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Topic: Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 ! (Read 15727 times) previous topic - next topic
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Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Hi folks,

*sigh* big problems... - first off: Hello, desperated GigaWorks s750 users in search of solutions, who bumped into this thread by search engine *wink* - my 9 year old Creative GigaWorks s750 is dying. I know from internet research, that some of us starts to repair it, by removing the glue, which now probably is all over the hardware board and causes leakage current, but you know what ? This is not my style; I'm so unskilled in stuff like that, that I'm happy to survive after exchanging light bulbs.

So, I need a new sound system. As music is my life, I want to use this moment to upgrade to a clearly better system.

I don't have a fucking clue about sound systems; all I know is, that the GigaWorks s750 wasn't a bad choice.

So, I'm going to list things, which are important to me, and then please tell me concretely based on these things, what's the best option to buy in your opinion.

10 Things about me or which are important to me:
• I'm audiophile
• I want a sound system, which on the one hand tickles the best out of audiophile productions like Steve Hoffman DCC gold CDs or good SACDs and Audio-DVDs, BUT on the other hand lets ordinary productions sound very good instead of showing mercyless every mistake of the production and how maybe crappy it's produced (so, the sound system should be audiophile, but not TOO audiophile, if you know what I mean... it just should always maximize enjoyability of music, no matter if the production is rather crappy or super brilliant and cutting-edge high-quality)
• My next sound system must be clearly better than the Creative GigaWorks s750
• My setting is: 2 speakers and a subwoofer under the table - I think that music MUST be heard about speakers AND a subwoofer; I trust no constellation which is not splitted into speakers and subwoofer - so please don't come up with a speaker-only system; furthermore I want to have an option to extend my setting from a 2.1 sound system to real 5.1 sound system (for listening to SACD, which doesn't happen so often)
• I don't listen to mp3, I only listen to lossless audio, which is well and well-conceivedly ripped
• I don't want to spend more than 500 € / 678,88 US-$ for my sound system as a whole
• I want a pc sound system and no stand alone system; I only listen to music from my pc
• The system also must sound good, when you don't listen that loud to music (neighbors, you know ?)
• I'd really like it, if my next sound system will have an optical digital-out !
• The room setting is always like this in my life as a music lover: I listen in a rectangle room, which is approximately 4 m (13ft) long, 3,75 m (12ft) wide, and 2,8 m (9ft) high and has a flat ceiling; The subwoofer is under the table, the 2 speakers stand on 2 isolated columns (just as high as from the ground to the ear of a person sitting very relaxed on a chair) in 2 corners in front of me, but of course not extremely close in the corner; the speaker membran is not bent regarding it's orientation of the room, but totally vertical as the walls of the room - of course, both speakers are focused on the person, who sits at the pc

Yeah... so, what can you recommend me to buy ? What subwoofer and speaker combination and where to buy ? ^^


Thanks in regards,
snowb4ll

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #1 –
For your budget you're better off getting a DAC+AMP and headphones.
Who are you and how did you get in here ?
I'm a locksmith, I'm a locksmith.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #2 –
Oh, c'mon. You tell me, that there is no way to top an investment of just 400 €, which was done 2005 and brought 1 subwoofer and 7 speakers, by an investment of 500 € almost 10 years later, and that in just 1 subwoofer and 2 speakers ? Can't imagine that...

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #3 –
A decent active subwoofer would set you back 350 € at least. That's from someone like BK Electronics. I guess you can spend the rest on the best bookshelf speakers you can get for the money?

No offence but a GigaWorks s750 is not exactly great hi-fi, it's old computer speakers which is why you got 7 speakers and a sub. Maybe good for computer games but not comparable really.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #4 –
I'd go for a set of Audioengine A5+ active speakers and an active subwoofer, preferably a sealed-cabinet 10-12" model.

That's what I've got, and it plays damn well without being too hard on the wallet.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #5 –
I forgot to mention you need an amp as well if not using active speakers because your Creative setup had the amp built in.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #6 –
Quote from: snowb4ll on
Oh, c'mon. You tell me, that there is no way to top an investment of just 400 €, which was done 2005 and brought 1 subwoofer and 7 speakers, by an investment of 500 € almost 10 years later, and that in just 1 subwoofer and 2 speakers ? Can't imagine that...
Well your first post basically says you want a trip to the moon but you only budgeted enough money for a train ticket.

