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<blockquote data-quote="Lotsofjazz" data-source="post: 225026" data-attributes="member: 64243"><p>Whooo.. I would defenitely keep the Marantz receiver/amplifier (I suppose you have a SR7002), if you try to lift it, you know why!!.. Sound from High End receiver is ALLWAYS better then from a flimsy sound card in a PC.. I would make sure your HTPC has SPDIF Out, and via fddshow or AC3 codec on the HTPC send all digital audio signals directly to the Marantz.. The D/A converters (DTS, Dolby Digital, PCM decoders) in the Marantz are superior to those on a sound card. I have my HTPC connected to my Marantz SR7000 (older brother of yours!) via Optical SPDIF out.. and it is AWSOME! Since I have also a Magnat subwoofer added to it.. sound is way better then in a movietheatre.. I never listen to the TV speakers ever since, I have allways sound via the Marantz.. My JVC TV is also known for its good speakers, but compared to the marantz sound system its just crap.. A good sound system and well placed speakers are so much of an enhancement , you will defenitely enjoy movies much more.</p><p></p><p>So, important is to look for a soundcard with Optical SPDIF Out, some motherboards have it on board.. and that is really enough because you will never use the Soundcard D/A converters anyway, so spend money on an expensive soundcard is not necessay.. you have a Marantz and that is all you need.</p><p></p><p>I allso would keep the stand alone DVD player, because a stand alone DVD player is the only device that can send the DVD video signal directly to the TV (with component cable, 576P signal is possible, which is the best DVD quality possible). When playing DVD format via HTPC using PowerDVD or something allways results is a little fuzzier image, because the software converts it to the resolotion you use at that moment.. I have tried to configure my video card to send out 576P when playing a DVD image from Harddisk, but till now I have not been successful with that. Image quality via the DVD is better because the source format fits the resolution of the DVD SIgnal exactly (576P) and is therefore sharper then playing via HTPC on a higher resolotion. Of course the electronic cirquits in a DVD player are all taylored to decode DVD movies the best way possible, so no surprize DVD looks better when played in a stand alone DVD player.</p><p></p><p>If you have a HDMI Video output on your HTPC and HDMI input on your TV, I would use that, for HD video it is perfect! (720P HD movies can be played in the correct resolution, 720P so that looks awsome!) Sometimes a digital DVI is present in stead of HDMI, most of the time the videocard supports HDMI format output via DVI, or vise versa, so eather way you can connect your TV via digital Video.</p><p></p><p>In the future a DVB TV tuner will be included in my HTPC, and watch digital TV from then on.. This tuner allso will function as a radio tuner (comes via the same cable)</p><p></p><p>So in short:</p><p></p><p>Keep the Marantz and surround speaker system </p><p>Keep the DVD player for DVD movies</p><p>Make sure HTPC has Optical SPDIF audio out to the Marantz, go for on board audio, no need for expensive soundcard</p><p>Make sure the HTPC has HD digital Video out, eather via DVI or HDMI</p><p></p><p>If your TV is a full HD 40"or bigger, make sure you have Full HD capability on the HTPC video out,</p><p></p><p>I am quite happy with my configuration:</p><p>Abit Micro ATX motherboard: fatal1ty i90HD, Has the following features:</p><p>ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 On Board video card with VGA output and HDMI video output (dual display config possible!, do computer stuff on a normal monitor and play a HD movie on the HDMI at the same time!)