Newbie at sound stuff, How does it work?

[Captain Corgi]

So, I need some new speakers because my tv speakers suck with my PS3. What should I do?

1. What's the best for affordable ($300 is my limit, Even that's pushing it) sound? I know it's not going to sound great, I just wanna be able to hear stuff (The voices in my games are too quiet and muffled), So what is the best option? Soundbar, home theater in a box, or just getting a reciver and speakers? Which would be cheapest to remedy my problem?

2. If I do decide to build my own, What kind of reciver and speakers would go together? How many diffierent ways can speakers hook up? What kind of cables plug into the reciver from the speakers? What is compatable with one another?

3. Let's say I just get a HTIAB and it doesn't have HDMI ins (I'm sure the ones with HDMI are well out of my price range) and I hook my PS3 up to it via optical cable, and then the next set of game consoles (PS4, xbox 720 ect) comes out, and they only connect via HDMI. Could I keep the speakers that came with my HTIAB and go buy a new reciever with HDMI ins to replace it and still use the old speakers, or would they likely not connect or be incompatable ect?


Basicaly, I would like to know if I could always get a cheap, decent alternitive to TV speakers that let me hear anything and I could hook it up to my PS3 or whatever
What do you mean by "Nothing very good"?

Well, Let me explain a bit. On my TV, when game mode is on, the game plays well, But it forces me to use movie sound mode, which sucks, But when I turn game mode off, it sounds good, But it plays slightly worse (Input lag, that sorta thing)

So if I think my TV speakers are good enough, would even a budget HTIAB (or sound bar, whatever) be better and louder/clearer than my TV speakers (With game mode on of course, the plan is to get to use game mode with good sound)? I'm no audiophile, So I don't care about quality, I just wanna be able to hear everything without any trouble (of course I don't want any popping or weird noises or anything, I know not to get awful $60 sets)
Pooh: It seems like most of the HTIAB sets in my range at least have a optical input, even if they are DVD, Would it still work?

In the event I do need to buy a reciever and speakers, Would I still be able to fit it in my budget range? Ebay and Craigslist are exempt, since I don't trust dealing with regular people? Would I even be able to get a reciver with HDMI In in my range (plus speakers)?

Also, Is it possible to buy a 5.1 reciever, and then mess with settings to only make it use two or three channels (Like, Just two fronts and a center)?

 

[Grumpy Mac]

First - if your TV has an optical output then you just need a Dolby Digital 5.1 system that accepts optical. They have been making these for 15 years.

You send HDMI to the TV so you can use the TV speakers for casual use. But fire up the surround sound system for more serious gaming.

Hit your local craigslist for someone selling an AV Receiver. Stick with Yamaha, Dennon, Onkyo, Sony ES or Pioneer Elite. A lot of great older receivers are out there for $100-$200.

You also need a 5.1 speaker set. Again - a lot of people are selling these on Craigslist.

 

[Kevin L]

Honestly to buy a receiver and speakers for $300 is not going to get you anything that is any good. I would suggest getting a pair of powered stereo speakers and leave it at that and continue to use the TV as your video switcher.

There are a number of powered speakers on the market, some are not to bad. Adam, Mackie, Krk, are not to bad.

Kevin
40 years hi end audio video specialist