I think KozmoNaut's suggestion is pretty much bang on. Looking on the UK Amazon site you can buy a pair of Audioengine A5+ active speakers for 330 pounds. You could pair it up with a Audioengine S8 sub later on. If you go down this track you won't be able to upgrade it to 5.1 sound.

Maybe hold off for now and try to double that budget so you can start building a good 5.1 system.
Who are you and how did you get in here ?
I'm a locksmith, I'm a locksmith.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #7 –
As always, I recommend you go to a store and LISTEN!  You'll learn a lot more by listening to speakers than listening to advice.

Quote
I want a pc sound system and no stand alone system; I only listen to music from my pc
If you don't want to buy a recever or amplifier, you can't use "hi-fi" speakers.  You are limited to computer speakers or active monitors.   

In general you'll get better sound from monitors, but you'll probably have to shop at a place that sells musical instruments and pro sound equipment instead of an audio/video store. 

There are studio monitors in your price range, but adding a monitor-subwoofer may not fit into your budget


Quote
I'd really like it, if my next sound system will have an optical digital-out !
I assume you mean optical in?    ...Out of the computer and into the DAC/speakers?

If you don't want to buy additional equipment, that will limit you to computer speakers.  You can get a little DAC with optical inputs, but a stand-alone DAC that can decode Dolby AC3 or any of the compressed DVD/Blu-Ray formats is getting into the "audiophile" price range. 

If it's not built inot your speakers, the most economical way to decode the "optical" (or HDMI or coax) DVD/Blu-Ray formats is with a Home Theater Receiver.  HDMI is the "modern" way to transmit digital audio data.  HDMI can handle formats (higher bitrates) that S/PDIF cannot.  (I'm not sure if S/PDIF can handle the highest-resolution DVD-Audio formats.)

Note that most receivers are not meant to be used with active speakers (except they do work with active subwoofers).

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #8 –
Quote from: snowb4ll on
Oh, c'mon. You tell me, that there is no way to top an investment of just 400 €, which was done 2005 and brought 1 subwoofer and 7 speakers, by an investment of 500 € almost 10 years later, and that in just 1 subwoofer and 2 speakers ? Can't imagine that...


The 2nd hand market is maybe an idea?

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #9 –
Quote from: snowb4ll on
Oh, c'mon. You tell me, that there is no way to top an investment of just 400 €, which was done 2005 and brought 1 subwoofer and 7 speakers, by an investment of 500 € almost 10 years later, and that in just 1 subwoofer and 2 speakers ? Can't imagine that...


The point is that while electronics continue to improve in value for money at a staggering rate, there have been no big leaps in manufacturing speaker drivers or the boxes they go in, so while we laugh or cry at what we got in the way of computers for 500 currency units 8 years ago, the cost of speakers has stayed pretty much the same. But, on the other hand, there is second hand, as Porcus pointed out. A good speaker that was good 10 or 20 years ago is still good, if it hasn't been abused.

(Edit: attributed suggestion properly to Porcus)

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #10 –
Quote from: DVDdoug on
As always, I recommend you go to a store and LISTEN!  You'll learn a lot more by listening to speakers than listening to advice.

Quote
I want a pc sound system and no stand alone system; I only listen to music from my pc
If you don't want to buy a recever or amplifier, you can't use "hi-fi" speakers.  You are limited to computer speakers or active monitors.   

In general you'll get better sound from monitors, but you'll probably have to shop at a place that sells musical instruments and pro sound equipment instead of an audio/video store. 

There are studio monitors in your price range, but adding a monitor-subwoofer may not fit into your budget


Quote
I'd really like it, if my next sound system will have an optical digital-out !
I assume you mean optical in?    ...Out of the computer and into the DAC/speakers?

If you don't want to buy additional equipment, that will limit you to computer speakers.  You can get a little DAC with optical inputs, but a stand-alone DAC that can decode Dolby AC3 or any of the compressed DVD/Blu-Ray formats is getting into the "audiophile" price range. 

If it's not built inot your speakers, the most economical way to decode the "optical" (or HDMI or coax) DVD/Blu-Ray formats is with a Home Theater Receiver.  HDMI is the "modern" way to transmit digital audio data.  HDMI can handle formats (higher bitrates) that S/PDIF cannot.  (I'm not sure if S/PDIF can handle the highest-resolution DVD-Audio formats.)

Note that most receivers are not meant to be used with active speakers (except they do work with active subwoofers).


