Home cinema sound system for PC/DVD/Sky combination?

aidancoughlan

Hi, I've bought a GA-G33-DS2R motherboard for my HTPC setup (yet to be built). Looking at the output, it has "6 audio jacks", configured by default as follows:
1 to Centre+subwoofer
1 to Front speakers
1 to back speakers
1 for linein
1 for line out
1 for mic

It claims to be compatible with 2/4/5.1/ and 7.1 sound
(see manual at http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-g33m-(d)s2(r)_e.pdf).

I have also bought a HD 2600 pro graphics card which has a HDMI output.

I'm currently trying to figure out if/how I can connect the PC to the sound system - and if not what do I need to look out for in a new sound system.....

(Q1) I'm surprised that the Centre+Subwoofer are both output from the motherbaord on the same "Audio jack" - is that normal ?

(Q2): I dont know if HDMI output on the HD2600Pro will somehow automatically output sound as well, or if I will need to connect something from the motherboard to the sound card to make this possible ?

(Q3) There is an (optional) SPDIF IN/OUT accessory for the motherboard, which provides 4 ports - Optical SPDIF in/out, and Coaxial SPDIF in/out.
Will this carry 5.1 audio ? Wikipedia tells me "A common use for the S/PDIF interface is to carry compressed digital audio as defined by the standard IEC 61937. This mode is used to connect the output of a DVD player to a home theater receiver that supports Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound"

(Q4): I've discovered my old Phillips DFS 1600 dvd/suroundsystem only takes two audio inputs, so I presume I wont get 5.1 sound from the PC via the audio jacks from the motherboard? I guess I could configure the motherboard for 2-channel sound and live with stereo?


So, I think I am looking for something that will allow at least 3 sound inputs - PC (5.1), CD player (5.1), SkyBox (2-channell, or eventually optical).
The system needs to :
- Take 5.1 AUDIO input from the HTPC via either:
HDMI (if the HD2600 will output it)
the 6 "Audio jacks" on my motherboard
the optional Coaxial SPDIF or "Optical SPDIF" outputs.
- take 5.1 audio input from Sky+ box (a Sky+ HD box down the road) - current Sky box has 2-channel audio output - but the SkyHD boxes have sound output via OPTICAL afaik
-Take 5.1 audio input from separate CD player (if it doesnt include a CD player) - probably via OPTICAL

I'm not a music buff (bit I like good surround sound on DVDs), so If I could find a decent all-in-one (including DVD/CD player), that will take input from the PC & Sky box that would do.

I have a €400 voucher for Peats, so if anybody knows/can recommend something they stock, that would be a huge bonus, but I would really appreciate any advice at all.

aidancoughlan

I just called Peats, and they suggested this one for €329 (without DVD player).
http://www.sony.ie/view/ShowProduct.action?product=HT-SS1100&site=odw_en_IE&pageType=Overview&imageType=Main&category=HCS+Cinema+Surround+Kit

It has 5 inputs, including 3 digital (2 optical and 1 digital cable input), and can take 5.1 from the three optical inputs. I guess this will mean getting the SPDIF accessory for the motherboard to get digital optical/coaxial output..

Has anybody got any other recommendations ?

IamBeowulf

aidancoughlan wrote: »

Hi, I've bought a GA-G33-DS2R motherboard for my HTPC setup (yet to be built). Looking at the output, it has "6 audio jacks", configured by default as follows:
1 to Centre+subwoofer
1 to Front speakers
1 to back speakers
1 for linein
1 for line out
1 for mic

It claims to be compatible with 2/4/5.1/ and 7.1 sound
(see manual at http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-g33m-(d)s2(r)_e.pdf).

I have also bought a HD 2600 pro graphics card which has a HDMI output.

I'm currently trying to figure out if/how I can connect the PC to the sound system - and if not what do I need to look out for in a new sound system.....

(Q1) I'm surprised that the Centre+Subwoofer are both output from the motherbaord on the same "Audio jack" - is that normal ?

(Q2): I dont know if HDMI output on the HD2600Pro will somehow automatically output sound as well, or if I will need to connect something from the motherboard to the sound card to make this possible ?

(Q3) There is an (optional) SPDIF IN/OUT accessory for the motherboard, which provides 4 ports - Optical SPDIF in/out, and Coaxial SPDIF in/out.
Will this carry 5.1 audio ? Wikipedia tells me "A common use for the S/PDIF interface is to carry compressed digital audio as defined by the standard IEC 61937. This mode is used to connect the output of a DVD player to a home theater receiver that supports Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound"

(Q4): I've discovered my old Phillips DFS 1600 dvd/suroundsystem only takes two audio inputs, so I presume I wont get 5.1 sound from the PC via the audio jacks from the motherboard? I guess I could configure the motherboard for 2-channel sound and live with stereo?


