Question about PC surround sound system

Communities Audio Hardware & Music
1

I have a very minimal amount of knowledge about sound setups so this is going to be a very basic question to most people;

I'm planning to setup a surround sound system for my desktop and I'm unsure about what I need in order to do that properly. this is probably the one I'm going to buy: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090601&p_id=10565&seq=1&format=2 

I know that for certain things to work an audio interface is either required or strongly recommended,  but again I wouldn't even venture to call myself a novice when it comes to this sort of thing so I want to make sure before I buy anything. will I need an audio interface, or anything else aside from the speakers and the cables they come with? if so, does anyone have any recommendations? 

thanks 

2

Check your integrated sound card and see if your have the front, center/subwoofer, and the surround back. If it doesnt, then you need a sound card.

3

the only thing I have is the onboard audio on my very barebones motherboard, which only has the pink blue and green ports. 

I guess I'd need an external soundcard? 

4

Ok those are real home theater speakers they are passively powered, except the sub.

A sound card will not be able to drive those. You will need an AV receiver. Receivers have an amplifier that can drive those speakers.

Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon, and Yamaha all make receivers in the $200 range that could drive them. Just out put audio throu HDMI to the receiver.

5

Those are passively powered speakers that use speaker wire no consumer sound card can drive them.

6

so there's no cheaper way for me to use them with my PC?

7

No they are passively powered they need some type of external amplification.

Plus a receiver can do true I.e lossless surround sound unlike a sound card.

8

You might be able to find A used receiver on eBay 

9

alright, thanks. I have one more question. if I bought a stereo receiver and used it with those speakers would there be any problem aside from the fact that I obviously wouldn't be getting 5.1 surround?

10

Yeah you could and run it to a stereo receiver or an integrated amplifier you will have to run audio via digital coaxial/optical. Some stereo recievers can run the sub but not all can so you need to look out for sub/LFE rca ports. But if you are going stereo just buy 2 better speaker than buying a 5.1 system