PC Audio Setup with some Pre-existing equipment

[Warfront1]

My Current PC Setup:
- Denon AVR-1802 (going optical line out of PC straight to denon)
- Polk Audio psw10 110v
- Left/Right Logitech Speakers (From Logitech Z-5500 set)
 
Cables/Routing:
- Monster optical cable out from PC to Optical In on Front of Denon. This cable was from the original Xbox monster gaming pack. It was a standalone cable for higher end systems back in those days. 
- Cheap oldRed/White RCA coming out of back of Denon (White - Center Channel/ Red - SubWoofer) into rca "Line In" on Polk Audio
- Whatever Cheap stripped pair basic speaker wire that came with the Z-5500 logitech set, going out to the left and right channels
 
I'm looking to upgrade, especially the left and right logitech speakers.
 
The Denon 1802 has been tried and true over the years, but is large and taking up a lot of desk space.
It is also forcing me to elevate the left channel on top of the unit, as there isn't enough flat space to place the left channel directly on the desk.
 
The Polk Audio psw10 for the price point is really a killer unit. God knows how many years I've gotten out of this little sub.
It's nothing to go out raving about, but for the price it really has some great sound.
When gaming, and especially during movies this unit can really be a game changer.
 
I'm looking for recommendations on where to go next with this small 2.1 setup I have.
 
I do a bit of everything:
1) Gaming/Voice communication primarily
2) Movies
3) Music
 
Thanks,
Warfront1

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
I do a bit of everything:
1) Gaming/Voice communication primarily
2) Movies
3) Music

 

Soundcard - Strix Soar, or Soundblaster X7 if you want something with a better headphone amp, amp for passive speakers, and preamp output controlled by a knob. Your mic goes into the soundcard's mic input.

 

Get powered speakers like the Edifier R2000DB, and hook these up to the F (L+R) outptut on the soundcard. Hook up the subwoofer to the Sub Out of the soundcard. Check the DSP if it has digital crossovers, and if yes, use that (set the sub to the highest crossover point), otherwise use the sub's, either way tweak the balance between both.

 

[PurpleAngel]

How is the Denon connected to the Polk Audio and Logitech's?
Is there a single coaxial cable running from the Denon's sub-woofer output to the RCA input on the Polk Audio?
And the Denon's front speaker outputs wired to the inputs on the Logitech speakers?
 
Or are you running the Denon's Front Speaker outputs to the speaker inputs on the Polk Audio?
Then running wires from the Polk Audio Speaker outputs to the inputs on the Logitech speakers?
 
Or is there some other way this stuff is connected?
 
To me the best setup and upgrade would be running coaxial from Denon to Polk Audio.
And connecting new speakers to the Denon's front speaker jacks.
 
What is your budget for new speakers?

 

[Warfront1]

thanks for all the feedback so far, I've included the cabling above.
I previously was running a y cable, but for some reason or another switched to the setup listed above.
If I recall correctly there didn't seem to be much of a difference between the two setups.
 
Honestly I'm looking for the best bang for my buck as I'm relatively happy with my current setup.
Just looking to bring myself out of the stone age, and in doing so get a little more enjoyment out of the setup.
 
I'm not sure at what price range you start to get diminishing returns in today's stereo market. 
 
Pictures of some of the equipment:
http://www.son-video.com/Rayons/HomeCinema/AmpliAV/Denon/avr1802back_TG.jpg
http://www.audiocentre.co.id/product/1335/3/psw10.jpg
 
Warfront1

 

[Warfront1]

Dupe post. 

 

[Monsterzero]

space issues set aside,if you want to keep it simple and affordable I'd:

Grab a pair of these and ditch your current speakers.I was a bit skeptical about them at first,but another member,who writes for an audio site and knows more about this hobby than anyone i know, recommended them to me.For the price,theyre nearly unbeatable.

If youre wanting to save space on the desk,you might consider floor standing/tower speakers,assuming you have the floor space.

Secondly grab some 20g speaker wire and ditch the thin crappy wire..If you cant find 20g,18g will work....and for your sub grab the thickest gauge cable you can find....you should notice tighter bass with thicker cable all around.

Other than that anything else would include ditching more of your equipment and possibly costing several hundred/thousand dollars.

