Surround Yourself With PC Sound

Stan Miastkowski is a PC World contributing editor. Contact him at stan_miastkowski@pcworld.com. Click here for past Step-By-Step columns.

We've come a long way from the days when a basic sound card and a couple of cheap speakers were all your PC needed. With DVDs and games packing support for immersive, 360-degree audio, high-quality surround-sound support is more popular (and more necessary) than ever.

The newest computers often come with decent-quality multichannel sound hardware built into the motherboard. But if you want to get the best audio quality, you'll need to upgrade to either a high-quality internal sound card ($50 to $200) or one of the new generation of external sound processors ($100 to $150) that plug into your machine's USB port.

If you're serious about audio, figure on spending at least $150 to $400 for a top-quality set of surround speakers with subwoofer. Alternatively, you can plug the output of that new sound hardware into your existing home theater system. And if you work in an office or you don't want to disturb the household at night while you hold off alien invaders, consider investing in a good pair of headphones.

Sound systems are designated as 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 (see the illustration for tips on setting them up). And games and DVD source material come with different types of surround support, with names such as Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and Dolby Digital EX. Most sound cards have the ability to convert standard stereo CDs or MP3 files to surround sound, letting you take advantage of your new speakers more often.

The Shopping List shows examples of products you might want to have in a first-rate PC audio setup.

The Top Down

Benefits: Add high-fidelity digital surround sound for DVD video and audio playback, use 3D sound for compatible games, interface with portable digital audio players and stereo components.

Costs: Sound card $50 to $200, speakers $150 to $400

Expertise level: Beginner to intermediate

Time required: 45 to 60 minutes

Tools required: Phillips screwdriver, antistatic wrist strap (recommended)

Sound-card vendors: Creative, Hercules, M-Audio, Philips, Turtle Beach

Speaker vendors: Altec Lansing, Cambridge SoundWorks, Harman Multimedia, Klipsch, Midiland, Level Nine Sound Designs, Yamaha

Shopping List: Some High-End Options

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum ($200)

This Creative card comes with a full selection of advanced audio features and software; its connection box, which you install in an external drive bay, lets you hook up practically any kind of audio accessories.

Philips PCS805 Aurilium Sound Processor ($100)

External sound cards like the Philips PCS805 Aurilium Sound Processor are an easy-to-install alternative to internal upgrades. This unit plugs into a USB port and can upgrade the sound on your laptop, too.

Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 Speakers ($400)

The best sound card in the world won't do you much good without top-notch speakers. A high-quality 5.1 surround set such as this one is a better choice than some of the midrange 6.1 and 7.1 systems.

Sennheiser RS 65 Wireless Headphones ($190)

Listen to PC audio without being tethered by a cord. Some headphones, like the Sennheiser RS 65, include circuitry for synthesizing surround sound from a standard stereo source.

Installing Surround Sound

1. Uninstall the existing audio software.

To avoid problems with your new sound hardware, you should remove your existing sound drivers and support software first. To do so, launch Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet, select the entry for the existing sound card software, and click Remove in XP or Add/Remove in 98 or Me. For most motherboards that have built-in sound support, the PCI Audio Driver is the essential component to remove.

Most sound card software will uninstall all files, drivers, and applications related to the sound card, but check carefully; you might need to uninstall several components from the Add/Remove Programs list.

2. Change the sound card.

It's best to disable any built-in sound support on your motherboard before you install the new card. You usually do this through the PC Setup utility (watch as your PC boots for the key to enter Setup), but on older PCs you might need to set a jumper (see your manual).

If you're installing an external sound processor and you don't need to remove an old card, just plug it into a free USB port.

Otherwise, power down your PC, unplug it from the wall, and open the case. If you're removing an old card, disconnect any cables attached to it, remove the screw holding it down, and extract the card. Insert the new card in the slot and fasten it down with the screw you removed.

3. Hook up the equipment.

Hook up all the internal and external cables to your new sound hardware, as well as the external peripherals such as speakers. Every sound card and sound processor has a different configuration, so check the installation chart or manual to make sure that you connect it all correctly. And then double-check your work.

4. Install the software.

If you installed a new card, replace the cover on your PC, plug it into the wall, and power it up. Windows should automatically detect the new sound hardware and ask for the driver software, which is usually included on a CD-ROM. For details on installing the drivers, refer to the instructions that came with your sound hardware.

Once you're done, you'll usually need to restart your PC. If you don't hear anything from the speakers, turn them off and recheck your connections. Many surround speaker sets have multiple inputs, so make sure the correct one is selected.

If your computer doesn't detect a sound card or you still don't hear anything from your speakers, power down your system, recheck all your connections, and make sure the card is seated firmly in its slot. If it still doesn't work when you power up your PC again, it's time to pick up your phone and call tech support.

Surround Sound Setup

The various flavors of PC surround sound can be confusing. All speaker configurations have similar labels that begin with a numeral denoting the number of regular speakers in the set, followed by a ".1" referring to the subwoofer that is almost always present these days. Some common speaker configurations include:

2.1--Standard stereo with a pair of front speakers.

4.1--Adds a pair of rear speakers to a 2.1 setup.

5.1--The most common surround setup: pairs of front and rear speakers, plus a front center "dialog" speaker. Look for Dolby Digital or DTS in games and DVDs.

6.1--All the speakers of 5.1, with the addition of a rear center speaker. Supported by Dolby Digital Surround EX.

7.1--All the speakers of 5.1, with an additional pair of side surround speakers.

Not all sound cards, game software, and DVD movies support the more advanced modes, although games using DirectSound 3D can send audio to however many speakers your sound card supports.

Speaker placement is both an art and a science. Spend some time experimenting with speaker positions to find a setup that offers the best compromise between sounds that are clearly located at specific points and audio that spans a wide area to either side. Rotate the front speakers inward toward the listener and try moving them farther apart, or position the rear speakers closer or farther away. Subwoofer placement isn't critical, though it should be on the floor. And the closer it is to a room corner, the stronger the bass will be.