Spec me a decent surround sound set up

[RusstheDroog]

Hello All.

Currently gaming at 4k with a titan X and visually its way up there. I've started trying to get the sound up to snuff also and I need a bit of advice...

I have an ASUS Xonar D2X installed and was previously using it with a borrowed set of Logitech Z506 5.1 speakers which were pretty awful to be honest.

So, being that I have a half decent sound card that can enable 5.1 and 7.1 with Dolby Digital versions also, what kind of a set up should I adopt?

I don't know much about Audio set ups, so do I need an amplifier? Or can I get away with powered speakers? The Logitech set up was powered speakers (not a great experience) I've noticed they do a z906 set up for about £260 but I'm not holding my breath for great sound there either.

Incidentally, a bit of advice from the Richer Sounds guys nearby have pointed me in the direction of an Onkyo amp and a tannoy 5.1 set up. Both seem to have good reviews, again I'm unsure if the amp is required?

Any help would be appreciated, it'll be used primarily for gaming but it'd be great to use it for HD/UHD films too.

In addition I used a hyper X Cloud 2 set of headphones for gaming later at night and they have an on board sound card with virtual 7.1 which sounds infinitely better than if I disconnect this and use the headphone output on the Xonar. I think it's down to the sound driver within windows control panel, however I cannot seem to change this from the default on board sound to the Xonar D2X.

ARGH!

 

[Marsman]

Cheaper 5.1 sets are not much cop to be honest. z906 will fare considerably better, but at £280 on a well known site, it's too expensive in my opinion, given that £300 will buy a decent budget AV receiver and 5.1 speaker package. The z906 predecessor (z5500) was at one point less than £200, and was arguably better.

The recommendation from RS is a good one. Tannoy TFX is a very good inexpensive 5.1 speaker package.

You'd certainly need an AV receiver (amp) as well, as all speakers require power. In the case of powered 2.1/5.1 PC speakers, the amp is built into the subwoofer, and into one of the speakers if stereo. Passive speakers, whether they're 5.1 home cinema speaker package or hi-fi speakers, require an external amp. Without amplification, output from a sound card for example, would be much too quiet. An AV receiver functions as an amp and a multimedia hub.

You could go for a system package (receiver + speaker package from same manufacturer), rather than separate receiver and speakers. Such a package would certainly be cheaper (Pioneer HTP072, Yamaha YHT1810. £200-£250), but generally the speakers wont be as good separate ones, such as the Tannoy TFX. RS have the TFX set and Yamaha RXV377 receiver bundle for £350.

 

[crinkleshoes]

The Tannoy + Onkyo recommendation from Richer Sounds is about the best you'll get in this price range for a well rounded sound.

Also worth looking at second hand classifieds like AVForums if you want to source a bargain.

After one of my Kef iQ7s died, I wanted to pick up a surround system for gaming... it is pretty much only for gaming, so didn't want anything special.

My local supplier had the Logitech Z906s going for £140 brand new... so I picked them up (they're about £170 from the same place at the moment - but that's Switzerland).

For music... they're not great. But then I'm spoiled by a couple of decent solid state amps and a valve amp for my main systems, so I may be overly critical of the quality. They're pleasant... just sounds a bit muffled to me, even when playing FLAC files.

For gaming... they awesome! The punch you get some this system, even at low volume, is quite impressive. Clarity, surround positioning... everything you need for decent gaming immersion works very well.

I don't know if I would have paid nearly £300 for them though... they just happened to be on a very good deal when I was looking... like you, I would probably have got something like the Tannoy + Onkyo system from RS or maybe a HTIB (Home Theatre In a Box) system.

RS have the TFX set and Yamaha RXV377 receiver bundle for £350.

Good recommendation... I think the Yamahas are a bit better in this price range than the Onkyos.