5.1 speakers for 360/PS3

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JMatt94

225 posts

Master Geek

#30295 3-Feb-2009 22:18

Anyone know any good, affordable 5.1 surround sound speakers for a PS3 and 360.I have a 32" Sony bravia U-Series LCD TV if this helps..Is there a way for the speakers to be connected to 360/PS3 at same time?Do I need any special cables? Could you please list them.inputs on the back of the TV, well there are 2x components, (1 used) 1x Hdmi (used), RGB (i think it's called that)S-video and lots of the regular Yellow, red, white, Oh and dvi. You could probably just google for exact inputs it has..Sorry for so many questions I am a Tech newbie. Note that I am only just 15 and live off pocket money, 25 per week :)Although I get a few hundy for Christmas/B-day, okay I'll stop rambling on now. I prefer Quality over affordability though.So not so expensive but decent quality =D

JMatt94

225 posts

Master Geek

#193840 3-Feb-2009 22:35

I was looking at some speakers on trademe/dicksmith and some say "5.1" and others say "5.1 surround sound" is there a difference?

Jaxson

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#193916 4-Feb-2009 10:12

5.1 surround sound comes encoded on a disc like DVD or bluray or a game.
Something somewhere has to do the decoding on this.

Most of the cheaper 5.1 systems have 6 rca inputs.
This means they accept the signal once it has been decoded.
The do no decoding themselves.

You have to look at what outputs you have on a ps3. (may vary on other devices like DVD players/xbox etc)
On the PS3 there is a basic AV (composite video plus analogue stereo sound) output, an optical sound output and hdmi output.
There is no 6 rca output on the back, so the basic 5.1 speaker systems will not work with the ps3 properly.

Some DVD players have 6 rca analogue surround sound outputs for instance.
The basic 5.1 speakers systems work well with computers that often have 5.1 outputs that feed to the rca inputs.

The Logitech Z-5500 for instance has the decoder built in, so feeding the optical out into this will give you 5.1 sound from PS3
Optical will do DVD quality 5.1 and games at 5.1.

You can only do the newer bluray sound formats over hdmi or find a bluray player that has rca analogue outs.
I don't know what's on the back of the Xbox 360 sorry.

garvani

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#193926 4-Feb-2009 10:49

both the 360 and ps3 will do optical, and its definetly the preferred option for sound from your console! You can also have the tv plugged into the system via rca's for normal tv.
I have the mentioned logitech z-5500 plugged into the ps3 via optical and tv via rca, to put it bluntly it kicks @$$! You cant go past this sytem, its slightly expensive at around $550, but for that you get a lot of bang for your buck, and when i say bang i mean BASS and general loudness :). It is dts, dolby digital and thx certified, sounds fantastic with bluray and dvds alike (to get the newer 7.1 truehd sound that bluray has you will be looking at a system 3-4x the price, 5.1 is more than adequate for your avg joe).
Personally i wouldnt waste money on anything cheaper, you will regret it.. go with this from the start :) Dse usually has a set on show, so go down there and give it a thrasing..

JMatt94

225 posts

Master Geek

#193935 4-Feb-2009 11:16

Thanks for the replies, I guess I'll have to get a job soon and save up :) So if I do buy that z-5500 set will I have to buy additional cables to get it to work (if so, could you list them pls :D) and will it be able to connect to a 360/PS3 at the same time to remove the hassle of switching all the time. Thanks for your time.

garvani

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#193941 4-Feb-2009 11:28

If you have a ps3 and a x360 you will need

2 x optical cables ($10 each of trademe)
1x rca to 3.5" phono socket (for normal tv to sound system.. not compulsory but nice)
1 x optical switching unit (z-5500 only has one optical input, so you can get this item from jaycar or dse that will switch between optical inputs (so you can have both ps3 and x360 plugged in and dont have to unlug cables etc.. it makes life a lot easier) i got mine for about $30 if i remember correctly..
And thats about it..

You could hire purchase this item, it would only be about $10 a week.. but thats upto you and your parents.. (im crap at saving and usually do this)

bazzer

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#193944 4-Feb-2009 11:49

garvani: both the 360 and ps3 will do optical, and its definetly the preferred option for sound from your console!

I would say HDMI is preferred over optical.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

garvani

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#193950 4-Feb-2009 12:12

bazzer:
garvani: both the 360 and ps3 will do optical, and its definetly the preferred option for sound from your console!

I would say HDMI is preferred over optical.

Well yes.. HDMI audio receivers are still relatively expensive however, but they do give you superior sound capabilities like truehd etc, I was more stating optical over rca for audio. For 5.1 dolby digital, dts etc, who cares how it gets there, as long as its digital

Wills1

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#194296 5-Feb-2009 15:39

I havea PS3 connected to a Z-5500 and its fantastic. Its also THX certified so you know its quality. It really packs some clean, tight bass thats for sure!

Jaxson

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#194301 5-Feb-2009 15:52

Yeah if you're happy with the sound formats that can be delivered by optical connection then that's cool. As Bazzer is hinting, if you want the full HD formats off bluray, then you'll need a dedicated new receiver that can handle these formats, and it will have to connect to this via hdmi.

optical/dig coax connections can handle all the formats available on DVD (dolby digital and DTS). If you're happy with these, and happy to have the newer bluray HD formats downscaled by the PS3 to play via optical then all good.

If you want 5.1 out of the PS3 it will have to be via optical or hdmi. The red and white rca outputs are stereo only. So that also means if you want 5.1 then you'll need something that can decode these formats when connected by optical or hdmi, and that rules out the cheaper 5.1 systems that require 6 rca type connections from a computer etc.

AmooMan

307 posts

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#194304 5-Feb-2009 16:06

Also have the logitech z-5500

VERY GOOD !!! im sure you could get a better setup for double the money.. but $500 you cant go wrong..