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Advice please: home theater or computer speakers?

post #1 of 23
1/17/08 at 2:36am
Thread Starter 
Hello,

I am buying a new computer, MacPro, and can either purchase 1 of two options. The logitech z5500, or a home theater system from pioneer which includes HTiB (tall speakers) and VSX917VS both can be seen on their site. I am just after some advice as to whether I can even connect this computer to the home theater system and whether there will be a noticeable difference? Forgive my ignorance.

Kind Regards
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post #2 of 23
1/17/08 at 4:07am
Are you specifically looking for surround sound? (if not there are better solutions). Also why just those two options?
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post #3 of 23
1/17/08 at 4:10am
the crappiest bookshelves speakers will sound better than the 3" drivers on the logitech with no tweeters.. lol Go for the HTiB if you HAVE to have one of those two.
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post #4 of 23
1/17/08 at 5:48am
harman/kardon

Good place to start. Computer speakers are notoriously cheap and when one component fails you will have to trash the entire system. HTiB is definitely the way to go. Look at my Desktop system in my profile and you will see what I mean. I dont know what your budget is but here is one.

Harman Kardon | HS 300 Integrated Home Theater System | HS300
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post #5 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:16am
Thread Starter 
The only reason I have the two options is that I am buying a new MacPro amongst other things and receiving a discount on my total price and a 5 year interest free period which is great. What is not so great is that the department store does not have a great deal of audio equipment. They have Bose and B&O but they are just ridiculous. The best from what I saw what the two above mentioned systems.

I would like surround sound but was just unsure as to how I would connect the Pioneer System as how does the receiver connect to the computer.
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post #6 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:27am
Does your computer have optical out,,,,or maybe coaxial out? It should have one or the other. Digital connection is very simple, one cable.
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post #7 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:29am
  • Two FireWire 800 ports (one on front panel, one on back panel)
  • Two FireWire 400 ports (one on front panel, one on back panel)
  • Five USB 2.0 ports (two on front panel, three on back panel)
  • Two USB 2.0 ports on included keyboard
  • Front-panel headphone minijack and speaker
  • Optical digital audio input and output TOSLINK ports
  • Analog stereo line-level input and output minijacks
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post #8 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:30am
Your good to go brother, that is gonna be one sweet system.
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post #9 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:38am
Thread Starter 
Cool. So there is no problem connecting the pioneer a/v receiver to the computer through the optical port? Will this produce a decent enough surround sound?

Thanks for your help by the way. Previously i would not have cared but since discovering this forum sound does not sound the same. I purchased a pair of Grado SR325i's and they are so different to anything I have heard.
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post #10 of 23
1/17/08 at 6:47am
Optical is the way to go Brother. Then all the audio is decoded by your pioneer which is going to be much more adept at digital decoding and conversion than the onboard sound in your mac. I'm tellin ya, you are gonna have a sweet rig. Especially since you can make upgrades to the HTiB, like a new sub or something of that nature. Have Fun!!!

Will it produce decent sound?

Does Yogi Bear steal picnic baskets??????????

Fur sure Dude!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #11 of 23
1/17/08 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 
Thanks very much for your help hardheadcase, I appreciate it.

Kind Regards
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post #12 of 23
1/17/08 at 1:45pm
Have fun watching movies! Of course since you are getting a Mac, this won't be for surround sound gaming, which it will not do.
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post #13 of 23
1/17/08 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aZn_plyR View Post
the crappiest bookshelves speakers will sound better than the 3" drivers on the logitech with no tweeters.. lol Go for the HTiB if you HAVE to have one of those two.
Not at all true. As long as they good full range drivers actually make a lot of sense for near-field environments, that includes computer speakers. The drivers in the Logitechs are from Tang Band and are rather good for what they are, I'm pretty sure it's these.

At any rate I doubt there are many "HT box" systems that are better than the Logitechs for the price.
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post #14 of 23
1/17/08 at 4:57pm
Those aren't the Tangband units that are used by Logitech. Logitech uses a cheaper OEM model that's not freely available.
However, the price-performance ratio is indeed very, very good.
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post #15 of 23
1/18/08 at 1:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeonvB View Post
Those aren't the Tangband units that are used by Logitech. Logitech uses a cheaper OEM model that's not freely available.
However, the price-performance ratio is indeed very, very good.
I think the only difference is the frame the cone and motor are the same, though I could be wrong.
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