I've been running a Yamaha 5.1 "theater in box" receiver and 5.1 speaker combo that I've literally had since like 2003.  I'm thinking it's time to move on because the receiver just takes up too much room and I can't get my PC off the floor even on a new desk I just had built.  I can't figure out what to go with.  There seems to be only a few (literally) 5.1 computer speaker systems.  The 9xx one from logitech that's like $300 almost, the really cheap 5xx one that has reviews about going bad/crackly volume knob after a few months to a year, and some RGB/acrylic "thing" I saw on Fry's website that just made me laugh. 
 
So now I'm looking at stuff like the logitech g506 2.1 system, the Razer Leviathan "5.1" soundbar, or even maybe powered monitors in a 2.0 setup.  My serious gaming I use a headset, but it's nice to take it off once in a while and have surround sound gaming at the same time so I'm not sure which way to go here.  If I'm not watching movies on the PC is it really that worth it to have surround?  Most of my games are MMO types. 
 
What do you guys think?  Any suggestions?  There's nothing wrong with my current system it still works, it's just bulky.  Reducing clutter with less physical speakers would be nice but not at the expense of really noticing the sound difference.

Thanks I'll take a look at those things.  Yeah when I bought the current stuff right before I'd bought some Logitech 5.1 packaged (the first time they did an LCD controller thing) and it went right back because it had  low level hum (known issue).  I remember it was like 400+ at the time and this Yamaha receiver and speaker package sounded better, was cheaper, and didn't have the humming problem.
 

seth89
Look for powered monitors, out of the box speakers went away in the early 2000s.
KRK makes some nice stuff and so does Fostex.
 
KRK 300 bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FX7MMRO/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00FX7MMRO&pd_rd_wg=9brz0&pd_rd_r=R1D596R6W3CTDNCMAREB&pd_rd_w=Ldoyi&smid=A2LXBKOLL3J3K6
 
 
PreSonus 200 bucks + Polk Sub 100= 300 buck
https://www.musiciansfrie...0000?pfm=item_page.rr1|ClickCP
 
polk subhttps://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1534046047&sr=8-3&keywords=polk+sub&dpID=51JGYWW4N4L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
 
 
More PreSonus 100 bucks + Polk sub 100 bucks =200
https://www.musiciansfrie...0000?pfm=item_page.rr1|ClickCP
Sub
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1534046047&sr=8-3&keywords=polk+sub&dpID=51JGYWW4N4L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
 
 
The PreSonus stuff and the sub are good and the KRK with a sub is pretty good.
 
I've worked with KRK and owned Sonus/Polk before. 
 
 
 

I personally think these look nice https://kantoaudio.com/product/yu2/ and they have the optional sub that you can add if you wish. I currently have a Samsung surround sound that is kinda old and I may have to upgrade soon 

 
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Surround-Sound-Speaker-System/dp/B004M18O60/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1534302313&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=logitech+speakers+z906 

I have these for the last 5 years. If space is your concern then the woofer is probably too large though.
https://www.amazon.com/Ed...-Speaker/dp/B004EOOAXQ

Hey guys so I still haven't settled on something to swap to.  I'm attaching a picture of my desk setup so you can see what I have to work with.  The monitors can only raise up about 6-7" of clearance so whatever I get I think needs to fit under that since I have the dual monitor setup since I originally posted this.  I guess my other option to get the PC on the desk is to just put the receiver on the floor and remove the two rear channels to clean up room and run a 3.1 or 2.1 setup off the PC.  It's currently sending the multichannel outputs from the PC to the multichannel inputs on the receiver essentially turning it into just a power amp.  I'm not using optical since Win10 broke DTS live or whatever the codec was that was supposed to encode games to 5.1+ over optical on the fly and I don't know if they ever fixed it.  I thought about maybe just doing a Logitech Z560 2.1 system since I think the round satellites would fit under the monitors or maybe a Razer leviathan.  I looked at the Nommo but with the stands they're probably way too tall. 
 
I thought about just ditching speakers for headphones only but that probably won't fly now that my wife occasionally uses the PC on her own profile.  I'm open to larger speakers if someone has an idea of how to rearrange the desk to fit everything.  It's L shaped (kinda hard to tell) but most of the side is taken up by a 50lb Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer.  Remember I'm planning to put a mid-ish size tower in the corner where the receiver is at now.
 

flyinion
Hey guys so I still haven't settled on something to swap to.  I'm attaching a picture of my desk setup so you can see what I have to work with.  The monitors can only raise up about 6-7" of clearance so whatever I get I think needs to fit under that since I have the dual monitor setup since I originally posted this.  I guess my other option to get the PC on the desk is to just put the receiver on the floor and remove the two rear channels to clean up room and run a 3.1 or 2.1 setup off the PC.  It's currently sending the multichannel outputs from the PC to the multichannel inputs on the receiver essentially turning it into just a power amp.  I'm not using optical since Win10 broke DTS live or whatever the codec was that was supposed to encode games to 5.1+ over optical on the fly and I don't know if they ever fixed it.  I thought about maybe just doing a Logitech Z560 2.1 system since I think the round satellites would fit under the monitors or maybe a Razer leviathan.  I looked at the Nommo but with the stands they're probably way too tall. 
 
I thought about just ditching speakers for headphones only but that probably won't fly now that my wife occasionally uses the PC on her own profile.  I'm open to larger speakers if someone has an idea of how to rearrange the desk to fit everything.  It's L shaped (kinda hard to tell) but most of the side is taken up by a 50lb Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer.  Remember I'm planning to put a mid-ish size tower in the corner where the receiver is at now.
 

You can dump the receiver on the floor and on it’s side for more space. You can add a small piece of wood if you don’t want it directly on the carpet.