Okay... woah, I think it's getting really complicated here. I feel overchallenged and I feel a clear, fundamental lack of knowledge to get it...
this is really, what I feared. You know, when your whole world just consists of Teufel or Creative; it's very easy to do "profund" decisions based
on informations of others: There are mainstream magazins publishing product overviews where all sound systems of a certain price range are
compared by understandable quality criterias; there are clear lines, you know that a logitech sound system is clearly worse than a creative sound system,
so you know, where you are going.
I have the feeling as soon as you try to get above this world marked by creative, teufel and co. literally EVERY person says something else,
there are no product overviews, no consensual tendencies, no chance to get into it...

To make it clear:
- I don't know why I suddenly need amplifier or receiver
- I can guess what a DAC is (Digital/Audio changer) and what it does, but I don't know why I didn't needed it before...
- I don't know what an audio monitor is and what's the difference to speakers
- active speaker - passive speaker ? Where's the difference ? I don't know
- yeah, probably I meant optical in

My impression so far:
If one wants better stuff than a Creative GigaWorks s750, then one has to start
piecing together one's wish sound system out of single components; so it's the end
of the "I see a complete package, buy it and set it up like a gaming console"-era.
And when one wants good speakers in this area, which is totally new to me, then
one needs a wonder box called receiver or amplifier - whatever that does, I don't know.
Okay, and computer speakers and active monitors are bad.
So, I basically need 2 hi-fi speakers, 1 subwoofer, and a receiver or amplifier, to
have a complete, working setting... and what this complete setting then has to
do with a "DAC" ? I don't know... looks like a 5th wheel at a car to me so far...

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #11 –
Quote from: snowb4ll on
Okay... woah, I think it's getting really complicated here. I feel overchallenged and I feel a clear, fundamental lack of knowledge to get it...
this is really, what I feared. You know, when your whole world just consists of Teufel or Creative; it's very easy to do "profund" decisions based
on informations of others: There are mainstream magazins publishing product overviews where all sound systems of a certain price range are
compared by understandable quality criterias; there are clear lines, you know that a logitech sound system is clearly worse than a creative sound system,
so you know, where you are going.
I have the feeling as soon as you try to get above this world marked by creative, teufel and co. literally EVERY person says something else,
there are no product overviews, no consensual tendencies, no chance to get into it...

To make it clear:
- I don't know why I suddenly need amplifier or receiver
- I can guess what a DAC is (Digital/Audio changer) and what it does, but I don't know why I didn't needed it before...
- I don't know what an audio monitor is and what's the difference to speakers
- active speaker - passive speaker ? Where's the difference ? I don't know
- yeah, probably I meant optical in

My impression so far:
If one wants better stuff than a Creative GigaWorks s750, then one has to start
piecing together one's wish sound system out of single components; so it's the end
of the "I see a complete package, buy it and set it up like a gaming console"-era.
And when one wants good speakers in this area, which is totally new to me, then
one needs a wonder box called receiver or amplifier - whatever that does, I don't know.
Okay, and computer speakers and active monitors are bad.
So, I basically need 2 hi-fi speakers, 1 subwoofer, and a receiver or amplifier, to
have a complete, working setting... and what this complete setting then has to
do with a "DAC" ? I don't know... looks like a 5th wheel at a car to me so far...

When you don't know something please do like everybody else and google it first: you'll spend 1 useful minute learning what that is instead of spending 1 minute writing down that you don't know about it... First results in google:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital-to-analog_converter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_power_amplifier

In Hi-Fi systems using a PC, your PC generally feeds a DAC (via USB or a digital output of your audio card) which transforms the digital signal into a low-power analog signal which is amplified by an amplifier which powers up your Hi-Fi speakers: PC -> DAC -> Amp -> speakers.
Having dedicated equipments helps ensuring good quality and avoids replacing everything when one part breaks.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #12 –
+1 for the Audioengine suggestion.

Quote from: A_Man_Eating_Duck on
Looking on the UK Amazon site you can buy a pair of Audioengine A5+ active speakers for 330 pounds. You could pair it up with a Audioengine S8 sub later on. If you go down this track you won't be able to upgrade it to 5.1 sound


Of course he/she can. Just get a soundcard with the proper outputs and buy more speakers later on. One can also get rid of the wires by going wireless with the Audioengine w3 adapter.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #13 –
Quote from: snowb4ll on
- I don't know why I suddenly need amplifier or receiver


You don't unless if you are going to be using passive speakers or if you are going to be using digital out then you need an av receiver.

