Dusty Chalk

So what are the sub's 5.1 analog inputs, RCA's? 1/8's? Other? The standard (since forever) for HT is RCA; for some computer-oriented audio gear such as the Logitechs it's stereo 1/8's. So if it's RCA's, you just need 6 normal RCA-RCA interconnects. If it's 3 stereo 1/8's, then you need 3 of these. Your sub should have something that says "output to speakers". Those are also 1/8's? How do they get to the speakers? Are they stereo on one and and mono on the other? This is basically just speaker wire, as the amplifier is housed in the sub. Connectors can be adapted, modified, or just bought anew, no big deal.

Okay. As is: stereo outs from TV into sub, sub connects to satellite speakers (sub also acts as amplifier for satellites) via whatever provided cables. You don't get 5.1 with this option. If you get the Logitech Z-5500 Digital or equivalent: digital from TV into sub (they need either to both be coax, or both be optical), sub connects to satellites via whatever provided cables. If you get a prepro: digital out from TV into prepro (again, needs to be the same), pre outs via RCA into 5.1 analog inputs on sub, sub to sats via whatever. If you get a receiver: same as prepro, or, just use the receiver traditionally -- speaker outs to speakers, sub out to sub -- I wouldn't recommend this if the documentation with the 5.1 system says not to, as that means that there's some special processing that the sub does, which your receiver won't. I tried to make this post as short as possible so that I didn't muddy up the works, so feel free to ask questions.

I would also haunt Digital Deals -- most of them are 15" right now, but I see one HP Pavilion 17"...if you're not in any rush, these change all the time.

Sounds like you've already figured this out, but just to make things explicitly clear -- he's still talking about a prepro, or a receiver with pre outs, but saying that it's okay if they're RCA's, as you could just get cables that are RCA on one end and 1/8's on the other, if that had been what you needed. Now, it sounds like you just need regular old RCA interconnects.

Damn. Just...damn.

Alright, so these are powered speakers, sounds like what you need is a prepro, sometimes called a surround preamp. And it needs to take (optical) digital in. You mention 1/8's, but don't those connect to the sub? Usually the multichannel amp is built into the sub in those 5.1 systems. So what sort of inputs does the sub have, also 1/8's? Any chance you can just sell them and buy the Logitech Z-5500 Digital (or equivalent)? Then you wouldn't need the prepro at all. Alternatively, your other best bet would be to haunt garage sales, yard sales, and eBay and look for an ancient pre/pro, or 5.1 receiver with pre-outs. Someone on AudioKarma mentioned the old Denon receivers, I think.

Wireless speakers!

Pffft

In no particular order (Borders had a 30% coupon this weekend, so I went a bit bingey): Bartok, Mikrokosmos Beethoven symphonies Haitink SACD Elton John and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road both SACD (the former because of a recent British headphone review in which one track in particular is mentioned) Romeros play Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on Mercury Living Presence SACD Gaiman's Interworld (with someone else) Flight 4 Any popular recent releases or classical I need to get? Any other Elton John titles I need to get? What is his second best album (that's available on SACD [which it probably is anyway])? Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy?

Red, green, yellow, massaman, or panang? Not that it matters, they're all good, I just want to know what to be envious about.

You want some cheese with that?

Heart murmurs == felt bass; I was talking about hearing bass -- I agree it's not the same as standing in front of a subwoofer at a concert, but I wear earplugs at concerts, which reduces the volume to similar levels that I listen to on headphones, if not slightly louder. So if we're talking about purely hearing the bass, I stand by my disagreement. Getting bass any louder out of headphones will only make you go deaf faster. I find headphone bass and speaker bass at the same level of listening perfectly comparable. The volumes at which one would have to listen to feel visceral bass I wouldn't dare listen at, on headphones. If I want that, I go to concerts, but I wear earplugs, so it's a totally different experience, one which I am not attempting on my home rig, headphone or speaker based listening.

[me=Dusty Chalk]shrugs off JBLoudG20 as an idiot[/me] ...which is kind of funny, considering my stance on R10's. Oh, well, such is the duality of human nature.

Yeah, exactly...so why would anyone associate them with me?

You are familiar with the inverse square law, aren't you?

Re: War of the Worlds -- one of my favourite double-record concept albums of all time. I would liken it to Alan Parsons' I, Robot in a lot of ways.

Drunken Noodles from Pilin

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1_8gJWORzU]Dave Duchovny and Mango from SNL[/ame]

I think what Dusty is trying to say is, "I remain skeptical". And it's R10, not K1000.

Whut?!?!? Why me? They're not (entirely) black... And just because I haven't touched real boobies in longer than I care to think about, doesn't mean these will in any way suffice. I'd rather go to a strip club and pay for boobage, if only to look at.

Uh...yeah...D5000...I got it confused for that other 5000...

Really?

postpixplzkthnx And: what was wrong with Norah Jones? I know you're too busy listening to music that doesn't break up to care, but report back once you find out.

I thought it was going to be a reference to GTR:

You forgot: Denon W5000 = poor man's L3000