Home Theater PC, Need some help

[zoso]

Now that winter in here i have been re-doing my room and will be getting a LCD tv, I want to use my PC as a media center, since iv been doing it on a small scale for now. Now i want to connect it to the TV (possible since i have a dual output video card) but the problem i am facing is getting the audio hook up. I have a good 7.1 sound card and 5.1 speaker set which is what i want to go with, but i do want to hookup an external Blu-ray player and a X360 so i would want to run the audio from them to my pc to the speakers.

IN short i want to turn my PC into an Audio Amp/receiver. the sound cards i can find that have audio input are more for pro use and dont' fit my needs.

Does anyone know of a card that i can use on my PC to turn it into a Full blown audio receiver/amp?

[taz4432]

Why not just got a receiver/amp and just send the computer's audio to that instead? Finding a card that's going to do what you want is likely going to be difficult and/or cost A LOT. For what you're likely to spend (it's been a long time since I went audio card shopping), a dedicated amp/receiver will be a much better bet, imo. In addition, the comp won't need to be running to have audio. =)

[mcordy]

Why not just got a receiver/amp and just send the computer's audio to that instead? Finding a card that's going to do what you want is likely going to be difficult and/or cost A LOT. For what you're likely to spend (it's been a long time since I went audio card shopping), a dedicated amp/receiver will be a much better bet, imo. In addition, the comp won't need to be running to have audio. =)


Agreed an entry level amp will be cheaper and a better price.

[m_bisson]

Yep. Separate amp.

[hastiej]

I've had a media PC for about 4 years now, and am in my 3rd setup. what i can tell you is that a Media PC is like an Xbox or a DVD player.. think of it as an external connection, meaning, your using it to play media, not feed media into. An AMP would be an Internal/external connection, meaning, your feeding media into it, IE DVD, Xbox, then feed it to a TV. The setup i run, my Blu-ray, Xbox, MPC all connect to my AMP, and then connect to my TV. i don't think there will be any easy way to have your PC speaker work for your Xbox and Blu ray trough a Media PC setup. I'd spend some bucks and get a amp like everyone else is stating, but you will prob need to get a speaker set as well.

GL, media PC's are fun, esp with Hulu..

[cereal83]

My media PC hooks up to an optial switch and depending on what source I want the audio to come from, I use the optical switch. I have optical running from my PS3, computer, HD Box to the switch via optical cable. Works easy but a reciever would be best.,

[froggy]

go to long and Mcquade and find an rca switch (or a small mixing board), multiple inputs usually anywhere from 3-6 and a single output with a dial to switch from source inputs. the only thing with that is that you have to manually activate the switch. ie everytime you turn on you're blu ray you'd have to get up and change the input to the correct device. Otherwise as stated above get yourself a nice home theatre amp doesn't have to be expensive just make sure it has enough device inputs for your needs. with the right amplifier you can still use it as a mixing board of sorts just have all the inputs going into it and have the output running into your pc and then use your pc speaker system. Or you can use the speakers running from your amp, or any combination of them both. Where are you located? i could probably look at your setup and get you on the right track.

[JayJay18]

You would want to look around, either Creative or Auzentech.
Problem is i think they only have one input

[JayJay18]

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=40688&vpn=AZT-XFHTHD&manufacture=AuzenTech
This one has an HDMI input, only one though
Hasnt been a while since ive seen video cards.

[taz4432]

go to long and Mcquade and find an rca switch (or a small mixing board), multiple inputs usually anywhere from 3-6 and a single output with a dial to switch from source inputs. the only thing with that is that you have to manually activate the switch. ie everytime you turn on you're blu ray you'd have to get up and change the input to the correct device. Otherwise as stated above get yourself a nice home theatre amp doesn't have to be expensive just make sure it has enough device inputs for your needs. with the right amplifier you can still use it as a mixing board of sorts just have all the inputs going into it and have the output running into your pc and then use your pc speaker system. Or you can use the speakers running from your amp, or any combination of them both. Where are you located? i could probably look at your setup and get you on the right track.

RCA isn't HD audio though and it's definitely not going to provide true surround sound. Optical would be best, Digital Coaxial would be better than RCA but not as good as Optical. A switch is definitely doable, but with an amp you get the switching ability without a separate switch and there's a lot more you can do, as well.

