PC as home theatre....can i use this and what card do i need?

[thePh@r@oh]

i want to use my computer as my home entertainment center once i get it finished i want to use these speakers will this work and what sound card could i use if its possible ive heard of these turtle beach cards....how are they? keep in mind this will be used for lots of gaming and movies.

[Telexen]

I didn't look for too long, but it doesn't look like that is SPDIF compatible...I would much rather have a set of speakers use SPDIF than a $500 set that doesn't.

It is up to you though. If you want to stick with those speakers, maybe an ATi AIW card would work better for you? Else your choice of Turtle Beach or Creative, both should work fine.

Note: I want one of these for a HTPC
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...101-220&depa=1

[thePh@r@oh]

most of those home speaker systems have RCA plugs....at least last time i saw any they did. and you can get adapters to turn RCA to a 1/8" plug......so couldnt i, in theory, plug RCA lines in that way and it work?

[AMD2400]

I found some info on this page about sounds card hooked up to a cambridge home theater system.

I will copy and paste what page 2 says:

Before making the next set of connections, you'll need to choose which input to use for the computer or other devices and run the necessary wires. For digital connections, wires are included for all three interfaces. For owners of a SoundBlaster Live! card, Creative's proprietary digital DIN connection is made through two cables. One short cable adapts the digital minijack on the SB Live! to the DIN connection, and the other is an extension to get to the amplifier. For coaxial connections, included is a single RCA cable for connection to a Live! Drive, digital daughtercard, hardware based DVD decoder, or any other coaxial SPDIF connection. Finally, an optical cable is included to take advantage of connections to consumer audio devices, DVD players, or gaming systems.

Analog connections are via 1/8th inch minijacks. For four channel audio cards, there is a tandem minijack cable for connection to the front and rear speaker outputs. Also included is a stereo RCA to minijack cable for connection to the analog connections on consumer audio devices or gaming systems. It's unfortunate that analog connections are not available to the center channel or subwoofer as more and more 6 channel audio cards are available now to access these directly. But with its own decoder the system still offers full Dolby Digital decoding for surround sound.

Here is another site to read.

I would go with a sound card that has an optical output and run that to an optical input on a home theater receiver.

[thePh@r@oh]

OK...So whats a good audio card with a optical out...

[thePh@r@oh]

what about this

[pinipig523]

well you could go with an extigy - this hooks up via usb.

the only downside is that it might cause usb traffic and thus slowdown audio playback if your pc is multitasking extensively.

you could also go with an audigy2 platinum - it has a drive with optical out and such.

another card would be the m-audio revolution card.

or the hercules gtxp card.

or the audigy2 platinum ex.

why are you looking into those speakers? why not get some 5.1 speaks like the 680 or the promedia 5.1s? the subs on either of those sytems can kill that plastic encased sub.

[pinipig523]

also, i forgot to mention that klipsch came out with some brand new promedia ULTRA 5.1 - they are going to replace the current 5.1s and they look like a killer system.

[thePh@r@oh]

i plan on getting a 42" plasma display in september......and im gonna use it as a monitor......this computer is gonna be for EVERYTHING gaming, DVDs, LOL....maybe some office work. ...i'm not definitely into the system i posted i just posted it as an example....my get a JBL system or pioneer....really want the total bose set but theres no way i can get that kinda cash.

[pinipig523]

screw bose - they dont have anything on jbls, pioneers or the lowly sony speaks. bose is so full of themselves - its not even funny.

i dont understand how people could actually find them musical and pleasing - its a total ripoff. for $2500, it had better do my dishes as well.

anyway, you looking into speaks for your 42" plasma - then i recommend not getting pioneer.

look into some jbl ns38II for mains, ns28II for rears and an ns center.

or look into klipsch.com and find yourself some real speakers.