HTPC components

[TURIN]

Thanks for the replies.

I should have said, the pc is already configured and alegedly 7:1 capable. I just never bothered to buy the external amp and speakers.


I'm in two minds, one to go with something off the shelf such as this or do a bit of research and get the best amp/speaker combination.

[Parapunter]

I agree. This is what is wired up in my front room:



Luckily for me I have picture rails & so can hide the wiring very effectively. These Cambridge soundworks DT2250 5.1 speakers are from the first pc I bought in 1993 I think & coupled with the bass bin which hides behind the LCD tv, are far more powerful than anything I could ever need for a domestic set up. Must be worth all of forty wing wangs by now

There's no doubt you could spend thousands on really pure, high quality audio set ups, but sometimes it's a matter of asking yourself what you need rather than what you want.

[TURIN]

That is precisely the kind of info I need.

Thankyou again.

Off to brows the shops and have a listen.

[TURIN]

Back to this old chestnut again, sorry.

I've been trying to source a Yamaha RXV667 but they are like hens teeth now!
Richer Sounds has a few dotted around the country for about £300 but (insert long south american river here) is asking over £600!!!!

Trouble with the Richer Sounds stock is that they are all ex display or repaired ex-service with no remote or manuals etc.

Now, if it saves me 300 quid I could do without the remote as long as it's not an essential item. IE Initial setup and programming. The manual I can download.

Any help appreciated.

[Mike-Bracknell]

They'll be hen's teeth as they'll be obsoleted. Have you checked the Yamaha range and seen whether a newer amp would suit you?

[TURIN]

Nothing in the price range has the connectivity I need. IE 6 audio inputs from the PC.

[Parapunter]

I really think you may be overkilling it going with external amps & speakers. You ought to try a 7:1 set up off a soundcard - something like Creative or Logitech. Unless you're trying to fill a village hall, or are a serious audiophile, you'll find it's more than adequate.

[TURIN]

I'm confused now, Para.

Post 21 above suggests that there are problems with that.


Whereas you agreed with CBA_Caption's post regarding the Yamaha Av set up. (Post 24).


I'm running Vista MCE by the way so I really don't want to start screwing around with new hardware and buggy software.

In addition, the way things are going, a stand alone blu ray player in addition to my HTPC, that will run through an av receiver seems a lot less hard work. I know, the concept of 'all in one box' is getting stretched but you know what I mean.

Thanks again for all the advice.

[Parapunter]

I confess. The vocal track trouble was a dodgy connect to my centre speaker which is the channel set aside on blu ray for the purpose.

Although I agree if you're adding external boxes here & there an a/v amp will give you flexibility. What I was getting at was that you can have really good quality sound for much less than you might think.

[TURIN]

OK, no worries.

I'll have a think.

[TURIN]

Finally, managed to find a Yamaha RXV667 with all the kit at the right price, less than £300. Set up complete. Sounds terrific and lots of scope for when the little un wants to plug boxes in (wii, ipod etc).
Only bug bear is getting the TV sound to play back through the HDMI cable when watching direct tv instead of through the HTPC. Not a big issue but it should do it shouldn't it? All the bumpf says it should. Ho-hum, one to fiddle with if I ever feel the need.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Mike-Bracknell]

You might have to take that back to the RXV667 with a TOSLINK.

Where did you find it anyway? I've found myself suddenly in need of an HDMI-capable tuner amp

[TURIN]

Sorry for the tardy reply Mike.

I found it on an internet search, brand new but obviously 'out of the box'.
Just had another look and the cheapest was £636.

[TURIN]

Thread Resurrection, again!

Right. everything was fine with my set up until I replaced the graphic card (See previous thread) and linked it all up with a HDMI cable. (The previous card only had DVI output and I had the sound coming direct from the sound card with audio jacks into the AV receiver).

I now have problems getting the sound to work. I've disabled the Analogue output and have it straight form the graphic card through HDMI to the AV receiver. It works but the volume indication graphic in MCE freezes.
I can still alter the volume direct with the AV receiver remote.

I must be missing something obvious.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[green granite]

The sound output from the hdmi skt is in digital form and is decoded by AV device, the MCE volume control on the PC only adjusts the analogue sound level after it has been decoded by the sound card. You cannot adjust the volume of a digital signal. (well not easily anyway)

[TURIN]

Ah. That all makes a lot of sense. Thank you both very much. Twiddling required.