Considering upgrading from 2.1 to 5.1 speakers

I mainly want to do this so I can take full advantage of my x-fi soundcard in games, and I heard that you need at least 5.1 to fully experience the sound capabilities of games (like battlefield). I currently have logitech x-230's (2.1) and I'm thinking of upgrading to logitech x-530's (they have a good price for relatively good quality).

How much of a difference does 5.1 make in terms of games? What about dvd's? For music, will it play through 2 speakers and subwoofer, or all of the speakers plus the subwoofer (if so, how does it sound? better or worse?)? Is it worth it?

Also, the only thing I can put all the speakers on is a desk, and I have room for 2 speakers on each side of my monitor (for a total of 4 speakers on the desk, with 2 next to each other on the left and right side, if that makes sense), but the only place that I can think of putting the center channel speaker is on the monitor. Is this ok or will it cause problems (and does it necessarily have to be in the center)? Is there anywhere else to put it? And will sound quality be affected if I put the two speakers that go on the right next to each other?

Sorry for all the questions, but if possible, could you please answer ALL of them, because I want to make sure I don't waste my money.

Thanks.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

5.1 systems are really cheap right now, so I'd go for it. I was thinking the same thing about a year ago, and it was worth every penny.

Why can't you put the speakers behind you? It won't sound very good if you have 5 speakers up front. Also, the center speaker is supposed to go on the monitor. Most center speakers have a stand that clasps onto the front edge of the monitor.

Overall, you get a much nicer sound, becuase the sound is all around you. In games, you'll most likely have 6 (5) dedicated channels of audio, so if an enemy sneaks up behind you on the right, it will come out of the rear right speakers and bleed into the other ones as it's position (or your position) changes. If you are listening to music, or a source that only has 2 dedicated channels, then the rear and center speakers will play the same audio (the rear speakers playing L and R, with the center speaker mixing the two channels together.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Are the left and right surround speakers supposed to go behind me? Since I only have a desk, how could I do that? Would they still work fine if I put them as far left and right as possible (like at the near edge of the desk)?

And would the center channel speaker cause magnetic disturbance to the monitor (do you know if the center channel logitech x-530's attach to the monitor, because no center channel speakers I've ever seen look like they have something that attaches to it). And one more thing- does attack the center channel speaker to the monitor shake it or change the way it sounds because of the different surface it's on?

Thanks.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

Are the left and right surround speakers supposed to go behind me?

Erm... yes. It's surround sound.

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

Since I only have a desk, how could I do that? Would they still work fine if I put them as far left and right as possible (like at the near edge of the desk)?

You could put them on more desks, or you can hang them on the wall (most come with a slot for a nail or something).

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

And would the center channel speaker cause magnetic disturbance to the monitor[?]

Most likely not, as they are shielded.

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

[Do] you know if the center channel logitech x-530's attach to the monitor, because no center channel speakers I've ever seen look like they have something that attaches to it).

I don't know. And the attachment isn't really an attachment, it's just a stand that curls over the edge of any surface.

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

And one more thing- does attack the center channel speaker to the monitor shake it or change the way it sounds because of the different surface it's on?

Not unless you've got a 200-watt sub ontop of your monitor.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/soundcard/sound3.shtml

The third picture (the one with the surround/rear speakers on the same table) is the best I can do. Will this still give me a surround sound feeling or will it just produce an awkward sound?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/soundcard/sound3.shtml

The third picture (the one with the surround/rear speakers on the same table) is the best I can do. Will this still give me a surround sound feeling or will it just produce an awkward sound?

It certainly won't be surround. What's preventing you from buying a couple stands, or even improvising some with home-brew materials? You have no other furniture or objects in the room in appropriate places that you could set the two surround channels?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I recently got the speakers, and I want to use extension cords to place the surround speakers behind me. However, the surround audio jack is connected to the right speaker and that goes into the audio jack in the computer. The actual surround speakers are connected to the subwoofer, but they aren't connected through an audio jack. They use this relatively thick cord that has a blunt needle sort of plug that goes into the subwoofer. The problem is, all the extension cords I've seen so far are for audio jacks only; are there any for those specific cables (I think they're called rca cables)? If so, could you give me a link to some good ones? Will the extension cable affect quality?

Also, for videogames, if they are placed about 12 feet behind me, will it make a difference in quality? Are they made to be closer?

And one more thing, I had my monitor off for a while because I wasn't using the computer, and the center speaker was on top of the monitor. When I turned it on, the screen was shaking. The speakers are supposed to be shielded, right? Is this normal? Will this happen again if I put the center speaker in the back of the monitor?

Thanks.

FELIPE NO

For cables of any kind I usually check Radio Shack. Not sure if you can get them cheaper somewhere else, but it's a start.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

What are those cables called?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Speaker cable. With RCA ends. Ask for this at radio shack, and I'm sure they can help. Make sure to ask for EXTENSION cable.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I have 2 more questions- For the logitech x-530 subwoofer, what direction should it be facing you? Should the hole (with the logo underneath it) be facing you or the silver circle?

Also, what is the best place to put the subwoofer? I have under the back of my desk right now, about a foot away from my feet. Would you recommend I put it elsewhere?

Most amazing jew boots

The direction it faces doesn't make a huge difference. If it is a ported box, then you'd rather the air not blow directly onto anything.

Relatively weak subwoofers are usually best about 1' from the wall in a corner, the model you have falls under this category. Strong subwoofers are sometimes best to keep away from the walls otherwise the sound gets too 'boomy'.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Alright, I have everything sorted out with the extension cables now. I just have two more questions: the cables run across the floor against the walls, so the metal parts of the place where the extension cable meets the normal cable is exposed (by metal parts i mean the male connector for the original speak cable, and the female connector for the extension cable). Since the metal is exposed and it is on the floor, will any damage be done to it (like from dust collecting on it)?

And also, is it harmful to place your subwoofer next to your pc tower case? Will the shaking cause any problems? How far away should you place it from the case in general?

Thanks.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I would not allow the subwoofer to be put next to the pc case, it wouldn't be good for the internal components especially the hard disk.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?