Best Sound System for TV and PC under $475

[Blueboy1986]

I was looking into buy a system for my room. I want to be able to use if for my PC and my TV. Alot of the systems that i want are either for one or the other. I want the better deal also i dont want to buy a new sound card if i dont have too or need to. My Sound card is intergrated into my Mobo< my mobi is the Asus p4p800. What do u guy think will be better

These are the speakers that i am considering;
Creative Giga WorksS750 7.1 Retail (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=36-116-142&catalog=60&depa=1)
Kilpsch ProMedia ultra 5.1 Personal Audio System (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=36-119-106&catalog=60&depa=1)
Logitech Z-680 5.1Speakers (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=36-121-105&catalog=60&depa=1)

I think anyone of these will be good. Unless someone else sugests any others

Edit: I want to hook the system to my dvd player/VHS.

[Strida]

It's a cross between the Logitech and the Klipsch.

Go with Logitech for more power, go with Klipsch for more detail. At least that's the way I think it goes.

When listening to the Logitech speakers it sounds like someone used an equalizer and made a V pattern on it, so it's not so great for classical but more aimed torwards jazz/rock/etc..

The Klipsch are more neutral IMHO and I prefer the sound from them, but unless you hear them back to back you won't notice any difference.

[Blueboy1986]

has anyone tried the creatives?

[Veland]

Well, I'm using the z680 and like them a lot. The best part is the control pod, because of the many input options and built in decoder of DTS.

A bit hiss, but not too noticeable. A bit of work and you can get it to work with all types of music, but beware that the bass is way to heavy on default settings, at lest for my type of music.

[Blueboy1986]

All the systems that i named have the ability to be hooked up to a TV right??

[Strida]

I believe so.

Also, the hiss thing is a hit or miss situation, all systems have it but some have it worse than others.

[voodoomelon]

Actually, the Gigaworks do not have a Dolby Digital decoder built in, so unless your DVD player has an integrated decoder with suitable outputs, you can't listen to Dolby Digital surround sound.

Also, theres no Pro Logic decoder either with them, so you cant listen to your TV in surround either.

However, they are the best 7.1 speakers available for the PC. The bass is apparently unbelievable, if not a little overpowering.
I would only buy them if you bought an Audigy 2 zs aswell, which you said you didn't want to do. Yet I think it's a bit foolish to buy 5.1 speakers anymore, as 7.1 is going to become the standard, for DVD and games.
My suggestion is go 7.1, or wait until the market gets flooded with 7.1 in the coming months and pick up a bargain then.
;)

[Strida]

Wait till the market gets flodded with 7.1, then buy a 7.1 system from a better brand such as Klipsch or a high-end Logitech system. These will likely have a Dolby Digital decoder built in as well.

[james.miller]

7.1 is rubbish. It's totally over rated.

go with the best 5.1 you can afford, dont watse money on an inferior 7.1 setup.

[voodoomelon]

Ahh, we meet again James...:D

I hear there's not much difference between 5.1 and 7.1 (which is effectively 6.1) for DVD soundtracks, but because Directsound now supports a full 8 channels, games are amazing in 7.1. Not only are there 2 extra speakers, but the speaker arrangement is different for 7.1.
You now have sound coming from the front, rear, AND side. This is very advantageous in games, you can now pinpoint the exact location of a sound in the game, ie, someone behind you.
And seeing as you can get 7.1 speakers, abeilt not the best, for less than €130, i think its the way to go.
;)

[Strida]

Originally posted by james.miller
7.1 is rubbish. It's totally over rated.

go with the best 5.1 you can afford, dont watse money on an inferior 7.1 setup.


That's sorta what I was trying to get at. Wait 'till some better companies are making 7.1 before going to it, however that might be a while. If I were you get a 5.1 setup and if you get a half-decent one you shouldn't notice the difference.