Can someone spec me a 5.1 system please

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Caporegime
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Hello

I have approximately £400 to spend on a nice 5.1 setup for my PC. I want some decent kit as I'm currently running some £35 Creative 5.1 speakers which, after sitting in my car, sound appalling for music. I'd like to be able to switch to 2.1 for music (think I can do this through the sound card) as well as use 5.1 for games and videos. If it's a feature I'd also like to be able to time delay or attenuate the rear speakers to counter the fact that I sit a lot nearer the front speakers than the back. I have a Creative Xtreme music sound card so I think I can use the optical out to feed any amplifier?

I'd appreciate some recommendations as to what kind of kit I should be looking at and what indeed I will need in order to run Hi-Fi 5.1 on my PC.

I presume I will need:

- one centre speaker
- two fronts
- two satellites
- one subwoofer
- 5.1 amplifier (what kind? Do they all do Dolby? etc)

...anything else?

Thanks :)
 
*awaits squiffy to tell you that isn't enough (hes rite)

5.1 Amp is about £200 for denon 1507 (haven't checked prices though)
which leaves £200 for 5.1 speakers and cables which isn't doable even with second hand imo.

You'd be better off getin 2 speakers for £200 and add later on? Or is that not a option?

sid
 
Hi, yes it is an option, as is spending more money...I just wanted to see what I could get for that and it sounds like I'll be looking second hand for that.

Thanks again, given the above info can you spec for more like £600?
 
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Something like the KEF KHT 1005 might be doable for £600inc but they won't be any good for music but fine for movies.

Avforums is a better place to start than here as well. They have all sorts of links to deals,etc.

sid
 
buy a 5.1 amp and a pair of front speakers for your £400 then add a matching center, rears and sub when you have the money.
 
denon said:
buy a 5.1 amp and a pair of front speakers for your £400 then add a matching center, rears and sub when you have the money.
Click to expand...


Sounds like good advice, I'll start hunting. Thanks all.

P.S. product recommendations based on personal experience still welcome!
 
denon said:
buy a 5.1 amp and a pair of front speakers for your £400 then add a matching center, rears and sub when you have the money.
Click to expand...

Yup, buy the best high current av amplifier and stereo speakers now, and save up £1K+ for the remaining speakers.

£400 will get you a HTIB, but not quality seperates, standard av gear.

Something like the KEF KHT 1005 might be doable for £600inc but they won't be any good for music but fine for movies.
Click to expand...

If it's not good for music, it won't be good for movies either. The limition will be on the centre speaker, left & right and subwoofer, since that's where the speech comes from. Poor quality centre=bad sound. Cheap sub=boomy

The system memphisto linked to will be far better than your existing PC system, although I wouldn't touch it myself. Wouldn't buy Wharfdales subwoofers.

Go and have a listen to a couple of systems first, and see in what price bracket sounds best (ie listen to something slightly over your existing budget, but to price area that you can afford to, just means saving up a little)
 
Robbie G said:
Sounds like good advice, I'll start hunting. Thanks all.

P.S. product recommendations based on personal experience still welcome!
Click to expand...

For amps in the 200-300 range, look at the sony 910 or 1200es or perhaps onkyo 505. they will do nicely and reasonable future proof.

sid
 
I'd probably go with the Denon and a pair of B&W 601s or a slightly better amp (like the ones mentioned above) with some Wharfdale Diamond 9.1s.

Both should sound pretty decent and they'll only be the rear speakers once you get the rest so they don't have to be amazing.


@ Squiffy, you ever posted pics of your gear? Can't seem to find any.
 
If it's a feature I'd also like to be able to time delay or attenuate the rear speakers to counter the fact that I sit a lot nearer the front speakers than the back.
Click to expand...

Av amplifiers have distance setting which adjusts delay accordingly. You can also adjust each speakers output.

@ Squiffy, you ever posted pics of your gear? Can't seem to find any.
Click to expand...

No I haven't.

I have a Creative Xtreme music sound card so I think I can use the optical out to feed any amplifier
Click to expand...

yes, but for gaming you'll want to use the analogue 5.1 outputs to get EAX.
 
I think you have to first ask yourself what do you want most from the system.

1) Surround sound for gaming and movies
2) Improved stereo quality
3) Mid range performance system with many features
4) Basic system but offers quality over quantity

Once you pick from those you have to ask yourself what are you going to be listening to most?

1) Compressed MP3 files varying in quality
2) Full CDs or lossless audio files like FLAC is the only way for you
3) Your not bothered as long as it sounds decent

Its a double sided coin, because having a brill stereo system but feeding it limited quality music files will waste the systems performance.
Alternatively having a budget all singing all dancing surround sound AV system and sending it music thats lossless probably wont show much difference over files that are compressed (say 192 bit rate)

Most people fall into the "i want decent sound, stylish looks and a good range of features" Of course on a forum specific like this you will have stereo heads that demand nothing less than pure fidelity.

To be honest i really think you could find a great all-in one "Home Cinema" package that bangs in a lot of features, isnt just tied to the PC but offers its own RDS tuner, Divx and DVD playback with more features im sure.
The limitation is it wont go as loud or sound as good as a seperate system but i think many people overestimate "average joes" perception of what quality audio is. Really i could look to give you alternatives but for £400-£500 you could nab a really good all-in-one stylish system that would sound great in most bedrooms.
 
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Suppose you could get the Samsung XQ100, it's generally considered to be quite good (very good, for the price). It's around £320 and looks pretty good.
 
if you can build it over time, then i'd get the items you want when you can afford them.
maybe just get an amp now and use the speakers you have atm
or
amp and a good set of fronts seem as you want good 2 channel for music and use the rest of what you already have.

otherwise you'll probably find yourself buying cheaper stuff that will suit your budget now and end up selling it all 6 months down the line when you want it to sound better.

same with the cables.

it maybe 2,3,4 months(don't know how much spare ££ you have every week/month) before its all together, but you'll be happier with it when all done.
 
go to Av forums and find a member called jake james he sells canton speakers which to be honest are amazing better than Keff.

he offers big discounts for Av forum members. big thread on there with about 1000 people who have bought them from him.

You wont get any better and that a 100% fact!
 
The Tannoy EFX 5.1 system seemed to be quite popular on AV Forums.

I bought the Tannoy system and a Panasonic DVD recorder EX77 on Friday. Sounds perfectly acceptable to me.

I've used OFC cable throughout and have the DVD and Sky+ box linked to the reciever via optic cable.

My receiver is an old Pioneer VSX609 which does its job very well although I'm considering a change to the Denon 1507. End of this month will either see the Denon purchased or Sky HD box.

The speakers were £200 and the Denon can be had for £200.
 
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Wow all there's a lot of very helpful stuff in here, appreciated.

It sounds like a good option for me would be to build it up over time as people have said.

If I wanted to have really nice 2.1 for music but just o.k. 5.1 for movies and games (the front two speakers are the most important after all) then could I use the cheapo Creative sub and satellites with the Denon until I've got enough on the side for a nice sub and potentially some satellites and a centre channel also? Or would the Denon blow the Creative speakers up with excess power?

Mr Latte - thanks for the advice. I don't think those things that you listed are mutually exclusive for me e.g. I will be listening to CDs and MP3s, I will be gaming in 5.1, and I will be watching DVDs in 5.1 Dolby. So I need a tidy all-rounder.

After listening to the advice I'm going to get the Denon 1507 or similar, some nice clean sounding bookshelf speakers for around £200 maybe less, and stick with that until I can spend enough to get a nice sub, centre speaker and some satellites. Until that point I will try and bodge my Creatives into the system.

Thanks again all :).
 
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