View Full Version : Need help picking out speakers for my X-fi
So I ended up having a somewhat FREE X-fi Extreme Music card. But now realizing that it dosen't fit with my speakers. See I got these old "Viking 5.1" (no info on the net about them) - but there is only a red and a white cable going out of the subwoofer and into one green line out on the audio card. And it sounds TERRIBLE, sounded better on my stock Realtek.
So anyway I need some new 5.1 speakers to do the X-fi justice. (for the price)
My choice stands between the Logitech X-530 for the "safe" choice
- and a "Typhoon Acoustic 5.1 AS Design" http://www.typhoonline.com/en/art.php?p=809&pv=3
The Typhoon is supposed to be home theater, but I'll mainly be using it for games and music. Now I've heard the bass on the Logitech is abit weak,
while all the other models of Typhoon has gotten some really nice reviews - but how will it fare with games?
Lastly if u look at the picuters of the cables from the link I gave, thers a green, red and white. Now the manual to my X-fi says theres supposed to be a green, black and yellow - does this mean anything?
My current 5.1 only got a red and white, and it really dosent work at all
guillaume
08-14-06, 12:36 PM
I'm interested in suggestions too, as I'm in the same situation than SoA.
guillaume
08-14-06, 12:47 PM
how about Z-5300e, are these good (and compatible with X-fi)?
Mr. Roboto
08-14-06, 12:51 PM
Well, i have the z-5500's, and wile i like them, alot of people here don't. They say they are too bassy, which they are, but with some tweaking they sound nice. Of course the best way to go is a reciever + real speakers, but it might be out of your price range. What is your price range btw?
guillaume
08-14-06, 01:08 PM
I'm hijacking SoA's thread here :rolleyes:
...but I was not looking at spending a fortune. Anything below $200 would be nice.
Mr. Roboto
08-14-06, 01:32 PM
The 5300e's are a good choice in my opinion anyways. They've got some nice power and hit hard. I'm sure someone will be along to rip on logitech pretty soon though haha.
guillaume
08-14-06, 01:45 PM
well, their price is certainly right!
Well I've been crossposting abit to find a solution and for my problem at least I found this http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14309
So far so good. As for the speakers, I can't get the z-5300, or any z's really - (Im from DK - stupid ass european country) anyway, I *think* I'm gonna go with the Typhoon, it's abit more pricy but by comparison it does look pretty nifty.
Although, I'm still not quite sure on how a "home theater" system will work for games? I mean the sound in a movie is way more, well "fluent" then say a first person shooter with constant gun fire? right?
btw, IIRC I read some about "magnetic shielding" to insure health of hardware, well the Typhoon dosent have that (not stated anyways) - so what kind of features to look for? Any rule of thumbs?
-_{MoW}_-Assasi
08-15-06, 03:03 AM
i hav some X-530s, theyre nice, but if i had the money, i would most certainly take the Z-5300 and Z-5500, for an X-Fi, it deserves the best ;)
crossed_wires
08-15-06, 10:10 AM
SOA, actually a lot of games nowadays are in surround sound (Dolby Digital is the most common it seems). Even first person shooters, like BF2 can benefit from surround sound because instead of simply hearing gunfire, you not only feel it, you know if it came from your back right, back left, front right, etc...
Okey heads up. Found a manual for the Typhoon and it seems the connection issue is completly solved. But after endless amounts of reviews I've dumbed the logictech and insted its now down to still either the Typhoon or my new contestor, Creative Inspire T6060 - which I've heard alot of good things about.
Now connection is no longer a problem- I just gotta find out which is better.
I REALLY REALLY ReALLY cant decide! I've heard alot of good things about the Inspire and Creative, but other then that everything points in Typhoons direction - heck even the price is tagged to "777" (danish kr.)
(just a comparision
Typhoon
99 Watt
14 Watts 5x satelite
29 Watts Subwoofer
Satellite frequency response: 130Hz-20KHz
Distortion: 0.3% at 1W 1KHz
S/N Ratio: >85dB
Inspire T6060
72 Watt
8 Watts RMS per channel (4 channel)
18 Watts RMS center channel
22 Watts RMS subwoofer
Satellite frequency response 40Hz ~ 20kHz
S/N Ratio 80dB
The Main difference between the two would be the frequency range, and the fact that the Typhoon has no center, but does have two tower front satelites.
So all in all, which is most important to succed in for a speaker? I personally like loud bangs all around, and I suppose the bigger frequency range the more bass for the satelites rights? but then again the Typhoon got more watts for its satelites.
The Typhoon is tadmore expensive, I suppose u get x amount of more quality by that? (of course that could also just be for the design) - another one for Typhoon
And of course, the design of the Typhoon is amazing (aswell as the name)
I dunno...I would have to have a center. In games it makes all the difference hearing a sniper shot that whizzed past you from 300 yards instead of sounding like it came from the right AND the left leaving you looking for the shooter.
well thats an execelent point there... wouldn have thought of that :-S
But wouldn the "center" satelite work as a good enough substiute?
