Using computer 7.1 in a small living room (1 Viewer)

[pengyou1]

I'm a newbie here, and haven't played around with stereo stuff since the late 70's...back when they used stone and chisel to reproduce the sound I have a small apartment in Beijing now and would like to set up a home theater system in it. I am looking at an i5 with an ssd for the system apps, a 7200 rpm hd for the rest of the stuff, and a bluray player. I am pretty familiar with the pc part of the equation but I am looking to learn about the sound system. My friends have 7.1 speaker systems(computer speaker systems) hooked up to their computer for gaming. I have listened to movies on them and like the sound but the space is smaller than my living room, about 1/3 the size. is it possible to get 2 7.1 systems hooked up to one computer?

 

[DaveF]

You want 7 speakers, a subwoofer, and an amplified receiver. Then connect whatever devices you have into the receiver by HDMI, including your PC. Connect the receiver HDMI out to the display (HDTV or whatever).

Done.

 

[DaveF]

Side notes:

The PC is not the speaker amplifier.

The PC is an AV source, equivalent to an AppleTV or Roku or standalone blu-ray player.

You’re not connecting other AV sources into the PC.

Get a normal speakers and a conventional receiver.

Don’t get a HomeTheater in a Box.

Don’t get a SoundBar unless you’re certain it has enough HDMI inputs for all devices you’ll want for its lifetime.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Your post is a bit hard to follow:

My friends have 7.1 speaker systems(computer speaker systems) hooked up to their computer for gaming. I have listened to movies on them and like the sound but the space is smaller than my living room, about 1/3 the size.

Are you talking about systems from a company that specializes in so-called computer speakers, like Logitech? If so, those systems are typically pretty dinky as it is; I can’t imagine something even smaller.

is it possible to get 2 7.1 systems hooked up to one computer?

Are you talking about using a separate audio system for gaming and for movies? If so, are they both using the same desk as the viewing / listening position?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[pengyou1]

Thanks! Yes, i was thinking about a logitech system, but sounds like a no go. No , i just want to watch videos, movies, listen to music. Occassionally do a video conference with skype.

 

[DaveF]

If you want speakers connected to your PC, then you can buy 5.q or 7.1 speaker kits meant for computer use.

But if also have a stand-alone Roku or Xbox or blu-ray player (etc), they can’t connect into the PC to use the speakers.

In that case, get a small set of speakers and an affordable receiver, and you’ll have what you want.

 

[DaveF]

That said, it turns out the Logitech system is basically a Home Theater in a Box (HTiB), with inputs for multiple sources.

"Speaker System Z906 - Logitech" (https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/speaker-system-z906)
Supports multiple inputs simultaneously. Connect up to six compatible devices via 3.5mm, RCA, six-channel direct, digital coaxial and optical inputs. Choose the audio input via the control console or remote control.

 

[pengyou1]

I have seen many sound bars for sale. Is it possible to get one now and later integrate it into a 7.1 system, perhaps as the front center or front left and right?