looking for 5.1 with Optical inputs?

[zebthepilot]

I'm looking for a 5.1 surround sound system...

I don't need a ton of power. I'm looking for a surround sound system for my computer that has an optical input. (my mobo has optical 5.1 output). I've found lots of systems that don't have it, I've found quite several high end systems that do, but are way more than what I need as far as power and other features are concerned.

the low end systems don't have it.
the high end systems do....

can anyone suggest any middle of the road systems?

FYI; I don't watch movies or play Xbox on it, I've got a great system and media center in the living room for that. I just want to play a few games that have 5.1 support...

thanks.

[whitebloodcell]

:welcome:

What is your budget?

[zebthepilot]

I don't really have one.... I'd just rather not spend a ton of money for one of the $300+ systems.. 75-100 would be awesome, but not really limited there. I just have to keep in mind whatever I spend on this, I won't get to spend on other more important stuff.... like watercooling one of my servers, etc...



zeb

[KillerTarget]

For an optical based system I would suggest one of teh 5.1 Logitech systems. I know a lot of them have optical inputs and decode most of today's codecs like Dolby Digital and DTS (if you like to watch to DVD's). I will also say that almost all of the Logitech system's i have listened to have sounded really nice over most of the volume range (note i have only heard one of them up to about 3/4 full volume). Also remember the more you spend on a system most likely the better it will sound. Someone else will have to get model numbers but go with the Logi's to get optical inputs.

[Prodigious]

FYI; I don't watch movies or play Xbox on it, I've got a great system and media center in the living room for that. I just want to play a few games that have 5.1 support...

thanks.


PC games don't do dolby digital(which is what you need for the optical connection to work with real surround sound) unless you have a DD Live enabled mobo/soundcard. That feature currently only exists on soundstorm equipped mobos and some of the mobos with intels azalia high-def sound system.

Too many people are misguided by this optical = better/must have bull****, especially when it comes to gaming. In regards to PCs and 99% of the soundcards/onboard sound systems, only movies and dvd audio work in true surround sound via an optical connection. Otherwise, you're just going to get a stereo signal over the optical line.

Analog connections are the only way you can play games in surround sound.

[whitebloodcell]

Is the signal not of a higher quality over Optical? (I'm actually asking, not rhetorical) I have heard plenty of times people saying that they experience noise when using analog inputs and this noise is eliminated when using optical.

[Prodigious]

Of course the quality is improved with a digital connection(whether or not you can tell the difference using midrange compnents, which is basically what pc speakers and sound cards fall under, regardless of price, is debatable).

My point is that you CANNOT play pc games in surround sound over a digital connection unless you have Dolby Digital Live. Its just a stereo signal regardless of whether its matrixed to create a pro logic type effect.

[aeiou]

That just depends on the quality of your sound card. The digital connection is just a straight pipe of the sound information. Unless the sc has ddl it doesn't touch it. If you had a cheap set of optical digital speakers they would probably be low quality and may have that same noise you speak of.