Hi All!
I have been a HTPC user since 2004, I started with Windows XP MCE edition and an Hauppauge Analog card. I was a student back and needed a fast computer (University of Automotive Development -> Solidworks). Since I didn't want to by a TV which would clutter my Dormroom I decided to go for the HTPC solution instead.
After MCE I tested MythTV (don't like it cause I can't be bothered understanding Linux), XBMC and Mediaportal. End up back with MCE due to lack of time and other interests.
After a fews years I moved for work and got myself a nice telly and left the computer upstairs.
Till a while ago:
My dad and his wife decided to redo the house, in fact, the first floor. What did they do:
- Double the floor size
- New kitchen
- New furniture
- Everything new
My dad is a big music fanatic (check out the right side of some pictures, that isn't even all). He has a big music collection (CD, DVD, bluray, video, LP and casette). As you can imagine he also loves youtube.
And he is a fanatic movie watcher and recorder (DVB-C HD material).
To play all material specified above you need a lot of gear or you can cut that in halve by getting yourself a HTPC. So that's what happened!
HTPC specs:
- Case: Antec Veris Fusion Remote with the standard iMon Pad
- MB: MSI 880GMA-E55 (USB 3.0)
- CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840 / 3.2 GHz
- Scythe BIG Shuriken SCBSK-1000
- MM: 8GB Corsair XMS3
- GC: Club 3D Radeon HD 6870 1GB DDR5
- SSD: OCZ Agility 3 120GB
- HDD: 1TB
- PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W
- DVR: Terratec Cinergy C PCI HD (with USB smartcard reader)
- LG Bluray burner
My dad uses this gear to play cd's:
Marantz KI series amp
Marantz KI series CD deck
Dynaudio Contour 3.3
(as I said before he really likes music)
and he also has 2 STAX electrostatic headphones
For movies he has this:
Denon 5.1 Receiver (toslink in)
Denon VM1 center speaker
Dynaudio Contour fronts
Technics SB-F2 (studio speakers) rears
Dynaudio active sub
Panasonic Plasma TX-P50GT30
The HTPC is hooked up via HDMI to the Plasma. I use toslink for audio out, so my dad can choose if he wants to listen 2.0 or 5.1.
The toslink is splitted, one end goes straight into the Denon 5.1. The other one goes to an Creative Emu external soundcard. This one is hooked up (analog signal) to the Marantz.
My dads wife didn't wanted to look at all the electronics so a need piece of furniture had to be sourced and purchased.
That's were I came in view again , since I'm an engineer by trade I decided to design the TV Unit/Sideboard!
So please check out the images shown below, hope you like em!
Lets see if you can spot all the gimmics (I know the pictures don't show the endresult, still have to mount the center speaker on the wall, right next to the TV).
Regards, Ruben
I do now however still have to overcome several stability issues and not being able to keep the TV server going steady.
Combine that with an impatience dad who knows how to email and copy DVD's and you are in a load of trouble
I have been a HTPC user since 2004, I started with Windows XP MCE edition and an Hauppauge Analog card. I was a student back and needed a fast computer (University of Automotive Development -> Solidworks). Since I didn't want to by a TV which would clutter my Dormroom I decided to go for the HTPC solution instead.
After MCE I tested MythTV (don't like it cause I can't be bothered understanding Linux), XBMC and Mediaportal. End up back with MCE due to lack of time and other interests.
After a fews years I moved for work and got myself a nice telly and left the computer upstairs.
Till a while ago:
My dad and his wife decided to redo the house, in fact, the first floor. What did they do:
- Double the floor size
- New kitchen
- New furniture
- Everything new
My dad is a big music fanatic (check out the right side of some pictures, that isn't even all). He has a big music collection (CD, DVD, bluray, video, LP and casette). As you can imagine he also loves youtube.
And he is a fanatic movie watcher and recorder (DVB-C HD material).
To play all material specified above you need a lot of gear or you can cut that in halve by getting yourself a HTPC. So that's what happened!
HTPC specs:
- Case: Antec Veris Fusion Remote with the standard iMon Pad
- MB: MSI 880GMA-E55 (USB 3.0)
- CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840 / 3.2 GHz
- Scythe BIG Shuriken SCBSK-1000
- MM: 8GB Corsair XMS3
- GC: Club 3D Radeon HD 6870 1GB DDR5
- SSD: OCZ Agility 3 120GB
- HDD: 1TB
- PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W
- DVR: Terratec Cinergy C PCI HD (with USB smartcard reader)
- LG Bluray burner
My dad uses this gear to play cd's:
Marantz KI series amp
Marantz KI series CD deck
Dynaudio Contour 3.3
(as I said before he really likes music)
and he also has 2 STAX electrostatic headphones
For movies he has this:
Denon 5.1 Receiver (toslink in)
Denon VM1 center speaker
Dynaudio Contour fronts
Technics SB-F2 (studio speakers) rears
Dynaudio active sub
Panasonic Plasma TX-P50GT30
The HTPC is hooked up via HDMI to the Plasma. I use toslink for audio out, so my dad can choose if he wants to listen 2.0 or 5.1.
The toslink is splitted, one end goes straight into the Denon 5.1. The other one goes to an Creative Emu external soundcard. This one is hooked up (analog signal) to the Marantz.
My dads wife didn't wanted to look at all the electronics so a need piece of furniture had to be sourced and purchased.
That's were I came in view again , since I'm an engineer by trade I decided to design the TV Unit/Sideboard!
So please check out the images shown below, hope you like em!
Lets see if you can spot all the gimmics (I know the pictures don't show the endresult, still have to mount the center speaker on the wall, right next to the TV).
Regards, Ruben
I do now however still have to overcome several stability issues and not being able to keep the TV server going steady.
Combine that with an impatience dad who knows how to email and copy DVD's and you are in a load of trouble