Surround Sound System for games and movies

First of all, let me describe my setup.
I have an M17x connected to a TV along with a PS3.
I used to game with my razer megalodon but since I'm moving to a single room dorm... I want to set up the room with a surround system.
My budget will be around $500 but I don't mind spending more for quality as long as it's not over $1000.
I need them to work with my laptop and it'll be better if they work with the PS3. (or maybe I can just hook it up to my TV and it'll work with everything?)
I'm new to this so... please recommend.
Am I better off with a good set of 2.1 speakers?
I don't need them for music at all since I prefer listening with my headphones.

P.S. I was look at logitech's Z906 and Z506. Anyone has any feedbacks on those?

 

If you're in the 500-1000$ range you might want to look at a receiver/amp coupled with some bookshelf speakers and maybe a dedicated subwoofer. That'll net you better sound than most if not any computer speaker set.

But first question, what kind of TV is it? I assume it's a new gen HDTV in which case a few HDMI cables connecting everything to your receiver(with it acting as a switch) should sort out any problems connection-wise.

 

It's samsung UN26C4000 with 2 HDMI ports.
One is connected to the laptop and one to the PS3.
But If I'm gonna get speakers... I don't need to connect the laptop with HDMI... I could just use VGA.

 

Btw, these are the audio ports on my laptop



And these are the ones on my TV



Will I be able to get True 5.1 without the need for an external sound card?

 

You should connect your M17x to your TV with HDMI; that will carry video and surround audio in one cable.

 

I would suggest the logitech z-5500 5.1 digital surround sound system. It is really great for the price (got mine for $330 but RRP here is ~$700)
It has a heap of inputs (coax, optical, 3x 3.5mm) and sounds very nice. Sure it isn't as good as a nice set of Bowers and Wilkins bookshelfs but if you are after bang for your buck as apposed to super sound quality you cant really go wrong (the sound quality is very good btw)

can your M17x output spdif signals through the audio jack? in that case you could output digital 5.1 and the z-5500 will decode it. With all those sound outputs it looks as though you could out put 5.1 through analogue anyway so you would be fine.

 

But then he's using TV speakers which are marginally better than laptop speakers but still aren't really considered a "sound system"

I still stick with the bookshelf speaker idea, better sound for the buck than most computer speakers. You can also mix and match different parts so long as you get a flexible receiver.

Like I said, you couldo have a receiver and plug everything into it via HDMI and then plug the receiver's output to the TV(also HDMI). Then on the TV you just change sources(laptop, PS3, anything else) and it'll swap using the receiver as the switch.

 

After reading around a bit, Z 5500 seems to get a lot of praises and looks like it's the best option for "affordable" 5.1 system.
Unfortunately, it's discontinued and the successor Z906 gets bad reviews.
The only place I found them were on amazon for $499 which is higher than logitech's price.
Is there anywhere else I could buy them?

This is a very good idea too.
But like I said, I know nothing about speakers.
Is there any brand or better yet, any specific model you want to recommend?
Thanks a lot.

 

Hmm, brand and model would depend on exactly how many speakers you'd want on your "surround". You'd also wanna look at the number of inputs available if you ever plan on adding more stuff to your setup.

As for brands, in your price range I'd take a look at Onkyo, Pioneer and Harmon Kardon for the receiver.

 

Sorry to bump the old thread but...

I've decided to get the Z-5500 and save some money
and I want to make sure I'll get true 5.1
As I explained in the first post, my laptop and PS3 are connected to the TV
and my TV has optical out
and Z-5500 seems to have optical in
So, can i get true 5.1 for both the laptop and ps3 with just one cable?

 

getting true 5.1 surround is very highly dependent on the sound processor your laptop has if you want to use optical or hdmi. You will never get a true 5.1 sound out of a digital output (hdmi and optical) unless your audio processor supports encoding the audio in realtime from whatever your comp outputs to whatever you sound system supports.

for example a video game wont give true surround unless your card converts the most likely analog audio signals the game outputs to something the audio system supports for example Dts.

you might be able to get simulated surround without the encoder but it wont be as good as true surround.(in my experience anyway)

Its entirely possible that your laptop has this encoder but i cant be certain on it. easiest way is to look into the audio configuration and look for something like dolby digital live or dts interactive.

this doesnt mean you cant get true surround out of your laptop because you could always just use the analog outputs to your surround system youll just need more cables.

there are other ways but those start getting into higher end audio stuff which is just too costly if you ask me.

I may not be completely correct on this as i havent looked into the newer tech on laptops such as yours so please let me know if im wrong.

