Audio System Suggestions ?

[Doug C]

I'm going to be needing a cheap but good 5.1 system for my recently aquired MINI A1176((2108). Is there something that stands out as a great value right now? What would ya'll be looking at.. and I don't mind second hand if need be (craigslist,ebay,etc). Also not apposed to getting seperate pieces either. I was thinking something used from bose but I don't really know squat really about audio stuff. Also - what is the preferred method for hooking it up to the MINI? Thanks in advance.

[Smithcraft]

You can use any receiver/amp that has either stereo inputs, or TOSlink inputs. I used my old component stereo for years just to get a better separation on the sound and have slightly more control of the sound quality.

If you want the 5.1 channel sound, you will need to use the TOSlink connection, or an external USB DAC which will most likely send the sound out via TOSlink.

You can get the cables you need from Monoprice.

You will need either the TOSlink to miniplug style cable available here.

Or you will need a miniplug to TOSlink adapter and a regular TOSlink cable(don't bother with the premium cables - they are just bulky and cumbersome) of whatever length you need.

Anyway, get whatever receiver that you like that is in your budget that has an optical/TOSlink input and you should be good to go. Of course you should research whatever you see that you want to get to make sure it isn't junk, or doesn't work the way that it should.

As for the speakers - some people are picky, I'm not. I use a pair of JBLs for the front speakers and they are over twenty years old. I picked up a 100W subwoofer at a clearance center for less than the cost of a new game for my 360. It was a slightly scuffed demo unit, but it can shake the house. The rears are a pair of Logitech speakers from a defunct Logitech sound system. Which sort of reminds me - You could just get a Logitech 5.1 sound system and you should be good to go if it has TOSlink.

That's all I can think of for now...

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Doug C]

ok that gives me somethings to start considering, thanks. I'd guess a no-nonsense receiver is what I'm after most.... I had a pretty descent Kenwood receiver that I sold recently in a garage sale. It did a good job hooked up to my DVD player but it was soo darn complicated that I hated messing with it, not user friendly at all. Not to mention the huge tangle of component, composite, speaker, powercord, etc wires that linked everything to each other at the back of it. I was hoping to replace it with something simpler and less bulky.

[Smithcraft]

Oh, and you'll want something that handles DTS also.

I was looking at the Logitech systems, and they only have two 5.1 systems. One is $100 doesn't seem to have an optical connection, the other one is $400 and sure is fancy!

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!