AE 5.1 systems?

fizzy · 3 Oct 2013 at 23:51

Hi,

I have an AE Aego M 2.1 sound system hooked up to my pc and I really like the sound quality and the compact speakers but would like to try setting up a surround system.

Do they do a 5.1 system at all? I notice that the sub has an option for a centre speaker, but don't see the speakers sold separately. If I could get another for a centre, and maybe some cheap powered ones just for rears that would be a way around it.

Alternatively, I have a sony surround amp I could use but would prefer compact main speakers similar to the AE Aego ones since I don't have a lot of desk space. Any suggestions on any speakers sets like this?

Thanks.

Marsman · 4 Oct 2013 at 13:12

The only 5.1 speakers AE do are speaker packages for AV receivers. To my knowledge the Aego's are the only PC speakers they make.

You could connect a centre speaker, but that is not without it's problems. While the Aego's do have a centre channel input, they don't have a separate subwoofer channel input. When the sound card output it set to 2.1, the bass frequencies are sent along with the left/right channels. The crossover inside the sub box sorts out which frequencies are sent to the subwoofer and which go the the satellite speakers. When the sound card is set to 5.1, the bass frequencies are sent to the subwoofer channel. Connecting a cable from the 'orange' connection on the PC (centre/subwoofer) to the Aego's, you can only can connect one channel or the other to the Aego's centre channel input. For rigging up some kind of 5.1, it's just not going to work very well. Not really sure why AE put it there.

You can get compact 5.1 speaker packages which you can connect to your Sony AV receiver, it's just a question of budget.

kidloco · 4 Oct 2013 at 13:40

Aego did make a 5.1 setup using the Aego M sats and sub. It came with a separate decoder box. I have it in my games room. Its called the Aego P5. They still come up on eBay from time to time. There is one on there now actually.

I have a spare P5 system boxed in the garage, just its missing the decoder, going to grab one cheap second hand and set that up in my parents. Its still a great little system for the cash.

fizzy · 4 Oct 2013 at 17:57

Marsman said:
The only 5.1 speakers AE do are speaker packages for AV receivers. To my knowledge the Aego's are the only PC speakers they make.

You could connect a centre speaker, but that is not without it's problems. While the Aego's do have a centre channel input, they don't have a separate subwoofer channel input. When the sound card output it set to 2.1, the bass frequencies are sent along with the left/right channels. The crossover inside the sub box sorts out which frequencies are sent to the subwoofer and which go the the satellite speakers. When the sound card is set to 5.1, the bass frequencies are sent to the subwoofer channel. Connecting a cable from the 'orange' connection on the PC (centre/subwoofer) to the Aego's, you can only can connect one channel or the other to the Aego's centre channel input. For rigging up some kind of 5.1, it's just not going to work very well. Not really sure why AE put it there.

You can get compact 5.1 speaker packages which you can connect to your Sony AV receiver, it's just a question of budget.

Ahh yes - forgot that the existing unit get's it bass signal from the front speaker/stereo connection.

So looking for more like a 4 speaker setup for gaming then (with sub inline). The sony amp has a sub yes/no option which directs the bass accordingly, which is what I was thinking of. The audio control panel for the soundcard only has 2, 4, 5.1 and 7.1.

May just look to hook up some powered speakers for the rear channel just for the effects - if I decide to go "proper" 5.1 may as well try and track down a set of compact speakers for the cost of a decent PC specific system.

Thanks all.

simisker · 6 Oct 2013 at 01:22

kidloco said:
[...] Its called the Aego P5. They still come up on eBay from time to time. There is one on there now actually.

There *was*! Thanks to your Ebay heads-up I'll have a spare P5 decoder for my Aego 5.1s shortly. Cheers

Trusty · 6 Oct 2013 at 11:13

fizzy said:
Hi,

I have an AE Aego M 2.1 sound system hooked up to my pc and I really like the sound quality and the compact speakers but would like to try setting up a surround system.

Do they do a 5.1 system at all? I notice that the sub has an option for a centre speaker, but don't see the speakers sold separately. If I could get another for a centre, and maybe some cheap powered ones just for rears that would be a way around it.

Alternatively, I have a sony surround amp I could use but would prefer compact main speakers similar to the AE Aego ones since I don't have a lot of desk space. Any suggestions on any speakers sets like this?

Thanks.

The main expense in the Aego's from what i remember is the sub itself, i remember reading before i bought them. I've got the same setup really. Technics amp with B&W prism speakers with the Aego as the bass. I'm going to eventually sell the whole Aego m's and buy a bk monolith or something.

86JR · 6 Oct 2013 at 11:24

Just remember that the TechRadar review is correct - there is little, if any midbass with these speakers.

I loved mine until I upgraded to a pair of AE floor standers - AE NEO V3 3's, and a Yamaha A-S700 - and I noticed that there was just a whole load of music on the same tracks that was completely missing on the AE's. They are pretty much a pair of tweeters and a subwoofer.

EDIT: Also the subwoofer has problems, I went through 3 of them - the cone dis-attaches itself from the surround causing a nasty muffling noise during excursion. They have little xmax and too much power really for the subwoofer, so they get hot and the glue melts and that happens.

fizzy · 6 Oct 2013 at 11:46

simisker said:
There *was*! Thanks to your Ebay heads-up I'll have a spare P5 decoder for my Aego 5.1s shortly. Cheers

There is a decoder and amp (but no speakers) up as well, stating that should be "easy to get replacement speakers". Wonder of he realises they are only 1 ohm or so, not the normal 6 or 8 ohm of standard speakers.

I could use the two I already have - but then would need 3 more, and they are selling at £50 (inc p&p) direct from the manufacturer.

However can pick up a set of Boston SoundWareXS 5.1 SE compact speakers and sub for about the same which would go nicely with my sony amp (and be new with warranty etc). Probably higher quality overall as well. Hmm...

Marsman · 6 Oct 2013 at 12:06

£50 each? Ouch. The Aego's cost £90 five years ago.

fizzy · 6 Oct 2013 at 12:32

Well, might actually be getting somewhere. Turns out my brother had a (slightly battered) pair of JPW speakers he picked up from freecycle, which I've just hooked up to the sony amp (a DB930).

Sound quality is way improved (even if the speakers were actually cheapy ones on offer from a discount AV store a while ago apparently) although they are a little big for the desk. I'll have to sort of some shelves or mini stands to get them to reasonable ear height or something.

Found out that I can't adjust anything on the amp when using 5.1 input mode. Ahh well, can always use the equaliser options on the sound card if needs be - then again this was the same with the Aegos anyway.

As for hooking up the sub - well, can always just connect the ".1" (sub) output from the soundcard into the aego sub rather than the amp, and see how they match up. Not so much of an issue if using bigger speakers though.

Anyhow - I've decided to go down the speakers for the sony amp route. Will either get some rears to go with these JPW's or get a complete (better matching) set.