SurroundSound System Help

Sam · 28 Jun 2007 at 19:56

Hi Guys

I recentley purchased a Samsung Bordeaux LE32R87BDX to use with my Xbox 360 and really want some surround sound but dont want to spend lots and lots of money. This Surround sound system obviousley needs to be Speakers / Amp. At the moment i have 2 x Eltax Symphany 4.2 / Eltax Sub and a Cambridge audio A4 amp. Im MORE than happy with the quality of sound this produces so is it worth simply buying a new amp which supports surround sound and then getting a centre / rear speakers ?

Would it be worth getting one of those logitech/Creative THX packages

Please note, im not after spending 50 million on a set of speakers, we have aload of Nad / MS stuff downstairs which sound's great but to be honest not THAT much better than what i allready have ( well thats worth the extra money )

Cheers Folks

Sam

C64 · 29 Jun 2007 at 02:13

No most of the pc 5.1 setups do not even have the correct outputs/inputs
a lot of them merely emulate 5.1 from a stereo input.Granted the higher
end ones do,but for -£200 i cannot find any with even the correct inputs to do true 5.1 below the £200 ish mark most of them rely on the soundcard to decode.
Only half decent budget "all in one" i ever found was the http://www.yamaha-uk.com/discontinued_products/product.cfm?product_id=109&CategoryID=2 but it's discontinued now might get one from an auction site.
I'd get a decent av amp followed by rears and center any day even
if it took me a year to afford it over any pc speakers.

mattbill · 29 Jun 2007 at 11:02

I just bought Logitech Z5500 and they are awesome, got all the input/output socket i.e. optical, coax, av etc (well for av you will need an adaptor, and you'll need to buy cables separately).

The sub is insanely big but sound quality overall is very good i'd say.

The control panel is good, simple to use. Optical cable is the best to use for X360.

a1ex2001 · 29 Jun 2007 at 16:32

A budget would help!

If your happy with your current speakers go for a surround amp and then add a centre and some rears Try and get the best amp you can as if you buy a real budget model the temptation to upgrade could be pretty intense! Stick with the same make for the speakers especially accross the front as it should give you a more integrated sound stage.

I'd avoid the PC systems if you use to the sound of a couple of meaty hi fi speakers they will probably dissapoint and you'll only land up upgrading again in 6 months!