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Question

Surround for PC: Pre-Packaged "Home Theater" vs Other

Mar 15, 2018 7:02AM PDT

So I want to know some opinions on this. I use my PC for everything, gaming, movies, etc, and I want to eventually get a surround setup. However, on the one hand the "true" surround sound setups are usually more expensive than I'm willing to pay, while the "PC surround" packages (like the logitech Z506) leave something to be desired.

A few years ago I tried out a DVD Home Theater package that came with a DVD player and a 5.1 surround setup. It was a cheap RCA one but it sounded pretty good to me. I had to return it though since I couldn't afford to keep it.

So what are your opinions on using a DVD/Blu Ray "Home Theater" package for surround sound purposes as opposed to a "true" surround sound setup or a cheaper PC-oriented surround sound alternative?

Right now there are some affordable blu ray home theaters in a couple shops so I was thinking of trying it. Back when I used the RCA for a while I used the optical audio output on my PC and I had no problems that I could detect. When I played Skyrim the sounds came from all over. It was really funny when Lydia said "I'm right behind you" and it came out of the rear speakers.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
You get what you pay for
Mar 15, 2018 5:09PM PDT

Nothing much new there.

OTOH, you will immediately hear the difference if you work on building your system with better quality separates over time, so you don’t blow your budget now.

Hint: look into the used speaker marketplace. Some incredible deals to be had.

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Meh
Mar 17, 2018 6:01PM PDT

Define ‘better’.

If ‘better’ means more features and more connectivity options, perhaps. I wouldn’t recommend either for necessarily better sound.

YMMV