</p><p>On Board realtec HD audio soundcard with SPDIF optical audio out, (or 7.1 analogue out, which I never used)</p><p>4 SATA2 connectors</p><p>1 IDE connector (for that old HDD or DVD burner)</p><p>1 3.5"Floppy drive connector</p><p>total of 10 USB busses (4 on the back panel)</p><p>2 PCI-E X1 slot </p><p>1 PCI-E X16 (for additional seperate video card</p><p>1 PCI slot </p><p>4x DDR2 SDRAM slots, capable for 16Gb DDR2 (max 800Mhz clockspeed)</p><p>On Board NIC 100/1000 Mb/sec with stndard RJ45 network connector in the backpanel</p><p></p><p>CPU: Intel Core Duo E6600, 2.4 Ghz</p><p></p><p>4x 1Gb Transcend DDR2 SDRAM memory, 800Mhz clockspeed, of which 256Mb allocated to the on board videocard (can be set in the BIOS)</p><p></p><p>Samsung Spinpoint 500Gb hard disk</p><p></p><p>Samsung DVD player/burner</p><p></p><p>Case: Antec Fusion V2 (nowadays known as Fusion 430) Silver with build in IR receiver for the Microsoft MCE remote.</p><p></p><p>Stand alone Pioneer DV575A DVD player, which I also can use as CD player and super audio player</p><p></p><p>Marantz SR7000 High end Surround receiver with Mission front center and rear speakers and active magnat 30 Litre downfiring Subwoofer with 15 inch magnat driver and reflex port (goes lower then 20Hz), DVD and HTPC connected via optical SPDIF, TV via normal stereo red and white CINCH (JVC TV has no digital audio out) Speakers connected via red copper speaker wire, Subwoofer pre amp signal goes to the Magnat via coaxial shielded CINCH cable</p><p></p><p>JVC LD32S60 32 Inch HD ready LCD TV (upto 1080i resolution) with HDMI and VGA input, Both connected to my HTPC. DVD player connected via Component cable (3x ccoaxial shielded CINCH, red blue and green) For the small livingroom I have this is Big enough I have it allready 3 years now, but when I would know what is available today i would have waited for a 42 Inch Full HD Plasma for the same price (3 years ago Plasma TV's were still way more expensive then LCD's.. but today above 40" comparable LCD's are more expensive then a Plasma)</p><p></p><p>I enjoy my set everyday! The HTPC is the best investment in years (I have it now about 6 months)</p><p></p><p>Oh yeah, I have still windows XP Professional, which runs fine, but this set would also be perfect for Windows Vista.</p><p></p><p>Ok this eather has helped you, or has bring more dilemma's! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>BTW, the ATI x1250 has an issue with some skins of mediaportal that use reflections in the graphics, could be easily overcome by using another skin. it is expected this issue will be solved with a new ATI driver release in the near future or maybe solved with the release of MPII. Watching HD content with this setups runs smooth.</p><p></p><p>Take care,</p><p></p><p>Lots</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lotsofjazz, post: 225026, member: 64243"] Whooo.. I would defenitely keep the Marantz receiver/amplifier (I suppose you have a SR7002), if you try to lift it, you know why!!.. Sound from High End receiver is ALLWAYS better then from a flimsy sound card in a PC.. I would make sure your HTPC has SPDIF Out, and via fddshow or AC3 codec on the HTPC send all digital audio signals directly to the Marantz.. The D/A converters (DTS, Dolby Digital, PCM decoders) in the Marantz are superior to those on a sound card. I have my HTPC connected to my Marantz SR7000 (older brother of yours!) via Optical SPDIF out.. and it is AWSOME! Since I have also a Magnat subwoofer added to it.. sound is way better then in a movietheatre.. I never listen to the TV speakers ever since, I have allways sound via the Marantz.. My JVC TV is also known for its good speakers, but compared to the marantz sound system its just crap.. A good sound system and well placed speakers are so much of an enhancement , you will defenitely enjoy movies much more. So, important is to look for a soundcard with Optical SPDIF Out, some motherboards have it on board.. and that is really enough because you will never use the Soundcard D/A converters anyway, so spend money on an expensive soundcard is not necessay.. you have a Marantz and that is all you need. I allso would keep the stand alone DVD player, because a stand alone DVD player is the only device that can send the DVD video signal directly to the TV (with component cable, 576P signal is possible, which is the best DVD quality possible). When playing DVD format via HTPC using PowerDVD or something allways results is a little fuzzier image, because the software converts it to the resolotion you use at that moment.. I have tried to configure my video card to send out 576P when playing a DVD image from Harddisk, but till now I have not