We are living in a time of surround sound. Most all video games these days support surround sound and oftentimes even total immersion 360° sound. And of course there are DVDs with their Dolby 5.1 sound and even CDs with surround sound capability. But if you’re computer doesn’t have the hardware to support it you are missing out on a whole world of audio pleasure.
Fortunately surround sound PC speakers are fairly easy to set up, but you need to have the right equipment. Basic requirements are: a surround sound compatible sound card and of course the actual surround sound speakers.
Surround sound speakers come in several varieties: 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1. The notation is simple to follow: the first digit represents the number of speakers and the decimal .1 refers to the subwoofer. The most commonly used set-up is the 5.1, which has a front central speaker, a front speaker on either side as well as two rear speakers.
A Possible Alternative Solution
Depending on how your computer is set-up, you might want to avoid setting up special surround sound speakers for the PC and just plug your computer into your existing home theater system. This is a fairly simple process: just connect the line out on your computer with the line in on the receiver for your home theater system and bask in the surround sound goodness.
Choosing Your Sound Card
Many new computers these days have built in capability for multichannel support with surround sound speakers. If your computer has this capability built in, you probably won’t need to purchase a new sound card. However if you buy a good sound card you might find that it produces a much better sound than your built in sound card can offer.
Before you pick out a sound card you will need to know what sort of surround sound system you are going to install: 5.1, 7.1, etc. Ensure that the sound card you pick up can handle the number of channels required to work with the speakers you want to install. If you are planning on a basic 5.1 setup, though, most any sound card with surround sound support should work for you.
There are a number of different surround sound cards available out there. For a high quality sound card you should expect to pay somewhere in the range of $100, although there are some decent ones for less and some outstanding ones for much more. One of the best companies in the sound card game is Creative and they have a number of sound cards out there to choose from.
You can also consider an external sound processor. These are not installed onto your computer’s motherboard but rather plug into a USB port for simple plug and play capability.
Installing Your Sound Card
In order to install your new sound card you will first need to open up the case for your PC. Make sure your computer is turned off before making any changes. If you are replacing your old sound card, you will take it out first.
Once you have the old sound card out, you will install your new sound card into the proper slot on the motherboard (depending on the type of sound card you purchased). Your sound card will come with specific instructions for your model on how to install.
Some surround sound cards use only a digital signal which is taken from the motherboard to provide surround sound audio, others will require an analog connection. This connection is made between the sound card and your CD or DVD-ROM drive.
Your new sound card will also come with a CD-ROM which installs any required software and drivers required for your PC to read the new sound card.
Speaking of software, you will also need to make sure your computer’s audio set-up is keyed for a 5.1 signal. To change this in Windows XP you simply go to your Control Panel and click on the Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices Icon.
Under the Volume tab in the Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices panel you should see at the bottom Speaker Settings. Click on the advanced button. You will see a diagram of your computer and a list below it with a number of different speaker settings. Make sure it is set to 5.1, 7.1 or whatever surround sound set-up you are installing.
Installing Your Surround Sound Speakers
There will be three input lines from the computer. Many sound cards have color coded ports to let you know which channels they represent making it even easier to install. From the computer it generally plugs into a primary speaker or directly into your subwoofer. The rest of the speakers will then plug into this primary speaker or subwoofer. Make sure everything is properly connected to ensure you receive full sound.
Setup of the speakers is something of an art. If you have 5.1 speakers you will have a central front speaker, two front side speakers and two rear speakers. For 7.1 you will have an additional two speakers for the sides. Try putting them in different configurations to see which provides the best surround sound for you.
Now you’re done! Boot up your favorite video game or pop in a DVD because you are ready to experience 3D surround sound with your PC.
Reference:
- Creative Worldwide Learn about Creative sound cards and speakers
