5.1 Surround Sound on the Cheap

**MIG-31** · Dec 17, 2004, 05:09 PM

The 5.1 surround sound experience is a growing must-have for gamers and film buffs who demand life-like resonance for gun shots, explosions and the like during Doom III or DVD play. We look at three entry-level systems to see if a quality 5.1 speaker listening experience can be had for less than $100.

You don't need a 5.1 speaker kit to listen to music, even though some sound cards can convert a stereo signal to a 5.1 signal. Very few music CDs offer multi-channel sound. While music DVDs offer the capability, they are hard to find.

However, most DVD films and many games use 5.1 sound, and for those applications, you need a 5.1 system for the full sound experience. Indeed, marketing hype aside, the surround sound experience requires speakers in front, behind and on the side, which necessitates at least 5.1 speakers. Software can widen and deepen sound, but it comes far from doing the trick compared to the 5.1 and above speakers.
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Danhill · Dec 17, 2004, 07:01 PM

I bought the X-530 a week ago, they are great, better than my old logitech Z-360 something.

But it took me 3 days to get the surround working, the cables that goes in the computer was wrong colored.

But I still don't have surround in some games that supports it.

**MIG-31** · Dec 17, 2004, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danhill

I bought the X-530 a week ago, they are great, better than my old logitech Z-360 something.

But it took me 3 days to get the surround working, the cables that goes in the computer was wrong colored.

But I still don't have surround in some games that supports it.

it's funny you say that.i had the same problem with the logitech z-5300 speakers...took some time to get all the correct channels working for the 5.1 setup to work how they should.

although i love these speakers compared to my last 5.1's from creative(budget).i would still of expected better from logitech seeing as they cost nearly £200.but at least the performance of these on a audigy 2 make up for it.can't complain too much.

kyramas · Dec 17, 2004, 08:18 PM

I have the 5400 setup and I believe they are the same excluding the horizontal center speaker (the stand is vertical). Cant complain considering i paid for them 70 euros which is as much as I paid for the audigy 2. My parents cant stop complaining ! I believe the neighbours too !!!

clicker666 · Dec 17, 2004, 08:20 PM

LOL! I've got an old set of Creative 4.1 surrounds coupled with a cheap set of 2.1 speakers as my center. The center is a little quieter than I would like, but it does work.

Danhill · Dec 17, 2004, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIG-31

it's funny you say that.i had the same problem with the logitech z-5300 speakers...took some time to get all the correct channels working for the 5.1 setup to work how they should.

although i love these speakers compared to my last 5.1's from creative(budget).i would still of expected better from logitech seeing as they cost nearly £200.but at least the performance of these on a audigy 2 make up for it.can't complain too much.

Well I almost gave up actually, no tech support could help me, so I saw that a guy had the same problem as I did in the logitech forums and the only thing he did was to switch some cables that goes in to the sound card, only took me 3 days to figure that out

Does yours work in 5.1 in HL2?? Mine does not. I have 5.1 in movies and in Medal oh honor (I think) but HL2 & Flatout I only have stereo and I choose the 5.1 pref. in the options for those games.

**MIG-31** · Dec 17, 2004, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danhill

Well I almost gave up actually, no tech support could help me, so I saw that a guy had the same problem as I did in the logitech forums and the only thing he did was to switch some cables that goes in to the sound card, only took me 3 days to figure that out

Does yours work in 5.1 in HL2?? Mine does not. I have 5.1 in movies and in Medal oh honor (I think) but HL2 & Flatout I only have stereo and I choose the 5.1 pref. in the options for those games.

yes they do,but i don't know if you're speakers has the matrix option.this does not work with hl2 when it is switched on.

my rear speakers are very low when matrix is switched on.but the volume can be adjusted with no faults in normal 5.1 mode.it could be the game programing has not caught up with the speakers full capability's yet.

but going of memory don't you use the on-board sound..if so i would consider a audigy 2 then hl2 in 5.1 absolutely rock.every gunshot has a instantly recognisable directional sound,this does help tremendously with the game.

**dj_stick** · Dec 18, 2004, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danhill

Well I almost gave up actually, no tech support could help me, so I saw that a guy had the same problem as I did in the logitech forums and the only thing he did was to switch some cables that goes in to the sound card, only took me 3 days to figure that out

i told you this was the case

Danhill · Dec 18, 2004, 12:53 PM

Well I dont know guys, the last sound card I had was a Creative Soundblaster Live 5.1 and that gave me so much trouble, the drivers was also a night mare. So I dont know actually if I dare sort of speak to actullay take the step to buy a Creative product again??

clicker666 · Dec 18, 2004, 03:44 PM

I finally realized, oh about 2-3 years after having my 5.1, that the reason I never had 5.1 surround in games was that I didn't have the Playcenter installed and the CMSS turned on. As soon as I did that, about half way through Half Life 2, my 5.1 kicked in finally.

