Sorry I wasn't too sure whether to use this forum section or one of the more AV related sections.
I have a number of improvements that I would like to make to my networking/AV setup and would appreciate advice on the best way to achieve it. My IT/networking knowledge is reasonably OK, but suggestions always welcome, and I'm very much a novice on the AV side.
I have the following equipment:
TV - Samsung Ue40D6530
5.1 Sound surround - Panasonic SA-BTT270
PVR - Humax HDR-Fox-T2
Storage - Synology NAS
Cordless speakers - The transmitter uses a 3.5mm audio connection. I use the term cordless rather than wireless as they don't use my wifi network.
Current Setup:
The Humax is connected to the TV using HDMI. The Panasonic is connected to the TV using HDMI ARC. The Panasonic only has one HDMI connection so I can't connect the Humax and TV to the Panasonic.
Everything, except the Panasonic, is on the same network. The Storage is wired, everything else is wifi. The Panasonic does have a wired network connection but due to it's location it would be difficult, but not impossible, to get a cable to it. I've avoided power line networking due to lack of sockets and because I'm wary of the network being available in other flats.
The transmitter for the cordless speakers is usually connected to my laptop or desktop PC and I play MP3's from them. The MP3's are on the Synology Storage so the desktop/laptop is just used as a player and the 3.5mm connection.
Issues:
1) The TV only passes two channel sound between the Humax and the Panasonic. One possible solution I thought of was to connect a digital audio lead from the Humax to the Panasonic. However I think that might cause picture/audio sync issues?
2a) I'd like to be able to use DLNA, from the Synology, to play music to the cordless speakers and/or Panasonic. I am thinking of something like the Digifunk CobbleStone or Hauppauge MyMusic Wifi? The TV and Panasonic both have DNLA clients but the Panasonic has no shuffle play and it seems a bit of waste to have the TV on just to play music.
2b) I currently have CD's converted to MP3. I tried converting some CD's to flac . I only had 2 channel sound with the FLAC files. I think that means the original CD's are only 2 channel? The MP3 format only supports two channel sound anyway?
3) I want to be able to transmit from my laptop screen to the TV. Perhaps a HDMI sender is the best option? Ideally I'd like something which connects to the existing wifi rather than creates it's own hotspot so I only have one network to secure and manage.
Other thoughts:
In general I'm trying, where practical, to keep my options open for the future. I don't, for example, currently play movies from the storage to the TV but may do in the future.
I think that part of my long term plan should be to replace the Panasonic with a unit that has more than one HDMI input and use that as the centre point of all the AV equipment?
Sorry for the long post. If I need to provide further information or answer any questions I'm happy to, I didn't want to make the post longer by including, possibly, irrelevant detail. If my possible solutions are completely wrong or if misunderstood something then I'm happy to be corrected.
Thanks
I have a number of improvements that I would like to make to my networking/AV setup and would appreciate advice on the best way to achieve it. My IT/networking knowledge is reasonably OK, but suggestions always welcome, and I'm very much a novice on the AV side.
I have the following equipment:
TV - Samsung Ue40D6530
5.1 Sound surround - Panasonic SA-BTT270
PVR - Humax HDR-Fox-T2
Storage - Synology NAS
Cordless speakers - The transmitter uses a 3.5mm audio connection. I use the term cordless rather than wireless as they don't use my wifi network.
Current Setup:
The Humax is connected to the TV using HDMI. The Panasonic is connected to the TV using HDMI ARC. The Panasonic only has one HDMI connection so I can't connect the Humax and TV to the Panasonic.
Everything, except the Panasonic, is on the same network. The Storage is wired, everything else is wifi. The Panasonic does have a wired network connection but due to it's location it would be difficult, but not impossible, to get a cable to it. I've avoided power line networking due to lack of sockets and because I'm wary of the network being available in other flats.
The transmitter for the cordless speakers is usually connected to my laptop or desktop PC and I play MP3's from them. The MP3's are on the Synology Storage so the desktop/laptop is just used as a player and the 3.5mm connection.
Issues:
1) The TV only passes two channel sound between the Humax and the Panasonic. One possible solution I thought of was to connect a digital audio lead from the Humax to the Panasonic. However I think that might cause picture/audio sync issues?
2a) I'd like to be able to use DLNA, from the Synology, to play music to the cordless speakers and/or Panasonic. I am thinking of something like the Digifunk CobbleStone or Hauppauge MyMusic Wifi? The TV and Panasonic both have DNLA clients but the Panasonic has no shuffle play and it seems a bit of waste to have the TV on just to play music.
2b) I currently have CD's converted to MP3. I tried converting some CD's to flac . I only had 2 channel sound with the FLAC files. I think that means the original CD's are only 2 channel? The MP3 format only supports two channel sound anyway?
3) I want to be able to transmit from my laptop screen to the TV. Perhaps a HDMI sender is the best option? Ideally I'd like something which connects to the existing wifi rather than creates it's own hotspot so I only have one network to secure and manage.
Other thoughts:
In general I'm trying, where practical, to keep my options open for the future. I don't, for example, currently play movies from the storage to the TV but may do in the future.
I think that part of my long term plan should be to replace the Panasonic with a unit that has more than one HDMI input and use that as the centre point of all the AV equipment?
Sorry for the long post. If I need to provide further information or answer any questions I'm happy to, I didn't want to make the post longer by including, possibly, irrelevant detail. If my possible solutions are completely wrong or if misunderstood something then I'm happy to be corrected.
Thanks