Speaker set for an external Audigy 2 USB: why not standard active surround set?

[Buster]

Hi all,

I recently bought an external USB-connected Sound Blaster Audigy 2.
I'm quite happy with the box, and apart from the PC (through USB) it
can be connected stand-alone to any device through both an analog
(mini-jack) or digital (optical) outputs. It also has optical outputs
and direct 6.1 outputs. So apparently I can directly connect a
subwoofer and 6 satellites to it and it decodes de 6.1 signal out of
any source. I've tried connecting it to my home DVD through the
optical in/out and the sond on a pair of Sennheiser headphones is
pretty good.

Logically, my next step is getting rid of my computer speakers and
getting a set that leverage the sound quality I get out of the box,
like in the range of $200-$350. My first options were
computer-targeted models such as those from Cambridge Soundworks
Desktop Theater 5.1, Klipsch ProMedia 6.1 (not available in Spain but
they look awesome), Altec Lansing 5100 or Logitech Z-680.

But then I thought--If I am about to spend $300 in a speaker set, why
not going for longer time known brands such as Onkyo, Harman&Kardon or
Bose?

My intention is to use the speakers for both the computer and the
living-room, connecting them to the sound card and then the sound card
optically to the DVD output.

I know the output from the sound-card's not amplified, but that's what
the amplifier inside the subwoofer is for, isn't it?

So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?

Thanks very much, your help is greatly appreciated.

[Ben Pope]

Buster wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I recently bought an external USB-connected Sound Blaster Audigy 2.
<snip>
> Logically, my next step is getting rid of my computer speakers and
> getting a set that leverage the sound quality I get out of the box,
> like in the range of $200-$350. My first options were
> computer-targeted models such as those from Cambridge Soundworks
> Desktop Theater 5.1, Klipsch ProMedia 6.1 (not available in Spain but
> they look awesome), Altec Lansing 5100 or Logitech Z-680.
>
> But then I thought--If I am about to spend $300 in a speaker set, why
> not going for longer time known brands such as Onkyo, Harman&Kardon or
> Bose?
>
> My intention is to use the speakers for both the computer and the
> living-room, connecting them to the sound card and then the sound card
> optically to the DVD output.
>
> I know the output from the sound-card's not amplified, but that's what
> the amplifier inside the subwoofer is for, isn't it?

What subwoofer?

> So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
> subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
> differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
> exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?

I suspect that the active subwoofer is an amplified sub, but that the other
speakers are not amplified.

Point us in the direction of a specific speaker set and we'll be able to
tell you.

I agree with you that it would seem to make more sense to go your route, but
usually you will find yourself purchasing a 6 channel amp that does 5.1 /
6.1 or whatever decoding (as they just tend to) along with the speakers in
order to amplify them. This can then take you well outside of your budget.

The other option would likely be 3 stereo amps (they only need to be power
amps, you should be able to do all the other stuff such as balance, input
select etc on the sound card). Also not likely cheap if you are purchasing
new and including the cost in your budget.

Ben
--
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...

[Arny Krueger]

"Buster" > wrote in message
om
>
> So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
> subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
> differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
> exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?

This seems like an off-topic question for a group specializing in audio
production, and a good question for a group specializing in PC sound cards:
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech
or home theater:
alt.home-theater.misc .

[Ben Bradley]

In alt.comp.periphs.soundcard.sblive,
comp.dsp,
rec.audio.pro,
"Arny Krueger" > wrote:

>"Buster" > wrote in message
om
>>
>> So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
>> subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
>> differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
>> exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?
>
>This seems like an off-topic question for a group specializing in audio
>production,

It seems off-topic for comp.dsp too.

Would you like FFT's with that?

>and a good question for a group specializing in PC sound cards:
>comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech
>or home theater:
>alt.home-theater.misc .
>
>
>

[Buster]

Thanks for the pointer and sorry about the off-topic. I'm kinda newbie
on the google use. Just posted them there.

Best regards

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message >...
> "Buster" > wrote in message
> om
> >
> > So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
> > subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
> > differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
> > exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?
>
> This seems like an off-topic question for a group specializing in audio
> production, and a good question for a group specializing in PC sound cards:
> comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech
> or home theater:
> alt.home-theater.misc .

[Buster]

Hi Ben et al,

thanks much for your interest. I understand that in the
computer-oriented systems I mentioned (Klipsch, Cambridge Soundworks,
logitech etc.) the tweeters are amplified from the same subwoofer? it
is clear that the subwoofer is not doing the 5.1 decoding as that's
done in the sound card...

this idea came to me after seeing something that is becoming
increasingly popular here for cheap home theater systems with just a
DVD and the speaker set. I understand that in those systems the DVD is
doing the 5.1 decoding and then the speaker set is amplyfing both the
subwoofer and the satellites with the amplifier embedded in the
subwoofer.... that's basically what I would need here, ain't it?

About my choice, I was looking at systems such as the Onkyo SKS-HT510,
the Harman&Kardon HKTS12, the Cerwin Vega AVS 5.1 and V500, or the JBL
SCS150SI. The prices vary a little but I can be flexible depending on
the quality/price ratio. I'm open to other suggestions of course.

The question is, will any of these work correctly connected to the
outputs of my external Audigy 2? will they sound better than those
from Klipsch or Cambridge Soundworks?

thanks much for the help, it's greatly appreciated


"Ben Pope" > wrote in message >...
> Buster wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I recently bought an external USB-connected Sound Blaster Audigy 2.
> <snip>
> > Logically, my next step is getting rid of my computer speakers and
> > getting a set that leverage the sound quality I get out of the box,
> > like in the range of $200-$350. My first options were
> > computer-targeted models such as those from Cambridge Soundworks
> > Desktop Theater 5.1, Klipsch ProMedia 6.1 (not available in Spain but
> > they look awesome), Altec Lansing 5100 or Logitech Z-680.
> >
> > But then I thought--If I am about to spend $300 in a speaker set, why
> > not going for longer time known brands such as Onkyo, Harman&Kardon or
> > Bose?
> >
> > My intention is to use the speakers for both the computer and the
> > living-room, connecting them to the sound card and then the sound card
> > optically to the DVD output.
> >
> > I know the output from the sound-card's not amplified, but that's what
> > the amplifier inside the subwoofer is for, isn't it?
>
> What subwoofer?
>
> > So my question is: Is there any reason why a classical active
> > subwoofer speaker set from Harman&Kardon or Bose would work
> > differently than those from Creative, Logitech or Klipsch? Are they
> > exactly the same thing and would work equally connected to the Audigy?
>
> I suspect that the active subwoofer is an amplified sub, but that the other
> speakers are not amplified.
>
> Point us in the direction of a specific speaker set and we'll be able to
> tell you.
>
> I agree with you that it would seem to make more sense to go your route, but
> usually you will find yourself purchasing a 6 channel amp that does 5.1 /
> 6.1 or whatever decoding (as they just tend to) along with the speakers in
> order to amplify them. This can then take you well outside of your budget.
>
> The other option would likely be 3 stereo amps (they only need to be power
> amps, you should be able to do all the other stuff such as balance, input
> select etc on the sound card). Also not likely cheap if you are purchasing
> new and including the cost in your budget.
>
> Ben