z5500's or custom?

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Hi everyone,

I want to buy some new speakers and have around a budget of £200 or around the same as the Logitech z5500's and although they are good speakers, I can't help but think you can get better for the same price, am I right or wrong I don't know??

Well I want a 5.1 system that takes the use of a optical cable.

Can anyone help me out here.
Thanks.
 
If you want 5.1 speakers with an SPDIF connection (optical/coaxial), then the Z5500 are your only choice. There used to be a choice of surround PC speakers with SPDIF connection, but for whatever reason, that choice has all dried up.
 
Any paticular reason why you would be wanting to use the optical connection?

What do you presently use for audio output? (Onboard/Soundcard).

From experience, the DAC on the Z5500 is OK, HOWEVER, any decent soundcard will provide a better analogue signal.
 
Do you mean PC speakers or proper speakers and amp? If that, get the speakers+amp, I did that this year and haven't looked back, SO much better with proper kit. I'm only on stereo though, had 5.1 speakers for ages but they weren't worth it for gaming so they're hooked up to my TV+HTPC for movies now, their only use really. I have headphones for gaming now too.

You're not limited to PC speakers basically, the Z5500 won't sound as good as a decent separates kit, though you may have to stretch that budget a tad. There has been another similar thread recently with some good suggestions such as a cheap Onkyo system, which gives more flexibility for inputs etc too. If you're worried about how many optical inputs, you can buy optical splitters/switch box very cheaply and it eliminates the problem, opening up your choices again.
 
As Alexc has said, a decent seperates system can be put together for less than £200 if you are prepared to have 2nd hand which will blow the z-5500's out of the water.

Just scout MM and Ebay for bargains.
 
Do you need 5.1?
Do you mainly use yoour computer for music, gaming or movies?
Any space requirements?
What soundcard have you got?

Yes, £200 can get a lot better that z5500s. Go second hand and look for seperates. I'm sure for £200 you could get a half decent AV amp and speakers. Or you could spend £100 on an amp and £100 on speakers and have youself a very nice 2.0 music setup
 
Any paticular reason why you would be wanting to use the optical connection?

What do you presently use for audio output? (Onboard/Soundcard).

From experience, the DAC on the Z5500 is OK, HOWEVER, any decent soundcard will provide a better analogue signal.

PS3, Xbox360 etc, maybe?

Is it even possible to get a half decent AV revceiver + speakers for £200?
 
well I hav the Z5450 - almost same as the Z5500 but has wirelss rear speakers. My set up sounds awesome BUT not as good as the Sony STR-DB940 & Mordaunt short bookshelfs & eltax centre I previously had. I had 2 kids who kept trying to pull the speakers off the stands in the lounge so had to replace them with the Z5450 as they take up no room and almost sound as good.

- Hope that helps.

PS - I doubt he will get half decent amp & speakers for £200.
 
Cambridge A1 & Mission M71. £55

Thats half decent and lasted me quite a few years

Think he was referring to 5.1, I believe.

The OP might want surround speakers to which he can connect a console, until he replies, we can't know for sure why he wants SPDIF.
 
PS3, Xbox360 etc, maybe?

Is it even possible to get a half decent AV revceiver + speakers for £200?

helps.

PS - I doubt he will get half decent amp & speakers for £200.

New? possibly not especially if he went for a 5.1 setup. Certainly a decent amp and bookshelf speakers can be had for under £200 new.

For example look at Richer Sounds

A Cambridge A1 V3 amp plus Wharfdale Diamond 9.0 can be had for £110 in total:

http://www.richersounds.com/

Even a SONY STRDH500 AV receiver can be had for £139.95 with 3 hmdi inputs plus digital optical and coaxial. Or perhaps a YAMAHA RXV365 for £169.95.

The advantage of getting a receiver and just two bookshelf speakers is that you can then add the sub and surround and centre speakers later as funds allow.

Of course you could go 2nd hand like me last year and I managed to get the following:

Wharfdale diamond 8.3 floor standing speakers, 8.1 bookshelf (used as rears) 8 series centre speaker and wharfdale SW 150 sub all for £35 collected from Ebay.:eek:

I picked up an Onkyo TX-SR605 for £135 so that is one hell of system for £170. The Onkyo may well be 3 years old but it was £400 at launch and picked up award after award.

Award winning separates from a few years ago can be picked up for very little nowadays.

