Cheap computer setup

[ManyCowsMoo]

Hey guys, I'm a total noob to both this forum and audio in general and I'm looking to replace my computer speaker system. Right now I have some cheap logitech x-640 and I'd like to replace them with something good but decent.

Fry's has a pretty good deal for r150s: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4965491?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
or r50s: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4005092?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

So the r150s would be 50$ total and the r50s would be 100$ total. I need a receiver to be able to hook it up to my computer, right? I'd like to keep the grand total at or under 250$ so whats a good receiver for 100-200$? I don't need anything fancy or with a lot of features, basically it'll be under my desk and just used to hook up the speakers to my computer. The ability to upgrade to 5.1 without buying a new receiver would be a bonus because I might do that in the future.

Any suggestions? :) And I understand that 250$ is probably a joke to all you audiophiles, but I'm sure whatever I end up getting will be infinitely better than the 50$ computer speakers I have now.

[pixelthis]

Go to audiomagus.com
Not just speakers but something called USB boxes, with amps, and cheap digital amps.
As for speakers, if you dont like their stuff, well , like most who love sound I hate Bose, but there are some things they do well.
They have an entire line of powered speakers that are quite good, monitor mates
I beleive they are called.
Klipsch also used to have some good Powered speakers:1:

[Rich-n-Texas]

Why does this thread smack of SVI?

Welcome to the AR forums MCM.

So you want to spend $100 on speakers and $150 on a receiver? Is that about right?

[ManyCowsMoo]

SVI?

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

But yeah, 100$ for speakers, 150$ for a receiver sounds good, I might even bump it up to 300$ total.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Don't know what kind of or quality sound card you've got in your PC, but why don't you just replace the 640's with something like the Z-5500's? That 5.1 set is what I'm using and they sound dam good IMO. I think they're still running in the $220 - 250 range. Try www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com)

[ManyCowsMoo]

hmm, I kinda want to get a real speaker set instead of a preconfigured set like the logitechs, but maybe im going about this the wrong way. What would be the minimum price for an entry level set of bookshelf speakers + receiver (or wtvr i need to hook it up to the computer)?

EDIT: I did some searching for a receiver and I found a few around the 100$ mark, all used. But I was wondering, is there anything besides a receiver that'll allow me to hook up bookshelves to my computer? Would an amp by itself work? Sorry, I'm a total noob when it comes to this :)

[pixelthis]

hmm, I kinda want to get a real speaker set instead of a preconfigured set like the logitechs, but maybe im going about this the wrong way. What would be the minimum price for an entry level set of bookshelf speakers + receiver (or wtvr i need to hook it up to the computer)?

EDIT: I did some searching for a receiver and I found a few around the 100$ mark, all used. But I was wondering, is there anything besides a receiver that'll allow me to hook up bookshelves to my computer? Would an amp by itself work? Sorry, I'm a total noob when it comes to this :)

they have a digital amp at the link I posted, it should be able to drive a set of speakers.
Sherwood has an inexpensive receiver for around a hundred bucks, as does harmon.
An as for cheap bookshelves take your pick.
THE ONES YOU LIKE IN YOUR PRICE RANGE, that is.
There is nothing special about an amp that you would hook your computer up to, annyone will do, I have been listening to my computer throuh my HT/stereo for years:1:

[ManyCowsMoo]

Here's a nice cheap 5.1 Sherwood: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882177003
And here's an 5.1 Onkyo: http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?productid=TX-SR304&modelid=44&group_id=1&detail=1&ext_war=0

So they're both about the same price, which one should I go for? Things that stick out about each one: sherwood has 100watt per channel while onkyo only has 65w. onkyo has video input/outputs but I wont use those so it doesnt matter. Btw, what is watt per channel? Is it the maximum noise level the speakers will be able to reach? Im going to use the speakers just for the computer, so I won't need them to be very loud.

Here are 2 speakers I'm really looking into: Polk r50 and r300 http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4005092 & http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4965501
The price difference is very small, which speaker is better? And if I do get a pair of either of these, will either of the two receivers I chose be adequate for the speakers?

Which receiver/speakers should I go for?

[pixelthis]

the onkyo is "refurbished", if you want to chance that it will have more, especially 192khz dacs.
But get the sherwood if you want new.
If you arent interested in HT you can get a two channel receiver, might be a little cheaper.

Dont wory about watts, and things like that, at this price point that almost doesnt matter,
just get some speakers rated at or a little higher than your receiver.
Truth is you will never get close to taxing a receiver in most home enviroments.
CANT HELP YOU WITH SPEAKERS, YOU HAVE TO PICK SOME THAT ARE TO YOUR TASTE.
Good news is that there are a lot out there, I would get some larger ones, so you wont need a sub, just make sure the power handling (in watts) isnt lower than the output on the receiver (again, in watts):1:

[ManyCowsMoo]

Alright, thanks for the help, pixel! I guess Ill go with the sherwood receiver. I'll look around a bit more for other speakers and see what I can find :)

[pixelthis]

try av123.com, axiom, and I HAVE HEARD THAT FLUANCE IS A GOOD CHEAP SPEAKER.
THIS is a speaker "golden " age, you can get a lot for your money, and theres a lot out there in your price range:1: