I need help. Although I am very knowledgeable on MOST things computer, having built around 25 in the last few years, my weak spot has always been anything "wireless". I had fits getting my desktop finally configured to my wireless router. My laptop was easier, as it did most of the work for me, and I just had to click a few buttons. The Epson wireless printer I recently added had itself installed onto my network before I even told it to .... which made me VERY happy, although a bit concerned as to just how it did that all by itself.
I will be going back to college this coming spring to start my Masters in Music, so I figured my sound system probably needed upgraded a bit. The sound-card is actually a pretty good one .... a couple years old SoundBlaster 5.1. But my speaker set is getting worn out, probably from me keeping the volumn too high too long too much. So my initial plans were to buy a new set of powered sorround sound spakers, much like what I already have, only NEW, & perhaps a bit newer technology. I also saw that there are a newer generation or two of sound-cards above mine available now. I might have, or might not have, replaced my current one, depending mainly upon cost. Those brand new ones seem pretty expensive.
But then I got to noticing that wireless audio seems to be in the affordable range now, and seems that they have it mostly working well too. That was intriquing, as it would eliminate almost every wire-set running from my computer. In addition to what's mentioned above, my keyboard, mouse, & most everything else is wireless. So I'm pretty sure now that I want to skip those new wired speakers & go wireless. But there is the problem. I'm decently good at researching things, but I have NO experience or knowledge about wireless audio.
The more I read into it, the more confused I became at the choices available. Although I may be wrong, I think I've figured out at least 4 different ways of doing this:
1. Speakers which have a receiver already built in, and your wireless router works as the transmitter.
2. A transmitter which plugs into either the sound-card or USB, and a receiver which plugs into ordinary speakers.
3. A Bluetooth transmitter plugged into USB, with either Bluetooth-enabled speakers, or regular speakers plugged into a Bluetooth receiver.
4. A ... well, I'm sure I saw a 4th way, but have brain-cramp & can't remember what it was.
So, can anyone give me some guidance on which method is the best, which is the easiest, & which is the cheapest? Although I'm not a miser & don't mind spending money when it's necessary, keep in mind I am also soon to be a student. That means I really don't have several hundreds of dollars to sink into the latest high-tech gizmos. But I want something that gives quality sound, but not necessarily the absolute best sound possible. I would like to keep this entire rig .... transmitter, receiver, speakers .... close to $100. I can go over that a bit, but $200 is VERY close to, perhaps even more than, the point where I'd have to say it just ain't worth it.
Also keep in mind what I mentioned near the beginning, that me & wireless just don't cohabitate well. If a certain type system requires learning a brand new trade in order to get it connected, then I'm probably not interested. The method I would LIKE to have is one which used the wireless router that I already have as the transmitter, and I would simply have to buy wireless-enabled speakers .... or a separate receiver which "regular" speakers would plug into. But even though I've seen references to that type of set-up out there, I haven't really been able to find much of this type set-up to buy. But since I really don't know what I'm looking at, I may have found the components for this type & just didn't know what it was.
The most common method out there seems to be a separate transmitter, usually using USB, and a separate receiver that works with about any powered speakers. So my questions on that would be do these USB transmitters provide the sound quality that a good SoundBlaster 5.1 sound-card does .... or does the USB transmitter somehow work together with the sound-card? Other question is, say for a 5.1 set-up, will just ONE receiver work, or do you have to buy additional receivers for each speaker .... or each pair? I can get by with 4 good speakers & no subwoofer, although I'd like to have the whole 5-speaker set-up operating.
The Bluetooth stuff looks good, but it also looks expensive.
Or is there another way to do this that I haven't even mentioned yet? Just to simplify everything I have said, here's basically what I'm wanting .... 1. No wires from computer to speakers, except maybe a short wire from computer to transmitter. 2. At least 4 speakers, hopefully all hooked into just ONE receiver. 3. Decently good sound. 4. Under $200 & as close to $100 as possible.
So, can any of you nice people who know wireless audio design me a system like I'm wanting? You don't have to tell me where to buy the stuff, unless you just want to, it'll most likely come from Amazon. But I would like for you to list the actual parts I need .... make, model, etc., as best that you can anyway.
