[jimmy_fowler]

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to upgrade to surround sound speakers. I have an M-Audio Firewire Solo external sound card, which I bought because I do a lot of recording guitar, vocals etc, and I use it the other way for sound too. I was just wondering, can it handle 5.1 surround sound? I've been looking at specs online but none mention this.

Also, how are the Phillips MMS460 5.1 speakers for a budget set? Thanks.

[Dave Hybrid]

Looking at the M-Audio site I very much doubt the sound card supports 5.1.

[geforce]

Well, the reviews say that it does not support 5.1 surround sound. I am sorry to suggest you this but you will have to go for a new sound card. Look for an internal one and these days even the cheapest of the cards support 5.1 sound. So you can safely go for one.
Thanks.

[jimmy_fowler]

Ok guys thanks for the help. I have another question though:

Would my computers built in Soundmax Integrated Digital Audio thingy handle 5.1? The M-Audio Firewire Solo is just an external recording interface for guitars and microphones, which I use for recording demos, I just run the sound out through it too.

If I were to just use the M-Audio box for recording into the computer and not playback, and then use the built-in Soundmax thing for audio playback, would I then be able to use surround sound? If so, to what extent would it be able to handle surround sound? 5.1? or higher?

Thanks!

[Dave Hybrid]

Depends if your motherboard sound card is 5.1.

If it isn't... a 5.1 dedicated sound card would be cheap as and will be much better quality than the on-board sound card anyway.

[jimmy_fowler]

Thanks Dave, how do I go about finding out if my motherboard soundcard is 5.1? I'm not very good with this sort of stuff. I tried looking in Device Manager but couldn't see much, or didn't know where to look. Sorry for my ignorance!

[Dave Hybrid]

Do you know the make and model of either the PC or motherboard.

[jimmy_fowler]

It's a Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo P, and according to Belarc, it's a FUJITSU SIEMENS P5SD1-FM2 Rev 1.xx motherboard (I think that's right?)

[Dave Hybrid]

According to their website it is, but anyway, just try it.

If it doesn't work you have lost nothing.

[jimmy_fowler]

Thanks for the help, really appreciate it :)

[Dave Hybrid]

You're welcome.

[jimmy_fowler]

:) I just checked a load of stuff out. It's definately a [SIZE=2]P5SD1-FM2 motherboard, which apparently has the Realtek [/SIZE]ALC861 audio bit... Which according to the Realtek website can handle 7.1 surround sound. Is this correct?

Once again demonstrating my ignorance... If it can handle 7.1, is it backwards compatible with 5.1 or whatever? Thanks.

[Dave Hybrid]

Yeah, should be fine then.

Buy the speakers and try setting it up.

If all goes well then sweet, if not buy a dedicated PCI sound card.

[jimmy_fowler]

Awesome, all sorted then, thanks!

Could you recommend any good budget 5.1 speakers? I was looking at the Phillips MMS460... Any good?

[Dave Hybrid]

Originally Posted by jimmy_fowler Awesome, all sorted then, thanks! Could you recommend any good budget 5.1 speakers? I was looking at the Phillips MMS460... Any good?

Best advice I can offer is do a Google and read some reviews.