Hercules Gamesurround Muse & XPS 510 - Question

tyrs4u

Hello everyone.
I have Question for anyone who can answer this silly thing or at least give me your input on it.
I just recently purchased the
Hercules Gamesurround Muse™ 5.1 DVD
It’s recommended companion is the
Hercules XPS 510 Extended personal sound
Now should I use those speakers or what would you suggest?
I’m looking for something not too expensive yet I hear the 510 is pretty cheap but it only has 8 RMS? Is there anything better for around the same price, if so please post were I can purchase it online. I heard the Logitechs are the best for Gaming…? Oh yeah I forgot to mention I do more Gaming like
World of Warcraft, Vampire the Masquerade – Bloodlines/Redemption, Magic the Gathering, Unreal T, etc.
I just want those to sound awesome with the new card. So if anyone can suggest a better set of speakers that Will work with the Muse 5.1….
Thanxz…
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Well......I mean, to be honest, I'd return the Hercules card and get either an M-Audio Revolution or Audigy 2 ZS. Both are $20 or so more than the Hercules, but sound WAY WAY better. Both can be had at Newegg.com for under $70.

As far as speakers, try these:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=36-113-142&depa=0

You're not gonna find anything earthshaking for under $100, but these are quite a bit better than the Hercules. Otherwise, if you can spring for a bit more, go for the Logitech Z-5300's.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=60&manufactory=1080&DEPA=0&sortby=14&order=1

But regardless of the speakers, I would return and exchange that soundcard for a better one. Even if you plugged a set of Z5500's into that card, they wouldn't sound as good as they should.
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tyrs4u · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject:

smith.p.sean · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject:

Altec Lansing makes great speakers, whats ur price range for speakers?

tyrs4u · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:

Ham_fisT · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:49 pm Post subject:

for right around $150.00, the Ligitech Z-5300's will blow your socks off

http://tweaknews.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=4267902/search=z-5300
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tyrs4u · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:03 pm Post subject:

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

I think you'll be much happier. Combine one of the two soundcards I recommended with those speakers, and you'll be in sonic bliss, for pretty cheap.
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-=Pyro-Psycho=- · Tweakafile Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 935 Location: TN

I have them and they are great speakers for the price. I've been messing around with the Z-5500's the store and their my dream speakers though

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tyrs4u · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject:

-=Pyro-Psycho=- · Tweakafile Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 935 Location: TN

The 5300's sound great for music too. They're THX certified. When I'm not gaming, I'm listening to music.
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tyrs4u · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject:

tyrs4u · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:21 pm Post subject:

Hey what's the difference between the two?

OEM Black 6PC 5.1 Music/ Gaming 2/4/6-CH 103 DB SPL 50W RMS SUB - VS3151W
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10369814&SearchEngine=PriceGrabber&SearchTerm=10369814&Type=PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=15890

& the
Altec Lansing VS3151 - PC Multimedia Home Theater Speaker System
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10360355&loc=&rp=true

????
Just looks like there's a W at the end of it, but I kind find any info on the difference & if there is one??
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Lord Tyr
AMD-64 3200+, Asus K8V SE Deluxe, 3 512 DDR's 2700, GeForce 5500 OC, Two 120g Wd Hd, Two 40g SATA Wd Hd (Raid 0), XP Pro, Roadrunner (5000/384) - Netgear Double 108 WGU624

tyrs4u · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:54 pm Post subject:

Question.... The Audigy 2 ZS isn't it 7.1? Whats a good 7.1 speaker set? cause the Logitech Z-5300 are only 5.1? Or will the sound still be awesome? Because this Hercules uses Cmedia mixer drivers which suck & it doesnt burst out sound... unless i'm play a game & turn the volume up on my Altec Lansing VS3151...? Speakers are great I heard them on my roomies Audigy.. so i'm gonna get that card, but I heard everyone loves the logi 53 but i thought why not get a 7.1?? Just go all the way lol..
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Lord Tyr
AMD-64 3200+, Asus K8V SE Deluxe, 3 512 DDR's 2700, GeForce 5500 OC, Two 120g Wd Hd, Two 40g SATA Wd Hd (Raid 0), XP Pro, Roadrunner (5000/384) - Netgear Double 108 WGU624

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

What are ya, a speaker freak?

Unless you're talking a true home theater, strictly for movie watching, then 7.1 is wasted on you. Those extra speakers only fill in a little bit of "dead air" in a large room, much like a movie theater has the main speakers front, center and rear, with side-fill speakers along the walls. Most games won't use 7.1 surround (yet), and most movies don't even take advantage of it yet. As far as music, you're wasting your time with 7.1.

For now, get the best set of 5.1's you can afford, hold off on the 7.1.
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tyrs4u · Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject:

Rock-on, thanks for a quick reply... & Also that does make sense because I've yet to see a DVD/Movie that I would watch supporting 7.1 ....
But I thought those Logi's looked nice & probably sound best...

Anyone here play (WoW) World of Warcraft? Or Vampire Bloodlines??
Because those are my main games... So I would like those to really stand out in sound quality... Like Unreal sounds awesome with my current card & speakers,,,, but I'm theres something better..

ALSO: How does one SETUP the Audio Settings in Control Panel for 5.1 speakers Using a Audigy 2 ZS??? Any specific thing I should do? On all the Tabs that is??
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Lord Tyr
AMD-64 3200+, Asus K8V SE Deluxe, 3 512 DDR's 2700, GeForce 5500 OC, Two 120g Wd Hd, Two 40g SATA Wd Hd (Raid 0), XP Pro, Roadrunner (5000/384) - Netgear Double 108 WGU624

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Not sure about WoW, I don't have that one, but I play Star Wars Galaxies, which is very similar. Positional sound isn't generally supported in the same way a single-player game is, due to server restrictions. More sound, more lag.......same with the graphics. Since those games are coded to run smoothly on dialup connections, the higher quality stuff has to go. When you're talking MMORPG, that's the way it goes, they'll never match single player games for quality, sound or video.

I don't have an Audigy, I'm a bit past that for quality requirements *grin* , but there should be a setting in your Control Panel, or if you've installed it from scratch, a crapplet in your taskbar to take you to the Audio Settings panel, just read the instructions that came with the card. If I remember right, my Live card had a control panel applet that took me to the main settings for the card.
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