My computer is a decently powerful dual-core AMD running WinXP-Pro 64-bit. Router is Netgear WGT625v3. I also have another unused identical router available, and a couple of Belkin wireless network cards, if those can be of any use somewhere in the system. Any other info you need, just holler. Thanks a mil in advance.
I will be going back to college this coming spring to start my Masters in Music, so I figured my sound system probably needed upgraded a bit. The sound-card is actually a pretty good one .... a couple years old SoundBlaster 5.1. But my speaker set is getting worn out, probably from me keeping the volumn too high too long too much. So my initial plans were to buy a new set of powered sorround sound spakers, much like what I already have, only NEW, & perhaps a bit newer technology. I also saw that there are a newer generation or two of sound-cards above mine available now. I might have, or might not have, replaced my current one, depending mainly upon cost. Those brand new ones seem pretty expensive.
But then I got to noticing that wireless audio seems to be in the affordable range now, and seems that they have it mostly working well too. That was intriquing, as it would eliminate almost every wire-set running from my computer. In addition to what's mentioned above, my keyboard, mouse, & most everything else is wireless. So I'm pretty sure now that I want to skip those new wired speakers & go wireless. But there is the problem. I'm decently good at researching things, but I have NO experience or knowledge about wireless audio.
The more I read into it, the more confused I became at the choices available. Although I may be wrong, I think I've figured out at least 4 different ways of doing this:
1. Speakers which have a receiver already built in, and your wireless router works as the transmitter.
2. A transmitter which plugs into either the sound-card or USB, and a receiver which plugs into ordinary speakers.
3. A Bluetooth transmitter plugged into USB, with either Bluetooth-enabled speakers, or regular speakers plugged into a Bluetooth receiver.
4. A ... well, I'm sure I saw a 4th way, but have brain-cramp & can't remember what it was.
So, can anyone give me some guidance on which method is the best, which is the easiest, & which is the cheapest? Although I'm not a miser & don't mind spending money when it's necessary, keep in mind I am also soon to be a student. That means I really don't have several hundreds of dollars to sink into the latest high-tech gizmos. But I want something that gives quality sound, but not necessarily the absolute best sound possible. I would like to keep this entire rig .... transmitter, receiver, speakers .... close to $100. I can go over that a bit, but $200 is VERY close to, perhaps even more than, the point where I'd have to say it just ain't worth it.
Also keep in mind what I mentioned near the beginning, that me & wireless just don't cohabitate well. If a certain type system requires learning a brand new trade in order to get it connected, then I'm probably not interested. The method I would LIKE to have is one which used the wireless router that I already have as the transmitter, and I would simply have to buy wireless-enabled speakers .... or a separate receiver which "regular" speakers would plug into. But even though I've seen references to that type of set-up out there, I haven't really been able to find much of this type set-up to buy. But since I really don't know what I'm looking at, I may have found the components for this type & just didn't know what it was.
The most common method out there seems to be a separate transmitter, usually using USB, and a separate receiver that works with about any powered speakers. So my questions on that would be do these USB transmitters provide the sound quality that a good SoundBlaster 5.1 sound-card does .... or does the USB transmitter somehow work together with the sound-card? Other question is, say for a 5.1 set-up, will just ONE receiver work, or do you have to buy additional receivers for each speaker .... or each pair? I can get by with 4 good speakers & no subwoofer, although I'd like to have the whole 5-speaker set-up operating.
The Bluetooth stuff looks good, but it also looks expensive.
Or is there another way to do this that I haven't even mentioned yet? Just to simplify everything I have said, here's basically what I'm wanting .... 1. No wires from computer to speakers, except maybe a short wire from computer to transmitter. 2. At least 4 speakers, hopefully all hooked into just ONE receiver. 3. Decently good sound. 4. Under $200 & as close to $100 as possible.
So, can any of you nice people who know wireless audio design me a system like I'm wanting? You don't have to tell me where to buy the stuff, unless you just want to, it'll most likely come from Amazon. But I would like for you to list the actual parts I need .... make, model, etc., as best that you can anyway.
My computer is a decently powerful dual-core AMD running WinXP-Pro 64-bit. Router is Netgear WGT625v3. I also have another unused identical router available, and a couple of Belkin wireless network cards, if those can be of any use somewhere in the system. Any other info you need, just holler. Thanks a mil in advance.
