5.1 Surround on PS3 with computer speakers

I'm buying an HDTV and a PS3 sometime in the near future.

The HDTV would def have HDMI, as would the PS3 obviously.

Another thing I definitely will be doing is hooking up my Dell XPS-M1330 to the HDTV. The laptop comes with HDMI out, so no worries there.

the one question I'm trying to figure out is how do I get my 5.1 Logitech X-540 speakers to hook up to the HDTV/PS3?

I know that on the back there's analog audio jacks. The speakers come with this little adapter thing that lets you plug in the front speakers into L and R analog, but that's not full 5.1.

How do I connect the computer speakers (Front L+R, Sub, Rear L+R) to the HDTV w/ full 5.1 surround that'll work with the HDMI output of my laptop, as well as the PS3?

I'm slightly afraid it won't work because that way it works out in my head, the 5.1 speakers are currently plugged into a Creative Audigy 2 NX USB sound card into my laptop.

So basically, how do I get my Logitech X-540 to work in full 5.1 with a PS3 on a HDTV?

I've looked into getting the Logitech z5500 with the digital optical output. here's my question for that: If I hook up the z5500 to my audigy 2nx as well as the optical into the PS3, I can use both my laptop and my PS3 with the speakers right?

Also, if I get the z5500, digital optical supports full 5.1 surround right?

Does the z5500 plug directly into the HDTV? If so, since both the PS3 and my laptop have HDMI, can I just keep the z5500 plugged into the TV and still get full 5.1?

it says:

Connect to multiple sources: Simultaneously connect 6 audio sources including PCs, video game consoles, and DVD, CD & portable music players... and control it all from the Digital SoundTouchTM Control Center.

does that mean I can have the z5500 hooked up to my Audigy 2NX, PS2, PS3, and TV at the same time!?!? I look on the pic of the control panel, and it only has 1 SPDIF out.

Thanks a lot guys!

the logitech x-540 i have now definitely is strictly computer 3.5mm jacks only.

the z5500, however, has digital optical input. Do I still need to get a receiver for that?

I read somewhere else that it supports bitstream, which is the uncompressed audio...

I'm now basically trying to figure out if the z5500 can have more than 1 thing hooked up to it using the digital optical. Like my laptop will hook up to it with the Creative Audigy 2NX. the PS3 and my PS2 can hook up to it using the SPDIF (if it allows for more than 1 SPDIF connection), and the TV will use SPDIF as well (if it has digital optical output)

this is the tv i'm looking at getting:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3291977&CatId=2815

If I hookup the speakers to the SPDIF out on the tv, and just use the HDMI input from the PS3 to the TV, would I get 5.1 surround?

i'm strongly considering getting the z5500 just cuz it has optical input, and it's a pretty awesome set of 5.1s

my questions for the z5500:

1. If I hook up the PS3 to it, will it be full 5.1 surround sound?

2. Can I hook up more than 1 device to the z5500 via optical? like my ps2

3. Can I just hook up the z5500 to the TV's optical out, and then use only the HDMI input of the PS3 and my Laptop to get full 5.1 surround on the z5500?

thanks

1. If I hook up the PS3 to it, will it be full 5.1 surround sound?

yes.

2. Can I hook up more than 1 device to the z5500 via optical?

If it has multiple optical inputs

3. Can I just hook up the z5500 to the TV's optical out, and then use only the HDMI input of the PS3 and my Laptop to get full 5.1 surround on the z5500?

Not sure, since they are computer speakers that may not work. But you'd be better off directly connecting the speakers directly to the device of choice.

i'm strongly considering getting the z5500 just cuz it has optical input, and it's a pretty awesome set of 5.1s

my questions for the z5500:

1. If I hook up the PS3 to it, will it be full 5.1 surround sound?

2. Can I hook up more than 1 device to the z5500 via optical? like my ps2

3. Can I just hook up the z5500 to the TV's optical out, and then use only the HDMI input of the PS3 and my Laptop to get full 5.1 surround on the z5500?

thanks

ihaveabu

TrueHD or DTS would not really be necessary. This is for an apartment with my friend for the remaining 2 years of college. Once I get enough $$ to get an actual HD receiver, then things will get interesting, but that's not for another couple of years.