Quote from: snowb4ll on
- I can guess what a DAC is (Digital/Audio changer) and what it does, but I don't know why I didn't needed it before...


You mean "Digital-to-analog converter". You already have one built into you soundcard/ onboard soundchip.

Quote from: snowb4ll on
- I don't know what an audio monitor is and what's the difference to speakers


Monitors are just speakers with as close to a flat response as possible design to be used by audio engineers.

Quote from: snowb4ll on
- active speaker - passive speaker ? Where's the difference ? I don't know


Active speakers are speakers with an amplifier built in (most computer speakers these days) or else you will need an external amp to get decent volume.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #14 –
Quote from: cpchan on
+1 for the Audioengine suggestion.

Quote from: A_Man_Eating_Duck on
Looking on the UK Amazon site you can buy a pair of Audioengine A5+ active speakers for 330 pounds. You could pair it up with a Audioengine S8 sub later on. If you go down this track you won't be able to upgrade it to 5.1 sound


Of course he/she can. Just get a soundcard with the proper outputs and buy more speakers later on. One can also get rid of the wires by going wireless with the Audioengine w3 adapter.
Running 2 sets of active speakers would be a bit of a nightmare when trying to get the volume levels right.
Who are you and how did you get in here ?
I'm a locksmith, I'm a locksmith.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #15 –
Quote from: A_Man_Eating_Duck on
Running 2 sets of active speakers would be a bit of a nightmare when trying to get the volume levels right.


Just set them to the loudest one wants them to be and control the volume for the individual channels from the computer.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #16 –
Quote from: A_Man_Eating_Duck on
I think KozmoNaut's suggestion is pretty much bang on. Looking on the UK Amazon site you can buy a pair of Audioengine A5+ active speakers for 330 pounds. You could pair it up with a Audioengine S8 sub later on. If you go down this track you won't be able to upgrade it to 5.1 sound.


Actually I would avoid the S8 subwoofer, according to everything I've heard it's not up to the quality of their other products, a bit too loose and boomy, especially considering the price.

I ended up picking up a used DALI SWA-12 for about 60% of what a new S8 would cost here. While it is a bit uglier and significantly larger, it's also a vastly superior subwoofer. The used market really is the place to go for the best bang for your buck, as long as you have the patience for a good deal to show up.

But I gather from the other posts that snowb4ll is in a slightly different place.

Quote from: snowb4ll on
My impression so far:
If one wants better stuff than a Creative GigaWorks s750, then one has to start
piecing together one's wish sound system out of single components; so it's the end
of the "I see a complete package, buy it and set it up like a gaming console"-era.
And when one wants good speakers in this area, which is totally new to me, then
one needs a wonder box called receiver or amplifier - whatever that does, I don't know.
Okay, and computer speakers and active monitors are bad.
So, I basically need 2 hi-fi speakers, 1 subwoofer, and a receiver or amplifier, to
have a complete, working setting... and what this complete setting then has to
do with a "DAC" ? I don't know... looks like a 5th wheel at a car to me so far...


The problem is that there is a definite maximum level for the quality of PC speaker sets, and you've pretty much reached it with your Gigaworks set, newer sets aren't really that much better because that particular market only wants cheap sound, lots of boom and probably surround sound for games. Unfortunately this means you don't really have any good options if this is the type of setup you want in the future, but with higher sound quality. Perhaps some of the higher-end Logitech sets or a Klipsch Promedia set would be an improvement, but it would be a small improvement at best.

The "next step" up the quality ladder would be something like a Home Theater In A Box set. They're kind of like the big brother to PC speakers, and have the same general "5 speakers and a sub" thing going on, but the speakers and sub are generally larger and more powerful with bigger speakers units. Usually some sort of DVD or Bluray player is included as well, so everything is really to be connected to a TV immediately. Unfortunately, the sound quality is usually not a major design parameter, but it's a popular way to improve on the built-in sound of most TVs.

For a basic setup with good sound quality as an upgrade from PC speakers, you will need a set of speakers and an amplifier, those are the basics. You can get active speakers, those have the amplifier built in, like your PC speakers. In that case you don't need a separate amplifier. Don't worry about the DAC (digital/analog converter), your sound card has one built-in.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #17 –
First of all: Thank you for all your helpful contributions.
I'm feeling a lot of awe regarding all of you, because you know so much about it.
It's really obvious, that one gets a lot of professional and precious contributions
over this message board here...

