Hiya I'm planning on getting a 5.1 speaker set to plug into a BenQ E2400 HD monitor... sound coming mainly from PS3 HDMI. I already have a set of Audio Technica headphones but I want a good set of speakers for when friends come over or when my head gets tired of wearing headphones, etc.

Budget around RM500. What would you guys recommend? Also, would a 2.1 setup sound a lot better at that price? I've never had a 5.1 setup before so I dunno if my PS3 experience would greatly improve because of surround.

Thanks in advance.

What about Edifiers? Been hearing a lot about 'em.

Thanks for the reply... Okay I think I'm down to between the R501mkII and the MX5021 'cause I do wanna try a surround sound experience. Only one I've tried was in the cinema. (Although if the sound quality between a 2.1 and a 5.1 is really THAT huge, I may reconsider). Between the Edifier and the Altec Lansing models stated above, is there a big difference in quality? Do note that I may probably use it for music and movies too since my PS3 is a media hub (320 gb, baby! ). The only pair of speakers I've ever bought in my entire life are the Altec Lansing 45.1's, which have served me faithfully for probably about 8 years now. Super boomy bass with not much definition on anything else though.

And let's say I decide to buy one of these speakers. Where can I find 'em at a decent price? All IT Hypermarket in Low Yat or something?

This post has been edited by Dinghydoggy: Dec 21 2008, 01:17 AM

I actually don't really like the sound of my Altecs... I find the bass too boomy without any clear definition on the highs or mids. I prefer clarity and tight, punchy bass. I don't listen to trance or techno either. I listen mainly to pop, funk, and a little bit of everything else (except rap, hip hop, and classical). But most of all I wanna be able to hear the oomph in explosions, bullets ricocheting off metal and zinging around, the crunch of footsteps on gravel, the rich sound of voices, etc. to give the best gaming experience possible within my budget of RM600. But I also play a lot of Rock Band, so music is still important.

But is there a big difference in quality between the R501mkII and the MX5021 to warrant the RM 100 over price difference?

Thanks so much for the advice so far ya.

Mmm... Now I have another problem. I need Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding. Is there a good set of speakers that does this as well (like the Logitech Z-680)? Or do I buy a separate decoder on top of the speakers to make full use of the 5.1? If so, what decoder would you recommend? Thanks.

Or HDMI into monitor and monitor out to 5.1 speakers = automatic Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding and what I hear is what I would hear with a full home home theatre system in terms of sound placement and signals and stuff?

I don't really understand the function of all the Dolby stuff too well.

This post has been edited by Dinghydoggy: Dec 21 2008, 10:58 AM

See, here's the hypothetical scenario:

I want to connect my PS3 to a BenQ E2200HD monitor via HDMI, and output the sound from the monitor's mini-jack to a 5.1 speaker set (probably the Altec Lansing MX5021). Would the mere fact that it's connected via HDMI to mini-jack to speaker gimme full surround sound? Or do I still have to buy some sort of decoder/receiver to act as a go-between or do I actually have to buy 5.1 speakers with a digital optical input? Wouldn't my PS3 be doing all the sound processing already? Do I still have to use its digital optical out in order to get full surround?

I'm trying to work on a 1.2k budget here and yet get the best video/sound, that's why I'm planning on getting a full-HD monitor and 5.1 speaker set.

Would I be able to get full surround sound from that simple setup? Or would it end up mere stereo divided into 5.1 speakers?

Hope all my questions can be answered, thanks so much.

Okay. Let's say I go for option 1. Any good recommendations for a PC speaker with digital optical input?

And if I went for option 2, what's the minimum price I'll have to fork out for a decent set of receiver, sub, and 5 satellites (something that'll sound just as good as option 1, at least)?

I still think it's probably cheaper to just get a PC speaker set.

I read up on the Logitech Z-5500... It sounds promising... Lowest price I've seen online is about $235 USD. That comes up to about RM 820. Ouch.

Have you seen it in Low Yat? I wonder what the price is like. Probably jacked up even more.

Seems to be the most affordable option for full surround sound + decent quality though.

ZOMG!

Uh. As long as the input to the speakers is via analogue stereo mini-jack, there's no surround sound, correct? So it doesn't matter if I get some Dolby decoder thingy or whatever right?

Looks like it's not possible to get surround sound under RM 1k.

Oh well. Thanks so much for the help ya.