how to hook up 5.1 surround to pc? what amp?

[Pr3d4t0r]

Hey audiophiles of oc3d;

first of all my audio knowledge is very limited, I know about analogue and digital stuff and different formats but I've no clue how to go about getting 2 front + 2 back + centre(all 100w 8ohm) + sub (passive 4ohm) hooked up to a pc.

I can get a very good offer on decent 5.1 speakers setup without amp/receiver. Pioneer ssl100 + sslw500.

Im currently using asus dgx (im looking to get d2x soon if it makes any difference), Im only after audio, not bothered with hdmi out etc. as I will still use my monitors and im not watching tv enough to justify buying one.

Im willing to spend upto £100 for something that will defo work.

I've been looking at pioneer vsx-s300-k (found some cheap ones on ebay etc.) which by the looks has all the outs that I would need but how would I hook it up to a pc? optical in is enough to drive all speakers?

please help me out :3


EDIT:

just found this, would this work?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-1-2-1Channel-AC3-DTS-Audio-Gear-Digital-Surround-Sound-Rush-Decoder-HD-player-/271838163698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f4ad132f2

 

[Tolemac]

HI firstly you will most probably need 3x 3.5mm jacks to 2 RCA leads then on your sound card or back panel of your pc you should have a green socket thar's for the 2 front speaker out the black is surround out and the Orange is for centre subwoofer if you get stuck let me know Optical leads provide the Digital signal but it would have to go into a 5.1 amplifier for it to work mate. the 3.5mm jacks are for analogue only so it will depend on what 5.1 amplifier you get as to how you will connect it

EDIT: You could go fibre optic cable from your pc to that decoder then 3 x 2 rca leads from the decoder to the amplifier

I hope this helps )

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

okay I see,

so the decoder is just an adapter from optical to rca, so that's pretty much useless w/o amp.

but issue number 1, the pioneer sl100 and slw500 use terminal connections rather than rca, I guess i would just need some terminal to rca female or just get some copper wires and solder.

issue number 2, ohms; manual says that centre is 8ohms while sub is 4ohms, is my dgx 9or d2x) capable of powering the passive speakers and if I split centre/sub to 2 rca's would centre only get 4ohms or would both run on 8ohms (assuming card can handle it).


but if its just a matter of plugging it in and it works than its a lot simpler than I expected.

Right now im considering buying them anyway and finding a way to work since they are for £25 for 5.0 +sub reduced from £100.

 

[Tolemac]

The decoder decodes the digital signal to analogue however most 5.1 amplifiers have a built in decoder
just make sure it says DTS or THX or Dolby digital I have the dgx also which run my roccat kaves could you not just get a 5.1 pc speaker set Microlab do some really good ones for under £100 and they will come with all the leads just hook it up to your sound card and Bobs yer aunties live in lover 5.1 surround but make sure you set you speaker configuration up in windows to 5.1

 

[Lazlo]

If your soundcard has an optical or digital out (rca) and you get an amp/receiver with corresponding in you are all set. No witchcraft to it. You just choose the source on the amp. And set the windows audio device to the digital out. Since amp will function as the digital audio converter (dac) the soundcard makes absolutly no difference.

 

[Terrifictez85]

Have you actually bought the 5.1 speakers?
Mine has 3 cables (Orange, Black + Green) that plug into the motherboard and main speaker. Is pretty simple to set up, just shit tonne of wires from all of the speakers lol

 

[Tolemac]

I dont think he has bought an amp yet he just saw the speakers on e-bay but to power them he would ofc need an amp
which could end up more costly than just buying a half decent set of 5.1 pc speakers

 

[PCgamingnoob]

If you don't buy a DAC or get a receiver/integrated amp with the DAC built in you will suffer. Soundcards suck. You want an outboard DAC. USB is the best audio transport from a PC. It's the only thing audiophiles use.

 

[NeverBackDown]

If you don't buy a DAC or get a receiver/integrated amp with the DAC built in you will suffer. Soundcards suck. You want an outboard DAC. USB is the best audio transport from a PC. It's the only thing audiophiles use.

Stop reviving old threads to get your post count up.. jesus.. This thread is nearly 2 months old. You shouldn't be giving audio advice either.. USB comment made me laugh. Look on high end audio equipment.. they don't use USB for transporting audio. USB is only used for mobile device connections.

/thread

 

[Kushiro]

Did I miss something

 

[hmmblah]

Stop reviving old threads to get your post count up.. jesus.. This thread is nearly 2 months old. You shouldn't be giving audio advice either.. USB comment made me laugh. Look on high end audio equipment.. they don't use USB for transporting audio. USB is only used for mobile device connections.

/thread

3 months is the cutoff. He was well within the time limit to post to this thread.