Using my HTPC as a surround sound amplifier?

[niks1101]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster

I have a quick question somebody might be able to help me with.

I have a HTPC using an ASUS HDMI motherboard connected to my Panasonic Plasma TV, everything works well (in fact it's the best investment I've ever made).

Now I would like to enhance the setup by adding surround sound for both the movies played from the computer and normal TV channels from the Sky+ box.

My question:

Should I spend my money on a standard home cinema DVD setup, or is is possible to somehow channel my TV's sound back through the HTPC and then use either my Bose Companion 5 speakers or go out and by a 5.1/7.1 speaker set.

Visually, it's either

1, Get a proper home cinema setup:

HTPC >HDMI> TV > HT Amp/DVD > 5.1 speakers
or
SKY >SCART> TV > HT Amp/DVD > 5.1 speakers

2, Sounds crazy but just might work option:

HTPC >HDMI> TV >Optical> HTPC > 5.1 speakers
or
SKY >SCART> TV >Optical> HTPC > 5.1 speakers

What are your thoughts ohh learned ones!!

[JoeySchmidt]

I used to use my main PC as the 5.1 receiver in my setup, but I found that the Audigy 2 Platinum had a notable 250ms lag when decoding DD and DTS streams for my other PC and PS3, so I got the Tritton AX360 headset and use the wee box for all my decoding needs for now. I have the Creative Inspire 5.1 receiving from the rear output of the AX360's supplied G9 decoder.

Only other thing is that most new Blu Rays are shipping with DTS Master HD and DD True HD for the Englsh audio and ma wee box can't decode them. But as an interim fix it's ideal, I can still get DVDs and PS3 games in lag free 5.1!

[niks1101]

cool! so you think it should be possible to do a loop like that?

It boggles my mind a bit,

I'd have my HDMI motherboard link as speakers which get blasted through the telly like now..
... then somehow I use a sound card with optical input to consume the telly's output and then blast that out of the 5.1 speakers

I find it confusing because that means the PC has two different speaker outputs

[mossym]

what 5.1 speakers? you can't conect speakers to your HTPc unless they are powered. if you are going to take unpowered speakers you'll have to put an amplifier in between the htpc and the speakers. your htpc is not an amplifier, the outputs from your htpc are line level outputs, not amplified outputs. if the bose speakers you are talking about were used by another amplifier they will NOT work

[niks1101]

OK forget the companion 5 speakers for the minute as they don't work like normal 5.1 speakers. They are USB connected without the need for a sound card.

I mean if I just go and purchase some common 5.1 speaker setup from PC World and a sound card with Optical In, would it be possible to connect my TV to that sound card and get proper surround sound from the HTPC movies (my mkv files for example) and normal TV output.

Perhaps I'm being misleading buy the title of this thread.

Instead of:
Using my HTPC as a surround sound amplifier
I should have said:
Using my HTPC as a surround sound receiver

thanks for helping!

[wavefront]

Your tv has optical out?

[velvitjester]

alot of tv's do.

[iLLNESS]

Originally Posted by velvitjester

alot of tv's do.

just remember though alot of TV's also dont pass dd5.1 or DTS..

say your dvd player is hooked up to your TV via HDMI. the tv gets the HDMI sound fine, it processes it to 2 channel audio, and passes it along to your optical as dolby prologic 2.

theres no real way to use ur pc as an amplifier.. you can use it to switch inputs etc.. but it wont amplify anything

if your trying to save a few bucks, buy a cheap 5.1 setup.. just make sure it has optical in atleast..

[barryrs]

Why not turn you media PC into an amp? Thats what i have done

http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...mendation.html

[Java Jack]

Agreed, that is what I did. Mind blowing, amazing sound from that little MSI board and amp card.

It is one of those things you need to hear to appreciate just how good this thing really is.

Highly recommend it.