I am having some problems with my setup; it is overcomplicated (for me!) and requires a peculiar setup to work.
If I can explain what it is like now, and then explain what I would like; if some-one could suggest a solution I would be very grateful.
PC connected to -> Amp (Yamaha RX-v2600) via spdif (optical) only
and connected to TV (Samsung LE32R73BD) via VGA and 3.5mm phone connector
TV -> Amp via spdif
DVD (Panasonic DMR-EZ25) -> Amp via HDMI
Amp -> TV via HDMI
CD (Cambridge Audio 640C) -> Amp via SPDIF
To get my PC to output to TV I need to set the sound to analog in the control panel (Win XP), it then sends it back to the amp - the benefit of this is the sound of the TV is improved by the addition of my stereo speakers.
If I want to listen to music from my PC, I change winXP settings to Digital out and enjoy the improvement (the DAC in the amp is lovely). Digital out on the PC stops sound to the TV (much googling has not allowed me to discover a way of doing this via xp)
If I just want to listen to a CD without TV on I bung in a CD.
If I want to watch a DVD, I bung in a DVD
What I want
To get rid of my CD player -> the transformer hums and it's getting louder.
To get rid of my DVD recorder -> I cannot skip the anti-piracy nonsense on all my legally purchased disks - and I have never made use of the recording functionality.
To keep my Amplifier (I like the sound it makes, and cannot afford another one!)
To use my PC as a media centre playing DVD's(/rips), CD's(/rips), iPlayer, webBrowsing.
To be able to turn the TV off while playing audio content (I can control the PC via my phone anyway)
Now this would all be very simple if it wasn't for my amp being a bit old (though I'm not sure how effective newer ones would be)
I thought a HDMI splitter may have been the solution (PC to TV + Amp)-> but I have a horrible feeling that turning off the TV may kill the audio altogether, OR the limitations of the amp (720p or 1080i only) will not allow me to get a pixelixel match on the TV like I can currently with analog (1366*768).
If I haven't bored you by now -> what I think I need is a splitter that will clone the digital out to go to the amp, and not alert the PC to the T.V. being off; or... ?
PS. The PC is a SD11G5 shuttle (pretty much silent) with a 7600GS card so no HDMI... however I also have an unused Radeon with HDMI out...
If I can explain what it is like now, and then explain what I would like; if some-one could suggest a solution I would be very grateful.
PC connected to -> Amp (Yamaha RX-v2600) via spdif (optical) only
and connected to TV (Samsung LE32R73BD) via VGA and 3.5mm phone connector
TV -> Amp via spdif
DVD (Panasonic DMR-EZ25) -> Amp via HDMI
Amp -> TV via HDMI
CD (Cambridge Audio 640C) -> Amp via SPDIF
To get my PC to output to TV I need to set the sound to analog in the control panel (Win XP), it then sends it back to the amp - the benefit of this is the sound of the TV is improved by the addition of my stereo speakers.
If I want to listen to music from my PC, I change winXP settings to Digital out and enjoy the improvement (the DAC in the amp is lovely). Digital out on the PC stops sound to the TV (much googling has not allowed me to discover a way of doing this via xp)
If I just want to listen to a CD without TV on I bung in a CD.
If I want to watch a DVD, I bung in a DVD
What I want
To get rid of my CD player -> the transformer hums and it's getting louder.
To get rid of my DVD recorder -> I cannot skip the anti-piracy nonsense on all my legally purchased disks - and I have never made use of the recording functionality.
To keep my Amplifier (I like the sound it makes, and cannot afford another one!)
To use my PC as a media centre playing DVD's(/rips), CD's(/rips), iPlayer, webBrowsing.
To be able to turn the TV off while playing audio content (I can control the PC via my phone anyway)
Now this would all be very simple if it wasn't for my amp being a bit old (though I'm not sure how effective newer ones would be)
I thought a HDMI splitter may have been the solution (PC to TV + Amp)-> but I have a horrible feeling that turning off the TV may kill the audio altogether, OR the limitations of the amp (720p or 1080i only) will not allow me to get a pixelixel match on the TV like I can currently with analog (1366*768).
If I haven't bored you by now -> what I think I need is a splitter that will clone the digital out to go to the amp, and not alert the PC to the T.V. being off; or... ?
PS. The PC is a SD11G5 shuttle (pretty much silent) with a 7600GS card so no HDMI... however I also have an unused Radeon with HDMI out...