Is it possible to use computer surround sound speakers with my hdtv?

Question

I am looking at getting an inexpensive surround sound set. The room I will be using them will be be pretty small. I was wondering if I buy a computer surround sound set, say the Logitech X-540 5.1 Speaker System, would this be better then getting an equally priced 5.1 home theater surround sound set? I will be specifically using them for movie watching and for my xbox 360.

Answer 1

Check your HDTV for the proper cable connection. If they are there, then I dont see a reason why it wouldnt work.

Answer 2

The Logitech system is proprietary to a PC and requires one to operate properly. Some here have suggested you can just run the signals from a source with some home made cables but you don't get any of the necessary re-eqing features of receiver. I would suggest that you stick to the HTIB set ups vs. a rube goldberg set up with the PC speakers.  

Answer 3

Probably not.

TV connections vary and you didn't tell us which one you have, so I'll have to make some assumptions about that.

These speakers require 5 channel analog input (see 1st link). I've never seen a tv that had anything but 2 channel analog output (example in 2nd link), so I doubt you will be able to get true surround sound out of these speakers coming straight from a tv. (You could hook up the TV left and right channel outputs to the speaker front/rear left and front/rear right channels to get sound out of 4 speakers, but it would NOT be 5.1 surround sound or even 4.1 sound.)

I don't think you are going to find a 5.1 home theater set for anything like the price of these speakers (about $80). I don't see how you are going to get 5.1 any other way, though.