Danhill · Dec 18, 2004, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIG-31

yes they do,but i don't know if you're speakers has the matrix option.this does not work with hl2 when it is switched on.

my rear speakers are very low when matrix is switched on.but the volume can be adjusted with no faults in normal 5.1 mode.it could be the game programing has not caught up with the speakers full capability's yet.

but going of memory don't you use the on-board sound..if so i would consider a audigy 2 then hl2 in 5.1 absolutely rock.every gunshot has a instantly recognisable directional sound,this does help tremendously with the game.

Hey Mig, I don't have any options I think, the only thing I have is a volume control, and n the pref. I dont have any options I think.

riles9262 · Dec 18, 2004, 05:09 PM

I kept getting stereo sound after reinstalling windows, even though the sound card was installed (with windows default drivers i think). I had to install the sound card drivers/audio hq and set the mixer and speaker setup in that program; after that, my surround was back.

Dec 17, 2004, 05:09 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 55,768 Rep Power: 444 System Specs	5.1 Surround Sound on the Cheap The 5.1 surround sound experience is a growing must-have for gamers and film buffs who demand life-like resonance for gun shots, explosions and the like during Doom III or DVD play. We look at three entry-level systems to see if a quality 5.1 speaker listening experience can be had for less than $100. You don't need a 5.1 speaker kit to listen to music, even though some sound cards can convert a stereo signal to a 5.1 signal. Very few music CDs offer multi-channel sound. While music DVDs offer the capability, they are hard to find. However, most DVD films and many games use 5.1 sound, and for those applications, you need a 5.1 system for the full sound experience. Indeed, marketing hype aside, the surround sound experience requires speakers in front, behind and on the side, which necessitates at least 5.1 speakers. Software can widen and deepen sound, but it comes far from doing the trick compared to the 5.1 and above speakers. _______________ Read More: Tomshardware __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Dec 17, 2004, 07:01 PM	#2
Danhill DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4,112 Rep Power: 0	I bought the X-530 a week ago, they are great, better than my old logitech Z-360 something. But it took me 3 days to get the surround working, the cables that goes in the computer was wrong colored. But I still don't have surround in some games that supports it. __________________ MOBO: [color=white]ASUS A8N-SLI Premium[/color] CPU: AMD 64 3200+ (Venice) @ 2,50 Ghz MEM: 2 x 512 DDR 466, VGA: 2 x 6600 GT in SLI, HDD1: WD Raptor HDD2: Maxtor Diamond Plus 9, Case: Antec Plus View 1080, PSU: ThermalTake PurePower 500W, MX 1000, Dell 2001 FP, Aud. 2 SZ

Dec 17, 2004, 08:18 PM	#4
kyramas DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	I have the 5400 setup and I believe they are the same excluding the horizontal center speaker (the stand is vertical). Cant complain considering i paid for them 70 euros which is as much as I paid for the audigy 2. My parents cant stop complaining ! I believe the neighbours too !!! __________________ [COLOR=red]A Diary of Kyramas[/COLOR] - [COLOR=blue] Flickr [/COLOR]

Dec 17, 2004, 08:20 PM	#5
clicker666 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 327 Rep Power: 0	LOL! I've got an old set of Creative 4.1 surrounds coupled with a cheap set of 2.1 speakers as my center. The center is a little quieter than I would like, but it does work. __________________

Dec 18, 2004, 12:53 PM	#9
Danhill DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 4,112 Rep Power: 0	Well I dont know guys, the last sound card I had was a Creative Soundblaster Live 5.1 and that gave me so much trouble, the drivers was also a night mare. So I dont know actually if I dare sort of speak to actullay take the step to buy a Creative product again?? __________________ MOBO: [color=white]ASUS A8N-SLI Premium[/color] CPU: AMD 64 3200+ (Venice) @ 2,50 Ghz MEM: 2 x 512 DDR 466, VGA: 2 x 6600 GT in SLI, HDD1: WD Raptor HDD2: Maxtor Diamond Plus 9, Case: Antec Plus View 1080, PSU: ThermalTake PurePower 500W, MX 1000, Dell 2001 FP, Aud. 2 SZ

Dec 18, 2004, 03:44 PM	#10
clicker666 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 327 Rep Power: 0	I finally realized, oh about 2-3 years after having my 5.1, that the reason I never had 5.1 surround in games was that I didn't have the Playcenter installed and the CMSS turned on. As soon as I did that, about half way through Half Life 2, my 5.1 kicked in finally. __________________

Dec 18, 2004, 05:09 PM	#12
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 70 System Specs	I kept getting stereo sound after reinstalling windows, even though the sound card was installed (with windows default drivers i think). I had to install the sound card drivers/audio hq and set the mixer and speaker setup in that program; after that, my surround was back. __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.