Thanks for your opinions regarding audio. You may want to do some further research on which X-Fi's decode Dolby Digital and DTS.
I have a 5.1 system installed using the X-Fi Digital output to a reciever, right now... I bought the music version, but found out that I wanted to be able to use the mic for online gaming... Especially Compititions.
I have personal experiance with screwing up the 5.1 by accedently having the receiver and the soundblaster using two different effects. hehe...
You may notice that certain versions of PowerDVD wont output 5.1 sound.
The best system to use for Computer speakers is a 2.1 or 4.1 speaker system. Anything else is allot of waste, due to the restrictions of space. The worst thing you can do with speakers is to put them directly ontop of a desk. The highend will bounce all over the place, and the base doesnt have time to develop. But then again, what choices do you have...
I use a receiver because I found the computer system speakers to be less then what I wanted. They almost always are overpriced self amplified systems. I just waited for a sale at radioshack (RCA).
When I move I am going to buy a 35" LCD... I have a pair of thiel cs.5's, a B&W sub, and will be buying a pair of Thiel 3.5s, and a center channel (which I havent decided on). I also am going with a NAD receiver, for they are the only high current rated systems available.
The system will be as high end as I would ever want... I buy Thiels used, for the resale value is low. This is due to their 4 ohm ratings, and the complete lack of support by almost every acceptably priced receiver/amp.
4-5 years ago, they use to sell alot of 4 ohm 5.1 channel systems. Now with BOSE beign successfull in their marketing campaign and Thiel beign one of the few speaker companies that still use 4 ohms, the systems are changing towards low current small bookshelf speakers.
It is a shame that BOSE has destroyed their product line with such crap.
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If your interested in good sound, you got to start focusing on listening to them. You cant go to a store that has 50 speakers in one room, with a switch to go through them. This is because the unused speakers will act as a perfect sound environment. Couple that with the understanding that speaker placement is one of the most important aspects in sound quality and you will understand why. You need to go to a store that will bring in speakers and change them around.
When you compair speakers sound volume can change and impact the feel of the sound. I also recommend listening to speakers at reasonable sound levels, and even at low volumes. I found that when I bought my Thiels, I stopped listening to music at loud volumes. They were so clear, that I no longer needed a loud volume to hear all of the music.
You will notice that high end speakers dont seem to sound loud as you increase the volume past 80-100db... they just dont produce distortion, and we associate distortion with loud. This is why people who use headphones tend to have problems with their ears... The small speakers in headphones produce exceptional quality sound, and the noise levels often makes it hard to hear the headphones at reasonable levels. The only evidence you will have is the damn ringing sound you will hear for the rest of the day.
You will also find that they wont distort at any volume, and that if you do hit the point they distort, you will find yourself back at the store for replacement cones.
My Thiel CS.5's lowend speakers cost around $150 for replacements, Ive clipped them hard enough... twice
If you buy new, I really recommend B&W speaker systems. They are truely amazing value. The systems are amazing at $2k+ for a 5.1 system. No speaker enclosure should be less the 1 cubic foot.
The X-Fi has an amazing sound quality, and will work great with almost any speaker system on the market.
Again... These are home audio systems... Where you sit away from the speakers. Bookshelf speakers should be put on Stands, and not on desks, tables, end tables, mounted on walls etc...
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