Computer Audio to Home Theater Receiver

[Mr Bob]

Can anyone explain how I go about connecting my PC (that has on board audio right now) to my home theater receiver?

Is there a particular card I should get to have this function?

Thanks

 

[AwesomeJay]

i believe that motherboard the P4P800-E has digital audio out? maybe also coax out? if your receiver accepts digital audio connections all you need is a digital optical cable

http://www.radioshack.com/prod...p;product%5Fid=15-1750

 

[MichaelD]

Does your motherboard have a SPIDF-out? Either optical or coaxial...either way would be the way to go for connecting it to your HT receiver.

I use the coaxial digital out from my HTPC (Epox 8R3DAI motherboard) to the receiver and it is awesome.

 

[Alkali]

Yeah, you need a coaxial socket - then you are sorted...

 

[Mr Bob]

The onboard sound has only 3 colored jacks, http://www.asus.com/products/m...78/p4p800/overview.htm

Looks like I just need a sound card that has this option then?

 

[AwesomeJay]

k which motherboard do you have? your sig says p4p800-e dlx.. the link you sent is only the p4p800 base model..

which still has 1 s/pdif output
Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x Parallel
1 x Serial
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x Audio I/O
1 x RJ45
1 x S/PDIF Output
4 x USB 2.0/1.1

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you want surround sound for games, you need to use analog out (with multiple stereo miniplug to 2xRCA adapters from someone like Radio Shack) into the 5.1 analog input for your receiver (used for DVD-Audio).

If you just want stereo music and games, with surround sound for DVDs only, then the optical or coax digital out will work great.

 

[Mr Bob]

Sorry about the confusion, here is the correct link: http://www.asus.com/products/m...4p800-e_d/overview.htm

I don't really need the surround sound for games, but it would be nice. I have never set this up before, and assume trying to get surround sound out of my computer might be a bit tricky.

 

[Mr Bob]

Btw, the system I plan to get is $600, more info about it is here: http://gottadeal.pricegrabber....id=3018320#description

 

[imverygifted]

just go from your 1/8" out, you'll need to get a connector that goes from 1/8" to left and right component (red and white). the best one i found is made by monster cables for the ipod
http://www.monstercable.com/co...eComputer.asp?pin=1731

 

[AwesomeJay]

ok according to the link you posted it says

Input: A/V (Composite), Audio - Digital Coaxial, Audio - Digital Optical, Audio - Line In (RCA), Component Video

meaning you can use the digital optical out on your motherboard with the cable i posted above. i dont see why it would be hard to get surround sound working since the digital optical cable is designed to carry digital (dolby 5.1) signals. might be a setting in the audio driver to turn on digital output. something like that..

 

[AwesomeJay]

Originally posted by: imverygifted
just go from your 1/8" out, you'll need to get a connector that goes from 1/8" to left and right component (red and white). the best one i found is made by monster cables for the ipod
http://www.monstercable.com/co...eComputer.asp?pin=1731

why would he do this when he has digital optical out?

 

[Mr Bob]

$30 for that cable, I don't think so!!

My budget was $500. So now I am paying another $99 + however much the regular cables cost.

 

[imverygifted]

i see how going w/ the digital optical would be better, however not all receivers have a digital optical input its the option i went. also 30 dollars for a cable is really not too bad, high quality cables cost money i spent 70 dollars on some plain stereo cables for my guitar what good is a good quality system if you don't have a good connection between the source and the receiver

 

[Mr Bob]

This has the inputs for the digital optical - http://gottadeal.pricegrabber....id=3018320#description

 

[spec74]

Here's check this out. http://www.xitel.com/

You just hook it up to your usb port and they give you all the cables needed for whatever needs

 

[Mr Bob]

Looks pretty tempting :0

Great find.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: AwesomeJay
i dont see why it would be hard to get surround sound working since the digital optical cable is designed to carry digital (dolby 5.1) signals. might be a setting in the audio driver to turn on digital output. something like that..

Yes, for DVDs because they have pre-encoded Dolby Digital data that the sound chip/card passes through as-is. Right now, no sound card / chip except nf2 SoundStorm can do real-time Dolby Digital encoding, so only stereo is sent through the digital cable for games.

 

[beatle]

If you're getting an optical cable, get one of these. They're a steal @ $3.25. They also sell 3 and 12 foot cables for $2.80 and $4.50, respectively.

If you need analog output, get one of these for $2.77. If you need more length, get a coupler and a set of patch cables. These are all inexpensive and will serve you well. I've used all of these and they all work great.

Dollars to donuts, you won't be able to tell the difference in audio quality between a $6 cable and a $60 cable.

 

[addragyn]

"
S/PDIF-out on Back I/O Port
ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via an optical or coaxial S/PDIF-out (SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface) jack. It allows to transfer digital audio without converting to analog format and keeps the best signal quality. "

Use that.

 

[tiap]

You have chosen the best way to go for computer sound. Both your choices are good. Do it and never look back. You will be able to do almost anything with this setup. Use the toslink or coax from the mb to receiver with a spdif signal and use the receiver to juggle your preferrences from there.
Yours is a much better choice than going with dedicated computer powered speakers etc.
You will love it.

 

[Mr Bob]

Thanks everyone. I will feel confident spending all the money i have left in my bank account on these speakers

I am thinking that I do not have the E version of the mobo. I thought I did, but I only see the three colored jacks on the back.

DaveSimmons seems to know a lot of about computer audio. I am still wondering (since I don't have the digital jack) should I just use this: http://www.xitel.com/product_hfl.htm with my setup?

Also, what type of other cables will I need? I will be connecting my Cox Digital Cable Box to this system, and my computer. I alslo have an old VCR somewhere, someone mentioned it isn't too hard to hook that up as well.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[DaveSimmons]

beatle's post listed the right parts to use for the onboard sound (analog outs), which should work as well or better than that USB soundcard.

If you get 1 set of cables, it will be stereo and you can plug them in to any analog input on the receiver (tape deck, VCR, etc.)

If your home theater receiver has a 5.1 analog in (most do now, often marked "DVD") the motherboard link says it has 6-channel analog sound so you would get 3 sets of the cables to go from the 3 miniplugs on the motherboard to the 6 RCA connectors on the receiver analog 5.1 input

Your VCR and cable box should both have 2 RCA connectors for stereo sound, you would use the patch cables in beatle's post to connect those to inputs on the receiver. Your VCR probably came with one patch cable, the cable box probably did not.

 

[Mr Bob]

So I can plug http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...amp;Partnumber=249-084 directly to my mobo and to the receiver?

It is a 6.1 system, here is a link to some specs on it: http://gottadeal.pricegrabber....id=3018320#description

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes just the miniplug-to-2RCA if they are less than 3 feet apart, if farther away you need the adapter and longer RCA/RCA patch cale too (all 3 parts). For a VCR or cable both you just need the RCA/RCA patch cable.

From the description of the Kenwood at buy.com it does not have a 5.1 analog input, just stereo analog inputs, so you only need one set of cables from the PC to the receiver.

If you want surround sound for games, you would need to pick a different home theater package that includes a receiver with analog 5.1 input. The Onkyo ones mighr (I haven't checked) or you could buy separate speakers, receiver, and DVD player.

(Remember, even if you buy a soundcard for the PC, a digital connection will only give you 5.1 for DVDs not games)