been successful with that. Image quality via the DVD is better because the source format fits the resolution of the DVD SIgnal exactly (576P) and is therefore sharper then playing via HTPC on a higher resolotion. Of course the electronic cirquits in a DVD player are all taylored to decode DVD movies the best way possible, so no surprize DVD looks better when played in a stand alone DVD player. If you have a HDMI Video output on your HTPC and HDMI input on your TV, I would use that, for HD video it is perfect! (720P HD movies can be played in the correct resolution, 720P so that looks awsome!) Sometimes a digital DVI is present in stead of HDMI, most of the time the videocard supports HDMI format output via DVI, or vise versa, so eather way you can connect your TV via digital Video. In the future a DVB TV tuner will be included in my HTPC, and watch digital TV from then on.. This tuner allso will function as a radio tuner (comes via the same cable) So in short: Keep the Marantz and surround speaker system Keep the DVD player for DVD movies Make sure HTPC has Optical SPDIF audio out to the Marantz, go for on board audio, no need for expensive soundcard Make sure the HTPC has HD digital Video out, eather via DVI or HDMI If your TV is a full HD 40"or bigger, make sure you have Full HD capability on the HTPC video out, I am quite happy with my configuration: Abit Micro ATX motherboard: fatal1ty i90HD, Has the following features: ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 On Board video card with VGA output and HDMI video output (dual display config possible!, do computer stuff on a normal monitor and play a HD movie on the HDMI at the same time!) On Board realtec HD audio soundcard with SPDIF optical audio out, (or 7.1 analogue out, which I never used) 4 SATA2 connectors 1 IDE connector (for that old HDD or DVD burner) 1 3.5"Floppy drive connector total of 10 USB busses (4 on the back panel) 2 PCI-E X1 slot 1 PCI-E X16 (for additional seperate video card 1 PCI slot 4x DDR2 SDRAM slots, capable for 16Gb DDR2 (max 800Mhz clockspeed) On Board NIC 100/1000 Mb/sec with stndard RJ45 network connector in the backpanel CPU: Intel Core Duo E6600, 2.4 Ghz 4x 1Gb Transcend DDR2 SDRAM memory, 800Mhz clockspeed, of which 256Mb allocated to the on board videocard (can be set in the BIOS) Samsung Spinpoint 500Gb hard disk Samsung DVD player/burner Case: Antec Fusion V2 (nowadays known as Fusion 430) Silver with build in IR receiver for the Microsoft MCE remote. Stand alone Pioneer DV575A DVD player, which I also can use as CD player and super audio player Marantz SR7000 High end Surround receiver with Mission front center and rear speakers and active magnat 30 Litre downfiring Subwoofer with 15 inch magnat driver and reflex port (goes lower then 20Hz), DVD and HTPC connected via optical SPDIF, TV via normal stereo red and white CINCH (JVC TV has no digital audio out) Speakers connected via red copper speaker wire, Subwoofer pre amp signal goes to the Magnat via coaxial shielded CINCH cable JVC LD32S60 32 Inch HD ready LCD TV (upto 1080i resolution) with HDMI and VGA input, Both connected to my HTPC. DVD player connected via Component cable (3x ccoaxial shielded CINCH, red blue and green) For the small livingroom I have this is Big enough I have it allready 3 years now, but when I would know what is available today i would have waited for a 42 Inch Full HD Plasma for the same price (3 years ago Plasma TV's were still way more expensive then LCD's.. but today above 40" comparable LCD's are more expensive then a Plasma) I enjoy my set everyday! The HTPC is the best investment in years (I have it now about 6 months) Oh yeah, I have still windows XP Professional, which runs fine, but this set would also be perfect for Windows Vista. Ok this eather has helped you, or has bring more dilemma's! :-) BTW, the ATI x1250 has an issue with some skins of mediaportal that use reflections in the graphics, could be easily overcome by using another skin. it is expected this issue will be solved with a new ATI driver release in the near future or maybe solved with the release of MPII. Watching HD content with this setups runs smooth. Take care, Lots [/QUOTE]
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