Dorm Room audio

[Jivatmanx]

Ok, I want to build a setup for listening to music in a dorm room.
I will be using a laptop as the source. I currently have a cheapie usb sound card with a digital and analog out from cables-to-go.

I also have a $300 pioneer stereo from about 5 years ago, and a a JVC reciever that I got at a garage sale for $200 sometime in the 90's.

I was considering buying a set of two orbs for $240 and hooking then up to either the reciever or the stereo, and then using the analog out from the sound card. I would like to know if anyone knows and high-quality usb sound cards?

Another option is getting a $200 reciever from frys, like the Onkyo 7.1 Channel XM Ready A/V Receiver TX-SR573. It's a good deal, as it's usually $400. I could then use the digital out from the card I have, and let the reciever do the converting.

I would also like to get a sub, prolly the AV123 Rocket ULW-10, but I thought bass might go through the walls and disturb other people. Does it always have to?

My total budget it around $700 dollars. I don't have to get super-teeny speakers, but they can't be huge either. What should I do here?

On second thought, I would consider the M22ti Bookshelf unless you think that this would'nt work too well with the acoustics, or be too loud for a dorm room.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

What ever you choose just remember one thing: A dorm room is perhaps the roughest place for electronics. Dust, spilled drinks, etc take a toll on any and everything. A sub of that size will disturb the neighbors depending on where you place it. It is also a huge item in the dorm (could possibly put it under your desk?) The M22ti set is a good idea. (Keep in mind that surround sound rarely ever works the way one wants to in a dorm room due to furniture placement, room acoustics, etc) A nice 2.1 would do the trick I think.

-G

 

[Deathwish238]

If you're looking for a music setup...then 2.1 is the way to go.

 

[3x10^8]

I couldn't agree with you guys any more. Dorm rooms are rough and dirty places, the acoustics are horrible, and they are a SMALL space. Save your money, putting a little away over time, and buy yourself a nice setup once you move out of the dorms. For now, a 2.1 system would do you nicely (i.e. Klipsch Promedia, etc.) Once you move out, go ape****...

 

[GarrettMaster1]

LOL to add one more theory that I have personally found in dorms:

Fun Fact: The louder the system, the cooler. Weather it sounds great is of no consequence. A huge system with what looks like a pair of subs cut out of a car system gains acclaim in the dorm setting. Since I have been in dorms, I have heard the worst sounding systems that others find 'awesome!' I should go around and take some pictures of dorm room sound setups to not only satisfy this humorous account, but also give some insight to what others are doing for possible setups.

 

[Jivatmanx]

So, It won't neccesarily disturb the neighbors if I place it right?
Do you think there's some way to do some kind of simple soundproofing so that it doesnt go through?

 

[JaceTheAce]

I'd highly recommend that you either A) Move out of the dorms so you can enjoy a good 2.1 system. or B) Stay in the dorms and avoid the subwoofer. Your neighbors will thank you.

It's amazing how far bass can travel when it seems that it's turned down way low inside your listening space.

 

[jaxvon]

Psh, I run a full 5.1 setup in my dorm room and no one has complained yet. And believe me, I run it at reference levels and beyond.

If you want a solid speaker that won't break the bank, I'd suggest the BIC DV-62si bookshelf. It's inexpensive, upgradable, and sounds pretty darn good for the price. As for a sub, look for a downfiring model. I bought the Hsu STF-1. It does pretty well in my room, though I'd like a little more extension and output.

 

[jcsprankle]

Psh, I run a full 5.1 setup in my dorm room and no one has complained yet. And believe me, I run it at reference levels and beyond.

You must have some forgiving neighbors!! And a forgiving RA!

Back when I was in college and lived in a dorm, I had four Boston HD8 speakers running all as fronts (two of which I still have) and the RA would b*tch every time I turned it up past 9 o'clock on the dial (not very loud...certainly not reference)!

 

[rschleicher]

Yeah, I would have to say that for the vast majority of dorm room residents and their guests, the three most important criteria are volume, volume, and volume. And if it is a lot of rap and hip-hop being played, then it is maximum bass volume (or perhaps vibration level), out of all proportion to the rest of the mix.

My recommendation is to find a local band, and invite them to practice in your room. That would be the ideal situation, for you and your neighbors.

Seriously, it is good advice to forget about surround, and just get a decent 2-ch. system, or perhaps 2.1. Even then you will have some speaker placement issues to deal with.

Monitor Audio makes a decent small system intended primarily for use with an iPod, but you could also drive it directly from your PC, using the mini-jack input. I think it is about $350, and even Stereophile liked it. It is not going to have great bass response, but will allow you to have a pretty musical system, and you can save your money for when you are in an apartment or house.

 

[Jivatmanx]

Well, I might consider going cheaper and saving my money, but It's going to be a long time before I'm going to be out of college, as I'm going there for 4 years, and I might even stay in the dorm for graduate school. As for the Ipod thingie, I have an older, but good panasonic stereo I could just use the aux on if I wanted to do that.

I was looking at mordaunt-short floorstanders, and I saw some sites that had the avant 906's for 575, I dont know how much shipping is. This site http://www.accessories4less.com has thethe avant 908's for 700 and the MS502 for 999

the more expensive ones are just the 906's with subwoofers, the 908's being unpowered.

It would be nice to have a setup like that, I'd save a lot of room for a sub. I wonder if the sub on the 908's sound any good? anyone have and experience with mordaunt-short?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'd say avoid the sub completely for music. You're only going to need bass down to 35Hz, so invest in some older 12" 3 way speakers that you can use as end tables. You do need some place to put your beer.

Jaxvon and I were talking about that last night. You can pick up a pair off ebay for under $150, and they really put out with very little power. If you don't mount a bookshelf on the wall, you'll need a stand. Most dorm walls are block and drilling into them is a pita. A stand will take up as much space as an older floorstander, and won't put out near the bass. A small subwoofer won't compare in the midbass frequencies most popular with music. It will excel with HT bass, but very few in a dorm (other than Jaxvon) can gloat about their surround system.

 

[jaxvon]

If you want to see what my setup looks like, check out the link in my signature. The stands are DIY, made from PVC (filled with sand) and MDF. They only took a couple hours to make.

 

[bandit]

Just one suggestion -

If you get a more "powerful" system - collect one dollar from guests as a cover charge for blowing them away. That way - when the power goes off in your dorm room - you can pay the resident assistant standing down at the other end of the hallway the ten bucks he wants to turn your power back on.

That was my experience.....