 

I have Samsung HT-C5550 system which I highly recommend.

 

Thanks but It's for my 15'x15' dorm room so, I don't really have space for them.

Plus I have my mind set on the Z-5500. Just wanted to make sure if I can get true surround by connecting like this.
Laptop>>HDMI>>TV>>optical>>Z-5500.

 

If I had $500 for a new system I would get exactly this

RXv371

klipsch hd300


I was in the same situation as you. When I was in the dorms last year had a double room but bought it out as a single. It was still tiny though. Currently using Logitech z2300's which seriously bumps. If I was to go back 4 years ago when I got the z2300, I would get the Klipsch promedia 2.1. Not sure why I didn't get that in the first place. Not like the z2300's are bad, they just don't have tweeters like the promedia. Z2300's are definitely for straight bass, good for gaming and movies. Music if you like to bump hard

Klipsch promedia 2.1

For a small room and your room at home, promedia 2.1 is where it's at. For a full system though.. there's some variables that could be changed around

me .02

 

i dont think youll be able to get true surround sound following this path with anything other then movies if even that.

reason is that im pretty sure the nvidia audio through the hdmi can only pass 2 channels through the hdmi port (maybe also pass through stuff that is already encoded in dobly digital and dts) not only that but even some tvs wont passthrough more then 2 channels through the optical port. Make sure you find out exactly what it is your laptop audio and tv can do before you commit to this path it might not give you the result you want.

i think you best possible method will have to be this
laptop hdmi--> TV
laptop optical ---> soundsystem via dolby digital live

Its entirely possible for one of your audio outputs to have the optical built right in so even if your laptop doesnt have a toslink out you can still get the optical with a mini toslink cable. its probably shares it with the headphone jack but youll have to look into if you want to know.

what audio card does your notebook have built in?

 

That's what i was looking at first.
Would I need a receiver if I go Klipsch HD Theatre route?
I could get the HD 1000 for $550 from amazon.
If it's better than the 300 and the 500, the price difference is not much.
I would prefer the HD 1000 over the Z-5500 if it's gonna work correctly because it looks classier and gets better reviews.

Not sure where to check but on dell's website it says "IDT 92HD73C1"

 

yeah the 1000's are an older model-no longer in production. Good price though The equivalent to that would be the 500's. Newer design on the tweeters and mids, from the looks of it at the store. Just newer model overall. Sound quality.... ehhhhhh, it's hard to tell from demo'ing.

Yes you would need a receiver (don't cheap out on it either). There's aren't powered speakers, so a good/decent receiver is needed. The hd300 is my budget set up for a HTIB (home theater in box) set up. Cheaper than buying individual speakers, but decreases the selection and the much potential higher quality in speakers/overall sound quality. Buying individual speakers for your liking; front floor standing towers, center, front surround tweeters, sub, mid-surround tweeters, rear-surround tweeters, rear-surround mids, receiver... expenses adds up really quick THEN! add on custom built cables for all speakers, tv/receiver/blue ray connections.. you get what I mean

 

according to the datasheets for the IDT 92HD73C1 audio codec it says that dolby digital live is supported through software. so its probably part of the driver. so if your laptop has a combo audio/optical port you can get 5.1 audio out of just that one cable to the sound system via toslink.

from the pictures you have posted you will most likely need a mini toslink to toslink cable. Check you audio cards setting to confirm that dolby digital live is in there else you might need to hunt for a compatible driver.

 

Alright, thanks to those who helped me with this.

I watched some videos of the Klipsch HDT 500 + receiver setups and I don't think I will have that kind of space.

So I'm back to Z-5500 and to make sure I get true 5.1 I'll just connect both the laptop and PS3 to TV with HDMI video only and connect those directly to the Z-5500.
So what I need now is an external sound card for my laptop (I might not. but if I'm getting $400 speakers, I'm not gonna connect them to laptop on board sound card).
Any suggestions?

 

hahaha I know but just putted that out there to give an idea what you can get with $500 z5500's aren't bad at all for computer speakers and a small room. My buddy has them and I think they sound pretty good.

 

the thing that sucks about most laptop so called sound cards is that there is not much along the lines of hardware audio. almost all of them is a dongle of some sort with audio being processed by software. unless you go with somethin high end i dont think itll make much of a difference (by that i mean worth the money youll spend on em)

i surely hope somethin is out there since the last time i checked but its somewhat stale out there

 

I'm sorry I keep asking more and more questions.
The Logitech Z-5500 has been discontinued and I couldn't find them anywhere in stock for a good price.
However, I am a little bit glad that it happened because I dug into more Z-5500 reviews and they seem to be popular for their loudness and bass.
I won't be blasting my speakers since I live in a dorm.
I'm looking for sound quality.
The Z-5500 replacement Z906 has bad reviews so it's out of the question.
Again I'm not going for loud.

