Viable upgrade to my 90's-Y2K PC audio setup?

Vexr

Vexr

Vexr

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I bought a used Orbitsound T12 soundbar and subwoofer (over 10 years old) for my 2022 TV, and on optical out I've enjoyed audio and music like never before (the audio system did cost ~300 in 2011).

On my PC, however, I have a Kenwood 70w amp from ~1989, and 2x Mission 700 speakers from Y2K. This sound system beat the hell out of my 90s/early 2000s PC speakers back then, but next to my (already rather outdated) second hand TV sound bar set up, it's very flat.

My PC also has a Creative X-Fi Go! with its crystallizer tech making a notable difference to music quality, but still not a patch on what my TV with its sound bar can put out.

Where to start? I do still do need an external amplifier for headphones (work related).

I'm guessing the weak point here is entirely the amplifier and speakers, not the X-Fi part of the chain.

I could do a 5.1 to 7.1 sound system now without worrying about neighbours, but to be honest I'm not keen on spending tons of cash on sorting out my PC's audio (but nor am I keen to resort to headphones).

Appreciate any input on where to start with this journey.
 
I'm trying to post less in the audio section, but as no one has answered this. It will almost certainly be your speakers and speaker setup. The amplifier will have an effect as does everything in the audio chain, however speaker have much more effect. Your sound card will be ok.

I would be looking at new active speakers, or some of the better entry level pro monitors such as the Adam Audio T5V or Adam Audio T7V. Edifier S351DB is also an option if you want a 2.1 setup.

Whatever your choose you require desk speaker stands and sound isolation. I can't stress enough how important speaker placement / setup is.
 
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Vexr said:
I bought a used Orbitsound T12 soundbar and subwoofer (over 10 years old) for my 2022 TV, and on optical out I've enjoyed audio and music like never before (the audio system did cost ~300 in 2011).

On my PC, however, I have a Kenwood 70w amp from ~1989, and 2x Mission 700 speakers from Y2K. This sound system beat the hell out of my 90s/early 2000s PC speakers back then, but next to my (already rather outdated) second hand TV sound bar set up, it's very flat.

My PC also has a Creative X-Fi Go! with its crystallizer tech making a notable difference to music quality, but still not a patch on what my TV with its sound bar can put out.

Where to start? I do still do need an external amplifier for headphones (work related).

I'm guessing the weak point here is entirely the amplifier and speakers, not the X-Fi part of the chain.

I could do a 5.1 to 7.1 sound system now without worrying about neighbours, but to be honest I'm not keen on spending tons of cash on sorting out my PC's audio (but nor am I keen to resort to headphones).

Appreciate any input on where to start with this journey.
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What is your realistic budget for improving your audio setup on the pc ? Real £ numbers will make it easier for people in touch with audio gear what is good value for the budget in question.

Also you said 5.1 and 7.1, are you really happy with all the wiring involved and do you have the space for all the speakers and most will need stands or space on your desk too. My 5.1 pc setup has 3 speakers on the desk FL/C/FR (front/centre) and the rears RL/RR (rears) are on stands and of course the sub on the floor near the fronts. If you go 7.1 you will also need stands for the SL/SR (side).


Have a good think about max budget that is realistic and the configuration you can live with 2.0/2.1,5.1/7.1 . Size of the room you will have this setup in is useful too.
 
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Thanks for your responses, glad to see this thread wasn't DOA after all.

Purgatory said:
What is your realistic budget for improving your audio setup on the pc ? Real £ numbers will make it easier for people in touch with audio gear what is good value for the budget in question.

Also you said 5.1 and 7.1, are you really happy with all the wiring involved and do you have the space for all the speakers and most will need stands or space on your desk too. My 5.1 pc setup has 3 speakers on the desk FL/C/FR (front/centre) and the rears RL/RR (rears) are on stands and of course the sub on the floor near the fronts. If you go 7.1 you will also need stands for the SL/SR (side).


Have a good think about max budget that is realistic and the configuration you can live with 2.0/2.1,5.1/7.1 . Size of the room you will have this setup in is useful too.
Click to expand...

My PC room is a small one @ 2.3m x 3.2m. I can safely rule out 7.1 on further consideration.

I briefly had a Logitech Z-5500 5.1 THX setup back around 2010 for my lounge TV, but IIRC it was a bit overwhelming and caused problems with the neighbours at my old place. That cost ~£200 new back then, but I see they've sold on the used market at more like £100 now. I never tried it for gaming / on my PC when I had it.

There's space for speaker stands and whatnot in the room. I'm curious as to how much having rear speakers in a 5.1 setup adds to PC game immersion / is useful for positional awareness.
 
whats flat about your sound? i dont see any of the suggestions being better than mission 700 speakers - just because they are 20 years old doesn't make them worse than the ones suggested.
 