[froggy]

RCA isn't HD audio though and it's definitely not going to provide true surround sound. Optical would be best, Digital Coaxial would be better than RCA but not as good as Optical. A switch is definitely doable, but with an amp you get the switching ability without a separate switch and there's a lot more you can do, as well.

True but realistically you're not going to find a sound card with optical out for each of 5.1 or 7.1 channels. You might find one that will have an optical line out, in that case you'll need to have it hooked up to an amp that will process the combined signal and send it out to the correct speaker. If done that way the OP won't be able to use his computer speakers, He'd have to get component speakers hooked up to the amplifier. As long as you keep the RCA cables short (under 6") the signal loss will be minimal.

The only way I can see that the op can use his computer speakers the way he wants is to go the route I mentioned.

[hastiej]

True but realistically you're not going to find a sound card with optical out for each of 5.1 or 7.1 channels. You might find one that will have an optical line out, in that case you'll need to have it hooked up to an amp that will process the combined signal and send it out to the correct speaker. If done that way the OP won't be able to use his computer speakers, He'd have to get component speakers hooked up to the amplifier. As long as you keep the RCA cables short (under 6") the signal loss will be minimal.

The only way I can see that the op can use his computer speakers the way he wants is to go the route I mentioned.

i agree, getting an AMP won't really help with his computer speakers, he will need to get an audio switcher in order to have that work

[JayJay18]

True but realistically you're not going to find a sound card with optical out for each of 5.1 or 7.1 channels. You might find one that will have an optical line out, in that case you'll need to have it hooked up to an amp that will process the combined signal and send it out to the correct speaker. If done that way the OP won't be able to use his computer speakers, He'd have to get component speakers hooked up to the amplifier. As long as you keep the RCA cables short (under 6") the signal loss will be minimal.

The only way I can see that the op can use his computer speakers the way he wants is to go the route I mentioned.

Of course there is a sound card that has optical to 5.1 and 7.1 after all it doesnt the sound card process like a home theatre amp?.
Right now i have a optical out from my Auzentech to my Z5500 Logitechs

[JayJay18]

first off what sound card and what speakers do you have?

[JayJay18]

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42790
This is a good switch
http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-SWOPT2-Optical-Splitter/dp/B0002MQGR2
or something like this
you just need an optical input in your sound card

[froggy]

Of course there is a sound card that has optical to 5.1 and 7.1 after all it doesnt the sound card process like a home theatre amp?.
Right now i have a optical out from my Auzentech to my Z5500 Logitechs


but does it have an optical out for each channel? that's what I was saying if it only has optical out to one channel then he needs to have a speaker setup that'll process that signal

[mazdilla]

Now that winter in here i have been re-doing my room and will be getting a LCD tv, I want to use my PC as a media center, since iv been doing it on a small scale for now. Now i want to connect it to the TV (possible since i have a dual output video card) but the problem i am facing is getting the audio hook up. I have a good 7.1 sound card and 5.1 speaker set which is what i want to go with, but i do want to hookup an external Blu-ray player and a X360 so i would want to run the audio from them to my pc to the speakers.

IN short i want to turn my PC into an Audio Amp/receiver. the sound cards i can find that have audio input are more for pro use and dont' fit my needs.

Does anyone know of a card that i can use on my PC to turn it into a Full blown audio receiver/amp?

I installed this:

High speed wireless (no choice-rural)
1 TB cloud system
Android phone as part of the control
Toshiba Satellite Laptop
Home PC
Onkyo 7:1 700w sound system
Sharp Aquos 52"

- all interfaced to command feed from the internet to cloud hard-drive/file saved auto/recall/play on command

I remotely command the system to download current movies/the system saves them/ I watch when I arrive at home............... Gah!

__________________________________________________ _______________

One ringy-dingy...
Two ringy dingies....
(Old guys get it.)

[Fobio]

why would you rely on the PC to "drive" your speakers?

get a set of high end PC speakers that comes with its own amp. let's be real...since we're not talking audiophile quality and an engineered room, a set of nice 5.1 PC speakers will be enoguh for smallish size room, with various obstructions....and most of them come with multiples hook-ups and source selection.

