Hello!
I have a friend who was neither an audiophile nor a videophile (but is definitely a techie into computers) decide from going from simply buying cheap bassy some speakers and a cheap reciever for his computer to, well, completely selling all trace of his bedroom audio and video systems, and going complete HTPC.
Damn, I wasn't even TRYING to do that...it just happened--i was just trying to figure out the best deal for him!
He began this by posting this HERE:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....hreadid=400816
and then I got ahold of him....
He is probably going to do this....
He is going to sell....
his current multimedia speakers
his current keyboard.
his current stereo minisystem.
his current sound card
his current monitor
his current dvd player
his current tv
he is probably going to buy....
1 new sound card (potentially two sound cards instead)
1 new tv, hopefully hdtv-ready (so he can hook it up directly to the computer)
1 new integrated amp with remote control (potentially a digital audio reciever instead)
1 new set of two tower speakers
1 new wireless keyboard to go with his current wireless mouse
See? a much simpler system, no switching back and forth from this to that... and he likes that idea. He also likes the idea of a very major video and sound upgrade, and of being able to game and do computer work and whatever form bed..
This is going to be a bedroom system, by the way....
You will see I attached a picture of his room....
And now, this chat where all of this happened.... it is a very long read, but quite fun, imo. It helps show a bit more about what sort of system he wants, his budget (which I managed to increase and consolidate BIG TIME... he's gonna be selling more than he planned to!!).
So, on with the EXTREMELY LONG CHAT!
xGameRx256: acually i have it in a picture i can send ya
glueycwal: and....? if you aren't willing to upgrade your mp3's
xGameRx256: the stuff im buying
glueycwal: there is really no reason to get a 2.0 setup
glueycwal: hey
xGameRx256: lemme send
xGameRx256: hold on
glueycwal: dont buy it yet!
xGameRx256: i di dnot
xGameRx256: did
glueycwal: there is a LOT OF CRAP out there
xGameRx256: lemme send the picture of what iw as planning on buying
xGameRx256: it a reciver and 2 floor standers
xGameRx256: lemme get it
xGameRx256 wants to send file speaker project.bmp: this is the pictures
xGameRx256: im on 56k =( no bradband down here
xGameRx256: broadband
glueycwal: why not compress it to a jpg?
glueycwal: or a gif
glueycwal: instead of a bmp??
xGameRx256: umm fergot to
glueycwal canceled request; the file will not be sent.
glueycwal: well...
xGameRx256: ?
glueycwal: do it
xGameRx256 wants to send file speaker project compressed.jpg: here
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\speaker project compressed.jpg.
glueycwal: *sigh* you can get so much better quality at that price
glueycwal: it's really kind of sad
glueycwal: okay...
glueycwal: so, when buying floor standers
glueycwal: you have to look at your room
glueycwal: how is your room setup?
glueycwal: will you have an equilateral triangle between you and the speakers, pretty much?
xGameRx256: ill buy em end of the month
glueycwal: don't.
glueycwal: can you answer my question?
xGameRx256: k...
glueycwal: please/
glueycwal: ?
xGameRx256: what question
xGameRx256: i was upstairs for a sec
glueycwal: glueycwal: so, when buying floor standers
glueycwal: you have to look at your room
glueycwal: how is your room setup?
glueycwal: will you have an equilateral triangle between you and the speakers, pretty much?
glueycwal: ------
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: how big is your room? you are gonna be that far away from the speakers?
xGameRx256: nope i wont be far
glueycwal: like, 8 feet or so between the speakers
xGameRx256: ill be like 5 feet away
xGameRx256: or 8
glueycwal: Speaker - ---8 ft ------ speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
you
glueycwal: and the monitor is gonna be in the middle of that?
glueycwal:
Speaker - ---8 ft ------ speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
you
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: y?
glueycwal: how big is your @#$(*&! monitor?
xGameRx256: 21
xGameRx256: and a hook up to the tv
xGameRx256: the moniter and tv is in the same spot
glueycwal: Speaker -4ft-monitor- 4 ft-- speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
\\ /
\\ /
you
glueycwal: grrrr
glueycwal:
Speaker -4ft-monitor- 4 ft-- speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
\\ /
\\ /
you
glueycwal: there we go!
glueycwal: gyah
glueycwal: okay.....
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: we'll need to ask the experts
xGameRx256: the moniter is under the tv the tv hangs on the wall
glueycwal: why exactly do you want a reciever instead of an integrated amp?
xGameRx256: whats intergrated amp?
glueycwal: if it is a 2.0 setup, you can get better sound quality and more volume
xGameRx256: im a noob
xGameRx256: il plan on adding a sub during the summer
glueycwal: if you sacrafice all of those digital features that you dont need, like decoding and radio stations and ****.
glueycwal: cause your sound card will output an analog signal
glueycwal: and your dvd will too
glueycwal: both are made for 2.0 setups that way.
xGameRx256: ok
glueycwal: so you dont need to have any digital stuff
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: you want the upgradeability of a reciever, or a hi-fi setup instead?
xGameRx256: upgrade
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: you know you can have reciever -> amp -> speakers
glueycwal: or reciever -> speakers
glueycwal: or amp -> speakers
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: so you can make this a part of your future system
glueycwal: regardless of what you buy now
xGameRx256: cool
glueycwal: and, imo, i'd suggest the loudest and highest quality one.... however,
glueycwal: however, your music source sucks
glueycwal: badly
xGameRx256: i do have a stero
glueycwal: REALLY badly...
glueycwal: and you would play CD's on this?
glueycwal: instead of mp3's?
xGameRx256: i can hook up to it and play cd throught thast
glueycwal: you have a component cd player?
glueycwal: or a minisystem?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: which?
xGameRx256: a panasonic
xGameRx256: it old but loud
glueycwal: those campy aiwa minisystems that have a tape deck, cd player, radio, two speakers, etc. etc.
glueycwal: in one?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: those suck
glueycwal: so you dont have any good sources
xGameRx256: not really
glueycwal: okay.
xGameRx256: phone brb
glueycwal: we are going to have to work on your source. everything needs work, bud.
glueycwal: EVERYTHING....
xGameRx256: b ack
glueycwal: okay... you should decide. why do you need a reciever now? what are you willing to sacrafice for that? loudness, quality?
glueycwal: you can add anything you buy now to a home theater setup later
xGameRx256: i want both
xGameRx256: what wil i need now
glueycwal: well, lets look at your sources.