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aardvark said:
whats flat about your sound? i dont see any of the suggestions being better than mission 700 speakers - just because they are 20 years old doesn't make them worse than the ones suggested.
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I can only compare to the Orbitsound T12 I got for my TV. The bass is much deeper and clearer, it generally sounds a lot more 'enveloping', and I believe the speech and mid range frequencies are a lot crisper - by comparison my PC setup sounds a tad muddy in the mid range. Without the crystallizer upped in my X-fi software it sounds even worse.

The Orbitsound T12 came out 10 years ago and I picked it up for a steal used at £35 locally. If that's the kind of sound quality you can get now, it makes me wonder why I'm persevering with this old stereo setup. It's now finished for playing music that's for sure. After a while I'll just go to my living room and listen to the same tracks in there and have a much richer and enjoyable experience on the Orbitsound.
 
Vexr said:
Thanks for your responses, glad to see this thread wasn't DOA after all.



My PC room is a small one @ 2.3m x 3.2m. I can safely rule out 7.1 on further consideration.

I briefly had a Logitech Z-5500 5.1 THX setup back around 2010 for my lounge TV, but IIRC it was a bit overwhelming and caused problems with the neighbours at my old place. That cost ~£200 new back then, but I see they've sold on the used market at more like £100 now. I never tried it for gaming / on my PC when I had it.

There's space for speaker stands and whatnot in the room. I'm curious as to how much having rear speakers in a 5.1 setup adds to PC game immersion / is useful for positional awareness.
Click to expand...
I have a 5.1.2 surround set up in a similarly sized room. I haven’t put any speakers behind me but instead have left and right surrounds which help form a phantom rear sound. I have my pc set up on a TV and sit on a small sofa with my back to the wall, on the opposite side of the room and my set up works very well. It’s my own personal mini cinema.
 
Vexr said:
I can only compare to the Orbitsound T12 I got for my TV. The bass is much deeper and clearer, it generally sounds a lot more 'enveloping', and I believe the speech and mid range frequencies are a lot crisper - by comparison my PC setup sounds a tad muddy in the mid range. Without the crystallizer upped in my X-fi software it sounds even worse.

The Orbitsound T12 came out 10 years ago and I picked it up for a steal used at £35 locally. If that's the kind of sound quality you can get now, it makes me wonder why I'm persevering with this old stereo setup. It's now finished for playing music that's for sure. After a while I'll just go to my living room and listen to the same tracks in there and have a much richer and enjoyable experience on the Orbitsound.
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what is your exact speaker model and amp?

Frankly it doesnt make sense as any mission 700 speakers from 20 years ago are far superior to that sound bar.
 
My amp is a Kenwood Stereo Integrated Amplifier A-62.

I just know the speakers are bookshelf Mission 700s. I see Mission has resurrected that model number for newer stereo speakers costing ~£1500. The ones I got were from Richer Sounds for probably around £100. I also got my speaker wire from there, making sure to get the 'proper stuff' as per the guides at the time.
 
Not to be too harsh on the Mission 700s + amp. To me they represent an extremely 'competent' sound setup that's been worth keeping in the picture all these years.

I had a car with better sound quality than my Mission 700 setup once, but it got written off due to a crash.

Now I have a TV sound bar + subwoofer setup that annihilates my Mission 700 setup, and I'm struggling to make excuses for enduring the latter.
 
Vexr said:
Not to be too harsh on the Mission 700s + amp.
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Things to check.

1) Check the interconnect (RCA) ports are not dirty / oxidized, use some contact cleaner and kitchen towel to clean them out. I use either DeoxIT Gold or 801C-P Super Contact Cleaner with PPE, however general electronic cleaner will also do.

2) Check speaker wire polarity is not in reverse.
3) Try another source such as a CD player, in case that Creative USB DAC is faulty.
4) I would lift your speakers up on the desk using books to get them to ear height. I presume there sitting on a desk at the moment.
5) Try another of the amps RCA inputs, in case the one your using is faulty.
6) Your amp has a direct mode on either CD or DAT inputs, try those inputs and put amp in direct mode.
7) Put Windows sound into mono, then switch amp balanced from left to right while playing music. Do both speakers still sound the same, if not there is probably a fault.
 
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All checks are good. I've had this speaker + amp setup for over 20 years, even through a dozen home moves.

I've ignored the feature of the 'direct mode' stuff, will try that out. I assumed it was some old digital wacky thing of no use.

Even if some improvement can be had, the Orbitsound T12 will surely overshadow it. That thing sounds absolutely rich and orchestral, regardless of anyone saying it can't be so.
 
Got to admit, the direct mode does change things a bit. It seems to fill out and warm up the mid range and takes out the harsher elements I didn't really notice previously. Bass is a tad weaker though, but cleaner sounding.

Ducking my head down to speaker height also changes things a tad. Will have to see what large books I still have left to raise them up.

Perhaps this PC sound setup is salvageable after all! Many thanks for the tips @JasonM
 
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