So, I think I am looking for something that will allow at least 3 sound inputs - PC (5.1), CD player (5.1), SkyBox (2-channell, or eventually optical).
The system needs to :
- Take 5.1 AUDIO input from the HTPC via either:
HDMI (if the HD2600 will output it)
the 6 "Audio jacks" on my motherboard
the optional Coaxial SPDIF or "Optical SPDIF" outputs.
- take 5.1 audio input from Sky+ box (a Sky+ HD box down the road) - current Sky box has 2-channel audio output - but the SkyHD boxes have sound output via OPTICAL afaik
-Take 5.1 audio input from separate CD player (if it doesnt include a CD player) - probably via OPTICAL

I'm not a music buff (bit I like good surround sound on DVDs), so If I could find a decent all-in-one (including DVD/CD player), that will take input from the PC & Sky box that would do.

I have a €400 voucher for Peats, so if anybody knows/can recommend something they stock, that would be a huge bonus, but I would really appreciate any advice at all.

Yamaha AV61 Pack: e399
Yamaha AV61 5.1 Channel AV Receiver & Speaker Package
5 channels delivering 5 x 135 watts into 6 ohms
9 selectable subwoofer crossover frequencies
3 HDTV compatible component inputs
Dobly Digital, DTS & Dolby Pro Logic II decoding
Lip Sync adjustment
Magnetically shielded speakers for placement near a TV
6 Speaker package: Front L+R, Rear L+R, Centre & Subwoofer

Philips 5.1 e?
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Philips-HTS3357-DVD-Home-Theatre-System-HDMI-Upscaling_W0QQitemZ130185516297QQihZ003QQcategoryZ72406QQcmdZViewItem

Creative Inspire e41 + delivery e8
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Creative-Inspire-T6100-5-1-Speakers-System-X-Fi-card_W0QQitemZ130181935288QQihZ003QQcategoryZ3702QQcmdZViewItem
...or e79 in Peats...

Logitech THX-Certified (i.e. really good) 5.1...e349 in Peats
The Logitech Z-5500 Digital, a THX-certified, 500-watt 5.1 surround sound speaker system that offers everything you could possibly want… and some things you didn't even know you needed. And once you plug in your PC, DVD or music player, or video game console, you'll never want to listen to anything else.

Features
Powerful, distortion-free bass - 188 Watts
Digital equalization
DTS 96/24 support
Innovative satellite design
Connect to multiple sources


Remember...your PC is a DVD/CD player. Optical out is better than analog out (5 jacks) becuase it's pure and theres no distortion.

Yes its noral for channels to be shared on one audio jack. Just like getting stero from one headphone jack.

Any q's let me know!

(Id go with the Logitech)

aidancoughlan

Hi BeoWolf,
Thanks for the quick reply. I hadnt looked closely at the Yamaha AV61 - it seems to have the input connections needed ok, and will probably be one sale at Peats too. It's also silver, and the sub-woofer will match my Lian-li V1100 PC case.
I'll pop in to Peats and have a look. I've heard good things about the Logitech THX system ok, but unfortunately the design doesnt really fit into my living room.

ps. Does anybody know any good sites for educating yourself on audio connections ? ie. what types there are, what type of sound signals they can carry etc. I thought 5.1 sound could only be input to an AV received via a digital (optical/coaxial) conneciton, but the Peats guy said that analog connections could too (at lower quality) - does this means there would be serveral "analog" input "audio jack?" connections to cover the speakers (presumably three as my motherboard suggests - for Front, Rear and Center+Subwoofer). Do I take it that 1 Analog audio connection on the specifications actually means three input jacks ?

IamBeowulf

If an amplifier has analog 5.1 inputs, then they are phono inputs. They only provide Dolby 5.1, which is not as clear and sharp as the superior dts sound.
Forget the analog jacks on the motherboard. Use the optical.

Wikipedia.org, dolby.com are very useful

aidancoughlan

Thanks again for the info, and links.

I came across this one too, which seems like a good basic overview of the types of connectors available...
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/207261.html

Wolff

Analogue not really better then digital ? - now is it - as the HD sound formats use these outputs and uncompressed as well - - Spdif wont do it at all - optical or coaxial - just something to bear in min if you go blue ray or hd dvd on your pc in the future -DTS is fine when its present on a sound track but not all movies come with a DTS sound track

mathias

For this particular topic , this is one of the only areas left where the analog is actually better than the digital.

There is a lot of truth spoken here , if a DVD player has 5.1 analog outputs and is capable of playing back DVD audio or SACD , then these analog outputs will play back the full uncompressed signal , usually of way better quality than the optical out ,

The output of these analog jacks is usually capable of the full range of content , typically 24bit/96khz as opposed to the 16bit/44/48 khz found as part of the compressed PCM signals on the optical or co axial connection.

So , all in all , with some good RCA cables , and amp with a 5.1 analog input and such a DVD player , using those 5.1 analog outputs is highly recommended.

Its only digital equivalent is just now taking off on the market with HDMI 1.3 enabled devices , such as the Onkyo 605 and the PS3 ( which can play back DVD audio and SACD digitally through a HDMI cable)

Top end Players have had uncompressed digital links for years ( Pioneer ilink....i think ! ) but these were proprietary , they were like a firewire connection but with heavy copy protection.