1 crappy sound card that should be able to pass through ac3 for a reciever to decode. it can, with software, decode ac3 to dolby digital 5.1 and send it to anything that can take a line level analog input. an integrated amp can take a line level analog input, and a reciever can take a digital and an analog input.
you have 1 crappy minisystem, which can probably output analog input via rca (unpowered!) jacks, but probably has a very noisy DAC in it
glueycwal: you have dvd's that you want to watch, from a component dvd player
glueycwal: and you have badly encoded mp3's you want to watch
glueycwal: things aren't looking good, friend...
xGameRx256: i also have a regular dvd player
xGameRx256: if it makes difference
glueycwal: thats what a component dvd player is.
glueycwal: that should be a better source than the minisystem
xGameRx256: i c
glueycwal: for cd's
glueycwal: so, that is your best bet for quality
glueycwal: that can pass through the ac3 signal to a reciever, or output a line level signal to an integrated amp or to a reciever
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: so.... seeing as how you could go either way, what is most appealing right now?
glueycwal: with the knowledge that you can add whatever you buy to any later system?
glueycwal: and the knowledge that, the more you pay on as few different digital thingies as possible, the better quality they are?
glueycwal: ie, a specialist will sound better than an equally priced jack of all trades
xGameRx256: ? im confused
glueycwal: well.....
glueycwal: i think we need to ask others
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: please register here
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...5&pagenumber=1
glueycwal: can you give a rough description of the layout of the room?
glueycwal: and can you name the exact components in your current system?
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: as in system
xGameRx256: my comp
xGameRx256: or
glueycwal: both.
glueycwal: the same, for both
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: we want to do a big upgrade.
glueycwal:
glueycwal: something that AT LEAST makes your system in both well rounded!
glueycwal: you might have to sell everything audio related that you have
glueycwal: but itll be worth it
glueycwal: if you buy new stuff
glueycwal: that is 800000 times better
glueycwal:
xGameRx256: i wont sell it il just guive em to my bro
xGameRx256: il just buy em
glueycwal: well to increase your budget
glueycwal: i mean
xGameRx256: o i c
xGameRx256: ya sure
glueycwal: for a complete overhaul
glueycwal: so... register for those forums
glueycwal: and then start posting a new post at audio and hi fi
xGameRx256: i have some one is supposeed to buy some car speakers for 100 bucks that i paid like 30 on
glueycwal: and i will walk you through what to say
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: k
xGameRx256: and also
xGameRx256: im selling my fps 2000 to some kid for a hundred bucks also
glueycwal: yea...
xGameRx256: so ill have a increase in budget
glueycwal: after selling EVERYTHING
glueycwal: and I mean everything
glueycwal: including the dvd player, most likely
xGameRx256: why
glueycwal: well
xGameRx256: i paid 300 for it
glueycwal: what brand is it?
xGameRx256: sony
glueycwal: okay, not the dvd player...
xGameRx256: whew
glueycwal: that can be your best source
glueycwal: for cd's and dvd's
xGameRx256: thats what i planned on
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: do you plan on doing 2 speaker gaming a lot?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: okay...
glueycwal: and having pretty good dvd and sound quality from your comp is important?
xGameRx256: 2 speaker with a sub
xGameRx256: ill buy a sub later this summer
glueycwal: uhhhhh
glueycwal: not necessarily]
glueycwal: these full range speakers of yours....
glueycwal: you might not need a sub
glueycwal: cause you are getting two full ranges
xGameRx256: the ones im buying?
xGameRx256: the cerwin
xGameRx256: riught
glueycwal: no, the ones you are gonna buy
xGameRx256: right
glueycwal: that are completely different than those
xGameRx256: o i c
xGameRx256: well u have a link to them
glueycwal: well
glueycwal: are you registered yet?
xGameRx256: ya i am
glueycwal: you will be posting this in two different places....
xGameRx256: my name is the same as in the hardforums
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...?s=&forumid=17
and
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...?s=&forumid=26
glueycwal: the 'home theater computer' section and the 'audio and hi-fi' section
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: are you at either of those forums?
glueycwal: ready to post?
glueycwal: (it should be the same thing in both...)
xGameRx256: im in them
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: so, in this post, you will have to have some sort of catchy title, like, "$1000 Hi-fi and HTPC overhaul?"
xGameRx256: ok ill use that title
xGameRx256: cant post yet
xGameRx256: it says i awating activation
glueycwal: you will have to be stating your current system in it's entirety -- your tv, your monitor, your basic computer, your sound card, your aiwa system, your multimedia speakers, your dvd player, and anything else relevant...
glueycwal: well, start typing it in notepad
glueycwal: and check your email
glueycwal: lol
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: okay, so.... tell me when you have that title and a description of your current system's components in that txt file
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: do you have that?
xGameRx256: im posting now
glueycwal: NO!
glueycwal: DO NOT POST NOW!
xGameRx256: k...
