How to leverage surround sound receiver

barryfox

I will probably be replacing my home theater surround sound receiver (Denon AVR-1802) with something more modern. I am trying to figure out the best way to leverage this with my Soundblaster X-Fi Xtremegamer card and either my current or previous 5.1 speakers. I currently have a Logitech X-540 speaker set that works fine, it replaced a set of Monsoon MH-505's that kept making noise from the amp with no input.

Could I use the speakers from the Monsoon set and add a small powered subwoofer with the Denon or what....

Appreciate any suggestions.

ROBSCIX · 05-09-2012, 18:43 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

You could.....but if you are getting a receiver it would be better to use good quality speakers. What are the Monsoon, are they PC speaker or HT speakers?

barryfox · 05-09-2012, 19:18 | posts: 17 | Location: Columbia, MD

The Monsoon MH-505's 5.1 speakers were a highly rated PC 5.1 surround speaker set about 10 years ago. The surround speakers used a 2.5 inch midrange speaker with a Planar Focus Technology high frequency flat panel speaker. The sound was really good, but the control board for the system was not so great and became noisy with age.

I am trying to reuse as much of my existing gear to keep the potential costs down (and to keep my better half from objecting too much).

ROBSCIX · 05-09-2012, 22:49 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

I would pass on trying to recycle PC speakers for use with a receiver but it is up to you.
If you want to keep the price point down, buy used components from pawn shops or buy and sell forums.
If you are using lower grade "PC" speakers with your current receiver, you might get the upgrade you are looking for by upgrading speakers and not the receiver.

Turdhat · 05-20-2012, 23:31 | posts: 169 | Location: Louisville

Lose the soundcard all together, run HDMI from video card to receiver (assuming it has hdmi), go in to windows sound properties and set to 5.1. Now every game, movie etc will playback as it should. Direct from the app or game with your receiver doing all the work. I run like this in to a Harmon Kardon AVR and will never go back to a sound card. There is no loss in performance by using the Video card. It is only passing audio to your receiver, not processing it. There are no eq or settings on the pc side when doing this. If you want eq, etc just use the controls on the receiver.

I run a lot of 5.1 24bit/96k music as well as 16 bit 44k flac files via foobar in WASAPI mode. My receiver switches to the proper mode depending on the source material bitrate. Love it. Get foobar and the WASAPI plugin. This will cause all music played via foobar to bypass windows mixer so you are sure to get the music to your receiver unadulterated by windows..

nikavelli · 05-22-2012, 05:47 | posts: 348

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turdhat

Lose the soundcard all together, run HDMI from video card to receiver (assuming it has hdmi), go in to windows sound properties and set to 5.1. Now every game, movie etc will playback as it should. Direct from the app or game with your receiver doing all the work. I run like this in to a Harmon Kardon AVR and will never go back to a sound card. There is no loss in performance by using the Video card. It is only passing audio to your receiver, not processing it. There are no eq or settings on the pc side when doing this. If you want eq, etc just use the controls on the receiver.

The only issue with this setup: the DAC's you find inside receivers are usually crap compared to what you find on modern sound cards. This holds true for even high end receivers. It's been established on these forums time and time again. If you want good sound quality, you need a good DAC. Unfortunately, receivers do not deliver in this department. But by all means, enjoy your sound Turdhat.

Tacoboy · 05-24-2012, 00:18 | posts: 185 | Location: Calif.

Your not going to have much luck using the Monsoon computer speakers with a modern A/V receiver, you would need pre-out on the receiver. Which are not cheap.
Your looking at at least $500 (maybe $450) for a good receiver/5.1 speaker setup.

ROBSCIX · 05-25-2012, 16:54 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

If you are going to use a receiver, you need speakers that will show you what you have. Using a set of powered PC speakers with a receiver, is well a waste.

DirkHardpeck · 05-26-2012, 01:48 | posts: 226 | Location: NJ

If you really don't want to spend money, have you tried cracking the Monsoons' control interface open and giving the pots a good cleaning, check the components and soldering points, etc.? Once in awhile, that's all you need.