Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater 5.1 for pc...GAMES!

My bf is a gaming nut. His life revolves around pc games. What would it take to give him a good 5.1 sound system for his computer? As inexpensive as possible, and with the smallest speakers possible.

The catch is with the surrounds. Three speakers in front is pretty easy to accomplish. It's putting those two behind that gets tough. The closest wall behind is a good 10'+. The two mains would be probably no more than 4-6' apart - probably closer to 4'.

Any and all help would be appreciated. The more he likes his "system" the more he'll appreciate mine.

There are a number of solutions available. You will need a sound card that is capable of it (probably a Soundblaster Audigy) and any old set of 5.1 computer speakers. I've heard good things about the Klipsh speakers, but they are kind of expensive. Some of the sets come with stands for the rear speakers, but I've never seen a truly satisfactory solution. Maybe you could hang them from the ceiling or something...

BTW a good place to look for excellent pricing is techbargains.com

Um... The Epic 80?

Har, har Sushi...

Ah...ceiling mounted. Good idea. I was tossing around the idea of (5) MzeroTi's(approx. $300) or is that overkill for video games?

What are some good audio cards that won't break the bank?

The question is of how you're going to amplify those speakers, which is why I sort of edge towards getting the combo set with the amp built into the subwoofer (The horror!). I think the Soundblaster is actually almost reasonable. The thing to watch out for in the soundcard is whether it really is Dolby Digital, or whether it's just 5.1. I've also heard good things about the M-Audio Revolution 7.1 ($89).

Avoid Soundblaster.
Bloated driver and software garbage.

I second the motion for M-Audio.

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You will need a sound card that is capable of it (probably a Soundblaster Audigy)

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No. IF you absolutely MUST get a sound card from Creative, the ONLY worthwhile card is the Audigy 2 and then you're still taking your life into your own hands with regard to their mind numbingly stupid software engineers.

The M-Audio would be my choice, though you ought to verify that whatever he has now isn't already 5.1 capable.

If you wish to use regular speakers, you'll also need a cheap receiver.

Klipsch and Logitech both make well received speaker packages as do Cambridge Soundwerks. The logitechs are usually the cheapest but still do pretty well. The Z640s (their wimpier version) are available at Gateway.com:

"Search for item 6612502 to find the Logitech z640 5.1 Speaker Set priced at $54 shipped using free shipping code NOSHIPA."

-From BensBargains.net

As to placement, would it be possible to mount them to his chair?

Well... here's the first dedicated 5.1 computer system I've ever seen... Looks OK on paper - it's no audiophile thing, but for a computer, I think it would be fine...

http://www.jbl-encounter.com/

Mind if I butt in? I didn't know you guys were computer experts, too. How can I get wireless internet in my house? My laptop is already wireless internet capable at work, and it would be awesome to be able to do that at home. I could just sit in my chair, right in front of my stereo and talk smack wirelessly. My desktop is on a cable modem, and my laptop is a Dell Pent.3. At work we have these "airbusses" (?). Can I just buy one and plug it in? I'd like to keep the desktop hooked up to cable - rather than wireless.

You need a wireless router. Amazon has the netgear MR814 for $60 - $20 rebate:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00008I9K8.01.RB07.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

You plug your cable modem into that and your desktop into it and it will serve a WiFi signal for your laptop.

I had never heard of this card so was just checking it out. It sounds pretty good, except for the lack of EAX support in hardware. A lot of games use this, so if the card is more for games then anything else it sounds like Creative might still be the way to go.

From M-Audio's site:

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Ultra-realistic 3D positional audio makes you feel like you’re really in the game and gives you the advantage of hearing exactly where danger lies. Revolution 7.1 supports today’s popular game technologies such as Sensaura, EAX, DirectSound, and A3D. Your games will never be the same.

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OK, OK, just going off of what I've heard. I just use my motherboard sound on the PC.

The Cambridge Soundworks might have a good rep, but they're crap. I generally prefer the Klipsh ones. There were some Altec Lansings (believe it or not) that I heard that weren't bad. The Klipsh ones, at least, don't stick out in my mind as having a sub that bottoms out like crazy. Unlike the JBLs, H/Ks, Cambridge Soundworks, etc.

I believe the EAX support is software support though, not hardware. It'll still work, it just uses some of your processing power to do it. Should work fine as long as you're on a decent machine.

I own a Revo, great card for music playback. Zarak is correct about the EAX support being software vs the hardware based Audigy 2. I think the general consensus is that the Revo is the better card for music, DVD playback and HTPC usage but hardcore gamers would be better off with the Audigy 2.

Does anyone know of any other good gaming specific cards that compete with the Creative one and have hardware based EAX? Most of my computer sound is for games....I'll stick with my Axiom's for music

if you want the best desktop speakers for the price get the Logitech Z-680 the have an internal processor for DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic II. No other Desktop speakers do this. Just get the Z-680's (> $300 on pricegrabber at most venders) and an Audigy 2 for around $115 and you have got your boyfriends dream system (god know thats what i want) for around $400.
This should ok you to buy yourself an Epic 80 system. and you should syspend the rears from the ceiling for sure, the Z-680s have a base that probably could be directly screwed into the ceiling if need be.
Hope this helps

Hmmm...

I'm not too keen on the idea of "computer speakers". I can get an older 5.1 receiver with DD and DTS decoding for $30. If I got that, wouldn't all I'd need is a way to get a digital signal out from the computer to the receiver, no? I wouldn't need the card to do any processing. Am I right? If so, what card can do this?