xGameRx256: what u want then
glueycwal: WE ARE ABOUT 10% THROUGH
glueycwal: TYPING THIS POST
glueycwal: lol, it's gonna be a ****ing ESSAY when I'm through with you....
glueycwal: >: )
xGameRx256: =(
glueycwal: don't worry.
glueycwal: you dont want to put $1000 down the drain?
xGameRx256: not really
glueycwal: think of it as insurence on your investment
xGameRx256: i want like 700 down the drain
xGameRx256: but if i have to
xGameRx256: hold on
glueycwal: okay...
so, say that you are wanting to upgrade your system, very badly. Right now, you have a computer that you like to game and watch dvd's on sharing space with a dvd player.
xGameRx256: what if i only use this for my dvd player
xGameRx256: on my tv
glueycwal: *explain your setup, to every foot and how everything is set up, exactly*
glueycwal: (we'll get to that!)
glueycwal: okay, are you typing in that txt file yet?
glueycwal: what i just told you to do?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: tell me when you are done
glueycwal: you are gonna need to explain room dimensions, where everything is put,everything
glueycwal: tell me when you have that written
xGameRx256: im writing it
glueycwal: cool
glueycwal: explain exactly where you wish to put two floor standing speakers
glueycwal: and how flexible that is
xGameRx256: flexible what is
glueycwal: are you 'locked into' one exact placement, or can you move things around a lot?
xGameRx256: o ya i can move thigs around
glueycwal: good
xGameRx256: things
glueycwal: mention that
xGameRx256: where can i upload a pic
xGameRx256: ill draw out my room setup
glueycwal: this should tell you
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/misc.php?s=&action=faq
xGameRx256: K, i want to upgrade my sound system
for my comp i watch dvds and play games it shares space with my dvd player which is a sony
i also have a mini stereo which has the tape deck and cd player in it
my sound card is a SB_LIVE Xgamer 4.1
xGameRx256: whould that work
xGameRx256: when i post
glueycwal: is that everything you wrote?
glueycwal: no, it won't....
glueycwal: i'll write it for you
xGameRx256: what else u want
glueycwal: you fill in the blanks
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: can you do that?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: it will be much longer than that
xGameRx256: k
xGameRx256: sure ill let ya do it and ill fill int he blanks
glueycwal: and edit it and ****?
xGameRx256: sure
xGameRx256: ill draw my room out for ya to show how its setup
glueycwal: is your monitor on top of your tv or below?
xGameRx256: below
xGameRx256 wants to send file my room.jpg: my room setup
glueycwal: heya
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\my room.jpg.
xGameRx256: o ****
glueycwal: still writing....
xGameRx256: wait i didnt
xGameRx256: i tought i fergot the comp
glueycwal: and the comp is where?
glueycwal: you have this for a bed system?
glueycwal: and you are gonna be watching this in bed and stuff?
xGameRx256: sure it my room i sleep in
glueycwal: and the mouse and keyboard is in bed?
xGameRx256: ill be buying a sofa bed at the end of the year
xGameRx256: no
glueycwal: you should say it is a pull out sofa bed....
xGameRx256: its on the desk thing
glueycwal: what desk thing?
xGameRx256: well u kno what i mean
glueycwal: i dont
glueycwal: please put it in the picture
xGameRx256: sure
glueycwal: cause THEY gotta know too!
glueycwal: what is your computer spot,
glueycwal: waht is your tv spot?
xGameRx256: above the moniter
glueycwal: nonono
glueycwal: where do you sit to....
glueycwal: 1. game
glueycwal: 2. watch tv
glueycwal: 3. listen to music
glueycwal: and are they the same?
glueycwal: draw a circle for the sweet spot for each of those
glueycwal: lol
xGameRx256: hold on lemem update pic
glueycwal: and label it
glueycwal: if possible, you might want to try and move things around so that the sweet spot and work spot for each and every one of these
glueycwal: is the same
glueycwal: ie, the couch
glueycwal: you can get wireless keboards, wireless mice
glueycwal: sell the monitor, sell the tv, get a basic hdtv-ready tv....
glueycwal: hook it up to a htpc
xGameRx256: i got wireless mouse already
xGameRx256: i was planning on a wireless keyboard
glueycwal: and wireless keyboard? that nice logitech one?
glueycwal: well than
glueycwal: add that to your list of things to get
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: here's what I would do.....
1. upgrade to hdtv. screw the monitor, screw the tv. sell 'em.
2. use htpc as your only source. get a high quality sound card that is great for games, music, and dvd's.
3. change all of your cd's to high quality mp3's, and use the htpc as a jukebox. that way, you dont have to worry about your sucky computer dvd-rom drive messing up the cd sound.
4. game, work, watch tv, do everything in the same spot, using wireless stuff (from logitech). your sweet spot will be the couch and bed....
5. let your computer and sound card and software do all the 2 channel decoding for dvd's, all of that. you may even want a dual sound card setup to make it best for this.
6. get a high quality integrated amp and a high quality set of tower speakers
xGameRx256 wants to send file my room.jpg: here
xGameRx256: u think im rich
glueycwal: that basically means
glueycwal: selling EVERYTHING
xGameRx256: im 16
glueycwal: and I do mean *EVERYTHING*
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\my room.jpg.
glueycwal: you can do it in your budget
glueycwal: except maybe the tv part
glueycwal: how much could you get for the tv and monitor?
glueycwal: dude, if you sell everything, you could get *one system* (count it, ONE SYSTEM) that does everything....
glueycwal: and does it all VERY WELL.....
glueycwal: no switching from this to that source
glueycwal: for the tv or sound or anything
xGameRx256: i was planning on buying a tv nex year
glueycwal: very simple.....
glueycwal: good!
glueycwal: than add that to the budget!
glueycwal: and sell your monitor, your current tv, pretty much everything except your computer.... lol......