So, if I get the z5500, it will have full 5.1 surround. that's really all I care about at this point.

Can anyone confirm the z5500 has multiple SPDIF inputs? I only saw one on the control panel thing, but I don't really know anything about it.

And also the 3rd question regarding hooking up the TV to the z5500 and everything else via HDMI. If that works, it would take away a lot of cable switching hassle

TrueHD or DTS would not really be necessary. This is for an apartment with my friend for the remaining 2 years of college. Once I get enough $$ to get an actual HD receiver, then things will get interesting, but that's not for another couple of years.

So, if I get the z5500, it will have full 5.1 surround. that's really all I care about at this point.

Can anyone confirm the z5500 has multiple SPDIF inputs? I only saw one on the control panel thing, but I don't really know anything about it.

And also the 3rd question regarding hooking up the TV to the z5500 and everything else via HDMI. If that works, it would take away a lot of cable switching hassle

ihaveabu

That thing is sweet. I want one. Around 500 watts. "Z5500 that is"

Well, I just tried using HDMI audio on my PS3 and had mixed results.

My speakers are the 5.1 z-5450's by logitech, so I'd assume that they would produce similar results to the z-5500's. Anyway, I have the z-5450's hooked up to my HDTV via optical cable, and the PS3 hooked up to the TV via HDMI. While I was able to get sound, it was only 2 channels, not full DoblyDigital 5.1.

I dont think I missed anything in the sound settings either.

I've looked into getting the Logitech z5500 with the digital optical output. here's my question for that: If I hook up the z5500 to my audigy 2nx as well as the optical into the PS3, I can use both my laptop and my PS3 with the speakers right?

Also, if I get the z5500, digital optical supports full 5.1 surround right?

Does the z5500 plug directly into the HDTV? If so, since both the PS3 and my laptop have HDMI, can I just keep the z5500 plugged into the TV and still get full 5.1?

does that mean I can have the z5500 hooked up to my Audigy 2NX, PS2, PS3, and TV at the same time!?!? I look on the pic of the control panel, and it only has 1 SPDIF out.

ihaveabu

I have the Logitech z5500 surround sound and I love it. It is full 5.1. If you hook up your ps3 and computer to it you'll have to have one on or the other. The computer is on one input and the PS3 (optical) is on another. With my TV, (I think it might be for all) you can't hook a optical cable to the tv then have your PS3 sound come through HDMI. If you wanted to (like I do) I have a red/whitecable (that converts into one) and plug it into the right side of the receiver. It pretty much is the same quality and it's 5.1.

so, it will be one cable to the PC. One cable to the PS3 (optical). And one cable to the TV (red/white into one).

Hope that helps. I think you should get it and if you do buy it off Amazon or Newegg for the best price.

The z-5500 is only $186 on Amazon, that's a steal! But, there is only 1 left...get it now!!
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-THX-Certified-505-Watt-Digital-Surround/dp/B0002WPSBC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205126074&sr=8-1

Can anyone confirm the z5500 has multiple SPDIF inputs? I only saw one on the control panel thing, but I don't really know anything about it.ihaveabu

yea, that's what i mean. there's only 1 spdif...

or maybe i just have no clue what i'm talking about

but that's kinda annoying tho. HDMI supports 5.1. The optical thing supports 5.1... why won't it work with the HDMI in TV and speakers in the TV's SPDIF? hmmmm

I think that's what I might end up doing.

Hook up PS3 to z5500, using the audio cables to hook up z5500 to the Audigy 2NX, and that should work out fine.

