Who has 5.1?

[Calin Leafshade]

It seems that these days it's more or less impossible to buy a motherboard that doesn't have 5.1 (or even 7.1) sound available.

So with that in mind who actually has a 5.1 *speaker system* on their computer to go with it?

I just want to get a rough idea of numbers really.

[Igor Hardy]

I've got a 5.1 speaker system, but stopped using it a few years ago. I hated all those speakers cluttering around pretending like they truly provide some sort of particularly impressive experience.

[Anian]

Don't really have the place to put them. Only have to 2 stereo speakers I bought for like 30 euros about 5 years ago.

[LimpingFish]

I have no speakers. Just awesome headphones.

My soundcard is 7.1, though.

[Ryan Timothy B]

I have the speakers and system, just don't have the room in my living room without it looking cramped or awkward. Perhaps one day I'll get back to using them, just not anytime soon.

Just like what Ascovel said, the minimal sound difference isn't really worth the clutter.

[Galen]

Two ears, two speakers, I don't see the benefit of adding more unless you plan on moving your head alot. A good pair of headphones has been equal to cinemas for me (and I'm going to go on a limb and say their sound systems will be better than any home entertainment systems).

[Matti]

Who has AGS 5.1 ? I only got some old version, 3.x or something..

[zabnat]

I have 5.1 speaker system connected to my computer, but not for "computer use". I have a projector as a secondary display and the speakers are distributed around the (silver)screen. For computer (monitor) use I have stereo speakers.
So to summarize, for games 2.1 and for movies 5.1.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I have a logitech 5.1 speaker system, though it has problems with newer versions of Realtek's HD drivers so I've had to just use the windows 7 defaults for now.

[Daniel Thomas]

I have 7.1!
About the only time I get to have any use of them though is with the sound-test where you have the helicopter moving around - so I make sure to do this at least trice a day!

[InCreator]

7.1, helluva old Intel motherboard
While good set of headphones along with 7.1/5.1 system DOES make great difference in most new games, it costs alot.

5.1 headsets (real ones, not some USB emulated-ones) are made of pure crystal and fairy dust and last for 4-5 months max, and are very expensive to replace. "Last" I mean physically. I'm having about 5th or 6th set right now and all have broken so far, even though I'm quite careful..

Also, listening to music with 5.1 sucks somehow and windows 7 is very picky about drivers, forcing to replace 100% compatible factory driver with shitty no-name standard drivers from almighty microsoft (case of IDT Audio here) or there will be no sound... Which is bad, since those drivers deny most of the features. For example, I had headsets with built-in vibration thingy for bass, and it was awesome with Sigmatel original driver. With W7 driver, it doesn't work. There's more examples, but I don't remember.

In conclusion, number of channels on built-in-soundcard wouldn't change my motherboard choice, but if it doesn't add any significant extra cost, I'd take 5.1/7.1 over stereo. But force it to work on 2.1 and use heavy-duty DJ headsets with it -- more than enough for music and video. And maybe dust off 5.1 headsets if I'm in longer gaming period.

[Ishmael]

I've got an old, ridiculously tiny 5.1 speaker system, but I routed the back speakers to work as doubles for the front as I don't have anywhere to put the back speakers  with their rather short wires. And I'm only using the set since I haven't gotten new ones, but I do like the surround effect. I'd just need decent speakers, which cost monies I don't have.

Funny thing, the Realtek drivers work just fine for me on Windows 7, never given any real problems.

5.1 headsets (real ones, not some USB emulated-ones) are made of pure crystal and fairy dust and last for 4-5 months max, and are very expensive to replace.

I had proper 5.1 headphones, cost 30e and lasted like three years of getting dropped on the floor every now and then and such... Maybe the sound wasn't ideal, but it was good enough for me for the money.

[Haruspex]

I had a 5.1 setup, but I found it difficult to position the speakers in a way that wasn't completely intrusive and ugly.  Also, the sound improvement was at the cost of the rest of my family and my neighbors hating me.  When you live in an apartment, the sounds of WWII in 5.1 surround are not appreciated by anyone other than the one playing the game.

Today, I have a small 2.0 speaker setup for a little music, and I use headphones for gaming.  Maybe, one day, I will soundproof a dedicated "gaming room" and rig up a nice 7.1 surround system.

[Calin Leafshade]

So would it be accurate for me to summarise the topic question as "no one has 5.1." ?

[ThreeOhFour]

Ben304 has 5.1

[Snarky]

I had it, but like others have said it was impossible to set up the speakers properly (in my room there was nowhere for the rear left speaker to go, since that whole wall was a top-to-bottom wardrobe), the wires were a major eyesore and tripping hazard, and the surround effect was rarely used and not that great anyway. So when I moved I flogged it on craigslist and got myself a nice pair of desktop stereo speakers instead.

So yeah, other than Ben, no one has 5.1 computer speakers. 

[Calin Leafshade]

Well I believed much the same as everyone here. That it was pointless, the benefits were few and the speakers were difficult to position. However, I have just bought and started to use a 5.1 speaker system and I *really* like it for gaming. All games have supported surround sound out of the box for the last 5 years or so and it does make a difference I think.

I recommend that you all give it another go! Even if it's just with 5.1 headphones.

Spoiler

This is not because the next McCarthy is in 5.1. That is a happy coincidence of happenstance

[close]

[Phemar]

I have 5.1 for my DVD player, but the last time I sat down in front of the TV was like 3 years ago.

For my pc I have 2.1, which works awesomely.

[Nikolas]

Even as a composer, I don't actually have 5.1, or 7.1, or other. The amount of money it would cost me to get the quality of monitoring I needed would simply be too much. If a gig comes that needs 5.1, I'll rearrange the control room in my studio, get the right monitors (Genelec PMC? Other), and then... re-watch all the movies I have, lose the gig and commite suicide under the sounds of Malher or something! 

[nihilyst]

I have one.