glueycwal: all of that sound stuff, everything
xGameRx256: is the drawing better
glueycwal: and go full htpc
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: ah...... a question.....
glueycwal: if you upgrade to htpc, and get a hdtv
glueycwal: will you mind gaming from the bed?
xGameRx256: yes
glueycwal: you do not want to do that?
xGameRx256: i like to be up at it
glueycwal: for best sound I mean?
glueycwal: even if you end up with a big ass tv?
xGameRx256: o well
xGameRx256: u put it that way
xGameRx256: sure
glueycwal: so, if you end up with a big ass tv and speakers that pretty much sound very much best when you are in the sweet spot
glueycwal: and you can have pretty much a home theater-esque gaming experience....
glueycwal: btw, why no rear speakers?
glueycwal: in the budget?
xGameRx256: umm
xGameRx256: i have a 1000 budget
xGameRx256: here
glueycwal: could you sacrafice towers
xGameRx256: umm
glueycwal: for a 5.1 setup?
xGameRx256: mmm
xGameRx256: will it be 5.1 for
xGameRx256: games
glueycwal: only if you get a sound blaster audigy...
glueycwal: which will compromise sound quality
xGameRx256: well i really only wanted it for music
glueycwal: for everything else.
xGameRx256: i wanted a booming sound
glueycwal: okay, then....
glueycwal: you can get better than that.
glueycwal: you can get tight, impacting, deep, authoritative bass
glueycwal: which is much better than boom
glueycwal: MUCH better
glueycwal: cause that can boom if you tell it to
glueycwal: and it can sound more realistic and well-defined when you tell it to
glueycwal: having tight, undistorted, un-booming bass means it's more versatile
glueycwal: it doesn't boom when something non-boomy plays
glueycwal: accuracy = good
always booming = bad
booming only when you give it a source that has boom = good
glueycwal: follow?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: okay. so.... this is going to be a much bigger overhaul than we thought!
glueycwal: are you going to take this dive?
glueycwal: you're gonna have to commit, man...
glueycwal: big time....
glueycwal: this is gonna be a very big change
xGameRx256: ok
glueycwal: selling all of these systems off
glueycwal: including your tv and monitor
xGameRx256: i guess ill have to
glueycwal: and making it all one beautiful system
xGameRx256: ****
xGameRx256: my moniter
glueycwal: hey
glueycwal: hdtv = better
xGameRx256: i know
glueycwal: ;-)
xGameRx256: but i love my sony moniter
glueycwal: ooohhhh.....21" sony.... *grunts*
glueycwal: well, if you wanna game from the sweet spot in the sound
glueycwal: and have a truly cinematic gaming experience
glueycwal: .... is that worth it to you?
xGameRx256: ugh
xGameRx256: i dont know
xGameRx256: all i wanted was a kick ass speakers
xGameRx256: and im windning up with a new tv
xGameRx256: in it
glueycwal: and what you get is a kick ass new system
xGameRx256: true
glueycwal: trust me man.... having a mismatched mutt
xGameRx256: i wonder what my mom is gonna say
glueycwal: means that you are pissing money to the wind
xGameRx256: lol
xGameRx256: well
glueycwal: if you get one very very versatile system.....
glueycwal: that does it ALL....
xGameRx256: i just have to find someine to rip off or somthing
glueycwal: than you have something very special....
glueycwal: yea.....
glueycwal: hey
xGameRx256: my tv is no the greates
glueycwal: can you figure out how much you can get, total, for everything?
xGameRx256: it slike 24 inches
glueycwal: after you sell all of it, and add the tv budget
glueycwal: to your 'gamerx complete htpc overhaul' thing?
xGameRx256: i dunno
xGameRx256: if anone is gonna buy it
glueycwal: you were having a seperate 'buy a new tv' budget
glueycwal: and a seperate 'buy new speakers' budget
glueycwal: can you combine them?
xGameRx256: i was planning on the tv after the speakers
xGameRx256: and was not playing more then 500 for a tv
glueycwal: i think that you might wanna try and sell them all at once
glueycwal: and get it ALL at once
glueycwal: or at least
glueycwal: have a very definite plan
glueycwal: for 'sell this, buy this. sell this, buy this.'
glueycwal: you know?
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: true
glueycwal: do you mind selling that dvd player?
xGameRx256: yes
xGameRx256: i love it
xGameRx256: its a kick ass dvd player
glueycwal: its a pity, though, it's your best source... but you can get a htpc to be better.
xGameRx256: it not one of those 5 dvd changer things tho
glueycwal: if you tweak enough....
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31225
glueycwal: you should bookmark that
glueycwal: you are going to sell....
current multimedia speakers
current keyboard.
current minisystem.
current sound card
current monitor
current dvd player
current tv
you are going to buy
1 new sound card (potentially two sound cards instead)
1 new hdtv-ready tv
1 new integrated amp with remote control (potentially a digital audio reciever instead)
1 new set of two tower speakers
1 new wireless keyboard to go with your wireless mouse
glueycwal: you are going to learn how to copy all of your cd's to mp3 so that the mp3's are cd quality
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: read this 'collection of faq's'
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31225
glueycwal: how important is having the best two channel gaming sound?
glueycwal: how important is having game sound that works?
glueycwal: how important is having the best eax (reverb, occlusion, and obstruction) effects, especially for new and unreleased games?
glueycwal: how important is keeping this down to only one sound card?
glueycwal: i can help you with THAT decision
glueycwal: which should make your life easier
glueycwal:
glueycwal: can I post this chat?
xGameRx256: sure
I have a friend who was neither an audiophile nor a videophile (but is definitely a techie into computers) decide from going from simply buying cheap bassy some speakers and a cheap reciever for his computer to, well, completely selling all trace of his bedroom audio and video systems, and going complete HTPC.
