Thread: Something I've always wanted to do...

Let's face it, most speakers made for PC use suck...period. So, here's what I'm thinking:

Either one of these receivers:
Onkyo TX-SR309 Home theater receiver with 3D-ready HDMI switching at Crutchfield.com

Yamaha RX-V371 Home theater receiver with 3D-ready HDMI switching at Crutchfield.com

These speakers:
Infinity Primus P163 Bookshelf speaker - Features & Specs at Crutchfield.com

This sub:

Infinity PS210 Powered subwoofer at Crutchfield Outlet

....I know it can be done. I'm just not sure how, I'd prefer to be able to do it without having to buy a sound card.

There are a few ways to do this. This article might be a good jumping off point:

How To Connect Your PC to Your Home Stereo or Home Theater | Hardware SecretsNow you would just be turning your PC into a Home Theater PC (HTPC). If you search that, you will get lots of hits.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
That's my motherboard.

Here's the thing though, I really don't need or want home theater, 2.1 is fine. Could I just use one of the digital outputs (either coaxial or optical) and still only have 2.1 sound, or do the digital connecters force you to use all of the channels?

Originally Posted by JimboIncinerator

Same thing i did. I have a receiver hooked up to my X-fi with 4 very nice shelf speakers and an good center speaker. It f-ing kicks ass. O and i got a powered sub to boot... OOO yeah. So if you can it will kick any off the shelf systems butt unless you go really cheap. Note, as a recommendation make sure your receiver can do 5.1 channel input by direct input. By that i mean 6 rca input jacks. for FR,Fl,RR,RL, Center and sub. Even most modern motherboards output 5.1 . Basically you will have 3 1/8 jacks out one set will be Right front/Left front, next will be Rear left/Rear right and the last set will be Center/Sub. I bought 3 Y adapters (1/8" jack to stereo) and then 3 sets of rca cables, works flawlessly!

I was gonna do this but on the rca's the center and sub are same wire is red or white the sub/center?

So, those Infinity speakers won't fit on my desk (they're too tall.)

Have to go with these:
Polk Audio Blackstone™ TL2 (Black) Single satellite speaker at Crutchfield.com

and this subwoofer:
Polk Audio PSW110 (Black) Powered subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

Just get Amazon.com: Audioengine A5 Powered Multimedia Speaker System (Black): Electronics and you'll be more than happy

Originally Posted by xis

Just get Amazon.com: Audioengine A5 Powered Multimedia Speaker System (Black): Electronics and you'll be more than happy

Still too tall...

Saw these as well:

Polk Audio - 5-1/4" Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Black - T15 BLACK ...still too tall.

then go with Audioengine 2 PC multimedia speakers. They're 6" tall.

Not as good as the 5 but cheaper and will give you real nice sound.

Those are powered, though.