Spec me a new 5.1 Surround sound system please

badbob said:
You fail at maths. :rolleyes: How is my recommendation of the NAD and 1010 speakers @ £220 5x more than £200? You CAN spend thousands but you don't need to. There is a definite "sweet spot" in audio, much like in PC graphics...avoid the 7300GS, go for 8800GT, and quad SLI is a bit OTT.
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so you deny doing it then? i could easily find a nice big list of threads you've done it in - so what if that isnt quite the case here. However, the point is that you are only interested in your own opinion which im sorry, but it doesnt work here. if you are so upset about the replies you are getting, maybe you need to look at what you are trying to tell people, or refrain from saying anythign if you dont agree. This isnt about whats best for you, its about what the op wants.
 
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Oh honestly, sometimes audiophiles make me laugh... they think that unless you have uber-studio quality sound worth hundreds and hundreds then it's worthless. What absolute bullocks. Some people are perfectly happy with a good all-round speaker system that doesn't cost above £200 that will be a decent all-rounder for our games, films, and music. Some of us quite frankly don't care that we don't have perfection, just that it sounds decent enough to our ears. I have heard a Logitech Z5500 system, it sounded good. I have heard a £5'000 audiophile system that my friend has, it sounded amazing. Would I be happy with a Logitech X5500 grade system as a daily use after hearing what the expensive audiophile system is like? Absolutely.

OP, take a look at the Logitech Z-5500's, they're under budget and do sound decent, i'm sure you'd be perfectly happy with them. :)
 
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Richdog said:
Oh honestly, sometimes audiophiles make me laugh... they think that unless you have uber-studio quality sound worth hundreds and hundreds then it's worthless. What absolute bullocks. Some people are perfectly happy with a good all-round speaker system that doesn't cost above £200 that will be a decent all-rounder for our games, films, and music. Some of us quite frankly don't care that we don't have perfection, just that it sounds decent enough to our ears. I have heard a Logitech Z5500 system, it sounded good. I have heard a £5'000 audiophile system that my friend has, it sounded amazing. Would I be happy with a Logitech X5500 grade system as a daily use after hearing what the expensive audiophile system is like? Absolutely.

OP, take a look at the Logitech Z-5500's, they're under budget and do sound decent, i'm sure you'd be perfectly happy with them. :)
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Hi there, finally someone whom has truly answered me... erm yeah a mate of mine has these speakers and says there amazing... however what would be the different between getting the Logitech's and the Creative Wireless ones?

Is there any bad feedback regarding the G550w's?
 
So badbod, how will those bookshelf speakers do any of the bass in films? :)

To the OP, someone else gave you a good link at the start of the thread:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/2137

I'd wager these are better than any Logitech rubbish. Infact, have a look around the Superfi site for any other speaker systems you can find there - ones from a 'proper hifi' company will always be better than something by Logitech, etc. Of course you'll also need an amp (I presume those Logitech/Creative ones come with one) but you should be able to find one for £150 - £200ish.
 
the z5500 has a dolby thx decoder built in, something that the creatives dont, nor those tannoy speakers.

However the tannoys have phase control and two crossovers, one for music and movies.

Music wont sound too great though.

I would go for the z5500's, 10" sub vs 8" sub (tannoys) so more bass too.
 
Shep_Cobain said:
Hi there, finally someone whom has truly answered me... erm yeah a mate of mine has these speakers and says there amazing... however what would be the different between getting the Logitech's and the Creative Wireless ones?

Is there any bad feedback regarding the G550w's?
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Z-5500 are better, fer sure
 
The Logitechs are good all-in-one systems with a lot of inputs... you would be very happy with them. Personally I wouldn't bother with wireless speakers... they still need a plug and some can't play the highest quality bit-rates due to the limitations imposed upon them by their wireless capability.
 
