Stuff to make my PC sound good

[Summo]

Sod it, I've been here over a year. CROSS-POST WARNING!

My old mini-system plugged into my poota is about to give up and die. Seeing as its only used to output sound from my PC, I thought I'd be able to replace it with a new, proper sound card and maybe get myself some fancy, solid speakers.

My questions are... is there any way to make PC audio output sound as good as a big, throbbing stereo system?

The only speakers I've seen on PCs are those unbelievably crap little biege ones. I want BASS, dammit! Do I need a separate amp? (presumably not, as I'm guessing the PC acts as one, but what do I know) And what speakers and card would you recommend?

Thanks. I love you all, and apologies for being a cross-forum whore.

 

[tris-]

Cambridge soundworks 5.1 speaker set = BASS Damnit, look nice and sound great even with the volume at full whack nearly.

Sound card = Audigy 2 even though they are very unstable uke:

 

[~YuckFou~]

I got an FPSS speaker set 2 years ago, cost about £30. Bass woofer and 4 speakers that look like Bose cubes. It's not Albert Hall stuff but the sound quality is pretty good, theres bass, and loud works
It's also useful in CS, with surround sound (EAX) I can tell where peeps are by sound alone.
Sound card is Creative SB Live, again bought ages ago for about £30.

 

[Summo]

I think I'm gonna go down the hi-fi amp and speakers route, rather than getting powered PC speakers.

BUT THANKS!

 

[PR.]

Fear my very loud speakers

This system I paid £250 for when it cost £450 (pricing error) a long while ago, its connected to a CL Audigy1, its sounds pretty impressive specially when you get a game that supports 5.1 sound

So I guess I'm recommending what you already knew :/

 

[Embattle]

The sound quality of the Inspire 5700 is very good and certainly loud enough to piss off everyone else in the house

 

[Summo]

OOooooh, nice PR. I'm tempted by a 5.1 setup, but the positioning of my monitor (angled at 45degrees to the wall) and my small desk makes it tricky to position the speakers properly. I may buy stuff which allows for 5.1 expansion for the future.

 

[Summo]

Hmm... you've inspired me...

If I shifted my furniture about and (ideally) bought a deeper, wider desk, I could have my monitor square-on, position 5.1 speakers perfectly and have more room for general use.

Hmm... That's next weekend sorted.

 

[(Shovel)]

In that respect getting a full blown 5 point amp (making sure that it has proper support for sound card outputs) would put you in good stead for that AND get you the better budget hi-fi speakers.

 

[Summo]

Shovel... I love you. I am well-armed for my trip to Richer Sounds in Colchester next weekend.

 

[(Shovel)]

AV Recievers: http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemlist.php&c=1101

I'm really not sure how much you need to spend for something of good standard in that range since I don't have one myself (just a standard stereo amp for me). The product details for each one will tell you the inputs they take. It wouldn't do any harm to check the manufacturers site to check that it will work properly.

Richer Sounds claim to always be very helpful, but because the stores are very small (keeps costs down) stock is sometimes an issue. Usually the assistants are helpful too but quite how well they'd know how to hook up a PC is anyone's guess. If you can work out in advance how it is supposed to work in a "normal" powered PC speaker set up and say "I need X number of X type cables going in the back will this work" then anyone should be able to give you an answer

Good luck Summo matey. Returns love.. (for reasons unknown, it's late OK?)

 

[Scooba Da Bass]

Originally posted by Summo
Shovel... I love you. I am well-armed for my trip to Richer Sounds in Colchester next weekend.

I'd recommend waiting until after Christmas if only because January will see some 'Kerazy Bargains'tm

 

[Embattle]

Some top krazyness since Christmas is going to be bad for most companies

 

[legendario]

PR is that a minidisc deck behind yer keyboard?

Oh, and do you have a 5.1 amp for that set up?

 

[PR.]

