocks my room when I'm playing game or listen to MP3's. My other rig has an Auzentech X-Mystique 7.1 Gold but I have it hooked up to a set of Klipsch PM2.1 and for music, I'd swear it sounds as good, if not better than my Z-5500. To the TS, if your budget allows for it, get the Z-5500, but don't forget that you'll need a pretty kickbutt soundcard to make the most of the Z-5500. The card that UnLoki-13 has linked looks pretty good, I would suggest you get that card, or something similar to it for aural nirvana in games and music/movies.