Sound upgrade- soundcard or speakers?

[Marine-RX179]

I'm currently using a Creative Gigaworks T40 II and Asus Xonar DX sound card. If I want to improve the audio quality/experience for gaming, music and movie on PC, should I:

a) keep existing speakers and get a better sound card
b) get better speakers and keep existing sound card
c) grab a amp and grab a decent pair of passive speakers
d) none of the above, something else?

 

[justalex81]

better speakers and better sound card

 

[Marine-RX179]

better speakers and better sound card

Problem is I've sort of set myself a budget of around £150

 

[justalex81]

scrap that last comment. Thought the dx was the really cheap card!

if it's for everything then you need to look at 5.1 speakers. Trouble is there isn't much in the way of truly good speakers in your budget range. you could try these but i don't think 100w RMS is powerful enough.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-009-ML&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=165

 

[justalex81]

See if you can get yourself a set of Logitech Z5500 speakers off ebay. I have them and they are truly awesome.

 

[Marine-RX179]

scrap that last comment. Thought the dx was the really cheap card!

if it's for everything then you need to look at 5.1 speakers. Trouble is there isn't much in the way of truly good speakers in your budget range. you could try these but i don't think 100w RMS is powerful enough.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-009-ML&groupid=702&catid=22&subcat=165

See if you can get yourself a set of Logitech Z5500 speakers off ebay. I have them and they are truly awesome.

The thing about 5.1 would be that the standalone satellites won't be comparable to my T40 II. If I want to go 5.1 setup, I'd probably better off grab 2 pairs Edifier T1600 Plus (£50x2) to use as front and side channel, and use one of my T40 II speaker as center speaker to use as a 5.0 setup and forget about subwoofer?

 

[justalex81]

You don't need any bass to come from your satellites in a 5.1 setup. What you are suggesting would sound naff.

The logitech z5500 satellites are 60w RMS each with a 200w RMS sub. Movies and games need surround sound IMO. Up to you what you decide

 

[Marine-RX179]

You don't need any bass to come from your satellites in a 5.1 setup. What you are suggesting would sound naff.

The logitech z5500 satellites are 60w RMS each with a 200w RMS sub. Movies and games need surround sound IMO. Up to you what you decide

Thanks for pointing that out. I think I get what you are saying and it does make sense.

I think for the Z5500 it can only be acquired via 2nd hand or something since it's been discontinued? Also I read a review on the Z960 which is suppose to be the Z5500 successor, but was really much of a step-up?

 

[Marsman]

I'd keep the card for sure. It's still a good card; you'd have to spend a lot of money on speakers to make buying a better sound card worthwhile. The quality of the speakers or headphones being used is far more important than the sound card.

As for possible speaker upgrade, really depends what you are after. I agree that small satellite speakers found in cheaper 5.1 speaker sets won't be comparable to the T40. I can see what justalex81 is saying that any bass won't be coming from the satellites, however, they will lack midrange, which I'm guessing is what you are referring to. Again though, it depends what you use them for. For gaming and watching movies, it doesn't matter so much, but for music, it's like someone cut a big hole in the sound. Z5500 are very good 5.1 speakers though, and are certainly worth considering if you want surround speakers for gaming and watching movies. If music listening is the priority, then far better to stick with stereo. I certainly wouldn't bother trying to cobble up a 5.1 system though, using different sets of speakers. Best to go one way or the other.

With £150, there are a few options. You could go down the second hand route, and get a decent amplifier and a pair of bookshelf/standmount speakers. There are some very good bargains to be had if you do some searching, and you'll get more for your money that way. Some people don't like buying second though, or can't be bothered to trawl through sites looking for a good bargain. If you'd rather buy new, then it's certainly possible with £150.

 

[Marsman]

Thanks for pointing that out. I think I get what you are saying and it does make sense.

I think for the Z5500 it can only be acquired via 2nd hand or something since it's been discontinued? Also I read a review on the Z960 which is suppose to be the Z5500 successor, but was really much of a step-up?

Yeah the Z5500 can only be had used now. Wouldn't bother with the Z906 at all. Not as good as the Z5500, and there are better AV receiver + 5.1 speaker packages available for the same or not much more.

 

[Marine-RX179]

I'd keep the card for sure. It's still a good card; you'd have to spend a lot of money on speakers to make buying a better sound card worthwhile. The quality of the speakers or headphones being used is far more important than the sound card.