I guess one thing I would like to know. If you hook up the z5500 directly to the HDTV through SPDIF, do you get 5.1 sound?

ah i see.

makes sense.

now, for the z5500, is there any way to hook up more than 1 device to it using optical? namely my PS3 and PS2

You could try this, unless you can find something else:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Selector-Composite-Connections-Wireless/dp/B00062NHTS/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205132732&sr=8-11

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Bi-Directional-Optical-Toslink-Splitter/dp/B0002MQGR2/ref=pd_sim_e?ie=UTF8&qid=1205132732&sr=8-11

http://www.amazon.com/SW100-Digital-Optical-Selector-Connections/dp/B000812QC6/ref=pd_sim_e?ie=UTF8&qid=1205132732&sr=8-11

something like this will probably work. thanks for the link. i didn't know they had optical cable splittor things.

sweet

that pretty much answers all my questions about this. thanks a lot guys!

one last thing. can the PS3 access a network drive or a computer on the same network as the PS3 w/o installing Linux?

If so, then I probably won't even need to bother with my laptop, cuz I can just watch movies directly from an external hdd or from my laptop on the network

or this, then buy a coax cable:
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-Optical-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002GV876/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205133562&sr=1-2

i see. there's no way to play movies directly off a network drive?

the new firmware allows divx playback. i know the ps3 already supports x264. Does it support xvid?

Yes, you can access your computer files like music (might have to search for it a little), but for movies you'll have to copy then over first (still by accessing the hard drive though). And you'll have to put them in the video folder so the PS3 recognizes it.

----------------------

This to is incorrect, the XMB does not have an option that will allow you to access any of the other pcs connected to your network. You'll still need your laptop.

You can use your HDMI cable for video and the optical for sound (just change the settings). So, I'm not "incorrect".

second, you can access the files only (like videos, music, and pictures) on your computer. You cannot run it in remote desktop though.

I think getting a cheapish reciever and using your existing speakers would be a better idea than getting the 5500s. I do own the 5500s and although they are pretty good computer speakers, they are nowhere near the quality of my receiver + 5.1 speakers combo. you should have no trouble hooking your pc and PS3 to them at the same time, but you will not be able to hook 2 optical devices up to it, only 1 optical and 1 coax. also, for music the 5500's don't sound terribly great.

can you give me some links to a good cheap receiver?

I have the logitech x-540 now. If I get a receiver, would i be able to hook that up?

Would it sound better than using the optical to the z5500?

I guess another thing would be movies played off my laptop using the Audigy 2NX hooked up to the z5500 would sound a lot better than the x-540 for sure.

i'm strongly considering getting the z5500 just cuz it has optical input, and it's a pretty awesome set of 5.1s

my questions for the z5500:

1. If I hook up the PS3 to it, will it be full 5.1 surround sound?

2. Can I hook up more than 1 device to the z5500 via optical? like my ps2

3. Can I just hook up the z5500 to the TV's optical out, and then use only the HDMI input of the PS3 and my Laptop to get full 5.1 surround on the z5500?

thanks

ihaveabu

Optical out is the easy and best way to go for Game speakers.

that's what i'm thinking. and the z5500 would make movies from my computer sound amazing thx to the audigy 2nx i already have

well, that said, the optical connection to the ps3 is still good quality audio right? like it's not like there's something seriously wrong with it? i'm not that much of a audiophile. i'd just like to know someone walking up to me in COD4

that's basically exactly what i'm looking for.

now about that accessing videos from a network drive. the ps3 can access files, but to play it, i have to copy it to the hdd?

Can i stick an external hdd into the usb of the PS3 and play movies off of that?

that's basically exactly what i'm looking for.

now about that accessing videos from a network drive. the ps3 can access files, but to play it, i have to copy it to the hdd?

