Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Cipher13 · Feb 15, 2007, 09:51 PM

So, I have to buy them within an hour or two, so I'm working off the selection available at my local hardware store. I hate buying comp hardware without checking reviews and all that out but I need them quite urgently, so here's what I have to work with, details straight off the website:

Logitech X-530 5.1
70Watts RMS, 6-Pieces, 40-20000HZ, Total Peak Power:140 Watts
$100 AUD

Creative T7900 7.1
Creative Inspire T7900 BLACK Speakers, 7.1 ch, 20W RMS Center Speaker, 6 x Satellite Speakers 8W RMS, 24W RMS Subwoofer, Wired Remote Control
$220 AUD

Creative SBS580 5.1
Creative SBS580 BLACK Speakers, 5.1 channel, Slim Satellite speakers: 6W RMS x 5, Subwoofer: 16W RMS, 80dB SNR
$100 AUD

I'm not too concerned about hte price, but I don't believe my sound card supports 7.1 (5.1 max I think), but I dunno what Creative's reputation is vs. Logitech.

Any input would be appreciated.

CMYKid · Feb 15, 2007, 10:25 PM

oh crap, forgot you were down/over there. Just picked up two pair of JBL Creature IIs, Targets been clearancing them for 24.99.

dont pay much attention to the watt ratings on the above, doesnt mean much in that context and manufacturers fudge those like you wouldnt believe. $220 is beyond what I think those are worth tho the hundred dollar creatives arent a bad deal. just go give em a listen. YOU have to sit in front of them all day, making sure you enjoy them is what matters most.

alligator · Feb 15, 2007, 10:36 PM

You need to hear them to judge them. Don't take our word for it.

Cipher13 · Feb 15, 2007, 11:24 PM

Yeah, ideally.

This is a decision I'd normally deliberate over but the circumstances at the moment won't allow for it, so I was hoping there was a clear difference in quality between the offerings that was well known.

Ah well, that would've been too easy.

Thanks anyway.

centerchannel68 · Feb 15, 2007, 11:52 PM

What do you need surround sound for?

- - e r i k - - · Feb 15, 2007, 11:58 PM

Just a hunch:
movies
games

Cipher13 · Feb 16, 2007, 12:00 AM

Movies/gaming mostly. I've got a 2.1 setup at the moment (BA635s) and I've wanted to change that to a 5.1 setup for quite a while now.

centerchannel68 · Feb 16, 2007, 12:14 AM

I wasn't aware ANY mac games used 5.1. Am I wrong? If it's just for movies.... honestly for those prices I'd be looking at a used home theater in a box. Optical out from the mac, into the HTIB receiver. You'll get a much larger sub, and much better surrounds, most likely.

CheesePuff · Feb 16, 2007, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by CMYKid

dont pay much attention to the watt ratings on the above, doesnt mean much in that context and manufacturers fudge those like you wouldnt believe. $220 is beyond what I think those are worth tho the hundred dollar creatives arent a bad deal. just go give em a listen. YOU have to sit in front of them all day, making sure you enjoy them is what matters most.

WRONG. The RMS rating is the correct wattage output for those above speakers and DOES matter when dealing with playing audio loud and without distortion.

Cipher13 · 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

I wasn't aware ANY mac games used 5.1. Am I wrong? If it's just for movies.... honestly for those prices I'd be looking at a used home theater in a box. Optical out from the mac, into the HTIB receiver. You'll get a much larger sub, and much better surrounds, most likely.

This machine isn't a Mac.

EDIT: I've already got a 5.1 cinema setup for watching DVDs etc on a TV - this is in a different room.

centerchannel68 · Feb 16, 2007, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by CheesePuff

WRONG. The RMS rating is the correct wattage output for those above speakers and DOES matter when dealing with playing audio loud and without distortion.

Sorta. The problem is every manufacturer tweaks their ratings to look good, or measures it at different volumes/distortion levels. It's a rough guide, but it's not the end all of speaker performance.

MacPino · 07:22 AM

one vote here for the X530 set: i've got a X230, which is the same except in a 2.1 configuration. There is a lot of bass in the little kit, and a lot of volume, if you want a loud one. If you're looking for the best sonic reproduction, this is not the right set, but for movies/series, it's very good.

difference between creative and logitech in a few words (in my experience): Creatives tend to be more clear (high tones, "crystal", but sometimes somewhat lacking in the lows), Logitech are more boomboxes: they sound more "spectacular".

pffew, difficult: describing sound in english...

Gossamer · Feb 16, 2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

I wasn't aware ANY mac games used 5.1. Am I wrong? If it's just for movies.... honestly for those prices I'd be looking at a used home theater in a box. Optical out from the mac, into the HTIB receiver. You'll get a much larger sub, and much better surrounds, most likely.

Hm...but whereever could he find such a system locally?

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 16, 2007, 11:44 AM

I got my USB soundsticks 7 years ago and those suckers never quit on me once on the 3 computers it has been passed down to. On top of it they are still stylish 7 years after the fact which is surprising.

::maroma:: · Feb 16, 2007, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

I got my USB soundsticks 7 years ago and those suckers never quit on me once on the 3 computers it has been passed down to. On top of it they are still stylish 7 years after the fact which is surprising.

Holy crap, the Soundsticks have been around for 7 years?? Damn, time flies. And I'm gettin OLD!

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 16, 2007, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Holy crap, the Soundsticks have been around for 7 years?? Damn, time flies. And I'm gettin OLD!

Well 6.5 years.

They came out at the same time as the G4 Cube, optical mouse, Dual G4's, Kermit Green, Red, white and indigo iMacs at Macworld in August 2000.

I remember cuz I was there and it was killer.

- - e r i k - - · Feb 17, 2007, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

I got my USB soundsticks 7 years ago and those suckers never quit on me once on the 3 computers it has been passed down to. On top of it they are still stylish 7 years after the fact which is surprising.

I'm on my second pair of soundsticks. Yup. Replaced my old six years USB soundsticks that travelled the world with me multiple times and got beat up as a result of it, with brand new Soundsticks 2. Not entirely happy with the blue details and the jack plugs replacing USB, but they sound and look spectacular still.

To this day people introduced to them are still baffled. I hear "those are speakers" ever so often.

centerchannel68 · Feb 17, 2007, 01:01 PM

Why would it be suprising for speakers to last a whole 6-7 years? Mine are 30+ years and still fine. It's not exactly like they're exposed to the elements, or a high traffic device that sees a lot of physical abuse.

quattrokid73 · Feb 17, 2007, 04:11 PM

second vote for soundsticks II

imitchellg5 · Feb 17, 2007, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

I wasn't aware ANY mac games used 5.1. Am I wrong? If it's just for movies.... honestly for those prices I'd be looking at a used home theater in a box. Optical out from the mac, into the HTIB receiver. You'll get a much larger sub, and much better surrounds, most likely.

Yes you were wrong. There are a few 5.1 Mac games. Battlefront is one.