Yeah, pray for a cheap set of Onkyos… for some reason I can’t find those models in sweden and it makes me cry inside… For some reason we only have their receivers and no sets.
I’ve had a 6.1 Onkyo HT system for a couple years now, and it’s great. Reasonably priced and it delivers great sound.
I’ve had both the Klipsch and high-end Logitech speakers for pc’s, and the Klipsch’s are way better. Most of the Logitech’s I’ve had are cheap silver plastic with shitty subs.
One thing about unamplified speakers (the kind that need an external amplifier like a receiver) is they have a much longer shelf life than any other consumer electronics device, you can always find use for another sound system. Wes uses a set of early 1970s EV speakers that are still pleasant to listen to (they’re really friendly to the ears although modest on the high detail and lack deep bass making them more ideal for music). Even my first receiver I still use, so between my 3 and a few sets of speakers I have pretty much every room wired up with sound systems in my house. So if you invest in the SR600s, you can count on having them years later and finding some use for the components.
But if you could, rob a local connivence store so you can get the SR800s, as they come with a full fledge receiver.
My EVs are circa 1968, but the point still stands. Invest in decent passive speakers and they’ll serve you for a very long time… maybe even 40 years.
I know 5.1 is the standard for home theater, but I’m not convinced there’s really much need for a center channel. I have the Paradigm CC-350 and only sometimes use it. If you only want surround sound for whiz-bang type effects you could consider getting a decent pair of bookshelf speakers as your mains and a cheap set of rears like these or these. Add in a used 5.1 receiver and you could have a sweet little setup.
Thanks Greg! And everyone! I think I’m gonna order the refurbished set… nothing wrong with that, right? Especially since it’s coming from the manufacturer.
Wow, you’re unconvinced you need a center Wes? I 100% disagree with your statement. I generally see the center channel and front L/R as the only crucial elements, it allows much better separation of sound and isolation, you can always turn up the center channel relative to the rest of the system and allows a definitive source for dialogue. Movies are a strong case for a center channel, as even my JBLs which have fantastic dispersion sounded only better with my Paradigm.
If you’re looking to unload the CC-350, I’ll take it as my bedroom has a laughable center. Gaming makes extremely good use of the center channel as in games like Halo, voice coms come out of the center channel and all the environmental effects the rest, it makes it much more coherent..
I agree with Greg. Movies really suck without a center channel because it’s really hard to hear the dialogue. If your just using it for music, then sure, the center channel is unnecessary.
Oh, horsefeathers… unless you’re sitting way off to the side, have your speakers next to walls, or you just have shitty mains, the only difference between a 4.1 and a 5.1 setup is a few hundred dollars in the pockets of the speaker manufacturer. Now they’re trying to convince us that even five isn’t enough… six, seven, eight… I think they’re up to twenty-two now. Its all about selling speakers, although at least the 22.2 format adds an extra axis.
Alrighty… I just got the speakers system in yesterday and got it connected to my computer using a digital coaxial cable. So far it’s really nice, however the only gripe I have is that when I listen to music there’s some static coming from the L/R speakers… and that’s the only 2 any sound comes out of… nothing from the sub either… When I go to play a DVD on the computer everything is fine… and it sounds SWEET. I’m just wondering if I have to use different connections to get rid of the static that they produce… Any ideas?
What speaker system? What sort of static? Is it only when there’s volume?
Music is stereo. Notably you’ll have to setup Prologic on your receiver assuming you bought the Onkyos. However, the sub should be ever present if receiver is configured properly.
The Revolution’s whatever-the-fuck (I never remember the name) CSII only works with analog seeing as it’d have to encode the audio to AC3 in order to transmit 5.1 via SPDIF, which of course it can’t.
Okay, yes, I did get the Onkyo system. The static/noise that you hear only comes when I listen to anything besides watching a DVD. When I play a DVD using Apple’s DVD player, the receiver goes into surround sound mode and everything sounds awesome.
Now, the noise/static itself isn’t really audible, the music usually drowns it out… but nothing comes out of the sub when I listen to music, just the front left and right speakers. Would connecting analog cables resolve the issue?
