Got on-board audio and want something a whole lot better?
Moderator: Akira
Got on-board audio and want something a whole lot better?
Best Buy is having a sale on Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio sound cards. This is the basic X-fi sound card without the extra 64MB RAM of the higher end models. But retains the wonderful processing unit. Just $59.99 and requires one PCI slot.
Neophyte[CotC]
Member since 1996
Member since 1996
Good questions Data! Your basic surround sound system should consist of 6 distinct and unrelated channels of music. They should include a front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear right, and a sub woofer channel. This basic system is often labeled 5.1 for the 5 surround speakers and the 1 subwoofer.Dataspel wrote:Neo, suppose I wanted to set up a PC based surround sound starter's
kit. What would I need? That card and some speakers?
How many speakers? Any special cable? Amp? Anything else?
This type of system is the easiest to setup and least expensive to afford. Although a SoundBlaster X-Fi can provide up to 7.1 channels of separation through a digital accessory, but I’m going to recommend the 5.1 for its cost and simplicity.
So the sound card decision was easy, it's the one I mentioned above. Next, what about speakers?
Well, you have to be careful when you're selecting your speakers today. Some companies are selling 5.1 speaker kits. But they are not offering true 5.1 Channels. Instead they're taking input from your front 2 channels and summarize the subwoofer and the rear speaker by filtering sound through a DSP or some other process. Most PC speaker kits offer an amplifier, so you’re ok there. But only few offer the digital inputs that you might want to want to simply installation. These digital inputs are fairly expensive, so I’ll suggest a 5.1 analog speaker kit to get you started. Let me know if you feel that a digital input is right for you.
Creative Lab’s has a nice little animation that shows you graphically how you will connect the sound card to the speakers. Here is a link: X-Fi Getting Started
A fairly inexpensive speaker kit to get started with would be the Altec Lansing VS3251 Which comes with everything you need, minus the sound card.
So for about $120 plus tax and shipping you should be able to get started with PC surround sound.
Speaker stands or a small book shelves might be the next thing that you consider for mounting the speakers in more functional places. Generally, you want to keep the speakers all in the same horizontal plane near level with your monitor. (Except for the large Sub Woofer, which can be placed anywhere in the room.)
Neophyte[CotC]
Member since 1996
Member since 1996