Can i stick an external hdd into the usb of the PS3 and play movies off of that?

ihaveabu

Are you talking about accessing media over your wireless network? If so, you don't have to copy the video file to the hdd, you can just stream it over your network. I do it all the time.

edit: Yes you can play videos off of an external usb drive.

i'm getting one. these are kind premature questions, but eh, i've been a Sony fanboy since PS2 launched. lol

i'm getting this whole setup this summer. 42-50" 1080p LCD, Logitech z5500, newest PS3 version

You can use your HDMI cable for video and the optical for sound (just change the settings). So, I'm not "incorrect".

second, you can access the files only (like videos, music, and pictures) on your computer. You cannot run it in remote desktop though.

brandojones

No you can't sir, I tried to do this, but the system wouldn't let me. So, yes, you are incorrect.

[QUOTE="ihaveabu"]

that's basically exactly what i'm looking for.

now about that accessing videos from a network drive. the ps3 can access files, but to play it, i have to copy it to the hdd?

Can i stick an external hdd into the usb of the PS3 and play movies off of that?

catfishmoon23

Are you talking about accessing media over your wireless network? If so, you don't have to copy the video file to the hdd, you can just stream it over your network. I do it all the time.

For mine, I have to copy it over first for it to work or else it says "unsupported data". It depends what kind of format you have it in. Mine are .avi files.

So you're telling me that you are accessing files on your PCs HDD through your internet connection on your PS3 and using those same files on your PS3? IE........music and video content? If this is what you're saying, please enligthen me on how this is acomplished.

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

You can use your HDMI cable for video and the optical for sound (just change the settings). So, I'm not "incorrect".

second, you can access the files only (like videos, music, and pictures) on your computer. You cannot run it in remote desktop though.

KayoticKiller

No you can't sir, I tried to do this, but the system wouldn't let me. So, yes, you are incorrect.

wait.... it doesn't work??? wtf

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

You can use your HDMI cable for video and the optical for sound (just change the settings). So, I'm not "incorrect".

second, you can access the files only (like videos, music, and pictures) on your computer. You cannot run it in remote desktop though.

KayoticKiller

No you can't sir, I tried to do this, but the system wouldn't let me. So, yes, you are incorrect.

Well suck for you then...:). It works fine for me. I have my video going to my TV with a HDMI cable and the optical going from the PS3 to the receiver of the surround sound. Change some settings around if it doesn't work...

[QUOTE="catfishmoon23"][QUOTE="ihaveabu"]

that's basically exactly what i'm looking for.

now about that accessing videos from a network drive. the ps3 can access files, but to play it, i have to copy it to the hdd?

Can i stick an external hdd into the usb of the PS3 and play movies off of that?

brandojones

Are you talking about accessing media over your wireless network? If so, you don't have to copy the video file to the hdd, you can just stream it over your network. I do it all the time.

For mine, I have to copy it over first for it to work or else it says "unsupported data". It depends what kind of format you have it in. Mine are .avi files.

Yeah, I don't use .avi so that would explain it.

so whoa whoa whoa. if i hook up the ps3 to the optical input of the z5500, it will or won't work?

i thought i saw a few people who already have that setup say it works...

I stand corrected. Here is what the PS3 owners manual says in a nut shell. You can use both at the same time, in this format. You can use your HDMI cable to carry your video to your tv/monitor and you can use the digital audio out to carry the audio to a receiver of your choice. However, if you do this, audio will not be played through your TV. So you'll always have to have your sterio on or go back in and change your settings.

What I've done as a work around for this is: I have my ps3 hooked up to my hdtv with both sound and audio going through my HDMI cable, I then have use my tvs digital audio output to run my fiber optic cable to my receiver.

I have to apologize for providing incorrect information earlier.

This part is what I don't understand..........there is no where to do this using the XMB.....unless this is an option on Non-US PS3s:

Step 2:
Select a networked computer name from the Network menu on the PS3 to access shared files stored on the computer.

This part is what I don't understand..........there is no where to do this using the XMB.....unless this is an option on Non-US PS3s:

Step 2:
Select a networked computer name from the Network menu on the PS3 to access shared files stored on the computer.

KayoticKiller

I'm looking at the PS3 manual on the playstation website and this is not listed as a selectible feature, being able to select other networked computers from the PS3 network option menu.

Here, this has a better explanation of it: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/connectdlna.html