Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: 5.1 Home Cinema Speaker Kit (Read 3594 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

5.1 Home Cinema Speaker Kit

Hi people!
I don't know much about audio hardware and I'm looking for a 5.1 kit, so I don't know yet what kind of equipment I'm looking for, I just know what I want to be able to do with it yet .

At the moment, I watch stuff on my laptop (on a big external monitor) which has a USB audio card (This stuff). This audio card is connected by optical link to my 5.1 amplifier (This stuff).
At the moment, I have a 2.0 speaker kit which is quite good for music, but not good for movies!

So what I want to do is:
- Buy a 5.1 speaker kit and be able to use it with my computer (as I do now), and with the HDTV I'll buy.

The problem is I only have one optical input on my amplifier, is it enough for both?
I want to be able to use my headphones for both, can I just buy a Jack -> Jack 3.5 adapter?
I have no idea of what 5.1 speaker kit I have to buy... I'm gonna use it for both music and movies (not games, I use my headphones when I play)

I don't have any fixed budget yet...

Thank you!!
Taharoa

5.1 Home Cinema Speaker Kit

Reply #1 –
Quote
- Buy a 5.1 speaker kit and be able to use it with my computer (as I do now), and with the HDTV I'll buy.

The problem is I only have one optical input on my amplifier, is it enough for both?
You can get an Optical Selector Switch[/color].  But, make sure your new TV has an optical out, it may have coax and/or HDMI.

Quote
I want to be able to use my headphones for both, can I just buy a Jack -> Jack 3.5 adapter? ...(not games, I use my headphones when I play)
  Your reciever (amplifier) should have a headphone jack.  Yes, you may need an adapter[/u] if you're using portable (iPod style) headphones.  Or, you can plug your headphones into the computer's headphone/line output.  Or, if you end-up buying a 5.1 channel speaker system that's made for computers, some of these have headphone jacks.  (I have an older Labtec 2.1 system with a headphone jack... very handy!)

Quote
I don't know much about audio hardware and I'm looking for a 5.1 kit, so I don't know yet what kind of equipment I'm looking for, I just know what I want to be able to do with it yet...  I have no idea of what 5.1 speaker kit I have to buy...
I suggest you go to an audio/video store (or audio/video department) to check-out what they have, and what you might want.  You can also get 5.1 speakers in a computer store/department, but these are generally smaller, powered (they won't use your receiver/amplifier), and it might be more difficult to route the sound from your TV, DVD player, etc.

It might not be that easy with your particular amplifier/receiver either...  Home theater receivers typically have several inputs... Apparently, yours has only one digital audio input. 
[/color]
 

5.1 Home Cinema Speaker Kit

Reply #2 –
Hi DVDdoug, and thanks for your answer!

If the TV doesn't have an optical output that's even better, because I'm pretty sure I saw both an optical and a coax input on my amplifier, but if it has HDMI that's a problem!

And the thing is, I can't really go to a store and see what they have because here in France, electronics stores have a really low choice and price are really high, so we use to order on the internet most of the time, and I tried to find some reviews about this kind of equipment but I didn't find much...

I thought computers sound systems were made mainly for games (Creative and Logitech stuff), and I was afraid the sound is not as good as it would with a real home theater for movies and music, is it true?

What I am looking for is a 5.1 with small satellites, I don't need something powerful, the room is pretty small, but I want a clear sound for both movies and music.
I so some kits, but the prices can be very different (from $500 to $2000) so I wanted to know what are the differences between those and what kind of price I'll have to pay for what I want!

Thanks!