Damn, I wasn't even TRYING to do that...it just happened--i was just trying to figure out the best deal for him!
He began this by posting this HERE:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....hreadid=400816
and then I got ahold of him....
He is probably going to do this....
He is going to sell....
his current multimedia speakers
his current keyboard.
his current stereo minisystem.
his current sound card
his current monitor
his current dvd player
his current tv
he is probably going to buy....
1 new sound card (potentially two sound cards instead)
1 new tv, hopefully hdtv-ready (so he can hook it up directly to the computer)
1 new integrated amp with remote control (potentially a digital audio reciever instead)
1 new set of two tower speakers
1 new wireless keyboard to go with his current wireless mouse
See? a much simpler system, no switching back and forth from this to that... and he likes that idea. He also likes the idea of a very major video and sound upgrade, and of being able to game and do computer work and whatever form bed..
This is going to be a bedroom system, by the way....
You will see I attached a picture of his room....
And now, this chat where all of this happened.... it is a very long read, but quite fun, imo. It helps show a bit more about what sort of system he wants, his budget (which I managed to increase and consolidate BIG TIME... he's gonna be selling more than he planned to!!).
So, on with the EXTREMELY LONG CHAT!
xGameRx256: acually i have it in a picture i can send ya
glueycwal: and....? if you aren't willing to upgrade your mp3's
xGameRx256: the stuff im buying
glueycwal: there is really no reason to get a 2.0 setup
glueycwal: hey
xGameRx256: lemme send
xGameRx256: hold on
glueycwal: dont buy it yet!
xGameRx256: i di dnot
xGameRx256: did
glueycwal: there is a LOT OF CRAP out there
xGameRx256: lemme send the picture of what iw as planning on buying
xGameRx256: it a reciver and 2 floor standers
xGameRx256: lemme get it
xGameRx256 wants to send file speaker project.bmp: this is the pictures
xGameRx256: im on 56k =( no bradband down here
xGameRx256: broadband
glueycwal: why not compress it to a jpg?
glueycwal: or a gif
glueycwal: instead of a bmp??
xGameRx256: umm fergot to
glueycwal canceled request; the file will not be sent.
glueycwal: well...
xGameRx256: ?
glueycwal: do it
xGameRx256 wants to send file speaker project compressed.jpg: here
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\speaker project compressed.jpg.
glueycwal: *sigh* you can get so much better quality at that price
glueycwal: it's really kind of sad
glueycwal: okay...
glueycwal: so, when buying floor standers
glueycwal: you have to look at your room
glueycwal: how is your room setup?
glueycwal: will you have an equilateral triangle between you and the speakers, pretty much?
xGameRx256: ill buy em end of the month
glueycwal: don't.
glueycwal: can you answer my question?
xGameRx256: k...
glueycwal: please/
glueycwal: ?
xGameRx256: what question
xGameRx256: i was upstairs for a sec
glueycwal: glueycwal: so, when buying floor standers
glueycwal: you have to look at your room
glueycwal: how is your room setup?
glueycwal: will you have an equilateral triangle between you and the speakers, pretty much?
glueycwal: ------
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: how big is your room? you are gonna be that far away from the speakers?
xGameRx256: nope i wont be far
glueycwal: like, 8 feet or so between the speakers
xGameRx256: ill be like 5 feet away
xGameRx256: or 8
glueycwal: Speaker - ---8 ft ------ speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
you
glueycwal: and the monitor is gonna be in the middle of that?
glueycwal:
Speaker - ---8 ft ------ speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
you
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: y?
glueycwal: how big is your @#$(*&! monitor?
xGameRx256: 21
xGameRx256: and a hook up to the tv
xGameRx256: the moniter and tv is in the same spot
glueycwal: Speaker -4ft-monitor- 4 ft-- speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
\\ /
\\ /
you
glueycwal: grrrr
glueycwal:
Speaker -4ft-monitor- 4 ft-- speaker
\\ /
\\ /
8ft 8ft
\\ /
\\ /
\\ /
you
glueycwal: there we go!
glueycwal: gyah
glueycwal: okay.....
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: we'll need to ask the experts
xGameRx256: the moniter is under the tv the tv hangs on the wall
glueycwal: why exactly do you want a reciever instead of an integrated amp?
xGameRx256: whats intergrated amp?
glueycwal: if it is a 2.0 setup, you can get better sound quality and more volume
xGameRx256: im a noob
xGameRx256: il plan on adding a sub during the summer
glueycwal: if you sacrafice all of those digital features that you dont need, like decoding and radio stations and ****.
glueycwal: cause your sound card will output an analog signal
glueycwal: and your dvd will too
glueycwal: both are made for 2.0 setups that way.
xGameRx256: ok
glueycwal: so you dont need to have any digital stuff
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: you want the upgradeability of a reciever, or a hi-fi setup instead?
xGameRx256: upgrade
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: you know you can have reciever -> amp -> speakers
glueycwal: or reciever -> speakers
glueycwal: or amp -> speakers
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: so you can make this a part of your future system
glueycwal: regardless of what you buy now
xGameRx256: cool
glueycwal: and, imo, i'd suggest the loudest and highest quality one.... however,
glueycwal: however, your music source sucks
glueycwal: badly
xGameRx256: i do have a stero
glueycwal: REALLY badly...
glueycwal: and you would play CD's on this?
glueycwal: instead of mp3's?
xGameRx256: i can hook up to it and play cd throught thast
glueycwal: you have a component cd player?
glueycwal: or a minisystem?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: which?
xGameRx256: a panasonic
xGameRx256: it old but loud
glueycwal: those campy aiwa minisystems that have a tape deck, cd player, radio, two speakers, etc. etc.
glueycwal: in one?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: those suck
glueycwal: so you dont have any good sources
xGameRx256: not really
glueycwal: okay.
xGameRx256: phone brb
glueycwal: we are going to have to work on your source. everything needs work, bud.
glueycwal: EVERYTHING....
xGameRx256: b ack
glueycwal: okay... you should decide. why do you need a reciever now? what are you willing to sacrafice for that? loudness, quality?
glueycwal: you can add anything you buy now to a home theater setup later
xGameRx256: i want both
xGameRx256: what wil i need now
glueycwal: well, lets look at your sources.
