What would be the best way to receive best surround sound? Let’s say my monitor has: HDMI, Digital Optical Audio port, and regular audio output port. My gigabyte P55-UD5 got all of them as well. Do I use Digital Optical Audio cable or regular audio output port that’s in my motherboard like I been doing it for years? Should I just run HDMI to monitor than use monitor audio port than hook my THX 2.1 surround sound for best quality? Digital Optical Audio Cable VS HDMI? Any experts in this areas?
As far as I understand you have a monitor with HDMI and SPDIF, and then you have a graphics card with HDMI out? And a motherboard with SPDIF out? And a surround system? I would connect the screen via HDMI for the best image quality, and then connect the surround system directly from the motherboard via the SPDIF. This will give you the best sound quality since it's the shortest route for the sound signal to travel.
If you're using a 2.1 setup then as far as I'm aware their would be no difference between HDMI and optical, both support up to 192Khz/24-bit audio stereo, if you decided to up your system to say 5.1, then you'd be limited to 96khz per channel with optical where as HDMI can carry the full 192Khz per channel. (This is only if you're watching Blu-rays mind you and I'm pretty sure it would be irrelevant as your system probably supports up to 24/96Khz). The easiest way as already stated would probbaly be optical for the speakers and HDMI to your monitor. With regards to the AV receiver, your 2.1 setup will already have an amp built in as well as a decoder so unless you decide to buy yourself a new 5.1 speaker system it probably wouldn't be worthwhile (to be worth buying a standalone reciever for you, you would probably be talking around £500, any cheaper and you might as well get a cinema in a box, decent receivers start at around £300) Not sure how US pricing is though.
I bought my Yamaha 5.1 receiver for 70 pounds used. I admit, it doesn't have HDMI but it is absolutely adequate for driving my surround system. So if you go used it is possible to find decent deals, and receivers last quite a long time.
The Logitech Z5500 is the best surround system for a normal person. Mine is quite a bit better for a bit more cash, but I spend hours researching and comparing speakers and bought everything used. My opinion would be to buy the Z5500 if you want hassle free surround
Nice find, but as you have pointed out going used you can by all means find some great bargains out there, I was simply referring to buying new products which I knew did have HDMI. My dad recently got a Yamaha receiver which I was very impressed with, cost around £350 but he's got me keen on getting one myself, great pieces of kit which like you say, I'm sure will last you a while. As per other people's recommendations, the Z-5500's are capable speakers and come with the ability to decode DTS 24/96 if you're keen on watching blu-rays like you've stated in other threads they are a great way to get you going without much hassle and are great for the money. If you feel a while down the line you're still not happy then would be the time to maybe splash a bit more cash on separate speakers/recievers etc as you would be talking over three times the price just to get started (if buying new) and even then you might not even notice the difference.
If you don't notice the difference, there's a 99% chance your hearing is impaired in some way. But that's not the point, as I said. It depends if you care enough to spend the money. I couldn't put it with Logitechs now, but if I bought them before I had heard anything else, I wouldn't know any better...
Exactly. Logitech Z5500 is perfectly adequate if you are used to a standard off-the-shelf surround system, but as soon as you have heard "the real deal" you'll be wincing in pain every time someone fires up their iPod dock with built-in music-ruiners (read: speakers).
You sir, have just described my feelings perfectly. Music and movies deserve better and so do my ears. But not everyone cares, and that's ok. Make your own decision about what you want and (crucially) how much you're willing to spend.
k thx, lots of things to think about and consider. I am still decidong whith route to take. Went to my local best buy the other day man that boose systems sound great. Keept thinking if z5500 would be comparable
Ye I may have came across stronger than intended, what I was getting at was (in my experience anyway) if some people aren't too interested in audio, quality isn't a great deal to them they often don't have a reference level to go by so they can consider some lesser quality systems to be the real deal where as if you had the opportunity to listen to an better quality system you would find it's faults more easily and not regard it quite as highly. Of course if you had two systems side by side, like you said the vast majority of people will be able to notice some sort of difference between the two. I guess I would just suggest having a listen to some Z-5500's, if you're happy with how they sound go for it, they are a great set to get started as well as being really easy to set up.
I thought I'd just pop by and say that if you aren't going to take your time properly setting the system up, having the speakers in the right places etc, then don't bother even getting the Z-5500. It makes me cry to see people with such nice sets and all the speakers lined up on the same desk... And a few words about my system: I also bought everything second hand, I think the grand total was 400 €, when the shelf-price for the same kit would have been somewhere in the region of 1100 €. The bang for buck is pretty damn good. Also I later sold one of the three Amphion Helium 2's for 130 €, as I didn't have use for center speaker, so the price paid came down to 270 € You can't beat that cost for a 350 € AV-amp and two speakers worth 250 € a pop. (I also later added a DIY-sub to the set. An almost identical one would have cost me 500 € in the store, I paid... wait for it... 120 € for mine. You can make crazy good deals for used audio gear!) And still, with all that said, there's really nothing wrong with the Z-5500. For most people it's all they could ever ask for, and that's OK.
Quite. Althougj Jipa's right, placement is paramount. A stereo or 2.1 system is far easier to get sounding right and for most people will be perfectly adequate.
I used to use z5500's in my front room for my surround sound. It was a fine sounding system but relied too heavily on the sub. This lead to the sound not feeling correct as the lower mids all came from a single point. I updated my setup to an Onkyo 605 amp (a few years back) & Mordaunt Short speakers around and the sound quality was much better. Directionallity it sooo much better and the sound is much more natural.
