Noob Question: Spk Systems vis a vis AVR

njsrikar

hi,

I am looking for a good speaker system to enjoy music, games and movies via my desktop. I have used creative/altecs before and want to move a bit higher than those and check out what all these polk/onkyo/yamaha systems are about.

I want to start slow and low. I looked up the various sites n picked up two systems within my reach - yamaha ns-sp1800BL or polk RM6750.

I have learnt that having an AVR or an amp is a common thing for a high quality sound system, but I could not know whether they are a must, especially for the likes I mentioned above. So, I am looking for a very low budget, better quality sound. Will the above mentioned 5.1 systems work without an AVR or amp ?

As with most of the computers these days, my computer comes with a 5.1 channel sound card and also an optical out.

Please let me know.
Thank you.
Srikar

obieone

Welcome to Club Polk. Yes those are the types of speaker set-ups you'd want, as long as you have a digital out from the pc. I'd recommend the Pioneer VSX-819HK avr.
It's on Amazon for <$300.00
Good luck

njsrikar

Thank you.
so....does it mean I donot need an AVR or amp to use these systems ?

And I am assuming digital output means optical output ...plz correct me if am wrong.

Well...500$ for a audio system is out of my budget right now, am a student, and do not have a permanent residence as yet.

obieone

Whoops, sorry about that.
Those spkr kits DO need an external amplification source, i.e. an AVR.
If you shop around Amazon(new), or Audiogon(used), you could find a decent avr, for consideraby less.

njsrikar

ohhh.....alrighty.
Any chance of a good 5.1 avr for $100 or less ???

superjunior

njsrikar wrote: »

ohhh.....alrighty.
Any chance of a good 5.1 avr for $100 or less ???

I just sold my old 5.1 avr for 100.00 Shop around - craigs list, ebay, audiogon or the fm here. you shouldn't have a problem finding an avr in that price range that fits your needs. good luck and welcome to cp
jr

fbm211

Check ebay for good deals on Klipsch promedia 5.1 system.
Like these>>http://catalog.ebay.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-Ultra-5-1-5-Speakers-/66777752?_fifpts=1&_pcatid=372&_refkw=klipsch+promedia&_trksid=p3286.c0.m271

Or these>>http://cgi.ebay.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-4-1-THX-Cert-Computer-Speaker-System_W0QQitemZ180400338462QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Speakers?hash=item2a00b2b61e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

You will also want to upgrade the speaker cables for them.

njsrikar

thanks guys.

yea...the klipsch 4.1 looks good for me. started bidding.

njsrikar

and yea...i am checking craigslist, ebay and audiogon ...but unsure which one's in good condition ...i mean am a complete noob here and donot know what to look at when checking the condition of a used piece.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

which model sound card do you have?

Creative, Altec Lansing and Logitech make some nice powered speaker set-up's for PC usage

njsrikar

i have a realtek high def audio card with 7.1 channel support.

create and altec ....yes ...they are good enough. but as i mentioned, i would like to experience a lil better ones and want to know how different these high end systems are.

and logitech ?? its a big no no...i hv had bad experiences with it.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

the card you mention came as an add-on to a MOBO correct? ASUS mobo?

of course you could get better sound using "separates" but it will cost you! like i mentioned earlier you CAN find great sounding PC specific speaker's, just have to look around

njsrikar

mine is an alienware area-51 m0750 lappy.

Anywayz.... I found a yamaha 5.1 on ebay and bid on it expecting to lose, but fortunately or unfortunately i won the bid.

I am guessing I cannot connect it to my lappy directly. So can you guys suggest me a decent new/used AVR or amp(whatever is required) with which i can connect this yam 5.1 system to my lappy, please.. ?

thank you

njsrikar

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

the card you mention came as an add-on to a MOBO correct? ASUS mobo?

of course you could get better sound using "separates" but it will cost you! like i mentioned earlier you CAN find great sounding PC specific speaker's, just have to look around

well ya...you are right. but mine is a laptop, being thousands of miles away from home, i dont hv the luxury of a full blown desktop. i am a student and my housing is not permanent for more than an year. I dont want to lug around a desktop when i move my house.

just got into a lil spacious house today and thats y i started thinking of a good audio system for myself.

as you said....though the onboard soundcards these days are pretty good(esp of asus) ....a separate sound card has its own pluses.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

look's like you got a nice deal for $80! i saw this http://cgi.ebay.ca/YAMAHA-DSP-A1-Amplifier-amp-Home-Theater-Hi-End-X-Rare_W0QQitemZ280391482176QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item4148a27b40&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 in person the other day when i picked up a new to me preamp from that seller and it is in beautiful condition IMO

i don't know what your budget is but that should be able to hook up to your lappy and would be a good match and is reasonably priced IMO (admittedly i am impartial to Yamaha equipment ) That AVR is not the newest thing out there but at it's time it was a very high end unit IIRC

do you have a link to the soundcard?

