I want a nice sound system for my computer, that I could also use with my TV/DVD.

I had Klipsch Pro Media Ultra 5.1 and sold them. Sound was great, but nothing extraordinary, so I want to get a custom setup. Budget is flat $300. Maybe something like a used receiver from ebay, and a pair of nice standing, 2,3 whatever way speakers. If someone can fill me in what is a good, relatively reliable receiver with decent features -- new or used. Same thing with speakers. Do I need a seperate sub besides speakers? As far as hooking it up to the computer do I need some adapter?

thanks

P.S I really don't want ready made home theater system because I heard custom setup can be just as powerful (and more) with far less money.

[Edited on January 1, 2006 at 7:23 PM. Reason : sfdsf]

1/1/2006 7:22:43 PM

i use the klipsch 5.1 promedias in my living room for tv/dvd/game - if you want more bang for buck - go ahead and do it at least almost right and spend 500+

1/1/2006 7:49:02 PM

so you are saying it is not possible to build a better than above-mentioned Klipsch system for $300? if i spend $100 on a used reciever, $200 is not enough for pair of good strong speakers?

1/1/2006 7:57:08 PM

not really

1/1/2006 8:57:28 PM

for $300 you should probably just stick with the klipsch

but if you want good sound for cheap, pick up a used panasonic SA-HE200 and some Polk RT-25i's. That is the absolute best setup for your money. (I think that might be pretty close to your price point if you buy used).

[Edited on January 1, 2006 at 9:30 PM. Reason : get the RT-35i's if you can afford it]

1/1/2006 9:19:40 PM

I just got this for x-mas. Haven't set it up yet, cuz I'm not home

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=spk_multimedia&item=k1pkm21e

1/1/2006 11:24:09 PM

Im glad I found this thread. I've been wrestling with this topic for a while now. Its driving me crazy. I want to play my mp3's on my laptop through a receiver and through nice loud speakers. I have an old pioneer receiver with plenty of clean power. Enough for a dorm. I just dont want to mess with cd's. I bought a creative audigy 2 nx external sound card for 50 bucks on ebay, but i havent been able to play mp3's, just mid file formats. This is killing me. I think im about to just give in and play regular cds like everybody else. And Im bout to get an infinity 10" powered sub for like 250. At least I know it'll sound good, with my two bookshelf sonys from circuit city i got for $30 each. I really like how these sound, but they just need a sub unit.

If someone knows of any ground breaking way to hook up a laptop to HIFI stereo equipment, please share. And I'm not talking about the little y adapter that sounds like balls. Some thing other than that.

1/2/2006 3:54:16 AM

^an audigy 2 nx should have a digital out, connect an rca cable from that to the digital in on your reciever

and a few problems
1. you think power is all that matters in a reciever
2. you think sony makes good speakers
3. what the hell did you do to your audigy 2?
you would be WAY better off getting a klipsch promedia 2.1

Quote :

"And I'm not talking about the little y adapter that sounds like balls"

its analog, get a better cable if yours sounds bad. I suspect your problem lies in your "hifi" equipment and not in the cable

[Edited on January 2, 2006 at 11:04 AM. Reason : .]

1/2/2006 11:01:16 AM

first decide what your needs are


DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 5.1 setup
-do you already have the sound card for it?
-for 300 a separate reciever/speaker package is gonna be tough, at that price you're looking at a bundle/htib setup
-if you are ok with a htib setup (the yamaha and onkyo ones are decent and I think they run 300ish) be sure to check for THD, the less the better

IF YOU DONT NEED TO HAVE IT BE 5.1
-then you probably can do it, just find a used onkyo reciever on ebay for a hundred bucks and a pair of polk or klipsch off ebay too and run a minijack to RCA to the reciever


my 2 cents

1/2/2006 11:40:18 AM

oh and easydoesit


get a soundcard that has toslink/fiber optic out and then use that

1/2/2006 11:41:04 AM

The audigy 2 nx should have optical and coaxial outs.

1/2/2006 11:50:13 AM

i got sound blaster live 24 bit. its not the best card, but its decent

i dont have to have 5.1

1/2/2006 1:32:29 PM

The thing is, I cant use the optical/spdif outlet on the audigy soundcard b/c my "hifi"( which just means that it runs on higher current than computer speakers) receiver only has rca analog inputs. I'm pretty sure Im supposed to use this one outlet on the soundcard(the 3.5mm like on a stock computer), which audigy says you plug headphones AND "side" speakers. They had a diagram which showed an exteral amp like my receiver coming out of this opening and powering speakers. I tried hooking the y adapter into the aformentioned "side" outlet, and runing this to the receiver. THe only sound a got was a test tone deponstration ie. "left speaker"......"right speaker"...."left rear speaker" by some british lady. That and a few test tones which came pre loaded on the software. These test tones were mid files, and the songs I wanted to listen to were mp3, wma, and wav files. I thought I should have worked with any typed of audio coming from my compputer. Every time I tryed to play an mp3, it played out of the 1 inch computer speakers. O, and the y adapter I used was like 12 bucks, gold plated conections, very thick insulated, but its analog, so it can only be so good. Also, when I played the receiver from the laptop through the y adapter, it plays but very bad quality( rustling, pops, etc. I think the real intent by audigy is to use just use their creative speakers with it.

The reason I say the y adapter sounds bad is that when I play the receiver and speakers off of, say, my dvd player playing a cd, it sounds pretty decent.

ANy suggestions?

1/2/2006 7:34:41 PM

http://www.stereo-link.com/cart/home.php?cat=248
I think this would be quality, but:

a) it only works with analog
b) for 200 dollars it will be out dated soon.

1/2/2006 7:37:55 PM

^^ You sound like you have a driver issue. Also, MIDI files can't have digitized audio (like a woman talking).

1/2/2006 7:45:05 PM

on the audigy 2 nx there should be front, side, rear, center/sub jacks. It is a 7.1 card. if you hook up to the "side" jack, you will only be able to get sound from a discrete 7.1 channel source, and you will only be getting the "side" channel. This is why you are only able to get sound when you run the speaker test.

Quote :

""hifi"( which just means that it runs on higher current than computer speakers)"

dear god

1/2/2006 7:58:49 PM

So........ what do you guys recomend

1/2/2006 8:31:22 PM