£400 sound system for bedroom (PC, Sky+ HD and Xbox)

geesingh

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Hi everyone,

(sorry I'm not certain if this is the correct section for this)

I'm after a new set of speakers to replace my pair of KRK KP6's because they're too large and I'm not running them via an amp so I don't have much control over them. This also means I can't have them plugged into all of my equipment. If I were to add an amp that would take up way too much space. the KP6's also aren't loud enough and distort at max volume, I'm aware that to get more out of them I would need to add a sub but again that's adding to the bulk. I really would like a smaller, neater system. The KP6's do sound fantastic though.

I need speakers that are very well rounded for various purposes;

Music
I listen to drum n bass, dubstep, some hiphop and chillout, mostly at moderate volume due to parents at home, but would like some power for when they leave and I'm free to terrorise the neighbours and kill off small pets. I previously had Logitech Z5500's and maxed them out at times to give you an idea of my loudness preference :D

Movies & Games
For both of these I like the idea of surround sound. I don't watch movies often but play Battlefield 3 daily (currently with surround headset) and surround speakers would be epic. I realise though that having surround means I have to sacrifice sound quality so I could do with 2.0/2.1 if no decent 5.1 systems are available.

Inputs & other kit
I will need a system that is up for triple penetration from my PC, Sky+ HD box and Xbox 360 Slim :blush: ie. I would like to be able to listen to music on my PC while playing Xbox or watching Sky through my TV. I guess I would connect my PC into the sound system as 1 input, and the TV as the 2nd so all equipment is connected. Please let me know if there is a better way, and which connections I could use for each bit of kit.

Budget as stated is £400 and I think I would prefer an all-in-one but am willing to go separates (never delved into before).

Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
 
By the way a few I have already read up on and considered;
 
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What I heard you saying is that you want to haul cargo freight in a Mini-Cooper?

Big speakers = Big Sound. Small speakers = small sound. You can't want smaller speakers and at the same time want bigger sound.

Can we assume this is a bedroom system, and that accounts for the lack of space?

To connect multiple devices to a single limited input device, you simply need a line level switch box.

RCA Phono Audio Switching Unit - 4 Way - Audio Switches - Audiovisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

And NO, you can't have two sources playing at once. If you are gaming, you get the gaming audio, but unless you have two complete systems, you can't also have Music as well. Actually it can be done with a multi-channel mixer, but I don't think you have the budget for that.

I just don't see how you can go smaller than the KRK Rokit 6, and get bigger better sound. And, if you buy more speaker for a fixed amount of money, each speaker is worth substantially less.

Given the restrictions you'ev given, I just don't see how you can do better than you have.

You could maybe ....maybe... replace two KRK Rokit 6 with FOUR KRK Roket 5. The price would be about right, and you would be able to split the source signal and drive both speakers, but you could also break the speakers out and play music on one, and Game sound on the other.

Or perhaps you could keep your existing KRK RP6 and simply add a second pair of KRK RP5 (or RP6), but more speakers doesn't solve you space problem.

I think you have set something of an impossible task. If you want bigger sound, then you have to go to bigger speakers, or bookshelf+Sub.

As an example -

Superfi - WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 9.1 SPEAKERS & SW150 SUBWOOFER 2.1 SPEAKER PACKAGE

Superfi - YAMAHA AS300 AMPLIFIER

That fits the sound requirements, but certainly doesn't fit the space requirement. I think you have to give up one or the other.

Steve/bluewizard
 
Thanks for your reply BlueWizard, I understand that in terms of pure sound quality it wouldn't make sense to get smaller speakers, but I'm not a sound enthusiast, I can't even fully appreciate my KRK KP6's, I just got them because they were going cheap on eBay. I can compromise on sound quality and loudness (living with family makes wanting killowatts of power is stupid requirement really so ignore that) if it means I can get the following;

  • An all-in-one 2.1 or 5.1 system (for movies and Battlefield 3 pc game)
  • The sub can be of any size, but the satellites must be small, tidy and good looking
  • Must have Optical input for TV (Sky and Xbox) and 3.5mm audio jack inputs for PC
  • Sound quality should be on par with or exceeding the Logitech Z5500. Quality as good as the KP6's would be fantastic but as you mentioned it's impossible to get such sound in smaller speakers.. I'm happy to settle for something between the 2 examples.
  • "Loudness" on par with or exceeding the KRK KP6's - they're actually fine
I did some more google and the following seems to be what I'm choosing from:
Anyone know which of these would best fulfil my (new) requirements?
 