njsrikar

sTiLlLeArNiNg wrote: »

look's like you got a nice deal for $80! i saw this http://cgi.ebay.ca/YAMAHA-DSP-A1-Amplifier-amp-Home-Theater-Hi-End-X-Rare_W0QQitemZ280391482176QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item4148a27b40&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 in person the other day when i picked up a new to me preamp from that seller and it is in beautiful condition IMO
do you have a link to the soundcard?

aww...thats 405$ ...nowhere near my budget. I am looking for something below the $100 range(as u can see,i bought a 81$ speaker set ). it doesnt have to be a yamaha/onkyo/polk types. just any generic one which can help me connect the yamaha 5.1 to my computer will do. any suggestions ???

well...the mobo on my m9750 is an intel chipset with realtek high def audio, supporting 7.1 channel and also has a digital output apart from the regular 3.5mm jack outputs. am not sure whether this soundcard is thx or dolby certified.

njsrikar

is an amplifier and receiver same ???

is receiver just a box to receive multiple inputs and route it to the appropriate output ?
am confused

kawizx9r

A receiver (AVR) is pretty much the sum of said components = Preamp + amplifier. An amplifier is the portion that's dedicated to powering said speakers. A preamp, also the processor, receives all signal sources IE playstation, tv, dvd/etc and processes that information and sends that signal out to the amplifier.

njsrikar

so will an amplifier suffice my needs here or should I have to buy a preamp+amplifier....to connect my yamaha 5.1 to my PC ?

kawizx9r

njsrikar wrote: »

so will an amplifier suffice my needs here or should I have to buy a preamp+amplifier....to connect my yamaha 5.1 to my PC ?

I only read and replied to your very last post, sorry.

If you have a receiver (your Yamaha I assume?) then you dont need to purchase a separate amplifier or preamp.

Like I mentioned a receiver is the combination of those two.

Since you're on a very strict budget, I do not recommend buying an external amplifier if you can't get yourself to buy one since a receiver can alone power your speakers. Just don't play them too loud, underpowering a pair of speakers can result in damage to said components as opposed to overpowering them.

njsrikar

this is the yamaha 5.1 speaker system am talking abt.

I read a few articles about AVRs and amplifiers. I know the basic meaning of amplifiers. But havent heard of a preamp till I started reading abt AVRs and such audio equipment.

So, what I want to do is to connect those yamaha 5.1 speakers to my PC. I believe these speakers do not have an inbuilt amplifier like PC speakers(altec lansing/creative)....is that correct ?

If so, could you please tell me if I have to buy a AVR or if I have to buy an amp, to use these speakers with my PC ?

kawizx9r

Yes, in order to use these speakers an AVR, also known as a receiver, is required.

njsrikar

ohkk....thank you for helping me figuring this thing out.
do you think i can get a decent new/used 5.1 receiver for around $100 ?

kawizx9r

I sold one for $40 dollars with some extra surround speakers, and I would've gotten rid of another for $100 that was a 6.1 but instead traded it + cash for something better.

So to answer your question, yes it is more than possible.

Just check out craigslist, thats where I sold one and where you'll find some on the cheap. Best thing you can do before purchasing something is checking it out and testing it to see if it works properly firsthand before forking over some cash. Gotta love local deals, goodluck to ya!

njsrikar

Alright. started checking craigslist.
thank you!

btw ...what do you think of that yamaha 5.1 speaker system ? ...i bought it for $82+$40shipping.

kawizx9r

Not bad, they look like in pretty good condition. If you're using this in a small setup with your computer or something I'd say you'll be more than pleased if you're used to running smaller powered computer speakers. Definitely a step up from that.

njsrikar

hmm okk....
i havent used anything other than creative/altec for my personal use till now. so ya, looking forward to using this yamaha system. i guess i missed a nice deal frm you.

kawizx9r

njsrikar wrote: »

hmm okk....
i havent used anything other than creative/altec for my personal use till now. so ya, looking forward to using this yamaha system. i guess i missed a nice deal with you.

Don't feel so bad, I didn't post them up on the forum nor did I have any intentions of shipping it anywhere.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

as kawizx9r mentioned it's better for you to find an AVR vs separate component's, and place's like craiglist, kijiji and ebay can/will save you some cash if you have the patience

when i linked that yamaha AVR it was at like $230! amazing what can happen in a few hour's! lol