Looking for PC sound recomendations for a gaming system

[Speederlander]

I'm setting up a gaming system and I've spent drunkenly on the computer itself. I would hate to have sub-par sound. I'm looking for recommendations on properly outfitting my comp. This will primarily be for gaming (60%), with some music (30%) and the occassional movies (10%). I'm trying to decide what to spend but it will probably be in the $500 to $1K range (on the sound).

Suggestions as to how I should approach this, or links to places that address this specific question, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[InTheIndustry]

I'm setting up a gaming system and I've spent drunkenly on the computer itself. I would hate to have sub-par sound. I'm looking for recommendations on properly outfitting my comp. This will primarily be for gaming (60%), with some music (30%) and the occassional movies (10%). I'm trying to decide what to spend but it will probably be in the $500 to $1K range (on the sound).

Suggestions as to how I should approach this, or links to places that address this specific question, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

1st question: Do you have attic access? (more on this if you do.

2nd: How much room do you have around your desk? Enough for an AV receiver?

3rd: Does your sound card have toslink optical out and Dolby Digital capabilities?

4th: If no attic access, what's your room like? Desk facing the wall, Perpendicular to the wall? Front of the room or back maybe?

Answer these for me and I can help!

 

[Speederlander]

1st question: Do you have attic access? (more on this if you do.

Unfortunately no, I don't have attic access.

2nd: How much room do you have around your desk? Enough for an AV receiver?

Lots of room, plus it's a gigantic desk (and a solid piece of wood weighing in at about 800 pounds).

3rd: Does your sound card have toslink optical out and Dolby Digital capabilities?

Waiting to buy based on research. Just using Asus mobo built-in sound for now.

4th: If no attic access, what's your room like? Desk facing the wall, Perpendicular to the wall? Front of the room or back maybe?

Desk is an L-shaped monster in the corner of the room. I can always move it though. I may even replace it at some point, though it has massive surface space.

 

[mike c]

have you seen my thread?

 

[Speederlander]

have you seen my thread?

I am reading that actually. However, I also need a discussion of soundcard concerns with respect to what I want to achieve (and at my pricepoint). As I keep reading your thread, maybe it will be in there.

 

[Speederlander]

If I route my sound to a receiver and then to an array of speakers, what's the best approach (card-wise and receiver-wise)?

I am tempted to live without a sub since I am in an apartment complex, though my converted office doesn't share any walls (just ceiling/floor). Can I get satisfactory bass w/o the sub?

 

[Speederlander]

This was my first choice on soundcards...

Creative SOUND BLASTER X-Fi Platinum 7.1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102190

The Audigy 4 Pro is a possibility but I would rather pour that extra money into the speakers, receiver, etc.

 

[Speederlander]

I can get Polk RTi4's (pair) off ebay for $170 + shipping. I could double this up taking me to just under $400 and I am left with needing a center channel, a receiver and a sound card (and possibly stands). Assuming I could live w/o a sub...

 

[Wafflesomd]

I would just get the logitech Z5500's, 5.1, optical 9games dont like that though)

They sound great, THX certified, it will give you true surround sound in games, where as a receiver can truley only give you 2 channels with gaming.

 

[Nuglets]

If you play a first person shooter game such as America's Army, I would get some headphones for sound. I actually like them for Flight Sim also because I feel like I'm really flying with my headset on

 

[Hi Ho]

it will give you true surround sound in games, where as a receiver can truley only give you 2 channels with gaming.

Using the multi-channel inputs on a receiver solves that problem.

 

[Sheep]

Using the multi-channel inputs on a receiver solves that problem.

Have fun hooking up 6 RCA inputs, with 3 - 3mm outputs.

SheepStar

 

[Speederlander]

I would just get the logitech Z5500's, 5.1, optical 9games dont like that though)

They sound great, THX certified, it will give you true surround sound in games, where as a receiver can truley only give you 2 channels with gaming.

So by routing out to a receiver it is impossible to get 5.1 for gaming??