I would still think the KRK is the way to go.
Remember to let the new speakers run for 15-24 hours to help break them in. The sound out of the box is not their sound.

seth89

flyinion
Hey guys so I still haven't settled on something to swap to.  I'm attaching a picture of my desk setup so you can see what I have to work with.  The monitors can only raise up about 6-7" of clearance so whatever I get I think needs to fit under that since I have the dual monitor setup since I originally posted this.  I guess my other option to get the PC on the desk is to just put the receiver on the floor and remove the two rear channels to clean up room and run a 3.1 or 2.1 setup off the PC.  It's currently sending the multichannel outputs from the PC to the multichannel inputs on the receiver essentially turning it into just a power amp.  I'm not using optical since Win10 broke DTS live or whatever the codec was that was supposed to encode games to 5.1+ over optical on the fly and I don't know if they ever fixed it.  I thought about maybe just doing a Logitech Z560 2.1 system since I think the round satellites would fit under the monitors or maybe a Razer leviathan.  I looked at the Nommo but with the stands they're probably way too tall. 
 
I thought about just ditching speakers for headphones only but that probably won't fly now that my wife occasionally uses the PC on her own profile.  I'm open to larger speakers if someone has an idea of how to rearrange the desk to fit everything.  It's L shaped (kinda hard to tell) but most of the side is taken up by a 50lb Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer.  Remember I'm planning to put a mid-ish size tower in the corner where the receiver is at now.
 

You can dump the receiver on the floor and on it’s side for more space. You can add a small piece of wood if you don’t want it directly on the carpet.

I would still think the KRK is the way to go.
Remember to let the new speakers run for 15-24 hours to help break them in. The sound out of the box is not their sound.

Unfortunately I don't know where I'd put something that size as you can see in that pic I posted I'm kinda low on space and dimensions unless I dump a monitor.

wmmills
That's why you have walls brotha! That equipment is more than fine for a pc gaming rig and a little music here and there, it just needs proper attention. The surround speakers, F/C/R/S, should all be wall mounted, in the corners near the ceiling and aimed at your station. They are only for highs mostly and are perfect that way, plus it gets them out of your way. Put a shelf up maybe halfway on right wall with the receiver and your rig, get a arrow wire stapler with 9/16 staples and run the wires neat and correct. You only need a couple staples, don't go crazy. Heavy wires like power etc.... get run to the floor and to there home. Since the sub is powered you can just trash that, I mean closet it etc..,  and just replace it if your looking for more bass depth. Your multi outlet under the desk is..... scary, lol. That def needs some TLC, not judging cause ive done it too, but if you have a fire because of it that will be the last decent setup your wife will ever let you own.

I thought about mounting them but due to windows in the room there's no good spots to mount everything.  The whole speaker system & receiver are from like 2001 or 2002 anyway so I'm not really tied to them at this point and it was a basic "home theater in a box" from Yamaha, i.e. a receiver and 5 really cheap speakers plus a really cheap 6" sub.  As far as the wiring it's not as bad as it looks, most of that is data cables hanging down.

Sooo, if I went with something like the PreSonus 4.5's, I think they're about 7" wide.  If I flipped them on their side would that cause any real issues?  Guessing not.  I think I have just about 7" of clearance with the monitors raised all the way up so I could fit them right underneath if that's the case.  Or I could go with the 6" wide 3.5's and fit them for sure.

wwxww
https://www.kefdirect.com...less-music-system.html
 
If you really like listening to music as much as gaming, these are excellent little speakers, but pricey. Comes in many colors and if you need a sub, you can add a sub. Amp, DAC, streamer included. 

Thanks, definitely out of the price range, but I also didn't even know they existed.   I was actually looking at some of their Q series stuff when I was upgrading my home theater stuff last year and I have actually listened to their big brother LS50's at a Best Buy Magnolia design center (the big store in a store ones not the little "corner of a store" Magnolia's) and was definitely impressed.  

EVGATech_BennyM
I personally think these look nice https://kantoaudio.com/product/yu2/ and they have the optional sub that you can add if you wish. I currently have a Samsung surround sound that is kinda old and I may have to upgrade soon 

OMG not sure how I missed these up above but not only do they have a sub output, they also seem to match the size requirement I'm after.  

Stereo speakers are a better choice for desk top. I don't get having 5.1 when you're setting at a desk and being surrounded by speakers and wires. 

transdogmifier

NeoCrisis
Stereo speakers are a better choice for desk top. I don't get having 5.1 when you're setting at a desk and being surrounded by speakers and wires. 

 
This is subjective. Some people (Myself included) don't mind having the wires...I like my 5.1 sound...If I could get 7.1 I would.
 
By all means go stereo or 2.1 if you want. it serves no purpose to question "why" other people go 5.1+ ...it's all them...and none of you.
 

Yep I would have liked to keep the 5.1 setup somehow but I really needed to clean up the clutter on my desk and the new setup just didn't really work too well for it.  I figure since I usually have headphones on anyway when I'm doing "serious" group gaming I'm probably not missing out on too much and I don't watch movies on my PC which was one of the reasons I originally did have a 5.1 system.  Oh, I just got the angled stands for those Kanto speakers today.  That made them perfect getting the tweeters aimed up properly.  Running them on their side because they won't fit under the Dell vertically on the stands but shouldn't be an issue.

found you a link to the same ones i have, they are cheaper now then when i bought mine a few years ago .. 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockville-APM8C-8-2-Way-500W-Active-Powered-USB-Studio-Monitor-Speakers-Pair/301894112828?epid=3026414648&hash=item464a4a963c:g:M08AAOSwkIBbFLeW