1 crappy sound card that should be able to pass through ac3 for a reciever to decode. it can, with software, decode ac3 to dolby digital 5.1 and send it to anything that can take a line level analog input. an integrated amp can take a line level analog input, and a reciever can take a digital and an analog input.
you have 1 crappy minisystem, which can probably output analog input via rca (unpowered!) jacks, but probably has a very noisy DAC in it
glueycwal: you have dvd's that you want to watch, from a component dvd player
glueycwal: and you have badly encoded mp3's you want to watch
glueycwal: things aren't looking good, friend...
xGameRx256: i also have a regular dvd player
xGameRx256: if it makes difference
glueycwal: thats what a component dvd player is.
glueycwal: that should be a better source than the minisystem
xGameRx256: i c
glueycwal: for cd's
glueycwal: so, that is your best bet for quality
glueycwal: that can pass through the ac3 signal to a reciever, or output a line level signal to an integrated amp or to a reciever
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: so.... seeing as how you could go either way, what is most appealing right now?
glueycwal: with the knowledge that you can add whatever you buy to any later system?
glueycwal: and the knowledge that, the more you pay on as few different digital thingies as possible, the better quality they are?
glueycwal: ie, a specialist will sound better than an equally priced jack of all trades
xGameRx256: ? im confused
glueycwal: well.....
glueycwal: i think we need to ask others
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: please register here
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...5&pagenumber=1
glueycwal: can you give a rough description of the layout of the room?
glueycwal: and can you name the exact components in your current system?
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: as in system
xGameRx256: my comp
xGameRx256: or
glueycwal: both.
glueycwal: the same, for both
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: we want to do a big upgrade.
glueycwal:
glueycwal: something that AT LEAST makes your system in both well rounded!
glueycwal: you might have to sell everything audio related that you have
glueycwal: but itll be worth it
glueycwal: if you buy new stuff
glueycwal: that is 800000 times better
glueycwal:
xGameRx256: i wont sell it il just guive em to my bro
xGameRx256: il just buy em
glueycwal: well to increase your budget
glueycwal: i mean
xGameRx256: o i c
xGameRx256: ya sure
glueycwal: for a complete overhaul
glueycwal: so... register for those forums
glueycwal: and then start posting a new post at audio and hi fi
xGameRx256: i have some one is supposeed to buy some car speakers for 100 bucks that i paid like 30 on
glueycwal: and i will walk you through what to say
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: k
xGameRx256: and also
xGameRx256: im selling my fps 2000 to some kid for a hundred bucks also
glueycwal: yea...
xGameRx256: so ill have a increase in budget
glueycwal: after selling EVERYTHING
glueycwal: and I mean everything
glueycwal: including the dvd player, most likely
xGameRx256: why
glueycwal: well
xGameRx256: i paid 300 for it
glueycwal: what brand is it?
xGameRx256: sony
glueycwal: okay, not the dvd player...
xGameRx256: whew
glueycwal: that can be your best source
glueycwal: for cd's and dvd's
xGameRx256: thats what i planned on
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: do you plan on doing 2 speaker gaming a lot?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: okay...
glueycwal: and having pretty good dvd and sound quality from your comp is important?
xGameRx256: 2 speaker with a sub
xGameRx256: ill buy a sub later this summer
glueycwal: uhhhhh
glueycwal: not necessarily]
glueycwal: these full range speakers of yours....
glueycwal: you might not need a sub
glueycwal: cause you are getting two full ranges
xGameRx256: the ones im buying?
xGameRx256: the cerwin
xGameRx256: riught
glueycwal: no, the ones you are gonna buy
xGameRx256: right
glueycwal: that are completely different than those
xGameRx256: o i c
xGameRx256: well u have a link to them
glueycwal: well
glueycwal: are you registered yet?
xGameRx256: ya i am
glueycwal: you will be posting this in two different places....
xGameRx256: my name is the same as in the hardforums
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...?s=&forumid=17
and
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...?s=&forumid=26
glueycwal: the 'home theater computer' section and the 'audio and hi-fi' section
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: are you at either of those forums?
glueycwal: ready to post?
glueycwal: (it should be the same thing in both...)
xGameRx256: im in them
glueycwal: okay
glueycwal: so, in this post, you will have to have some sort of catchy title, like, "$1000 Hi-fi and HTPC overhaul?"
xGameRx256: ok ill use that title
xGameRx256: cant post yet
xGameRx256: it says i awating activation
glueycwal: you will have to be stating your current system in it's entirety -- your tv, your monitor, your basic computer, your sound card, your aiwa system, your multimedia speakers, your dvd player, and anything else relevant...
glueycwal: well, start typing it in notepad
glueycwal: and check your email
glueycwal: lol
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: okay, so.... tell me when you have that title and a description of your current system's components in that txt file
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: do you have that?
xGameRx256: im posting now
glueycwal: NO!
glueycwal: DO NOT POST NOW!
xGameRx256: k...
xGameRx256: what u want then
glueycwal: WE ARE ABOUT 10% THROUGH
glueycwal: TYPING THIS POST
glueycwal: lol, it's gonna be a ****ing ESSAY when I'm through with you....