[JayJay18]

but does it have an optical out for each channel? that's what I was saying if it only has optical out to one channel then he needs to have a speaker setup that'll process that signal

Yes it all depends if the speakers have a control centre with them

[JayJay18]

why would you rely on the PC to "drive" your speakers?

get a set of high end PC speakers that comes with its own amp. let's be real...since we're not talking audiophile quality and an engineered room, a set of nice 5.1 PC speakers will be enoguh for smallish size room, with various obstructions....and most of them come with multiples hook-ups and source selection.

+1 that would be the cheapest solution i think aswell. You can get the Z5500 5.1
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=12847&vpn=970115-0403&manufacture=Logitech

Excellent for Movies and great for Music

[m_bisson]

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=12847&vpn=970115-0403&manufacture=Logitech

The BEST computer speakers. I've had these for 4 years, and thankfully I got them during a christmas sale and FREE shipping. The box weighs about 55lbs, so paying for shipping is lame. You will not believe how amazing they sound until you hear them for yourself.

[zoso]

+1 that would be the cheapest solution i think aswell. You can get the Z5500 5.1
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=12847&vpn=970115-0403&manufacture=Logitech

Excellent for Movies and great for Music

This plus a X-fi sound card.

The way i look at it, if i get a good amp and set of speakers (no home theater in a box crap) it will cost me much more money then a computer setup.

what makes it complicated is that i want to add a Xbox 360, and my HDD Media player, in case my computer and TV need to be used for different purposes.

[JayJay18]

This plus a X-fi sound card.

The way i look at it, if i get a good amp and set of speakers (no home theater in a box crap) it will cost me much more money then a computer setup.

what makes it complicated is that i want to add a Xbox 360, and my HDD Media player, in case my computer and TV need to be used for different purposes.

Well the Z5500 has both optical, digital and rca connections and with the remote control or via the control module it can be switched over very easily.
What you want to do is either run your hdd media player and xbox into a digital splitter then into your speakers, then your computer via optical and your tv via rca. thats one way of doing it.
Other than that you can run everything into your tv and then run one digital cable to your speakers

[m_bisson]

No... You can access all of your computer's content THROUGH the xbox. So that's one less connection into the speakers. I have my ps3 and 360 hooked up to them right now.

[-cj-]

The easiest, best and cheapest solution will be getting an external amplifier and running everything, including your PC, through that device. (Sell your computer speakers ;).. But if you insist, you need to get an audio card that supports TOSLink Input, AKA Optical In, and run optical cable from your XBox into a switch and run that into your computer. If you are only using an Xbox, you probably don't need a switch. I'd suggest getting a bluray player for your computer and using Bluray software to play your movies within your computer, instead of getting an external player. (Unless that external player is a PS3 which has more uses).

The thing is, when you get hooked on this setup (And you will --- I currently use Windows 7 Media Center and been using it since MCE2005, high girlfriend/wife approval factor), you will find that the audio card is your weakest link. It isn't practical, so when you move this setup outside of your room or try to scale it up, you'll end up replacing the card first. It will also be your limitation when you try to add more and more devices. Especially when you run into devices that only do HDMI without Optical Out.

If you go the external amplifier route, I'd suggest something that supports HDMI switching (or better yet, scaling if it's within your budget) and get an HDMI-capable graphics card (or use a DVI -> HDMI w/ audio adapter)... It isn't a cheap hobby to get into unfortunately. I'm on my 4-5th instance and my current setup streams to 4 rooms :) It's a fun hobby....

[JayJay18]

This plus a X-fi sound card.

The way i look at it, if i get a good amp and set of speakers (no home theater in a box crap) it will cost me much more money then a computer setup.

what makes it complicated is that i want to add a Xbox 360, and my HDD Media player, in case my computer and TV need to be used for different purposes.

Well you arent completely correct seeing as Klipsch has a really good 5.1 setup for same price as the Z5500 and for 100 bucks more you can get a really good amp.

http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/hd-theater-500-overview
This has been on sale for $350 at future shop you might have to wait for it
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/hd-theater-300-overview/
This one is the lowest end that Klipsh has.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/yamaha-yamaha-5-1-channel-digital-home-theater-receiver-htr3063-b-htr3063-b/10142410.aspx?path=22f909d8b11f9821e349fd3cf75611a 2en02
this seems to be a good enough amp.

If you go with this setup im pretty sure you will be more than happy with it.