I use a full size receiver in my PC setup too,a 1971 Sansui 881.The vintage (1967-79)receivers make great HP amps,they also can drive passive speakers,as you already know.In between my PC and the receiver i have a Chord Mojo..using it as a fulltime DAC,and part time HP amp for my low impedance HPs. If you want to get better SQ,the Mojo or similar DAC might be good for you as well....Mojo isnt cheap,but its pretty much the best DAC under a grand that you can get IMO,and its a pretty decent amp too.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Grab a pair of these and ditch your current speakers.I was a bit skeptical about them at first,but another member,who writes for an audio site and knows more about this hobby than anyone i know, recommended them to me.For the price,theyre nearly unbeatable.
If you're wanting to save space on the desk,you might consider floor standing/tower speakers,assuming you have the floor space.
Secondly grab some 20g speaker wire and ditch the thin crappy wire..If you cant find 20g,18g will work....and for your sub grab the thickest gauge cable you can find....you should notice tighter bass with thicker cable all around.

 
For a good budget value, I would be checking out the Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers too.
 
Warfront1, If you really looking for a bargain price, check out the Dayton audio speaker brand

 

[Warfront1]

I have a pair of thiel cs1's (original model) at my parents house that I will most likely be incorporating into my home theater setup.
I definitely don't have room for tower speakers for the desktop setup however.
In the past I was driving the theil's on b channel from the denon, what a great sounding pair.
 
An option is I re-purpose the denon to my home theater with the thiel's, and get something entirely new for my desktop.
Remember, I am elevating the left speaker atop the denon as there is no more room ontop of the desktop. (Not optimal for listening)
 
I have a bunch of lossless tracks (nearly 1TB) I'd like to enjoy on something that sounds good.
Growing up around high end audio (the thiel's were some of the lowest end we had around the house), I do have an ear.
 
Going line out optical PC to the denon, I am using the denon's dac, correct?
 
Warfront1

 

[Monsterzero]

 Going line out optical PC to the denon, I am using the denon's dac, correct?

Yup.

 

[Warfront1]

It's interesting from my research these SP-BS22 seem to be amazing.
Competing with $500 and above in some case speakers.
 
$89 on amazon right now, I'm half tempted to just buy them.

 

[Monsterzero]

  It's interesting from my research these SP-BS22 seem to be amazing.
Competing with $500 and above in some case speakers.
 
$89 on amazon right now, I'm half tempted to just buy them.

research Andrew Jones,and then you'll understand why

 

[Warfront1]

I purchased the SP-BS22,  I'll be sure to write something up about how the mesh with the current setup once they come in.
However I am still looking to deal with the Denon space issue.
 
I believe the Sound Blaster X7 would fit nice with the new speakers, but would my money be best spent elsewhere?
I've seen some mixed reviews.
 
Not sure if something suggested above would pan out better:
- USB Dac (Perhaps Mojo)
- Amp [not sure what would be a good pairing](Wouldn't be able to use RCA without a pre-amp out to the polk) 
 
I'm keeping my eye out for the X7 as I'm interested at the right price on ebay.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I purchased the SP-BS22,  I'll be sure to write something up about how the mesh with the current setup once they come in.
However I am still looking to deal with the Denon space issue.
I believe the Sound Blaster X7 would fit nice with the new speakers, but would my money be best spent elsewhere?
I've seen some mixed reviews.
Not sure if something suggested above would pan out better:
- USB Dac (Perhaps Mojo)
- Amp [not sure what would be a good pairing](Wouldn't be able to use RCA without a pre-amp out to the polk) 
I'm keeping my eye out for the X7 as I'm interested at the right price on ebay.

 
For $10 you can get a table from Ikea, to put the Denon on.
Creative Labs X7, $350
Ikea table, $10
 
So $350 minus $10, leaves you $340 (from the budget to buy the X7) you could be spending on some really nice headphones (used Beyerdynamic T90), that you could plug into the Denon.

 

[Warfront1]

Haha, I like the idea.
I'll include a picture to show you the constraints.
Possibly a table over top of the subwoofer would work.
Putting any table to the left of the subwoofer would block my access to the closet in the room.
 

 
 
There is the current setup (the SP-BS22 haven't came in yet)
 
*Also, I'm not much of a headphone listener at home. At work I have a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50.
Nothing fancy just coming direct out of my work laptop.

 

[Monsterzero]

Build a shelf above screen or to the right and put the Denon on that.