Beansprout said:
So badbod, how will those bookshelf speakers do any of the bass in films? :)

To the OP, someone else gave you a good link at the start of the thread:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/2137

I'd wager these are better than any Logitech rubbish. Infact, have a look around the Superfi site for any other speaker systems you can find there - ones from a 'proper hifi' company will always be better than something by Logitech, etc. Of course you'll also need an amp (I presume those Logitech/Creative ones come with one) but you should be able to find one for £150 - £200ish.
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i have to say i woudlnt touch anything tannoy, not at the bottom end of the scale anyway. the subwoofers in those are astonishingly bad and id actually put a decent set of logitechs in front of a set of tannoys.

thats not to say those tannoys in the link wont be alright, you have to listen to them. but yeah in general, awful.you know its bad when they quote the bottom of of the sub's frequency range @ 45hz, especially when its not even quoted at +/- 3db. 45hz isnt even subwoofer territory.

twoblacklines said:
the z5500 has a dolby thx decoder built in, something that the creatives dont, nor those tannoy speakers.

However the tannoys have phase control and two crossovers, one for music and movies.

Music wont sound too great though.

I would go for the z5500's, 10" sub vs 8" sub (tannoys) so more bass too.
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to counter, dolby thx decoders in a cheap pair of pc speakers is worth bugger all lol. its not something id consider as a pro over a set of speakers without it.
 
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True but its more usefull, can use it with not only pc's but other inputs that dont have their own decoders, aswell as use onboard SPDIF and not need a soundcard!
 
I lean more towards badbod in the sense that i think you can get much better value for money and a significantly improved upgrade path by going for proper audio equipment. Where i different however is that i would recommend getting a low end AV receiver along with a set of stereo speakers and a second hand sub.

Example:
Yamaha RXV361 - £120
Mordaunt Short 902i - £150 or Wharfdale Diamond 9.1 - £130 or Tannoy Mercury F1 Customs - £80

Then you have a bit to play with for a s/h sub (up your budget a bit and you can pick up a decent sub for about £60... Mordaunt Short 308i for example)
This would sound far far better than any of the one box solutions for music & movies and sound better than badbobs suggestion for movies alone (due to the sub) whilst still be adequate for music. It also allows you to upgrade to better fronts and move the current stereo speakers to the rear as your budget allows. No other system suggested offers a proper upgrade path for a surround sound system.

If you are happy with poor quality sound (lets be honest, a lot of people are) then by all means go for a Logitech or Creative set. If, however, you want something a bit more special, listen to those of us that are not happy with that sort of equipment.
I am no audiophile either. My whole system cost about £600 and sounds pretty damn great to me. I have just upgraded my bookshelf front to floorstanders and am sticking them as rears (much like i suggested to you).
 
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sound better than badbobs suggestion for movies alone
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A 5.1 system will have discrete multi-channel surround channels, 360' panning etc. Which a stereo system lacks. However this doesn't mean a 5.1 "will always sound better" as that doesn't mean sound quality, just that for movies you'll get a more immersive sound track...although it could sound inferior to a stereo system of identical budget.
 
I didn't even spec a 5.1 system so the multi channel point is moot.
I was more referring to the fact that the speakers you suggested are super budget and mainly because of the lack of a sub. A sub is essential to get the most out of a Film soundtrack.

If you re-read my post, it points out that your suggestion should sound better for music (due to the NAD amp), however that depends on the speakers not being terrible, which i couldn't say having not heard them. Still, on the same budget you could stick the same stereo speakers with your system as with mine and it would definitely outperform it for music.
 
Guys guys guys! Please put the egos back in your pockets, the guy came here for some SPECIFIC advice, if you can't help him, say perhaps the question is beneath you, or you don't understand it, then perhaps its better to just move on?

Otherwise, perhaps you just missunderstood the questions, so here they are in hi-fidelity for your viewing pleasure.

Shep_Cobain said:
Finally ive decided to get my 5.1 Surround Sound System.
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Hmm.. seems pretty clear there doesn it?

Shep_Cobain said:
What i need the system to do is to allow surround sound for my Xbox 360, Wii and Sky+/Sky HD box...
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Ooh look emphasised just in case you missed it the first time.

Shep_Cobain said:
Will this (G550W) be ok or can you spec me on any other systems???
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Now here I'll grant you, you saw the oportunity and leapt at it. But to be fair to the OP and any person of sound mind, the first two points and the rest of the original post don't really leave much doubt that anything thats not 5.1 or is over budget is of interest.

