If you are looking to jump to 6.1 but have a limited bankroll, then the Inspires deserve an audition. The Inspire 6.1 6600 speakers are not perfect speakers but they do a few things extremely well and are priced very competitively. If you are considering an Audigy 2 then be sure to check out some of the attractive bundles with the MegaWorks. (High-end equipment might be fun to drool over but much more money is made on 'entry level' rigs.) Creative continues to push 6.1 very aggressively. They were in fact launched before the MegaWorks, which was smart on the company's part. These conditions made it smart for Creative to release the Inspire 6.1 6600 speakers as quickly as possible. The only high-end 6.1 system is the Creative MegaWorks rig, which, as impressive as it is, will leave a rather large dent in your wallet. Unfortunately, most companies max out at 5.1. (No matter which configuration you order you get the same base 6.1 card.) Speakers are a whole different game. You can also make a bit more of an investment and opt for the outstanding Audigy 2. For a sound card you can pick up a Hercules 7.1 model, backward compatible of course, for under $40.00. However, if you want to make the jump up to 6.1 then you will find fewer options. You can also find a suitable sound card for next to nothing. Almost every multimedia speaker maker has an offering, and some of them are quite affordable.

If you're looking for a 5.1 PC setup then you have more then enough options.

Creative inspire 6.1 6600 manual