As for possible speaker upgrade, really depends what you are after. I agree that small satellite speakers found in cheaper 5.1 speaker sets won't be comparable to the T40. I can see what justalex81 is saying that any bass won't be coming from the satellites, however, they will lack midrange, which I'm guessing is what you are referring to. Again though, it depends what you use them for. For gaming and watching movies, it doesn't matter so much, but for music, it's like someone cut a big hole in the sound. Z5500 are very good 5.1 speakers though, and are certainly worth considering if you want surround speakers for gaming and watching movies. If music listening is the priority, then far better to stick with stereo. I certainly wouldn't bother trying to cobble up a 5.1 system though, using different sets of speakers. Best to go one way or the other.

With £150, there are a few options. You could go down the second hand route, and get a decent amplifier and a pair of bookshelf/standmount speakers. There are some very good bargains to be had if you do some searching, and you'll get more for your money that way. Some people don't like buying second though, or can't be bothered to trawl through sites looking for a good bargain. If you'd rather buy new, then it's certainly possible with £150.

Thanks again for your wisedom Marsman.

For listening to music, I'd sticking with stereo. As for going for 5.1, I wouldn't need to get a amp but just a decent set of 5.1 setup with digital input right? Also I would be better of using the S/PDIF adaptor on my Asus Xonar DX rather than the S/PDIF on my motherboard right?

Also the (2nd hand) Logitech Z5500 aside, if I can push the budget for £200...or may be absolute ceiling of £250, what 5.1 would you recommend?

Also, as I have mention in another thread before I'm using the Ikea Fredde workstation as my desk:
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50219044/

...and all the speakers would be put on my desk (the side speakers would most likely be put on where the cup-holders at the corner are). So I think I don't really need something very loud, but instead should look for something that can deliver the details even at the moderate volume?

Just looked on reviews and the Logitech Z5500 was £200 new? Why on earth Logitech discontinued it!? So they can replace it with a more expensive and worse Z906? *shakefist at Logitech*

 

[Marsman]

Haha, I've no idea why Logitech discontinued the Z5500, only to be replaced with something that quite a few people have said is not as good. The Z5500 did increase quite a bit before EOL. I'm sure they even hit around £280 at one point, which is crazy, when at one point they were just under £200.

Looking at your desk, and the way you will positional the surround speakers, personally I'd not recommend 5.1 speakers. For 5.1 speakers to work effectively, they need to be placed correctly. I've seen too many people lump them all on the desk in front of them, which defeats the point. I have seen some people with like a curved desk, and they are able to place the surround speakers either side just behind where they sit, which is where they need to be. There is no point having extra speakers for the sake of it, if they are not working as intended. Far better to spend the money on better 2.1 or stereo speakers.

If you still want to get 5.1, then as for connection, if they have a digital input, then you want to use the one on DX. If you don't want anything that uses a separate amp/receiver, then apart from used Z5500, there isn't anything below £200, at least anything worth buying that is.

 

[Marine-RX179]

Looking at your desk, and the way you will positional the surround speakers, personally I'd not recommend 5.1 speakers. For 5.1 speakers to work effectively, they need to be placed correctly. I've seen too many people lump them all on the desk in front of them, which defeats the point. I have seen some people with like a curved desk, and they are able to place the surround speakers either side just behind where they sit, which is where they need to be. There is no point having extra speakers for the sake of it, if they are not working as intended. Far better to spend the money on better 2.1 or stereo speakers.

For the positioning, I'm not talking about putting the side speakers at front...with the Ikea Fredde, there's a curve in at the center, so when when I sit, the side speakers would be 90 degree to my left and to my right. I know ideally it should be 110 degree to both sides...so for 90 degree only you wouldn't recommend it?

Even if not completely not positionally accurate for gaming, I think 5.1 would still be good for me watching movie etc?

Also considering the MircoLab FC730 5.1 and FC360 5.1 rather than pssing away money...what's the main difference between these two?

 

[Marsman]

It might work. Personally I think with 5.1 placement, there has to be a good distance between the speakers. The surrounds would be too close the fronts, at least that is my opinion anyway. I'm no expert though and for someone else that setup may work well enough. If you think it will work OK, then why not. There's only one way to find out how effective it will be, and it is your money after all.

 

[daveip]

Do you really need 5.1? Speaker placement is going to be important to make it worthwhile.

Aego M 2.1 from OCUK @ £119.99 "This week only" deal is amazing.

