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5.1 surround hardware ideas and suggestions please!!!
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: May 2003
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i want to start doing some surround mixing on my 17" powerbook (with dp4 for now, perhaps other software in the future), and i'm shopping around to figure out what i need. i want to start producing some 5.1 sound for dvd, so i will also probably be working in final cut and/or dvd studio pro.
as far as speakers, i am currently looking at:
- the klipsch ultra 5.1 system. this seems like a great, balanced multimedia audio system for monitoring the surround mix, but it only has the 1/8" inputs so that limits what kind of output device i can use from the computer. the satellites are all 2 way, however, and the subwoofer is very tight and well-matched, from what i have read online.
- the m-audio lx4 system (there's the expander set with 3 more satellites). this seems to be a semi-pro monitoring solution, but this surprisingly doesn't seem to have the same bass response that the klipsch does (40hz-20khz vs 25hz-20khz) , nor an external controller or shielded center speaker.
- the alesis proactive 5.1 system. this looks promising, and it has a digital input which simplifies the connection. it is, by the way, completely identical to the logitech z-680 system.
as far as an output card i'm eyeing:
- the egosys gigaport ag. 8 rca outputs, one spdif output, usb interface. it says it handles 24bit audio, i'm not sure of the rate though (44.1? 96? can't find any info...).
- the m-audio firewire 410 or audiophile. i want to get some high quality input on my powerbook, so this would be killing two birds with one stone.
all of the interfaces i mentioned should be able to put out the discreet channels, correct?
i want to try and keep my costs under $1000 for all of the hardware. i am not a professional, nor do i make money doing this at this time. its just a serious hobby and something i plan to get more involved with as i learn more. some of the reviews i've been reading online complain about the, well, "computer speaker"-iness of the boxed packages like the alesis i mentioned. however, i've been happy working on a $30 open-box 2.1 creative computer speaker system for a while, so ANYTHING will be an improvement, really.
please help!! thanks
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"That plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops."
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
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hmm. thats something i hadn't even considered, and its a good idea. my room isn't really set up for good acoustics, but i'm concerned about the difference in sound between the headphones and speakers in a real space. i'll look around and see if best buy or anyone locally has them so i can hear a demo, perhaps.
its difficult to find information on this sort of thing, because i am looking for a budget solution here and most things in my price range are only reviewed by gamers and people that want to watch dvd movies on their laptop in surround. there must be people doing production out there with budget systems, with things like dvd studio pro and final cut around.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2001
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With a portable, I much preffer a dolby headphones to a huge 5.1 sound system. Headphones is something you can carry on really.
The dolby web site have a sound demo... well, go figure what kind of demo will be, headphones are not one thing you can put in your queue list 
(Last edited by angelmb; Jan 5, 2004 at 01:22 PM.
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"That plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops."
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Tulsa, OK
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For any kind of headphone info you must visit www.headfi.org. With their help I just bought some new headphones (high dollar) with a headphone amp and I must say I really enjoy them better than my speakers. I'm thinking about trying to sell my creature speakers now, hehe.
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17" Apple Powerbook 1.33ghz
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CA
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Have you looked at the DD 5.1 preamp for the 5.1 Klipsch speakers, i have this currently setup and am able to monitor sound out in 5.1 from my powerbook. The preamp has three RCA, One Coax and one optical input also it decodes DTS and Dolby Digital.
hope this helps
Cheers,
DaDawg
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"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice!"
15"/1ghz Ti/1gb/powerbook Panther
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Mac Pro Dual 3.0 10gb Ram 2TB discs with ATI 1900xt
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iMac Grape 333 256Ram 6gb
iSight, iPod Video 80 gb
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