This is what I got recommended from other forum.

Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1 Channel Network A/V Receiver $299

Klipsch HD Theater 500 $375
OR
Klipsch HD Theater 1000 $550

So, the same question I've been asking... what wires would I need for this setup to work fully with laptop and PS3?
Is HDMI cables the only output i need from laptop and PS3? and one HDMI from receiver to TV?

Another question is since I was thinking about spending ~$500 and I really want the HDT 1000, could I go cheaper on the receiver?

Again sorry for non-stop questions.

 

i don't know if you can do passthrough with hdmi. i know you can do passthrough to stereo with optical. if he gets a receiver what he needs to do is hook up the ps3 and laptop through receiver and receiver to tv. everything is less complicated that way but costs another hdmi cable.

 

if you plan on using nothing but hdmi for your own good make sure the receiver can passthrough video believe it or not i learned this the hard way (i mean seriously whats the point of an out if no video passes?)

like i said before your laptop audio codec supports the dolby digital live function all you need to do is to check your laptops documentation to see if and which port you would use a mini toslink to toslink cable (aka optical). if you do this you will get 5.1 audio for any multichannel audio that your laptop outputs.

What im basically saying is this
Audio: your laptop optical w/dolby digital live enabled----> receiver optical port in

Video: your laptop hdmi-----> tv hdmi in

you can apply this path for the ps3 also but for the ps3 there is an alternative method but you need to make sure that your receiver can passthrough video for it to work. also the only reason this path will work on a ps3 nd not your laptop is because the ps3 has all necessary encoders built into it while your laptop does not.

the ps3 alternative path
ps3 hdmi----> receiver hdmi in then receiver hdmi out-----> Tv hdmi in

the reason i say to NOT use hdmi to receiver for video and audio is because the nvidia audio for your gpu architecture as far as im aware only passes through 2 channel stereo and stuff that is ALREADY encoded into dts or dolby digital(such as a dvd movie) only the stuff that is already encoded into dts or dolby digital will be in 5.1 everything else will be in 2 channel stereo.

the only other thing you could do for a 5.1 setup would be to use the analog cables which i would not recommend because almost all laptops will suffer from ground loop noise. For this problem some laptops its as easy as unplugging the power brick for others its a more advanced filtration of some kind you have to implement but will always result in loss of audio quality of varying levels.

I know my info is a little old (around 2009ish) but i really doubt anything has changed since putting these features into a laptop would mean latest tech in the gpu which laptops tend to be behind somewhat.

(man do i hope this is all still true or ill look like an idiot lol )

EDIT: you could also look into your laptop documents to see if the 5.1 audio is supported through hdmi also (i doubt it but its possible)

 

I would bet that your nvidia chip supports at least 8 channel uncompressed LPCM audio, and maybe a smattering of compressed formats as well. (That would all be via hdmi).

Unfortunately, I can't open up the spec sheet:

The NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M GPU ? The best bang-for-the-buck gaming notebook GPU.

 

If i remember correctly the gtx 260m is a g92b core so try maybe looking up that or look up say a 9800gt desktop card.

 

Fair warning: My (desktop) GTX260 HDMI card passed only 2.0 audio.

Buy a high quality receiver with your speaker set, its worth it. I personally prefer Denon.

 

Here's my suggestion..

Get a low end yamaha or denon receiver from Best Buy that has HDMI passthrough. Connect both your M17x and your PS3 to the receiver using HDMI, then connect your receiver to your TV using HDMI. Some people may jump at me for using the term "low end", but keep in mind the quality of both of these companies and their products.. You should be able to pick up a Yamaha or Denon in the mid 250 to mid 350 range, then throw a set of speakers on them. Below are 2 links to the receivers that I believe would be a good option and the third link are to some Klipsch speakers that you would be crazy not to buy. I have heard many good things about those speakers and I am actually considering picking them up and using them in my living room and moving my old mirage speakers in my bedroom. And for the money, that Yamaha can't be beat.