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I ended up picking up a Onkyo TX-SR309 receiver from Richer Sounds for £150, got everything plugged in and now found I can't have more than 1 device outputting at one time, ie gaming on my xbox with music playing through my pc. Came to learn traditionally AV receivers have never offered this simple 'mix and output all audio sources simultaneously' feature ;\ I really find it inconvenient having to switch inputs/outputs all the time so looking to replace this now.

I have thought of 2 possible options but can't find actual devices or solutions for either;

  1. Setup a HTPC with a HDMI capture card for my Xbox and Sky, outputting video to my monitor and TV and audio to my speakers (btw currently considering the Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS or S 5.1 due to size and good reviews). Output multiple sources through the pc with ease. Downside to this is the expense, I'd be looking at around £400-£500 for a decent rig. I could also add the capture card and sound card to my existing gaming rig however this would mean it has to be on when watching TV and being a gaming pc it's a bit of a beasty bastard :D
  2. Ideally find an av receiver that can mix and output multiple audio sources simultaneously however these are nowhere to be seen. I kind of have in mind the solution to be a 'simple stupid audio mixer' that can take in all 3 of my devices audio via optical and output simultaneously to a set of 5.1 speakers - again also not available. Maybe I should get inventing ;/

Anyone able to offer any advice?
 
Do you really want to play two or more different audio sources through one set of speakers (be they 2.0, 2.1 or 5.1) at the same time? What makes you want to do this and what do you imagine it would sound like? I can't see this is a good idea but...

I think it's do-able by using a simple 3 or 4 channel mixing desk (as you have suggested) but these small mixers tend to be wholly analogue so you'll need DAC's on some or all of the inputs.

As BlueWizard has already said, you can't have smaller speakers and a bigger sound. Your KRK KP6 speakers are the best speakers you've mentioned, IMO, but your music choice demands a subwoofer.

Bit worried about the distortion you mentioned in your first post?!? And the fact you say the KRK's don't go loud enough - something's wrong there (not necessarily with the speakers though). Could be damage or maybe the signal you're feeding the KRK's isn't strong enough hence inadequate volume, and when you max out the source volume, it distorts. Just a guess though.

Unless you're rich, best you clarify your plans before spending any more money. I wish you luck.
 
Bit worried about the distortion you mentioned in your first post?!? And the fact you say the KRK's don't go loud enough - something's wrong there (not necessarily with the speakers though). Could be damage or maybe the signal you're feeding the KRK's isn't strong enough hence inadequate volume, and when you max out the source volume, it distorts. Just a guess though.
The distortion was only happening because I had the db knobs at the rear of each speaker turned up slightly. They are now at 0 and connected through the AV receiver with a pair of branded RCA cables so much cleaner and actually louder.

Unless you're rich, best you clarify your plans before spending any more money. I wish you luck.
I agree but I'm used to swapping bad purchases by re-selling them online so not afraid to play around :)


Do you really want to play two or more different audio sources through one set of speakers (be they 2.0, 2.1 or 5.1) at the same time? What makes you want to do this and what do you imagine it would sound like? I can't see this is a good idea but...I think it's do-able by using a simple 3 or 4 channel mixing desk (as you have suggested) but these small mixers tend to be wholly analogue so you'll need DAC's on some or all of the inputs.

As BlueWizard has already said, you can't have smaller speakers and a bigger sound. Your KRK KP6 speakers are the best speakers you've mentioned, IMO, but your music choice demands a subwoofer.
I need this all the time to be honest as usually when I have friends over a couple would be on the Xbox and one person acting "dj" on my PC, we can't do without neither xbox or dnb :rolleyes: I've had a look for such a mixer and you're right they're mostly analogue so I wouldn't be able to send my Xbox and Sky audio to them. A hdmi/optical mixer would be great.

Being monitors, these speakers can only connect to my AV receiver using RCA so I've had to plug them into the VCR Record out plugs, and my av receiver will only send RCA inputs audio to this output (it won't send my HDMI or optical inputs to these speakers).

Solution: Connect my monitors directly to my pc using RCA so I have them for pleasurable music listening, add 5.1 speakers to my AV receiver for the Xbox and Sky for pleasurable surround. Make a 2nd connection from my PC to my AV receiver via mini-hdmi (through my graphics card) for when I need to use my TV as a secondary display for my PC with 5.1 sound (OR I could stream these off my PC via my Xbox) or via optical for sound only for gaming.
 
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