Best budget surround sound set up

Thomasj · 12-01-2007, 09:18 PM

Im looking at the budget surround set ups for pc and was wondering if anybody has any experiance with the ones available for at or under 50. I like to shop from newegg but will go elseware if the price is right

computermaineack · 12-02-2007, 08:52 AM

I bought the Logitech X-530 5.1 surround sound speakers from Neweeg about a year ago for around $50. They are amazing speakers, especially for the cost; they are highhly recommended. I know lots of other people on CF have them as well. They are insanely popular as great low-cost surround sound speakers for your computer.

PC eye · 12-02-2007, 08:17 PM

The older Logitech Z-640s are in use here. The X-530s are seen OEM for %4.99 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121126

You'll want the 70w RMS over the lower powered junkers seen for less at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=%2425+-+%2450

Thomasj · 12-03-2007, 07:38 PM

I want to run the x-540 set up from logitech. My Motherboard only has one audio out jack. Do I need to get a sound card? If so, what card is good for someone on a budget? The system looks like it needs a front, center/sub, and rear hookup.

PC eye · 12-04-2007, 12:36 AM

Your onboard sound there is simple two channel not a newer 6 or 8 channel type there. For the best sound especially when gaming or running multimedia going with a good sound card always works best. The problem is the good cards priced lately run about $75 new. newegg only saw the open box Xtreme Audio model for under $50 if you ever have plans to run Vista with the updated software.

There was one Turtle Beach TBS-3300 7.1 surround model seen for about $60 if you can't go for something like the Creative SB Xtreme Gamer, Music or Audio retail seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829118109

Thomasj · 12-09-2007, 09:52 AM

Well I found out that my mic jack and input jack becomes Center/sub and rear surround when you change the settings to 5.1

When you plug into one of the jacks a window pops up and asked what you just plugged in. You just select the correct answer and then it works.

PC eye · 12-09-2007, 10:10 PM

Dual purpose jacks there. The Creative X-Fi models cards no longer see two separate jacks for mic and line-in on them. The single jack seen on that line of cards is called a Flexi Jack. Apparently the board manufacturer did the same thing for the onboard there.

ComputerGuru64x2 · 12-10-2007, 12:25 AM

Use that onboard sound, If you are doing a cheap 5.1 setup and don't care about quality. Just follow the instructions on changing the Mic-In jack, In place of a Central, Sub. But this means that you connect a Central Channel or Subwoofer in. So you will have to check for the other 4 speakers. You may only be able to run a Quadrophonic setup depending on how many analog ports you have.

PC eye · 12-10-2007, 01:55 AM

Most 939 boards as well as Intel models see 6 channel output for the onboard with newer models seeing 8 channels. With a budget board the onboard will suffer for gaming and more for multimedia while a half way decent card added in would see the applications sound mixer and equalizer options. You get what you pay for seems to hold true in most cases(pc of course).

12-01-2007, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thomasj Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 32	Best budget surround sound set up Im looking at the budget surround set ups for pc and was wondering if anybody has any experiance with the ones available for at or under 50. I like to shop from newegg but will go elseware if the price is right

12-02-2007, 08:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
computermaineack Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,239	I bought the Logitech X-530 5.1 surround sound speakers from Neweeg about a year ago for around $50. They are amazing speakers, especially for the cost; they are highhly recommended. I know lots of other people on CF have them as well. They are insanely popular as great low-cost surround sound speakers for your computer. __________________ "Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris said, "Hillary Clinton will be the next President, but she'll be the worst President we've ever seen." After hearing this, President Bush said, "Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet."" -Conan O'Brien CPU: Q6600 G0 Mobo: eVGA 680i NF67-A1 Case: Antec P180B GPU: eVGA 8800GTS G92 512mb HSF: Tuniq Tower 120 RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 PSU: Antec True Power Trio 550w

12-02-2007, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	The older Logitech Z-640s are in use here. The X-530s are seen OEM for %4.99 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121126 You'll want the 70w RMS over the lower powered junkers seen for less at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=%2425+-+%2450 __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

12-04-2007, 12:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	Your onboard sound there is simple two channel not a newer 6 or 8 channel type there. For the best sound especially when gaming or running multimedia going with a good sound card always works best. The problem is the good cards priced lately run about $75 new. newegg only saw the open box Xtreme Audio model for under $50 if you ever have plans to run Vista with the updated software. There was one Turtle Beach TBS-3300 7.1 surround model seen for about $60 if you can't go for something like the Creative SB Xtreme Gamer, Music or Audio retail seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829118109 __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

12-09-2007, 10:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	Dual purpose jacks there. The Creative X-Fi models cards no longer see two separate jacks for mic and line-in on them. The single jack seen on that line of cards is called a Flexi Jack. Apparently the board manufacturer did the same thing for the onboard there. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

12-03-2007, 07:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thomasj Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 32	I want to run the x-540 set up from logitech. My Motherboard only has one audio out jack. Do I need to get a sound card? If so, what card is good for someone on a budget? The system looks like it needs a front, center/sub, and rear hookup.

12-09-2007, 09:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Thomasj Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 32	Well I found out that my mic jack and input jack becomes Center/sub and rear surround when you change the settings to 5.1 When you plug into one of the jacks a window pops up and asked what you just plugged in. You just select the correct answer and then it works.

12-10-2007, 12:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
ComputerGuru64x2 Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 431	Use that onboard sound, If you are doing a cheap 5.1 setup and don't care about quality. Just follow the instructions on changing the Mic-In jack, In place of a Central, Sub. But this means that you connect a Central Channel or Subwoofer in. So you will have to check for the other 4 speakers. You may only be able to run a Quadrophonic setup depending on how many analog ports you have. __________________ Gaming System/Media Center CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Windsor @ 2.2Ghz Socket AM2 MB: Abit AN-M2HD nVidia GeForce 7050PV nForce 630a HDMI mATX RAM: 2Gb(2 X 1Gb) OCZ Platinum Revivsion 2 PC2 6400 @ DDR2 880 (3-4-4-15) HDD: Western Digital Caviar 80Gb 7200RPM IDE GPU: MSI GeForce 8600GT 256Mb DDR3 128bit OD: LG DVD-RAM Black Sata Case: nMEDIAPC HTPC 200BA Black Speakers: Logitech X-240 2.1

12-10-2007, 01:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	Most 939 boards as well as Intel models see 6 channel output for the onboard with newer models seeing 8 channels. With a budget board the onboard will suffer for gaming and more for multimedia while a half way decent card added in would see the applications sound mixer and equalizer options. You get what you pay for seems to hold true in most cases(pc of course). __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

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