Computer Systems

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
Who has a KICKING computer sound system, i've come to realize my computer system isn't loud enough for me (thanks nismo) and i run my get togethers and stuff at the house with it and i need something with more yyaaaaa buddy to it. what do you guys have? i have a creative labs 5.1 with a 8" self amplified woofer.
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
I had a nice Yamaha 5.1 setup a decade ago. If you want a real kicking setup, treat it any other source in a home theater type setup.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I have a mac mini running through a real surround sound receiver (NAD T757) to a 5.1 system with full tower front right and left, center w/ dual long throw 6" woofers, micro sized rears, and a 10" powered ported sub. At my ideal listening volume, my neighbors complain. And I live in a detached house.

Is that kind of what you mean?
 

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
I have a mac mini running through a real surround sound receiver (NAD T757) to a 5.1 system with full tower front right and left, center w/ dual long throw 6" woofers, micro sized rears, and a 10" powered ported sub. At my ideal listening volume, my neighbors complain. And I live in a detached house.

Is that kind of what you mean?

absolutely if not a tad bit louder lol.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
I have a mac mini running through a real surround sound receiver (NAD T757) to a 5.1 system with full tower front right and left, center w/ dual long throw 6" woofers, micro sized rears, and a 10" powered ported sub. At my ideal listening volume, my neighbors complain. And I live in a detached house. Is that kind of what you mean?

No, too quiet, upgrade to klipsch in wall and in-ceiling speakers, go for an AVR-4520CI to drive em all, then use that Mac mini ;)
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Then throw Air Video on that Mini and have it be a video server to your iOS devices.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
No, too quiet, upgrade to klipsch in wall and in-ceiling speakers, go for an AVR-4520CI to drive em all, then use that Mac mini ;)

A Denon? Yeah. No. Never.

/Evar

Klipsch is good stuff. But no in wall speaker can compete with a free standing tower unless it's completely back boxed.
 
Last edited:

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Prime said:
Klipsch is good stuff. But no in wall speaker can compete with a free standing tower unless it's completely back boxed.

That's where the in-ceiling comes in. Attic = speaker box ;)
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Eww. Denon AND Onkyo?! You sir need some education regarding the world outside of Best Buy. Yamaha is the best of that group. But there is so many better. Give me an NAD, ADA, or Anthem. Those companies make real AV receivers.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Eww. Denon AND Onkyo?! You sir need some education regarding the world outside of Best Buy. Yamaha is the best of that group. But there is so many better. Give me an NAD, ADA, or Anthem. Those companies make real AV receivers.

I don't deal with worst buy...I just like brands which are fairly common, and not rape-grade pricing.

If you were buying one, and need plenty of juice to the front speakers, gimme a suggestion.

5-6 hdmi capable of upconverting to 4k if need be
9.2 minimum
150-170W preferred
On screen would be great, if not, oh well, and, I wanna be able to control it with an app from my phone.
 

Roadwarrior

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Or plenty of room to build an optimal speaker box that doesn't take up tons of space.

At this pace why not just design a cabinet speaker for the drivers that is custom tuned? I would rather show off my craftsmanship (which I have been designing cabinets/home audio speakers and that in itself is a dream goal of mine) than I would put a box in the attic. Also I like my floor to shake, not the ceiling.. too much dust.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Define non rape grade pricing. Because in some of the lines I carry and install you're talking about a $4k receiver.

Off the top of my head the NAD T787 meets those requirements. MSRP is $5000.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
The big thing that you need to look at is the power rating of the amp. Almost all of your common brand receivers list 150W plus per channel. But what they don't tell you is that's with only one speaker driven. Once you hook up your entire system you're down to 30-40W per channel. NAD lists their power with every speaker connected. So the T787 does 140W per channel regardless of how many speakers are connected.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
At this pace why not just design a cabinet speaker for the drivers that is custom tuned? I would rather show off my craftsmanship (which I have been designing cabinets/home audio speakers and that in itself is a dream goal of mine) than I would put a box in the attic. Also I like my floor to shake, not the ceiling.. too much dust.

In wall/in ceiling takes up zero room, which, greatly appeals to me.

A speaker looks like a speaker, no matter how awesome your craftsmanship is, and, it's something to keep dogs/cats/kids away from.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Define non rape grade pricing. Because in some of the lines I carry and install you're talking about a $4k receiver. Off the top of my head the NAD T787 meets those requirements. MSRP is $5000.

Personally, for me, I'm not spending more than $500-750 unless my new job pans out and I get a miracle raise...
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
The big thing that you need to look at is the power rating of the amp. Almost all of your common brand receivers list 150W plus per channel. But what they don't tell you is that's with only one speaker driven. Once you hook up your entire system you're down to 30-40W per channel. NAD lists their power with every speaker connected. So the T787 does 140W per channel regardless of how many speakers are connected.

The ones I looked at were all one amp rating with 2 connected at 8ohms and another (most were 25-40W lower) with all channels driven at 8ohms and 0.08% THD
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
You can get decent stuff in the 750 range. But for good sound you want to favor the processing and the amp. I think Yamaha is gonna be the best bet in that price range. The base model NAD that I sell is the T748 and it goes for $719. Not a huge amp, but I noticed a big difference in the processing when I went to that from my old Sony when it died. The 757 I have now is pushing 80W/channel and it sounds fantastic on my speakers.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
The biggest thing that people miss is proper setup of the EQ and crossover in a receiver. ESPECIALLY on subwoofers. The crossover knob on a sub should never be used. You should set the crossover in the receiver and let it decide what frequencies are sent to the sub channel.
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
You can get decent stuff in the 750 range. But for good sound you want to favor the processing and the amp. I think Yamaha is gonna be the best bet in that price range. The base model NAD that I sell is the T748 and it goes for $719. Not a huge amp, but I noticed a big difference in the processing when I went to that from my old Sony when it died. The 757 I have now is pushing 80W/channel and it sounds fantastic on my speakers.

Problem is, my fronts are 175W RMS studio monitors ;) the onboard crossover is set up to push 80/20 unless it's over 100W to them, then they 50/50 from what the manual said (13 years ago lol)
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
The biggest thing that people miss is proper setup of the EQ and crossover in a receiver. ESPECIALLY on subwoofers. The crossover knob on a sub should never be used. You should set the crossover in the receiver and let it decide what frequencies are sent to the sub channel.

Agreed, I turn the crossover knob to the highest option and let the receiver do the rest.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Sounds to me like you need to just get a processor that has discrete channel outs and a few simple but powerful amplifiers. That may be a better use of your money.
 

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
Your primary investment should be in your sound card. Something like an Auzen Forte, or similar card. Speakers depend on what you are listening to. For music, I suggest studio monitors. I really like KRK Rokits. Best bang for the buck. Hell, best bang, period. If you are going for a surround sound setup for movies or games, do the same thing you'd do for a home theater. Half your money in surround sound processor/receiver, half in speakers. I really like Pioneer and Yamaha receivers. Speaker preferences will differ depending on who is listening. I like Polk and Klipsch. Someone else may prefer Acoustic Research or Denon or Onkyo. Go somewhere that allows you to sample speakers before you spend money on them.
 

Big_THanks

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Chattanooga
I'm running a 10" ported sub and 4 component speakers on my Dell XPS desktop computer. It also has aux input for ipods or whatever.

You can hear mine from outside and it will rattle the house if really turned up.

Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk HD
 
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