Sound Card and Speakers Question

Budget: Speakers: $150 TOPS Sound Card: Don't want overkill (telll me if this is) $100 TOPS

Now, I don't have exactly the best desk setup for 5.1 or 4.1 speakers, so I need some pretty long cords if I want to get surround. The size of the sub does'nt matter (like if it is really big that is'nt a problem). For a sound card, I don't need a lot of features. What Im looking for is quality, in both speakers and sound card. Here is what I have been looking at.

Speakers: First Option

or

Second Option

Let me explain, I like that the Klipsch speakers have long cords, a nice sub, and are supposed to be really high quality, and in my budget. What I'm wonder is this, will I be able to say but another 2 satalites to upgrade to 4.1 in the future, and for how much will this cost me?

Second option, good speakers, one step under the z-5500s. Nice, but I like to have the option of upgrading in the future with out breading the wallet. And how long are the rear speaks cords?

(I like to know how long the rear speaker cords are because, I need them long enough to put them in a good posistion for surround sound)

If you have any other suggestions or comments, please say so.

Sound card:

I want something that wont be overkill and will give me as good of sound as my speakers can produce (I might add Im coming from onboard sound ). I want support for either 7.1 or 5.1 or higher. Here is what Im looking at.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178

What do you think, will this satisfy my needs, overkill? Comments? Suggestions? Thanks in advance

 

Cable extentions are available where you purchase sound accessories (RadioShack or better still a Hi Fi resaler?).

4.1, 5.1 or 7.1 from my (limited...correct me if I'm wrong) understanding, should depend on the size of the room (and maybe if you have a lot of soft furnishings). 4.1 would be lost in a big room, 7.1 would be no different from 4.1 in a small room. Get 7.1 if it may be moved to a larger room in the future.

Sound cards. More expensive ones will add extra features, not so much "better sound" . Me, I would put the money toward the speakers.

You may need to listen to the speaker system (and imagine it in your home setting). Listen to the systems in a department or Hi Fi store...but buy them off the net if they are cheaper

The website of the speaker manufacturer may tell you the best "range" they are best suited for (do you want listen to fine orchestral music or "feel" spacecraft thundering across the screen?).

Matt

 

I have just learned about the speaker extensions and this is what Im thinking.

I think that the z-5300e's will suit me well.
what Im thinking about is the sound card right now. i need to know if the x-fi is worth the extra cash. here is what Im thinking. if you have a crapy pair of speakers, just say 2 speakers. no sub. going out and buying an x-fi platinum, isnt going to get you much difference in quality of sound compared from integrated sound. so will this be the effect of buying a x-fi xtreme music for the z-5300e's?

 

Seems like you are narrowing down the options . I have not used those pieces of hardware (as you can guess). I am going by the basics as I know them (what are you looking for in the sound quality you want to hear?)

I would spend more on speakers than I would having a remote control for the audio system (if you want to impress visitors it may be the other way round).

When you have narrowed down the possibilities, put the model number and "review" into a Google search. These are written by people that have used that equipment and compared it to others.
http://au.search.anzwers.yahoo.com/search/anzwers?p=z-5300e+review&search.x=27&search.y=12&y=y

Matt

 

Still working on it, I think I have chosen that the X-Fi Xtreme Music will be worth the extra what $40 or so. But I see that the 5300e's havent gotten that good of ratings, and the 5500's are getting really good ratings.

Right now Im looking for a system that is somewhere between the 2 because I'm not paying for the 5500s for sure.