You said it only has two tower front speakers and no center? what do you mean center satalite?
Terranova
08-15-06, 05:40 PM
well i dont have an x-fi but i have an audigy 2zs with the Z-5500 speakers. i totally agree that they are a bit bassy at times butits not like you dont have control over it. i really really really like these speakers they put off some great sound quality and im constantly getting neighbors to tell me to turn the D**N things down (they are at least 200 feet away form my house) doors closed windows closed its great. they are a bit on the spendy side btu you can find some AWSOME deals on certain sites. got mine for 190 bucks which is almost a steal. but ya there are logitech ahters but i like em they work for me cheers :beer:
Well look for yourself (please)
http://www.typhoonline.com/en/art.php?p=809&pv=3
No center SPEAKER - it has 2 rear satelites 2 front towers and 1 satelite in the middle, acting, I suppose, as a center . - but it does have the usual "center" outlet on the back of the amblifire.
But while the Typhoon succeds in having a higer SNR ratio and the Creative succeding in frequency respons - which are the better?
or in my defination - which one has the satiltes with the most power (bass)?
Then again Wings really is right then theres no question about it - but there is a center "satelite" speaker - I just dont know if thats the same as a normal center?
Fathom1990
08-16-06, 09:03 AM
Well look for yourself (please)
http://www.typhoonline.com/en/art.php?p=809&pv=3
No center SPEAKER - it has 2 rear satelites 2 front towers and 1 satelite in the middle, acting, I suppose, as a center . - but it does have the usual "center" outlet on the back of the amblifire.
But while the Typhoon succeds in having a higer SNR ratio and the Creative succeding in frequency respons - which are the better?
or in my defination - which one has the satiltes with the most power (bass)?
Then again Wings really is right then theres no question about it - but there is a center "satelite" speaker - I just dont know if thats the same as a normal center?
Centre, centre satellite, it's all the same
okey - 7 min to go before todays delivery ends - how much will the extra 90 hz on the satelites on the creative give for a boost?
BloodbathMK
08-19-06, 11:12 PM
i second the x530 best bang for the buck, got them new for 40 bucks from newegg.
BossBorot
08-20-06, 01:45 AM
i second the x530 best bang for the buck, got them new for 40 bucks from newegg.
if you are looking at best bang for you buck speakers you shouldnt have an x-fi. IMO you should always spend more on your speakers then on your sound card unless you find a really good deal on the speakers. The x530 just does not do the x-fi justice. In that price range, in computer gaming oriented speakers, I would look at the z5300e or the megaworks g500. The megaworks are less boomy then logitech speakers and recreate sounds better, but most people like unrealistic boomy subs for some reason so they aviod them. You can get the megaworks g500 here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16836116160) it has a 50 dollar MIR to go with it too.
Firey_chasm
08-21-06, 10:07 AM
i know this isn't of much use to the OP, but the z-5500 are amazing, if you use default settings then yes there is alot of bass, but this can easily be changed. I use it with an x-Fi fatality soundcard.
ryanmartini
08-22-06, 06:55 PM
Klipsch 5.1..
They reproduce sound and bass to a more refined quality than logitechs big amp = big boom approach. Thats just me though.
Sir Barton
08-22-06, 07:52 PM
Ive always been partial to the receiver with some kickin floor speakers and a pair of bookshelves :). A receiver with decent speakers sounds much better than computer speakers IMO. I used to have Klipsches, but they just dont compare to the real deal. No doubt theyre excellent speakers, but theyre still computer speakers ;).
PottaCoola
08-26-06, 07:53 PM
i got the z-5300 too and just brought a SB x-fi elite pro, yes they is bassy but yes you can turn it down and still keep the quality. IMO logitech are britty good but i did only get them because the creative was 500w which is a bit much but even with 310w next door still complain. Btw is anyone getting 5.1 sound with the optical out on a x-fi? I can only get the front 3 speakers to work with optical so im using the 3 cables on the back of the card which makes the extra £80 for the elite pro a waste.
Firey_chasm
08-30-06, 03:57 AM
i got the z-5300 too and just brought a SB x-fi elite pro, yes they is bassy but yes you can turn it down and still keep the quality. IMO logitech are britty good but i did only get them because the creative was 500w which is a bit much but even with 310w next door still complain. Btw is anyone getting 5.1 sound with the optical out on a x-fi? I can only get the front 3 speakers to work with optical so im using the 3 cables on the back of the card which makes the extra £80 for the elite pro a waste.
for films I use optical and get the full 5.1. for games I'm pretty sure that the F/C/B/S cables are the only way to get true surround sound. But I use mine mainly for films/music now :) hehe
if you are having problems with surround sound in films you might need to edit settings in your player
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