 

[Marine-RX179]

It might work. Personally I think with 5.1 placement, there has to be a good distance between the speakers. The surrounds would be too close the fronts, at least that is my opinion anyway. I'm no expert though and for someone else that setup may work well enough. If you think it will work OK, then why not. There's only one way to find out how effective it will be, and it is your money after all.

I honestly don't know what I should go for lol

I mean for 2.0, my T40 II do decent job, and upgrading to something like MicroLab SOLO7C seem a bit overkill, but could always upgrade to that for the lulz; for 5.1, I'm not sure about the difference between the MircoLab FC730 5.1 and FC360 5.1

Edit: Just did a bit more reading around...and the MicroLab SOLO7C could do more harm than good at close up distance So what would be a good 2.0 speaker to upgrade from the T40 II and can deliver good quality and details without having to go too loud?

 

[justalex81]

the differences are

A) the colour. The fc730's are brown!
B) output. the 730's are 84 watts rms and the 360's are 100 watts rms.

I think i have the answer. Get the acoustic energy aego m speakers. Then buy the extra centre speaker that you can connect up to em. put it in 5.1 but disable the rear speakers in sound settings. that way you get the best of both worlds. This is what i did with my mum's system.

 

[Marine-RX179]

I think i have the answer. Get the acoustic energy aego m speakers. Then buy the extra centre speaker that you can connect up to em. put it in 5.1 but disable the rear speakers in sound settings. that way you get the best of both worlds. This is what i did with my mum's system.

As much as I would love to try the going down that route, one issue with the Aego 2.1 is that its subwoofer share the same channel as the front left and right, rather than with the center speaker's channel (as you know, the center and subwoofer is the same channel on the soundcard).

 

[Marsman]

I honestly don't know what I should go for lol

I mean for 2.0, my T40 II do decent job, and upgrading to something like MicroLab SOLO7C seem a bit overkill, but could always upgrade to that for the lulz; for 5.1, I'm not sure about the difference between the MircoLab FC730 5.1 and FC360 5.1

Edit: Just did a bit more reading around...and the MicroLab SOLO7C could do more harm than good at close up distance So what would be a good 2.0 speaker to upgrade from the T40 II and can deliver good quality and details without having to go too loud?

I think first of all you need to decide if you want better sound quality than the T40 for music, and sacrifice surround sound, or prioritise surround sound for gaming and watching movies and keep the T40 for music. If you want to try surround speakers, then Microlab FC360 or 730 might be a good option; and at less than £100 aren't breaking the bank like you might by going for something with digital input connection, used Z5500's aside.

If you would prefer stereo speakers for music, then the Microlab Solo 6/7C are an option. They are quite large though. They are 100+ watt, which is certainly too loud for near field listening; but that's only if they are turned up loud. Someone would have to be crazy to have them that loud at such a close distance. Most sane people would have them at a more 'normal' volume level. Being 100w though, does give them the ability to fill a larger room, which some people might have.

Edifier R1600T and R1900TII are very good, especially the 1600 at £50 currently on offer. How much of an improvement they will be over the T40 though, will depend on the listener and their preferences. Not seen many people compare them. For the first time buyer, R1600T are the better value.

Audioengine A2 and M-Audio AV40 are other options.

 

[Marine-RX179]

I think first of all you need to decide if you want better sound quality than the T40 for music, and sacrifice surround sound, or prioritise surround sound for gaming and watching movies and keep the T40 for music. If you want to try surround speakers, then Microlab FC360 or 730 might be a good option; and at less than £100 aren't breaking the bank like you might by going for something with digital input connection, used Z5500's aside.

If you would prefer stereo speakers for music, then the Microlab Solo 6/7C are an option. They are quite large though. They are 100+ watt, which is certainly too loud for near field listening; but that's only if they are turned up loud. Someone would have to be crazy to have them that loud at such a close distance. Most sane people would have them at a more 'normal' volume level. Being 100w though, does give them the ability to fill a larger room, which some people might have.

Edifier R1600T and R1900TII are very good, especially the 1600 at £50 currently on offer. How much of an improvement they will be over the T40 though, will depend on the listener and their preferences. Not seen many people compare them. For the first time buyer, R1600T are the better value.

Audioengine A2 and M-Audio AV40 are other options.

Yea...I was actually deciding between the T40 II and the Edifier 1600T back them, but due to the very small desk be then, I decided to go for the T40 II due to its smaller footprint/size.

Actually this just hit me...may be I can get the MicroLab FC360 5.1 for movies and gaming, and keeping the T40 II for playing music on stereo by using a splitter on the front output of my soundcard?

Also, would using a splitter affect the audio quality?