Yes its a Sony Minidisc deck (MDS-M100), I got from my previous employment for £80

The HiFi is Dolby Pro Logic it has seperate Rear channels, but the sub-woofers are built into the front speakers. The unit is a Technics SCEH-750

So there ya go I hope that makes sense to you

 

[kryt]

Certainly recognise that hifi setup, they retailed at 299.99 where I used to work. I was the PC techy/salesbloke, but preferred to spend as much time hovering around the Hi-Fi section (dixon's a like store) and fiddling with loud systems. Not half a bad setup for a mid-range system, not hard on the pockets either.

Oh, yes, and loud. Very loud.

Btw, main reason for posting : where did you get that desk, PR.?
Looks spinky, ive got a boring, but large "round the corner" job, but something like that with the raised shelf at the back would be lovely.

 

[lovedaddy]

I use...

At work I've got a projector room setup for doing demos and shit. Got a pc, ps2 and xbox connected via digital optical and pc digial coax (nForce motherboard) to a Sony STRDB-940 (5.1 reciever) and a set of Mission 77x series speakers (771, 773 and a 77c).

They are about 4 years old now, but sound fantastic.
77x are old stock, heres a url to something about the same today
http://www.mission.co.uk/product/m5/m51.htm

and the sony reciever (again todays model)
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...J&ProductID=mysKC0.NDkEAAADy4RjA1ReM&Dept=hav

You could connect them 2 ways. Either use the analog 6 outputs from you SBlive to the 6 phono inputs on the reciever (thus leaving the sound card to send 6.1 discrete audio) - or my prefered option, use a digital connect (either coax or optical) to connect to the amp/reciever directly, and leave it to decode the audio stream.

Personally, I'd also use an nForce2 motherboard with built in sound, being that its the only motherboard/soundcard with DD5.1 encoding abilities.

However, the DAC on board of those cards are usually poor quality realtec ones (ie the bit that actually makes the sound), so the SBLives for just general music playing sound better.

Whilst Im on, if your going to get all that kit, get rid of things like MP3s. You'll cry when you hear the audio difference between MP3 and something good like OGG. (www.vorbis.com).

Sorry for the long post, hope that helps (PM me if Im just talking crap etc).

 

[lovedaddy]

should also say...

At home I use a Sony STRDB-925 (older model, the first Sony DD5.1 reciever), and a pair of Tannoy Rx series speakers.

The floor standers:

http://www.tannoy.com/frame.cfm?ID=1&D=1

Again, sound fantastic - tho the missions at work probably JUST have it.

 

[PR.]

Originally posted by kryt
Btw, main reason for posting : where did you get that desk, PR.?
Looks spinky, ive got a boring, but large "round the corner" job, but something like that with the raised shelf at the back would be lovely.

Sorry but it was hand made for the room

It fits nice and snug for all my clutter and is strong enough for me to slam my fist into it without everything jumping up and down

You will need:

3x Sheets of MDF (1 sheet for monitor. 2 for extra strength desk)
1x Chrome Pole (as used in wardrobes)
8x Wardrobe Pole fixings
1x Jigsaw to cut the curves
1x Router to smooth the edges
1x Very powerful drill with a boring drill bit to cut holes for the cables.

Still interested?

 

[legendario]

Originally posted by PR.


Sorry but it was hand made for the room

It fits nice and snug for all my clutter and is strong enough for me to slam my fist into it without everything jumping up and down

You will need:

3x Sheets of MDF (1 sheet for monitor. 2 for extra strength desk)
1x Chrome Pole (as used in wardrobes)
8x Wardrobe Pole fixings
1x Jigsaw to cut the curves
1x Router to smooth the edges
1x Very powerful drill with a boring drill bit to cut holes for the cables.

Still interested?

Me and my old boy have been ready to do this for ages....have all the gear it's just that we are a couple of lazy bastards

Plus I move out soon so I can't be arsed when i'm not gonna use it

 

[kryt]

Aye, course I am, sounds like a good way of doing it tbh. Originally, before I found this, i was gonna be boring, bit of kitchen worktop and some chrome "breakfast bar" poles.

Something to consider anyway.