Shep_Cobain said:
The max i wish to spend is approx £300
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I rest my case :)

I've already given my advice, I'll add to it by saying that the wireless rears sound like a good idea but will probably be dissapointing over time, if it was my money I'd go for the Sony kit, because I know it would sound decent and in my place would go well with the TV I have :)
 
He asked for advice. Regardless of whether he would prefer a 5.1 system, it is our experience that he would be better going with a stereo system first and grading up to a 5.1 at a later date.
We are offering advice with regards to what is the best sound system he can get for his money at that is simply a 2-channel stereo system with (possibly) a sub.

We both also offered systems which cost less than £300 so i don't see your point.

If people don't want advice about HOME THEATRES then they should go to the "Sound City" sub-forum because that is the place for PC level speaker systems quite frankly. Posting in here suggests that the person wants advice from people with Home Theatre experience. It is our experience that the systems suggested are pretty useless and the money is better spend in another way.
 
Richer sounds do a fairly decent separates package for 5.1

http://www.richersounds.com/information.php?cda=static&cst=homecinemasystems - and you sound like you don't even need the DVD player!


So, with that in mind, I would go for something like

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-540R-V2-BLK
or
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=YAMA-RXV361



mixed with some speakers like these

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=TANN-FX5.1-BLK - If you need 5.1 right now

or

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=MORD-902I-AVANT-MAP or http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=ELTA-SYMPHONY-8.4-BL

If you don't and want to be able to have decent stereo sound for later which you can add more speakers to when you have the budget to make an astounding 5.1 system that will look like

sensys5point11400x1241uq7.jpg





IMO these kind of speakers will sound much much better as you are buying from audio company's who specialize in this product and not mass marketed rubbish. Even if you choose not to go for the fully fledged full size speakers, a tailer made amp made by a well known company mixed with proper speakers from another well known speaker manufacturer will sound much much better.

The image of the products themselves speaks volumes when compared with the speakers your looking at.

toshibasd370denonavr150vs8.jpg
*

*Picture taken from here, £100 over budget but you don't need the DVD player so you could probably do a deal or figure out another package that suits your own budget.

sp086cl400fj8.jpg


Whilst the creative speakers will sound impressive at first, in comparison im sure you would not be happy with them. They may however be easier to set up, although I think wireless rear speakers are a bit of a gimmick as you still need to power them.

Just look at the size of, the Amplifiers in both pictures, the fact that the creatives use 1 speaker for both highs and mids on each satalite, where as the others use both a small tweeter for highs and a smaller speaker for mid ranges (with both sets useing the sub for the lows)

That alone should proove to you what people are trying to get at in this thread.
 
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ok, so maybe if i get the Creative set.... replace the center speaker and replace the AV receiver will it then be ok?

I just need my rear speakers to be wireless to the point where they aren't connected to the front as i don't want wires draping across my flooring. I understand they still need plugging in but thats not a problem as there is a socket behind my sofa.
 
ok, so maybe if i get the Creative set.... replace the center speaker and replace the AV receiver will it then be ok?
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:-/ As they say you can't polish a turd. PC speakers are connected differently- because the crossover is higher all circuitry and EQ is in the "sub" if you use a av amp you need a av amp with a increidibly high crossove (160+hz) PC speakers don't have crossover in the cabinet, also easy to blow them (too much power) it's like getting Bose Lifestyle to work properly with standard AV gear.

With your budget, I'd probably get a £200 av amp, and £100 front speakers if you're definietly want 5.1 later. You can then add the remaining speakers later. I don't care if people say "yeah but it's not 5.1" the point is you'll eventually get to 5.1, and it'll sound better than those Creative pap things. I was playing Half Life 2 and sound quality was stunning...and it's a budget system (Arcam, Yamaha, B&W's)

As for rear speakers, just get some flat speaker cable and paint to the wall colour...it'll disappear and at least don't have to worry about wireless issues, or power..
 
If it is absolutely essential that you get wireless rears then theres not that many options in the AV segment. You hadn't made it clear that this is a necessity.
If you went 2.1/3.1 first then there might be more options available (there are some already i think but they are not likely to be all that good.... not on a small budget anyhow) for wireless rears by the time you upgrade to the full 5.1 so it might still be worth it.
Otherwise you are stuck with the PC setup.

badbob, in no ones world is Arcam a budget make, regardless of how cheap you managed to get the player second hand :p
 
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