I've seen the TX-SR605 sell for under £100 now.
 
Yeah I meant 5.1 system for under £200 even second hand.

Sure you can pick up a decent amp and bookshelf's for cheap enough, optical implies generally speaking surround sound, especiallty as he asked about the Z5500 which is a surround sound 5.1 system.

he basically asked Z5500 surround sound or seperates. so im guessing same as everyone movies etc.
 
Wow guys, I didn't get no e-mail notifications on this thread and am quite far behind.

OK thanks for everyones input on this thread.

I have thought to go to a 2.1 System.

Here's what I have in mind:

1 x Pair - Mordaunt Short 902i Bookshelf Speakers - found for £100
1 x Cambridge Audio AM5 Amp - £119

Then in the future I will buy a subwoofer to compliment all this.

Thoughts?
Edit:: If you can spec me a better pair of bookshelves and an amp then I'm more than happy to hear about it.

Also I am using a HT Omega Striker 7.1 soundcard. And will be using this for playing (loud) music, movies, games.

As everyone said second hand. I don't really mind if I can get the best equipment for my money. I want an amp that will take all what I need without blowing. Two bookshelf should be enough as they will be sitting on my desk as a left and right. And a sub later on. On the floor.
 
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That's a sound plan. I did that, got an amp and bookshelf/standmount speakers, with the intention to add a sub at some point. The MS 902i's are good speakers for the money, 5* from What Hi-Fi. For £100 there is quite a choice if going 2nd hand. One thing I should mention, is the 902i's are rear ported, so you would need to give them clear space at their rear, away from a wall etc. If you want to place the speakers against a wall or something, maybe front ported speakers would be best.

As for amps, I'd go for 2nd hand, for £100 you can get something better quality than the CA AM5. The AM5 I'm sure is a fine amp for the money, but it is £120 new, which is fine if you are only looking at buying new with £120 to spend, but 2nd hand will buy you more, so to speak. I bought an Audiolab 8000A for £99, which would have cost £300+ when new. It's pretty old now, mid 90's I think, but it still runs great.
 
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Haha I just saw that exact amp for £99 on avforums so I was thinking of getting that one. If it's worth it and does a good job then I can get that.
 
Some people describe it as being clinical and lacking warmth. I was advised not to get bright or neutral sounding speakers, but to get something with warmth. I decided to get some Wharfedale 9.1's, after much thought. I was originally looking at floorstanders, but I was bothered they would be too powerful for my needs, so I decided to get bookshelf types and possibly a subwoofer at some point. For me the 9.1's are superb, they sound great, are a decent size, without being too big, look great, and most of all didn't tear a hole in my finances. :p
 
I made the switch last summer from my logitech z680 5.1 to a amp, 5 bookshelf speakers and 2 rubbish 6" 60watt subs.. hehe

I bought a yamaha DSP-AX759SE 7.1 amp from ebay for £120, but when it was new in 2006 it was £550.

I already had 4 denon bookshelfs, so I managed to get another pair of denon speakers from ebay for £50, because I missed not having a centre speaker.

I also had 2 eltax 6" subs lying around, but they wernt much good, because couldnt crank up the vol without the subs bottoming out.

So it cost me about £230 to upgrade from my pc speakers, thats including decent cables and speaker wire. But since then Ive upgraded my rubbish 6" subs to a 10" 270watt sub costing £300, and Ive added some waterproof speakers for the bathroom costing I think £50. So all in all Ive spent about £600 on my sound setup so far..... The thing is you can slowly buy bits here and their and you dont have to buy everything all at once

......And no I will never go back to the tinny, boomy sound of pc speakers:D
 
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If you think you might go full 5.1 or 7.1 later get yourself a decent AV receiver now instead of just a stereo amp.

One of them 2nd hand plus a couple of decent bookshelf speakers will be a good start and then you can add as you can afford.

2nd hand is definitely the way to go IMO. Audio equipment drops very quickly in price as new models come out. You can pretty much pick up what was 5 star, best buy amps costing £300 to £400 a few years ago for £100 today.

Those amps will still sound much better than a new amp which costs £100.
 
Yeah I'm going to scrap the z5500's now and get:

2 x Mordaunt Short 902i Bookshelf Speakers

and I'm still finding an amp to go with it.

On avforums I got someone wanting to sell their Arcam A65 Amp for £120 delivered but I'm not sure if I should get it.
 
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