-What I'm looking for-
I use my PC for almost everything, GAMES, MOVIES, MUSIC. I'm looking for the ultimate sound experience, espacially for gaming (since that's the main thing I do on a computer). Money is not object. I'm investing on my room to turn it into an ''Entertainment Center'' (LOL) and sound makes part of it. When I play a game, listen to music etc, I like to be immerge totally with sound all-around me. What about Logitech Z-5500 and G51??? Which one's the best??? And the others??? Let me know what you guys think.

Just to let you know how bad I put money into this, here's what I bought:
-Dell XPS 720 H2C:
-NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
-Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 OC'd to 3,67GHz
-Windows Vista Ultimate (64bit version)
-4GB Corsair Dominator OC'd to 1066MHz
-320GB Performance RAID 0 1st Hard Drive(2 x 160GB WD Raptor)
-320GB Seagate 2nd Hard Drive
-Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
-Dual 768MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 Ultra
-48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
-ATI Theater 650 PRO Combo Analog/Digital TV Tuner
-Samsung 22'' 226BW
-Eventually Logitech G15 Keyboard & G7 Mouse

Approximate cost: $8000+

Thank you guys for your help.

S1L3NoZ

Logitech Z5500 without a doubt

Wow, the Dell XPS 720 H2C's price starts at $4899 what a waste of money.

If I were to spend $8,000 on a system I would at least get the 30" Dell 3007WFP-HC monitor. All 22" monitors are crap.

I use the older Logitec Z-680 speakers for my HTPC system. The Z-680 was discontinued when Logitec released the Z-5500.

On my desktop system, I use the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers.

I didn't ask your opinion about if you like my monitor or not. And by the way, I'm really satisfied with it.

pauldh:
The room is 19' x 14'

strangestranger:
Thanks dude I'll go check this out.


Why are you guys arguing over my comp or monitor? What I asked is fairly simple. !!!SOUND SYSTEM!!! You guys are probably right for everything you said...no doubt about it. But, as for now, I've never been more happy to play games and you know what? That's what matters to me.

Let's get back on topic!!!

Thanks williamfontaine I'll check that out because I'll probably need headphones too.

Concerning the monitor. The Samsung 226BW is a great one for game, mayby not the best but, 2ms, 3000:1 contrast...etc, is fairly good enough for games. No ghosting if not very little...

I agree with the monitor choice, go 30 inches with that budget no doubt! Also the Logitech 5500 is a good choice, some of the higher end setups are overkill Ive found out, all depends on what you use it for. Shop around you can find the 5500s online for less than $300 shipped now.

I honestly think if you are going to spend z-5500 money you should just get a reciever and speaker package.. i have both the z-5500's and a yamaha reciever and speaker package. The yamaha package is just sooo much nicer. I have it set up for both digital out and set up using 3.5mm to rca cable converters so if I wanna play games and stuff I don't lose out on the EAX. That is just my 2 cents.

If money really is no object then why are you looking at rubbish computer 5.1 systems. As has already been said get a reciever and a proper speaker package. NOT satellite speakers real speakers and a proper reciever. Use the digital conections. Even better use hdmi to give you access to the latest surround formats.

My recomemdations:

For the reciever

http://www.avland.co.uk/yamaha/dspz11/dspz11.htm

For the speakers

http://www.avland.co.uk/ms/performance/performance.htm

That will give you the most amazing sound you have evr heard. It also allows you to make the most of the new lossles audio formats.

If I'm honest I would get 2 sets of the speakers to make use of the 11 channels the amp can deliver otherwise they are just wasted.

£10500x2 = £21000 for the speakers.
£5000 for the amp.
£2000 for the wiring (good quality wiring is essential)

Total = £28000 or
At current exchange rates $57,705.68

Plus the $8000 you have already spent which probably doesn't include the building of a dedicated room for it.

Surely your funds are not that limitless. If they are buy all that equipment and fly me to your house so I can please listen to it. Because my sound budget is about $5000 and I thought my system was good.

That setup would put almost every cinema to shame bar a select few.

Are you planning to roba ank any time soon?

Does anyone not think he looks like a weardo?

It's not too bad, about £250 for the full kit. But would you not feel a bit silly sitting there with your lights flashing and fans blowing in your face with your wrists vibrating while your other half is watching East Enders or some trash on the telly asking you kindly to keep the volume down? It seems like the kind of thing you see at some kind of an event and you keep asking one of your mates to go on so you can stand there and laugh at him while he looks like a complete tosser.

Settle on your sound system yet?
Bit late for a reply but I use a Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum with a front panel,connected via fiber optic cable to Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers.Make sure you have the Dolby and DTS bitsteams on the soundcard set to ON(external decoder) as the logitech control module handles the task.
Also using Zalman 5.1 headphones and an MXL Desktop recording microphone much to my satisfaction.

Built by me,for myself.
Note:this config is best suited for GAMING.
Movies and music are best served by other products.Soundcards are prone to electrical interference generated inside the case.Solutions are USB-DAC(DigitalAudioConverters)Burwen Bobcat,Stello DA100 and Stereo-Link1200 are a few options.Connect via RCA cables to your amp/receiver and onward to your favorite loudspeakers or 7.1 system.Here is an amazing .pdf link with some hardcore PC sound advice!!(always store CD files in lossless format i.e.FLAC etc. on your hard drive for best sound.
http://www.hifi500.com/30615_eprint.pdf

Wow badarthur-it's like on the Today Show when the $9 Champagne kicked the $5000+ champagne, eh?

Klipsch!! By far the best out there. The pro-media 5.1 or 2.1 are the best when coupled with a good quality sound card.