5.1 surround sound

[TheNiceGuy66]

Hello all, im quite interested in setting up a 5.1 surround sound system for my room, which would be connected up to my pc. Now i was wondering if there is any way around buying an av reciver and maybe being able to use something else in order to be able to still hvae the same 5.1 sourround sound effect.  Ive seen some things online, on various videos such as what looks to be some sort of subwoofer with 5 channel support.

 

If there is no way around not using an av reciever, it would be greatlly apprieciated if somebody could recommend an av reciever thats quite slim and isnt to expensive. preferablly uner 150 quid. But has to have 5 channel support so i can have the centre speaker, the 4 satellite speakers and the subwoofer

 

thanks in advance George

[BetteBalterZen]

I owned the old Logitech Z5500 and now own the newer - but also old today - Logitech Z906. 

Both can be connected directly up to the motherboard using 3x 3.5mm jacks (coming from the subwoofer) - 1 for left/right, 1 for center/sub, 1 for rear left/rear right. 
Then you just have to configure the speaker(s) as 5.1 in Windows and then you're all set. (see screenshot)
Now movies with 5.1 audio tracks will use all speakers, and same with video games, when you enable 5.1 in audio option ingame of course. 

And if you watch content or hear music that only uses 2.1 Stereo, then only the left/right and subwoofer will be used. 

[TheNiceGuy66]

11 minutes ago, BetteBalterZen said:

I owned the old Logitech Z5500 and now own the newer - but also old today - Logitech Z906. 

Both can be connected directly up to the motherboard using 3x 3.5mm jacks (coming from the subwoofer) - 1 for left/right, 1 for center/sub, 1 for rear left/rear right. 
Then you just have to configure the speaker(s) as 5.1 in Windows and then you're all set. (see screenshot)
Now movies with 5.1 audio tracks will use all speakers, and same with video games, when you enable 5.1 in audio option ingame of course. 

And if you watch content or hear music that only uses 2.1 Stereo, then only the left/right and subwoofer will be used. 

ive looked before, but is there anyway to buy that specific subwooder on is own without any of the satellites or centre cpeaker?

[BetteBalterZen]

3 minutes ago, TheNiceGuy66 said:

ive looked before, but is there anyway to buy that specific subwooder on is own without any of the satellites or centre cpeaker?

No I don't think so. It's not the norm to have a receiver inbuild in a subwoofer that is not part of a complete set. 

[Ralfi]

What would be ideal for me is that Logitech set, but with speakers connected to a small form factor amplifier that has a HDMI audio Input - the sound from a modern GPU’s HDMI port is much better than a motherboard’s speaker ports or optical out I’ve found.