glueycwal: >: )
xGameRx256: =(
glueycwal: don't worry.
glueycwal: you dont want to put $1000 down the drain?
xGameRx256: not really
glueycwal: think of it as insurence on your investment
xGameRx256: i want like 700 down the drain
xGameRx256: but if i have to
xGameRx256: hold on
glueycwal: okay...
so, say that you are wanting to upgrade your system, very badly. Right now, you have a computer that you like to game and watch dvd's on sharing space with a dvd player.
xGameRx256: what if i only use this for my dvd player
xGameRx256: on my tv
glueycwal: *explain your setup, to every foot and how everything is set up, exactly*
glueycwal: (we'll get to that!)
glueycwal: okay, are you typing in that txt file yet?
glueycwal: what i just told you to do?
xGameRx256: ya
glueycwal: tell me when you are done
glueycwal: you are gonna need to explain room dimensions, where everything is put,everything
glueycwal: tell me when you have that written
xGameRx256: im writing it
glueycwal: cool
glueycwal: explain exactly where you wish to put two floor standing speakers
glueycwal: and how flexible that is
xGameRx256: flexible what is
glueycwal: are you 'locked into' one exact placement, or can you move things around a lot?
xGameRx256: o ya i can move thigs around
glueycwal: good
xGameRx256: things
glueycwal: mention that
xGameRx256: where can i upload a pic
xGameRx256: ill draw out my room setup
glueycwal: this should tell you
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/misc.php?s=&action=faq
xGameRx256: K, i want to upgrade my sound system
for my comp i watch dvds and play games it shares space with my dvd player which is a sony
i also have a mini stereo which has the tape deck and cd player in it
my sound card is a SB_LIVE Xgamer 4.1
xGameRx256: whould that work
xGameRx256: when i post
glueycwal: is that everything you wrote?
glueycwal: no, it won't....
glueycwal: i'll write it for you
xGameRx256: what else u want
glueycwal: you fill in the blanks
glueycwal: okay?
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: can you do that?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: it will be much longer than that
xGameRx256: k
xGameRx256: sure ill let ya do it and ill fill int he blanks
glueycwal: and edit it and ****?
xGameRx256: sure
xGameRx256: ill draw my room out for ya to show how its setup
glueycwal: is your monitor on top of your tv or below?
xGameRx256: below
xGameRx256 wants to send file my room.jpg: my room setup
glueycwal: heya
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\my room.jpg.
xGameRx256: o ****
glueycwal: still writing....
xGameRx256: wait i didnt
xGameRx256: i tought i fergot the comp
glueycwal: and the comp is where?
glueycwal: you have this for a bed system?
glueycwal: and you are gonna be watching this in bed and stuff?
xGameRx256: sure it my room i sleep in
glueycwal: and the mouse and keyboard is in bed?
xGameRx256: ill be buying a sofa bed at the end of the year
xGameRx256: no
glueycwal: you should say it is a pull out sofa bed....
xGameRx256: its on the desk thing
glueycwal: what desk thing?
xGameRx256: well u kno what i mean
glueycwal: i dont
glueycwal: please put it in the picture
xGameRx256: sure
glueycwal: cause THEY gotta know too!
glueycwal: what is your computer spot,
glueycwal: waht is your tv spot?
xGameRx256: above the moniter
glueycwal: nonono
glueycwal: where do you sit to....
glueycwal: 1. game
glueycwal: 2. watch tv
glueycwal: 3. listen to music
glueycwal: and are they the same?
glueycwal: draw a circle for the sweet spot for each of those
glueycwal: lol
xGameRx256: hold on lemem update pic
glueycwal: and label it
glueycwal: if possible, you might want to try and move things around so that the sweet spot and work spot for each and every one of these
glueycwal: is the same
glueycwal: ie, the couch
glueycwal: you can get wireless keboards, wireless mice
glueycwal: sell the monitor, sell the tv, get a basic hdtv-ready tv....
glueycwal: hook it up to a htpc
xGameRx256: i got wireless mouse already
xGameRx256: i was planning on a wireless keyboard
glueycwal: and wireless keyboard? that nice logitech one?
glueycwal: well than
glueycwal: add that to your list of things to get
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: here's what I would do.....
1. upgrade to hdtv. screw the monitor, screw the tv. sell 'em.
2. use htpc as your only source. get a high quality sound card that is great for games, music, and dvd's.
3. change all of your cd's to high quality mp3's, and use the htpc as a jukebox. that way, you dont have to worry about your sucky computer dvd-rom drive messing up the cd sound.
4. game, work, watch tv, do everything in the same spot, using wireless stuff (from logitech). your sweet spot will be the couch and bed....
5. let your computer and sound card and software do all the 2 channel decoding for dvd's, all of that. you may even want a dual sound card setup to make it best for this.
6. get a high quality integrated amp and a high quality set of tower speakers
xGameRx256 wants to send file my room.jpg: here
xGameRx256: u think im rich
glueycwal: that basically means
glueycwal: selling EVERYTHING
xGameRx256: im 16
glueycwal: and I do mean *EVERYTHING*
glueycwal received C:\\My Documents\\download\\Glueycwal\\my room.jpg.
glueycwal: you can do it in your budget
glueycwal: except maybe the tv part
glueycwal: how much could you get for the tv and monitor?
glueycwal: dude, if you sell everything, you could get *one system* (count it, ONE SYSTEM) that does everything....
glueycwal: and does it all VERY WELL.....
glueycwal: no switching from this to that source
glueycwal: for the tv or sound or anything
xGameRx256: i was planning on buying a tv nex year
glueycwal: very simple.....
glueycwal: good!
glueycwal: than add that to the budget!