Pioneer - 5.1-Ch. 3D Pass Through A/V Home Theater Receiver - VSX-520-K

Denon - 600W 5.1-Ch. A/V Home Theater Receiver - AVR591

Klipsch - HD Theater 300 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System with Powered Subwoofer - HDT 300

 

yeah +2

not gonna lie, I mean the hd300 is an awesome sounding set. Although you can pay more for the hd500, knowing your budget; the 300 is really the best bang for the buck with a receiver. For a small room, there's no point for the 500 and even when you do use it back home after school, it's still More than enough power

 

Personally, I'm not crazy over Onkyo. Had one of their receivers and it was total junk. Bought a denon as my replacement. The HD 500 speakers are great bang for your buck. Check the two receivers I recommend in my above post. Pick up 3 HDMI cables. Two to connect your PS3 and your Laptop to the receiver and the third to connect your receiver to your TV.

 

or op could walk to texas and buy my onkyo 806.

 

Agreed. If it was me, I would get those speakers I posted a link to and that Yamaha. The performance of those two products and the price just cant be beat.

Sorry, I'm going to this thread to death. Home theater is one of my favorite subjects.

 

Oh wow i think im just gonna give up you guys dont seem to understand that the gtx 260m has a spdif hdmi which means only pcm 2.0 and maybe compressed dolby digital/dts and that it does not have an encoder. Im pretty sure that lpcm isnt supported through the hdmi with this gpu so It will not give the true 5.1 that is desired unless the laptop manufacturer did something about it which although possible i highly doubt.

i dunno about those receivers you mentioned but just make sure you read into the passthrough features of whatever receiver you buy as lots will say passthough on hdmi but some fail to tell you its audio only passthrough. Unfortunately its like this on one of my yamaha receivers so i learned it the hard way. the hell the hdmi out is for i havent the slightest idea on what use i could make outta it

 

Then forget surround sound, get two bookshelf speakers and just have 2.1...

 

I don't necessarily have to use HDMI for audio.
I could use 6 channel analog?

So the best bang for the buck would be the Denom 5.1 receiver and Klipsch HD 300?
What do you guys think about those Onkyo HTiB packages?
They come with an actual Onkyo Receiver too.
Like Onkyo HT-S3400 for example.
It's $279.99 on newegg.
If they're similar in quality with the Denom+Klipsch, I could get it and still upgrade in the future if I want.
(Although I have never owned any Klipsch or Onkyo, my guts tell me Klipsch is a better brand for speakers. lol)

 

Like I said, I'm not crazy about Onkyo. I didn't agree with their quality when I had one.

Just looked at that HTiB kit, and for the money, it does look fairly tempting.

The worse thing that could happen is that you get it and don't like and have to ship it back to them.

Just curious, but have you considered the Bose Companion 5 system? If your not familiar with it, it is a 2.1 system but does simulated surround very well. They are pricey though! But personally, I like Bose. Yes, even though they are over priced... I am one of those that believes they put out very accurate sound and a high quality product overall.

 

lmao. you dis onkyo and then promote bose and earlier you said you were an audiophile? i'm not an audiophile by any means, but anything you say now about audio can't be taken seriously. onkyo's receivers are a nice middle of the road way to go from many angles, but their speakers are nothing to write home about. bose sounds good, but it's over priced for what you get and it's not a component system. something goes wrong with one part of the system and the little bose does bring to the table is out the window.

 

if you have a little money to spend and are patient and are willing to upgrade slowly but don't have all the money upfront, it's best to start with the best receiver you're willing to spend on. try to look down the road with it too. speakers you could start out real cheap after you get your receiver just to get you going. then when the right speakers/deal comes along, up grade then. and also upgrade your wires. monoprice is a good place to get your copper for a good price. onkyo, denon, harmon kardon and yamaha are good places to start for your receiver. speakers are a different beast though. the speakers you get from a htib will be crap. the receiver might be ok depending. if you plan on going surround but only have 2.1 money, get the best 2.1 or 3.1 you can afford now. and then add the other 5 surrounds later on. most of your sound and the majority of your sound stage for a surround system comes from the 3.1. and to help, receivers that have audyssey are a great help setting up your system. i'd rather have an audiophile set up my surround system but i don't have audiophile hardware and audiophile personnel money. audyssey will help with that.

 

Please quote me where I stated I was an audiophile? I don't recall saying that once, keep your accusations to yourself and get your facts straight.

I didn't "dis" onkyo, simply stated I'm not crazy over their products because of my previous experience.

Yes, I said I like Bose. I said I like them even though they are over priced. I think from what you said above, you and me have the same opinion on their pricing. I just happen to take it one step farther and like their product.

Read the entire post completely and fully comprehend what is being said before you decide to personally attack someone because of their opinion.

Thanks and have a splendid weekend!