Ongoing To use A/V receiver or not? (1 Viewer)

[jang]

I plan to use a pc as my htpc. I can easily connect pc to lcdtv using a long hdmi cable. I will also have to use a 5.1 speaker to provide surround sound.

Or I can connect pc using hdmi & coax (digital audio) to an A/V receiver, and connect lcdtv to A/V receiver via hdmi. I will have to buy 5.1 home theater speakers.

Can anyone tell me if my above setups are correct?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an A/V receiver? I'm undecided whether to get it or not.

 

[ThaClown]

Well I have the second option myself.
I don't know what 5.1 speakers you have, but usually sound over an AV receiver with some nice speakers sounds alot better then just a simple 5.1 set...
But it is a investment if you have to buy 5.1 ht speakers.
Maybe post some specs (type of AV receiver and PC specs) so we can make some sugesstions on what to get...

But it seems to me that if you already have a good AV with HDMI then some nice speakers are a very good idea..
I recently bought new speakers (JBL's) to use with my Onkyo receiver and it sounds amazing!

 

[sgtsloth]

Going with the receiver will surely give you better sound quality. But, as ThaClown said, it's an investment. I couldn't afford to go with a nice audio setup yet, so I bought a set of 5.1 computer speakers for $75 to hold me over. It's better than nothing.

 

[jang]

Thanks to ThaClown and sgtsloth's reply. I have asked around, basically everyone else also gave me the same advice of getting a receiver instead. I don't have any receiver yet, and I'll be using my old speakers.

My old speakers came with Sony's DAVS-300, home theater in a box solution. The cubes are more than enough for my small room. The only problem for me right now is to find a receiver with low power, so as not to destroy the speakers.

I have another question to confirm, this sort of came in late. The reason for me to set up an htpc is because all along, I thought (theoretical) that if I download movies (torrents) with AC3 label, or with any 5.1 label on the torrent name, I will be getting surround sound if the htpc plays back the movie using either media portal, or windows media player. And my htpc will output the audio via single coax to a receiver with 5.1 speakers onto it. I just imagined this kind of setup will provide surround sound.

A friend of mine just informed me yesterday that he downloaded those 5.1 avi files, and burned it all onto a dvd disc. His set up includes a dvd divx player (appliance type and not htpc) connected to a receiver. His setup didn't produce the 5.1 sound he was expecting. Instead, all speakers produce sound, but without separation of FL, FR, C, RL, RR.

Am I missing something? Will my setup be the same? Without clear separation of front left, right, center, rear left and right?

 

[ThaClown]

His problem is probably the DivX player (there is a reason why they come so cheap ) it probably does not use a AC3 audio codec (or something that can decode 5.1 audio.

One of the best things about a HTPC is that you can select and tweak yourself the software/codecs/filters to use.
It will take some work, but 5.1 from a PC to a AV receiver will work great!
I use my standard Motherboard Audio out (I am thinking getting a good of a soundcard... work is never done right? ) and get full 5.1 with all my movies and series.

 

[jang]

His problem is probably the DivX player (there is a reason why they come so cheap ) it probably does not use a AC3 audio codec (or something that can decode 5.1 audio.

One of the best things about a HTPC is that you can select and tweak yourself the software/codecs/filters to use.
It will take some work, but 5.1 from a PC to a AV receiver will work great!
I use my standard Motherboard Audio out (I am thinking getting a good of a soundcard... work is never done right? ) and get full 5.1 with all my movies and series.

I take it you're telling me that tv series torrents encoded with AC3 or DD will have surround sound when played back by htpc connected to lcdtv?


I'm looking at some onkyo models (receivers) which are quite cheap. Less than 300, it already comes with hdmi.

What's the main difference between our custom built htpc and intel viiv?

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-11580-Home+Theater+AND+ViiV+Media+Center+by+Onkyo.html


Thanks for confirming my doubts. You've been a great help.

 

[Spragleknas]

I could not afford a good receiver and surroundspeakers myself, so I bought the Z-5500 form Logitech, and I am quite happy...

EDIT: Matches my SFF (AOpen EY855) nicely, don't you think?

 

[ThaClown]

Yes TV series torrents with AC3 and connected to a Onkyo receiver via HTPC will have surround sound (your LCD tv speakers will not, you need some nice 5.1 speakers of course)

Difference HTPC and Intel ViiV: Well as far as I can see, only the latest and best sound support (7x100watt DAMN!), but who really has 7.1 for real? I don't want speakers in the middle of my room)
I'm sure a good audiocard for the pc will be capable of that too. (but that Onkyo is really nice!!)

@ Spragleknas: yes very nice combo and that set is really good, a friend of mine has it too.

 

[jang]

Spragleknas- the Logitech set does look nice, and looks very compatible to the Aopen

ThaClown, are you familiar with the Remote Control that came with Cyberlink products? I got a remote from Sapphiretech's Theatrix 550 Pro. The bundled software is Cyberlink's, hence the remote. I don't know how to configure it so I can operate MP.

Thanks.

 

[ThaClown]

sorry i'm not I use MCE remote.

Did you try to choose the remote in config under remote settings?