Surround Sound Speakers

[Traveller]

Just got a Sound Blaster Live card. What do you recommend for a good set of surround sound speakers?

[Nathan]

Depends on how much you want to spend. Look at some of the other threads. They have info and links to other speaker manufacturers. I have surround sound speakers. I think they are the greatest thing since slice bread.

[BobB]

I have the Cambridge Soundworks set (subwoofer and 4 speakers, $99)and I'm hooked. I don't ever want regular stereo again. Cambridge Soundworks was just bought by Creative Labs, so if your soundcard is new, you might have a discount voucher with your warranty paperwork. Go for it!

[This message has been edited by BobB (edited 07-06-99).]

[Bleeding Edge]

As Nathan said, It really depends on price and how good 'good' is..

The Cambridge BobB recommends is a good inexpensive set. Their MicroWorks series is much better by far but costs more. The Altec-Lansing Pro-Logic speakers for the front, augmented with a seperate set of SoundWorks (or another set of lesser Altecs) for the rear, will give a decent sound and a nice punch from two subs.

The best choice is to pass the signal thru a A/V digital hometheater receiver/amp and then on to a "real" set of speakers.

Barring that, the next best choice is not to use computer speakers and instead get an entry level hometheater powered-sub and connect a pair of corresponding satellites to it. This way you'll have a nearly unlimited choice.

Only as a example of a suggestion, an inexpensive home audio sub from Yamaha, model numbers YST-SW45 ~ SW90 www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/gSPK00010 (http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/gSPK00010) and a pair of SuperZeros from NHT www.nhthifi.com/nht/roomexplorer/list.html (http://www.nhthifi.com/nht/roomexplorer/list.html) would give you incredible sound quality from the SBL -incredible!

I wish I had thought of doing this for my system. But the Altec Pro-Logics and Soundworks combo I use is good enough for the purpose, I suppose. Much more cost efficient at least.

But I know, from purchasing nice speakers for my home-audio, that everytime, everytime sound comes out of those speakers I whisper *wow*

I've had them for quite awhile now and they still amaze me..

So the choice and the final decision is yours Traveller. Choose well. And remember that what may sound good to one person may not, to the next.

But you may be doing yourself a favor by taking the time to experience hifi sound, if only to know it's difference.


[This message has been edited by Bleeding Edge (edited 07-07-99).]