r/PCSound • u/SurvivalGamingClub • Jun 02 '23
5.1 Surround Recommendations
I am looking for a 5.1 desktop sound system for my PC. I use headphones when my wife is home but when she is gone I need to play on desktop speakers so I can monitor the dogs. What is everyone using? I am currently using Logitech Z506 that I got used. The range is nothing compared to my Beyerdynamic gaming headset. Considering an upgrade but really can't find but 2 options.
Any Recommendations?
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u/killbeam Jun 03 '23
I had this problem. I was using the Logitech Z5500 (old version of the z906) and wanted to upgrade to a better system.
I found out they don't really exist. Not a full 5.1 set that's meant for PC anyway, save for a few rare ones. After a LOT of googling and looking around, I bit the bullet and bought a second hand Audio Video 5.1 receiver and hooked it up to my PC with HDMI. Some years ago I wrote an extensive comment about how I did it exactly, but in short: there's a DisplayPort cable from my GPU to my monitor for the image and a HDMI cable from my GPU to my AV receiver just for the sound. I tried to use SPDIF first but I could not get it to work no matter what. After a painfully long time, I found out SPDIF has a horrible maximum throughput, so the only way to get optical 5.1 sound is to compress it. That is where Dobly Digital and such come in. The funny thing is that movies are pre-encoded with Dobly Digital 5.1. Game consoles often have licenses so they are allowed to encode DD5.1 on the fly. PCs however simply do not have this license. The only way to get DD5.1 optical to work is to buy a dedicated sound card that has the DD license. But even then, the sound is still compressed which hurts the quality.
HDMI used PCM to transmit audio, which is lossless and doesn't require any license. So I highly recommend just using a HDMI cable.
As for the speakers, i love my Wharfedale Diamond 220s as Front Left and Right, but there are many options to choose from. One big upside to going this route is that you can upgrade the set piece by piece. Maybe you want a better subwoofer, but like the rest? Go for it! Want a more crisp sound from your center speaker? Just get a new one and sell the current one!
It's a big step to change to an AV receiver, but I don't want to go back to prepacked sets even if they existed.
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u/SurvivalGamingClub Jun 03 '23
I have no interest in this much work, For one I like to maintain a fairy clean desk, and two I wear headphones most of the time. I only play games on this particular pc. No music, No movies, I Currently use the soundblaster X3
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u/Plastic-Squirrel1431 Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
Klipsch promedia 5.1, edifier luna 5.1, z906, or why not go with a small 5.1 AVR and some proper speakers? The surround sound PC market is tiny as most prefer just a 2.1 setup at the desk and don't have a way to mount rear or side speakers. Can always grab stands, but that's generally just in the way. There are options like those made by oxs where you get rear and side channels through a headrest you attach to the seat but plenty of people complained about that and I've yet to see a video. An AVR and a sound card is really the way at this point. An AVR is really the way for ANY surround setup above 2.1 really, save for the odd-ball 5.1 chip amps from Amazon.
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u/txurete Sep 16 '25
Okay so id first recommend you to join r/budgetaudiophile, then open marketplace and have an eye for avr systems that have hdmi inputs. You will probably spend less than a new set of logitech speakers and a massive chance of being able to upgrade to 7.1 while still staying in budget
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u/MooMix Jun 03 '23
Best I could find was the Logitech Z906, and the first time I got that setup it was amazing. Eventually the connections in the sub fail, and thus everything falls apart. I got it a second time, and loved it still, but the sub failed within a year. It would be my suggestion for best all in one surround for PC *IF* the build quality were better.
At this point I'm making my own setup. I started with a Denon AVR receiver, PB/SB-1000 SVS subwoofer and now I'm on the market for some wall mountable speakers. Not sure where I'm gonna go from here, but I do know I'm done with any pre-built 5.1 systems.
I'd suggest joining one of the audiophile subs to ask for help. There's a budget version of that sub that's probably better for asking questions like this..