Speaker and Sound Card Advice

LiveWireUK

LiveWireUK

LiveWireUK

Associate
Joined
23 Nov 2009
Posts
290
Hello!

I currently own a 5.1 setup (very, very old Cambridge Soundworks setup) and a Xonar DX.

I've decided to go to either a 2.0 or 2.1 setup as I'm not really benefitting from 5.1 (think my room may be too small / speakers to close for me to discern which speaker the noise is coming from).

I can't seem to really decide which is better to go for - 2.0 or 2.1 - 90% used for gaming and 10% music. Also, suggestions for systems would be great :)

Wondering whether it would be worth upgrading the sound card or is the DX still a decent performeR? Was looking at the Creative Z series.

Budget for both is probably in the region of £200.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks!
 
IMO the Asus Xonar to SoundBlaster Z would be a sidegrade (unless you use headphone, which might benefit from the headphone amps).

You'd better off investing that extra £60-£70 on the speakers instead...you'd get better return that way.
 
I have a USB powered headset which I only really ever use for TeamSpeak (Tritton AX70 perhaps?) so that's good to know the soundcard is still great as it is.

Just leaves the speakers then! Help! :)
 
I've not got anything specific in mind at all - looked at the Edifier 1600 monitors, the Aego's, the Corsair's you link, couple of others - just didn't really know which was the "best" way to turn.
 
LiveWireUK said:
I've not got anything specific in mind at all - looked at the Edifier 1600 monitors, the Aego's, the Corsair's you link, couple of others - just didn't really know which was the "best" way to turn.
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I actually own the Edifier 1600T, and I must say they are amazing speakers (specially since I only paid £49.99 for it) for music and movies, and much better than my old Creative T40 II...the sound is much cleaner and crisp. But for gaming, some people might find that that bass of the Edifier 1600T is a bit lacking (I'm ok with mine though, but I would think bassheads would definitely prefer more bass).

Also reading around on the website, there are people who have used both the Aego M 2.1 and the Corsair SP2500 saying the Corsair is definitely superior to the Aego M:
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=51301

Since you got the budget, I don't think you can go wrong with the Corsair.
 
I have the Corsair SP2500, great speakers and sub can't really fault them, although i use the KRK Rokits 6 nowdays, it's good to have the corsair as backups :)
 
After the recommendation I made, I myself bought the Corsair SP2500 as well since I saw it on sales for just £161...simply couldn't resist!

Between the Edifier 1600T Plus and the Corsair SP2500, listening to music in stereo move I still prefer the Edifier more; but for watching movie (tried playing action scenes of Skyfall) and using with the virtual surround of the sound card, the Corsair seem to have the edge, probably due to its bass, and the virtual surround enhancing the sound stage of the two satellite speakers.


But now I have set my speakers as:
Front: Edifier 1600T Plus
Side: Creative T40 II
Center/Subwoofer: Corsair SP2500

Now watching movies with 5.1 is totally amazing! The satellites of the Corsair lack bass, but the details it produce, particularly the mid is very good, so it's perfect for me to use as the center speaker (especially with its small size). Using virtual surround wasn't bad at all, but it simply cannot compare to an actual 5.1 setup! I haven't tried gaming yet...for some reason I couldn't be bothered with gaming on PC lately so can't really comment on that.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the Corsair SP2500 considering I only paid £161 for it instead of the usual pricing of £190, but I would have to say if people was using it on its own want to get the most out of it, it would probably be better to have the subwoofer at the same level as the satellite speakers, rather than having the speakers on the desk and subwoofer under the desk.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
After the recommendation I made, I myself bought the Corsair SP2500 as well since I saw it on sales for just £161...simply couldn't resist!

Between the Edifier 1600T Plus and the Corsair SP2500, listening to music in stereo move I still prefer the Edifier more; but for watching movie (tried playing action scenes of Skyfall) and using with the virtual surround of the sound card, the Corsair seem to have the edge, probably due to its bass, and the virtual surround enhancing the sound stage of the two satellite speakers.


But now I have set my speakers as:
Front: Edifier 1600T Plus
Side: Creative T40 II
Center/Subwoofer: Corsair SP2500

Now watching movies with 5.1 is totally amazing! The satellites of the Corsair lack bass, but the details it produce, particularly the mid is very good, so it's perfect for me to use as the center speaker (especially with its small size). Using virtual surround wasn't bad at all, but it simply cannot compare to an actual 5.1 setup! I haven't tried gaming yet...for some reason I couldn't be bothered with gaming on PC lately so can't really comment on that.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the Corsair SP2500 considering I only paid £161 for it instead of the usual pricing of £190, but I would have to say if people was using it on its own want to get the most out of it, it would probably be better to have the subwoofer at the same level as the satellite speakers, rather than having the speakers on the desk and subwoofer under the desk.
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Thanks for the information - greatly appreciated :)
 
LiveWireUK said:
Thanks for the information - greatly appreciated :)
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Price has gone back up by a few quids to £165 over the last few days since my purchase, but it is still a very good price. If you not yet decide to go for the Corsair or not, better have a good think about it, before the prices pop back up to £180-£190 range.

Also just to clarify, I wasn't quite accurate when I said "the subwoofer should be on the same level as the speakers". What I meant to say is that there should ideally be nothing in between the speakers and the sub (i.e. the surface of the desk), and the sub should be in the open.
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
Price has gone back up by a few quids to £165 over the last few days since my purchase, but it is still a very good price. If you not yet decide to go for the Corsair or not, better have a good think about it, before the prices pop back up to £180-£190 range.

Also just to clarify, I wasn't quite accurate when I said "the subwoofer should be on the same level as the speakers". What I meant to say is that there should ideally be nothing in between the speakers and the sub (i.e. the surface of the desk), and the sub should be in the open.
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Ah, that'd be a problem :( The sub would be off centre as it is and would have the desk "in the way" as well.
 
That is weirdest set up ever with a mix and match, a lot of money spent on a mongrel and not matched.

A sub can be anywhere Bass is not directional.

I had a SP2500 but sent it back as it was :

1) Not very loud and I am not a kid into very loud music

2) Lacking bass and again not a kid into basshead type bass, Sub did make a sound like paper flapping or a dodgy fan at times during bass tests on YT.

Very little air coming out it in normal use, Mids were decent in satellites though.

Liked the look and build quality or all parts apart from cheap thin lead from Soundcard to Sub, which I changed.

Card was ZxR, far louder on my older 5.1 (in any mode) speakers (Cambridge)

Going by all rave reviews I must be one of the few that got a bad set but others have same issues and they seem to be prone to failing real soon like the Logitech's (read Corsair forum).

You can also read there and even here that some feel their RMA/Support service has fell on its feet lately.
 
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jh30uk said:
That is weirdest set up ever with a mix and match, a lot of money spent on a mongrel and not matched.

A sub can be anywhere Bass is not directional.
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I put my existing speakers into good use that's all.

Also I did not say bass was directional, I was referring to that if the sub was place under the desk, it is not ideal because the desk surface would be blocking the bass while sitting...standing up and moving about in the room of course it would not be an issue.

As for your comment of lack of bass, have you actually properly set it up using the control remote before sending the Corsair back? Cause when I was playing the Skyfall movie, during the action scenes it was definitely shaking my room (which is a large double-bedroom)...not crazily, but enough.

I'll try to do more testing on the Corsair by itself tomorrow when I have time.
 
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Yes I was not one of many on the forums to not know the bass has separate volume on remote.

I can see the point in putting existing speakers to use but you spent £162 on top of that.

Speakers were accepted as not right as I got refunded.
 
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