You are correct. There are multiple sound cards available with coax and optical digital outs, although I think the M-Audio line is your best bet. Here's a link to a great option with a good price:

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Audio/revolution.asp

With this card, you can just get a cheap DD/DTS-capable receiver and pipe all your audio through that using it's digital coax output.

Craig, I don't do games, so I wasn't going to reply, but now that I see the direction you're going I'll make a comment. What I do with my computer is to bypass the crummy sound card, etc. by taking a digital output from the USB port with a Xitel Hifi-link(about $40)which includes a DAC and feeds an unused line level input on my receiver and then on to the M22s. My thing is listening to streaming audio(not the greatest, but okay)from classical stations all over the world while I'm at the computer(Moscow and the Shostakovich 7th at the moment). If my receiver had a USB input such as sushi's 45TX does, I wouldn't even need the Xitel link. Their Pro Hifi-link(about $80)includes all sorts of digital connectors and handles DD, DTS, etc. surround information so that a regular(not computer speaker) system can be used. You might take a look at the Xitel.com site.

ok...I think I'm getting close to figuring out what I'm going to do. I've got a line on an older 5.1 reciever that has digital inputs. I think I've decided on a set of speakers, so all I need is an audio card that has a digital out that I can hook into the receiver, no?

What I don't understand is these audio cards S-PDIF Output. What the heck is that, and how does that connect to a receiver?

I just checked out that xitel site, and that looks exactly like what I need. With that, will I still need to upgrade my current audio card as well? Right now he has a SoundBlaster Live! card.

Note:

Most games do not support 5.1 or any form of dolby processing. Thus, 5.1 for gaming is useless unless the game is designed for it.

99% of PC games support 4.1. However, you need PC 4.1 speakers because imagine you hook up all4 speakers (and a sub) to a standard stereo amp or home theater receiver, it can only handle one signal at a time. You can't say "Ok, input one go to front left and front right speakers and input 2 go to back left and back right"

5.1 as always is primarily for movies.

So, in fact you would need TWO receivers/amps, each hooked up to 2 speakers for this to work with "standard" speakers.

In the future when games support 5.1, "digitally", you can use ONE ht amp, and be fine.

Personally as I don't game, I'm hooking up 2 MZEROTISEs to a single stereo integrated amp hooked to my sound card.

I picked up some new in Box Mzero's for $125 CDN each, what a steal.

But for $280...meh, better to get the logitechs ams mentioned.

SPDIF is the proper term for coaxial digital connections. You have two options for digital sound connection (three really but you won't be dealing with 1394 at that price level), TOSLINK (fiber optic) or SPDIF (Coaxial). SPDIF is more common on soundcards and motherboards. You just need to make sure that whichever the receiver has, so does the option you go with.

Personally, a cheap receiver and a nice set of real speakers is my preference as well, however, you'll only be able to use Pro Logic on most games as they don't contain a pure DD or DTS audio track (Doom3 being one upcoming and noteable exception). This will somewhat limit the positional effect.

As to the sound card, again, I'll stress that you need to figure out what he has now. He may already have a digital output depending on his motherboard or sound card.

Another option would be to replace his motherboard with an nForce2 board that has the MCP-T southbridge (I can help you pick one if this is the path you choose). It will actually encode all the game sound into DD and then pass that off to the receiver to maintain the positional effect. Of course, this may mean you need to replace his processor and memory depending on how old they are...

kcarlile,

In my opinion, all computer speakers are crap. I've never heard any I particularly liked. I'm not surprised that you didn't like the Cambridge. I have a similar reaction to the Klipsch, though I hold that bias against all their speakers, not just their computer line.

I just don't like horns.

Zarak,

While it's a bit dated at this point, I still prefer the Santa Cruz. I've made the mistake of using Creative's products one too many times and I've always had to wrestle with their craptacular drivers.

The Live! has digital out. You don't NEED to replace the card.

"The Live! has digital out. You don't NEED to replace the card."

This is probably, but not necessarily true. The very first generation of OEM Soundblaster Live were 4.0 and did not have a SPDIF out. As an early adopter, it is my great pleasure to own one of these.

I've looked at his card and it has a miniplug out that is labled "digital out" but if I were to get the xitel piece, would that even matter? That unit (the xitel) connects to your PC via USB, and then has a toslink, or coax out to your receiver.

Most of the games he plays are labled "Dolby Surround" which I know isn't true 5.1, but would still sound a hell of a lot better through a receiver and real speakers than they ever would through a "multimedia" pc speaker set up I'm sure.

I've been leaning back and forth between the Axiom MZero's (x5) or the new (upcoming) Hsu Ventriloquist 5 System. I've heard tremendous things about the new Hsu system, and it's only $220 for all five speakers. (A sub for the whole PC thing is either not in the cards at all, or awhile off)

You should be set to go with the receiver. You have to enable the digital out in the properties of the Soundblaster Driver. I'm sorry, I'm not at that computer right now so I can't tell you where that is in the advanced properties. Then all you need is a single connection from the Digital Out on the Blaster to a digital input on the receiver. Good luck with the speakers.

Oh, I agree that they're all crap. I just found the Klipshs to be less annoying crap than others. I try to turn off the "audiophile" ears when I listen to computer speakers. That said, I game with headphones.

Can you still get Mzeros? I was under the impression that they'd been discontinued.

They are, but if you look around you can find them.

Ah, I just saw them on Audiogon as I was looking at your M22s again. ...must.... not....