Best 7.1 Speaker Sound System

[sirloganthestud]

I was wondering what the best 7.1 channel sound system for gaming is. It also has to be decent for music, movies, etc. Thanks!

[hardnrg]

What's your budget? The "best" could cost like $400,000 lol... also how big is your room? Space for satellites or bookshelf speakers... etc etc

[Crazy_Nate]

6 x http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcint...loudspeaker.asp

1 x http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcint...nel-speaker.asp

7 x http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcint...r-amplifier.asp

1 x http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcint...a-converter.asp

 

Run digital straight to the D/A converter...then to 7 monoblocks.

 

How am I doing monetarily?

[sirloganthestud]

Yeah, I was just wondering. I'm not planning on actually buying anything right now, at least, but I was just curious. Max price I was thinking about though, is $2000. Maybe a little higher, but something around that. Thanks!

[Hyper Threaded]

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com Edited May 16, 2009 by Hyper Threaded

[sirloganthestud]

Crazy_Nate,

 

How much would that particular sound system cost? Also, what subwoofer would you suggest? Thanks!

[Crazy_Nate]

Probably about half a million...somewhere in there (it was slightly sarcastic).

 

Realistically, I'd look at an Onkyo or Denon receiver, with Axiom speakers. Those speakers will probably be around $1700 for an entry level 7.1 package . Or, you can look at going a little higher quality with their M22's as fronts, but to keep your budget, you'd have to go with less speakers (or add extra surrounds when you could afford them).

Edited May 16, 2009 by Crazy_Nate

[sirloganthestud]

Thanks Crazy_Nate. I know I need speakers (duh), a subwoofer, and A/V reciever, but what else would I need to hook it up to my computer? Thanks!

[Crazy_Nate]

I'd recommend a dedicated sound card capable of full 7.1 digital pass through (and letting the receiver decode). Then you'd just need a single coax or optical (toslink) cable

 

I've run sound through my receiver before, generally the output levels for the analog sound cards are not as high as analog levels from dedicated devices (say...a cd player) - so, I would have to crank up the volume on the receiver to compensate. There may be some exceptions, but digital shouldn't have any problems with levels.

[sirloganthestud]

Could I just run the cables strait from the sound card to the speakers/subwoofer and skip the receiver? And if so, what kind of cable would i need? Thanks!

[Crazy_Nate]

Powered subwoofer...yes, if there's a jack on the card for a sub. Speakers, no. They need power to make sound. Trying to drive full size speakers with a sound card, not going to happen!

[sirloganthestud]

So how would I hook up the receiver to the graphics card using only one cable? What port on the sound card would I plug the cable into?