glueycwal: and sell your monitor, your current tv, pretty much everything except your computer.... lol......
glueycwal: all of that sound stuff, everything
xGameRx256: is the drawing better
glueycwal: and go full htpc
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: ah...... a question.....
glueycwal: if you upgrade to htpc, and get a hdtv
glueycwal: will you mind gaming from the bed?
xGameRx256: yes
glueycwal: you do not want to do that?
xGameRx256: i like to be up at it
glueycwal: for best sound I mean?
glueycwal: even if you end up with a big ass tv?
xGameRx256: o well
xGameRx256: u put it that way
xGameRx256: sure
glueycwal: so, if you end up with a big ass tv and speakers that pretty much sound very much best when you are in the sweet spot
glueycwal: and you can have pretty much a home theater-esque gaming experience....
glueycwal: btw, why no rear speakers?
glueycwal: in the budget?
xGameRx256: umm
xGameRx256: i have a 1000 budget
xGameRx256: here
glueycwal: could you sacrafice towers
xGameRx256: umm
glueycwal: for a 5.1 setup?
xGameRx256: mmm
xGameRx256: will it be 5.1 for
xGameRx256: games
glueycwal: only if you get a sound blaster audigy...
glueycwal: which will compromise sound quality
xGameRx256: well i really only wanted it for music
glueycwal: for everything else.
xGameRx256: i wanted a booming sound
glueycwal: okay, then....
glueycwal: you can get better than that.
glueycwal: you can get tight, impacting, deep, authoritative bass
glueycwal: which is much better than boom
glueycwal: MUCH better
glueycwal: cause that can boom if you tell it to
glueycwal: and it can sound more realistic and well-defined when you tell it to
glueycwal: having tight, undistorted, un-booming bass means it's more versatile
glueycwal: it doesn't boom when something non-boomy plays
glueycwal: accuracy = good
always booming = bad
booming only when you give it a source that has boom = good
glueycwal: follow?
xGameRx256: yup
glueycwal: okay. so.... this is going to be a much bigger overhaul than we thought!
glueycwal: are you going to take this dive?
glueycwal: you're gonna have to commit, man...
glueycwal: big time....
glueycwal: this is gonna be a very big change
xGameRx256: ok
glueycwal: selling all of these systems off
glueycwal: including your tv and monitor
xGameRx256: i guess ill have to
glueycwal: and making it all one beautiful system
xGameRx256: ****
xGameRx256: my moniter
glueycwal: hey
glueycwal: hdtv = better
xGameRx256: i know
glueycwal: ;-)
xGameRx256: but i love my sony moniter
glueycwal: ooohhhh.....21" sony.... *grunts*
glueycwal: well, if you wanna game from the sweet spot in the sound
glueycwal: and have a truly cinematic gaming experience
glueycwal: .... is that worth it to you?
xGameRx256: ugh
xGameRx256: i dont know
xGameRx256: all i wanted was a kick ass speakers
xGameRx256: and im windning up with a new tv
xGameRx256: in it
glueycwal: and what you get is a kick ass new system
xGameRx256: true
glueycwal: trust me man.... having a mismatched mutt
xGameRx256: i wonder what my mom is gonna say
glueycwal: means that you are pissing money to the wind
xGameRx256: lol
xGameRx256: well
glueycwal: if you get one very very versatile system.....
glueycwal: that does it ALL....
xGameRx256: i just have to find someine to rip off or somthing
glueycwal: than you have something very special....
glueycwal: yea.....
glueycwal: hey
xGameRx256: my tv is no the greates
glueycwal: can you figure out how much you can get, total, for everything?
xGameRx256: it slike 24 inches
glueycwal: after you sell all of it, and add the tv budget
glueycwal: to your 'gamerx complete htpc overhaul' thing?
xGameRx256: i dunno
xGameRx256: if anone is gonna buy it
glueycwal: you were having a seperate 'buy a new tv' budget
glueycwal: and a seperate 'buy new speakers' budget
glueycwal: can you combine them?
xGameRx256: i was planning on the tv after the speakers
xGameRx256: and was not playing more then 500 for a tv
glueycwal: i think that you might wanna try and sell them all at once
glueycwal: and get it ALL at once
glueycwal: or at least
glueycwal: have a very definite plan
glueycwal: for 'sell this, buy this. sell this, buy this.'
glueycwal: you know?
xGameRx256: ya
xGameRx256: true
glueycwal: do you mind selling that dvd player?
xGameRx256: yes
xGameRx256: i love it
xGameRx256: its a kick ass dvd player
glueycwal: its a pity, though, it's your best source... but you can get a htpc to be better.
xGameRx256: it not one of those 5 dvd changer things tho
glueycwal: if you tweak enough....
glueycwal: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31225
glueycwal: you should bookmark that
glueycwal: you are going to sell....
current multimedia speakers
current keyboard.
current minisystem.
current sound card
current monitor
current dvd player
current tv
you are going to buy
1 new sound card (potentially two sound cards instead)
1 new hdtv-ready tv
1 new integrated amp with remote control (potentially a digital audio reciever instead)
1 new set of two tower speakers
1 new wireless keyboard to go with your wireless mouse
glueycwal: you are going to learn how to copy all of your cd's to mp3 so that the mp3's are cd quality
xGameRx256: k
glueycwal: read this 'collection of faq's'
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31225
glueycwal: how important is having the best two channel gaming sound?
glueycwal: how important is having game sound that works?
glueycwal: how important is having the best eax (reverb, occlusion, and obstruction) effects, especially for new and unreleased games?
glueycwal: how important is keeping this down to only one sound card?
glueycwal: i can help you with THAT decision
glueycwal: which should make your life easier
glueycwal:
glueycwal: can I post this chat?
xGameRx256: sure