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #18 –
To be fair you could have figured this out yourself from reading forums/searching google etc  It doesn't take an expert.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #19 –
When you're just starting out from the basic "plug these color-coded plugs into your soundcard and this plug into the power outlet" PC speakers and moving into the whole wide world of hifi equipment, it can be quite daunting.

I think we've all been there at some point, right? I am lucky enough to have a dad who used to be in the radio/TV business, so I probably got the easiest start possible, and there were still things it took me a while to figure out :-)

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #20 –
Quote
It doesn't take an expert.
  Even I can do it.

OP can meet his expectations for a 2.1 system and stay within budget.

For example with this M-Audio combination of 10" SBX10 sub and 5" BX5 D2.

SBX10
BX5 D2

475 Euros the set, Comfortably within budget. I expect KRK and Samson do something similar.

Simply plug the sub into his PC line out. Probably will want an interface/monitor controller sooner rather than later.

Whether that's the best investment the OP could make is another matter. That's what he asked for and it can be done. I don't think it will last as long as the Gigaworks has managed either but who knows?

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #21 –
Coming from the Gigaworks, I imagine the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's would fit the bill here.

IMO, for someone coming from PC speakers, moving to true monitors would be too much a shock and probably far more revealing than the OP wants.
"You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight."  Neil Peart  'Resist'

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #22 –
sno4ball,

What you are trying to do is complicated because what you are trying to do is a little unusual and you have LOTS of options...  Going "digital" adds more complications & options. 

- You are not trying to set-up a "gaming" system.  You are looking for something a bit more high-fidelity than that.    You might find some "computer speakers" you like, but I think your standards are pretty high.

- You are not trying to connect your computer to an existing stereo or home theater system with a receiver and passive speakers.  (I recently bought a laptop with a Blu-Ray player and an HDMI port... Plug it into my home theater system and I'm done!)

- You are not trying to set-up a home recording studio with active studio monitors.    This is probably the closest to what you want, but studio monitors don't have digital connections, and the subwoofer is optional.  (Good subwoofers are expensive, and they are not always that useful for mixing & production, given the acoustics in most small home studios.)

...If you were doing any of the above, we could give you some more straightforward advice.  But, you are in a situation where you have to choose the approach and decide if you want computer speakers, hi-fi/home theater speakers, or studio monitors.    (And, I'd still advise you to go to a store and listen!  )

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #23 –
Quote from: DVDdoug on
- You are not trying to set-up a home recording studio with active studio monitors.    This is probably the closest to what you want, but studio monitors don't have digital connections, and the subwoofer is optional.  (Good subwoofers are expensive, and they are not always that useful for mixing & production, given the acoustics in most small home studios.)


It is correct that most studio monitors don't have digital inputs, but some do.

And even if they don't, a FiiO D3 DAC is only $30 and can do up to 192kHz/24bit on TOSLINK and coaxial S/PDIF. I'm using one with my Audioengine speakers and because it's USB-powered, I can power it directly from the active speaker.

Want a better sound system than the GigaWorks s750 !

Reply #24 –
Quote from: RonaldDumsfeld on
Quote
It doesn't take an expert.
  Even I can do it.

OP can meet his expectations for a 2.1 system and stay within budget.

For example with this M-Audio combination of 10" SBX10 sub and 5" BX5 D2.

SBX10
BX5 D2
The M-Audio BX5 D2s are nearfield monitors. They're very directional and work well about 1 metre away, a la:

There's no way you'd want these for a general listening setup.

If I were OP with that budget I'd go for a decent amp and some reasonable speakers and forget the 2.1 setup (you shouldn't need a sub with a decent pair of speakers).

350 - 370 Euro should get a pretty reasonable set of speakers and the rest will get you an adequate amp.
I'd forget active monitors unless one is working on audio projects.
For listening: soundcard > amp > speakers ;
For working: soundcard > active monitors (+ headphones).

Just my few pennies worth.
EDIT: Just read DVDdoug's post. I agree.
EDIT2: Missed OP's:
Quote from: snowb4ll on
• My setting is: 2 speakers and a subwoofer under the table - I think that music MUST be heard about speakers AND a subwoofer; I trust no constellation which is not splitted into speakers and subwoofer - so please don't come up with a speaker-only system; furthermore I want to have an option to extend my setting from a 2.1 sound system to real 5.1 sound system (for listening to SACD, which doesn't happen so often)
Well, many speakers it is then.

C.
PC = TAK + LossyWAV  ::  Portable = Opus (130)