 

[Hiroyuki Sakai]

You might want to consider an Auzentech X-Plosion soundcard. If you aren't sure about this device Go ahead and read the reviews on the net so you can understand it better to what's it capable off. Connectivity and features.

I have this soundcard hooked up via optical cable to a Logitech Z5500 atm and it is fine for gaming, movies and music listening in dts. I am planning on building a more flexible multimedia setup upgradeable wise as oppose to the Z5500 and heres a list of equipments i've gotten so far. I'm fairly sure it is almost done and I think this is what your trying to achieve.

Soundcard: Auzentech X-Plosion (Check) Connects to Pioneer using Optical
Reciever: Pioneer VSX-516K (Check) Better than the pod on the Logitech
Sattelites: 5.0 Satellites I nuked from a cheap HTIB (Check)
Subwoofer: SVS PB10-NSD (Check) Will add another PB10-NSD next year.

I hope that gives you a better idea.

Goodluck!

 

[Speederlander]

You might want to consider an Auzentech X-Plosion soundcard. If you aren't sure about this device Go ahead and read the reviews on the net so you can understand it better to what's it capable off. Connectivity and features.

I have this soundcard hooked up via optical cable to a Logitech Z5500 atm and it is fine for gaming, movies and music listening in dts. I am planning on building a more flexible multimedia setup upgradeable wise as oppose to the Z5500 and heres a list of equipments i've gotten so far. I'm fairly sure it is almost done and I think this is what your trying to achieve.

Soundcard: Auzentech X-Plosion (Check) Connects to Pioneer using Optical
Reciever: Pioneer VSX-516K (Check) Better than the pod on the Logitech
Sattelites: 5.0 Satellites I nuked from a cheap HTIB (Check)
Subwoofer: SVS PB10-NSD (Check) Will add another PB10-NSD next year.

I hope that gives you a better idea.

Goodluck!

Didn't the Auzentech X-Plosion have some stability and/or driver problems? Assuming those problems are corrected, would I be able to get full, real surround by routing out to a receiver?

 

[Nuglets]

Have fun hooking up 6 RCA inputs, with 3 - 3mm outputs.

SheepStar

Done it before. It's not really a hassle, you just need 3 - 3mm to RCA stereo cables that are quite cheap. The only hard part for me was getting my PC close enough to my reciever for the cables to reach without getting an extension. To be honest headphones are the way I play PC games so I only have the front channel hooked up to the reciever at the moment for the occasional iTunes listening and to hear the Mooney Bravo's mean engine through my large speakers instead of the headphones

 

[Hiroyuki Sakai]

Didn't the Auzentech X-Plosion have some stability and/or driver problems? Assuming those problems are corrected, would I be able to get full, real surround by routing out to a receiver?

Only if you are planning to use magic voice. This feature on the card will hard crash even the most stable pc you can find. But other than that it works stable on the many games i've tested it with. BF2,CS:S,FarCry,HL2,Oblivion, and CoD etc...The point to this soundcard is that you'd be using it's features in DDL or DTS via an optical/coax connection to a decoder (reciever). You said you want everything in 5.1 and there you have it The X-fi will only do 5.1 when your in eax gaming mode or insert a dvd to your drive

 

[B5I8]

What you could do is get the Sound Blaster X-Fi card and use this Toslink adapter to hook it up to your receiver via optical cable. That would be the simplest and cleanest way to get 5.1 or even 7.1 sound out of your receiver.

 

[Sheep]

What you could do is get the Sound Blaster X-Fi card and use this Toslink adapter to hook it up to your receiver via optical cable. That would be the simplest and cleanest way to get 5.1 or even 7.1 sound out of your receiver.

Gaming surround is EAX, not DD or DTS. An optical cable can't(or, doesn't) transmit the signal.

This is where the Z5500s shine, mutiple connections with a digital decoder.

SheepStar

 

[korgoth]

impact acoustics makes a device which hooks up to your usb and gives an opticle out.

if you want to hook it up to your receiver you can do it that way.


i have it and it works well. the logitech speakers are pretty decent too with wireless surrounds.