jscamp
05-30-08, 01:12 AM
I am looking for a product that will do what I need it to do in a cost effective manner, so what I need is a recommendation. I am open to reasonable substitutions I mention below if they will help achieve the objective. There is also a possibility that I could be wrong in my assumption as to how this should be set up.
I am in the process of building a PC system to work within a mini-home theater setup and the sound card will play a central role. I would like to know which one would be best and if I need any software other than what comes with it to make this work. Below are the links to the known products I am using should the solution you recommend require different connections than what I am thinking should be the case.
The system would consists of an HDTV with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 Toslink output, a cable box with both HDMI and component outputs, a game console with an HDMI output, an HD-PVR with component inputs and outputs as well as a USB output to the PC (this item might not matter to the sound card), Logitech Z5550 speakers with decoder, and the PC which will be used to play Blue Ray DVDs, recordings from the HD-DVR, and function as a PC.
I am in the process of sourcing the parts for the PC, but it is fair to assume that it will be a Vista 64 Ultimate box with at least 4GB DDR2 1066Mhz ram, E8400 processor, Nvidia 9800 GTX 512 MB, Blue-Ray Player, DVDRW, and a bluetooth keyboard.
The connections will be as follows (see attached jpeg for a rough drawing)
Cable Box to HDTV using HDMI
Cable Box to HD-PVR using Component
HD-PVR to PC using USB
Gaming Console to HDTV using HDMI
HDTV to PC using TosLink
PC to HDTV using DVI to HDMI converter
PC to Logitech Decoder via TosLink
Input and Output Toslinks are assumed to be on the sound card. Please see product links below if your recommended solution requires different connections to ensure that it is feasible.
The PC would remain on at all times and will serve as repository for HD recordings, the DVD/Blue Ray player, and as a PC. Sound will travel from the sound card to the speakers as would normally be the case in a simple PC setup. Video will go from the video card through a DVI to HDMI converter to the TV.
When I want to watch TV, I will use a universal remote to simultaneously change the HDMI input to the TV to cable and turn on the cable box (and turn off the game console if it is on). Sound and video will travel through the HDMI cable to the TV and sound will continue through the toslink optical cable to the computer through the sound card and to the decoder which connects to the speakers.
When I want to Play a video game, I will use a universal remote to simultaneously change the HDMI input to the TV to cable and turn on the game console (and turn off the cable box if it is on). Sound and video will travel through the HDMI cable to the TV and sound will continue through the toslink optical cable to the computer through the sound card and to the decoder which connects to the speakers.
1. What sound card do you recommend?
2. Do I need to have some kind of software running at all times on the PC for the sound to play for all of these items?
3. What will the sound card do if I switch between these various functions using my remote? Will it seamlessly switch, crash, or demand I flip into PC mode to change setting to continue?
Thanks for your help!
John
Logitech Z-5550 speaker system: www dot logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en
HDTV: www dot toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en§ion=2&group=6&product=8210&category=
The PC: I am in the process of acquiring the parts. We are assuming your sound card and a 9800 GTX video card along with a Blue Ray player.
HD-PVR: www dot hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html (this probably does not matter in this configuration relative to the sound because playback is through the PC)
Cable Box: I will not know until I switch the service
Gaming Console: Wii or maybe an xBox (Have both, just not sure which will go in room)
I am in the process of building a PC system to work within a mini-home theater setup and the sound card will play a central role. I would like to know which one would be best and if I need any software other than what comes with it to make this work. Below are the links to the known products I am using should the solution you recommend require different connections than what I am thinking should be the case.
The system would consists of an HDTV with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 Toslink output, a cable box with both HDMI and component outputs, a game console with an HDMI output, an HD-PVR with component inputs and outputs as well as a USB output to the PC (this item might not matter to the sound card), Logitech Z5550 speakers with decoder, and the PC which will be used to play Blue Ray DVDs, recordings from the HD-DVR, and function as a PC.
I am in the process of sourcing the parts for the PC, but it is fair to assume that it will be a Vista 64 Ultimate box with at least 4GB DDR2 1066Mhz ram, E8400 processor, Nvidia 9800 GTX 512 MB, Blue-Ray Player, DVDRW, and a bluetooth keyboard.
The connections will be as follows (see attached jpeg for a rough drawing)
Cable Box to HDTV using HDMI
Cable Box to HD-PVR using Component
HD-PVR to PC using USB
Gaming Console to HDTV using HDMI
HDTV to PC using TosLink
PC to HDTV using DVI to HDMI converter
PC to Logitech Decoder via TosLink
Input and Output Toslinks are assumed to be on the sound card. Please see product links below if your recommended solution requires different connections to ensure that it is feasible.
The PC would remain on at all times and will serve as repository for HD recordings, the DVD/Blue Ray player, and as a PC. Sound will travel from the sound card to the speakers as would normally be the case in a simple PC setup. Video will go from the video card through a DVI to HDMI converter to the TV.
When I want to watch TV, I will use a universal remote to simultaneously change the HDMI input to the TV to cable and turn on the cable box (and turn off the game console if it is on). Sound and video will travel through the HDMI cable to the TV and sound will continue through the toslink optical cable to the computer through the sound card and to the decoder which connects to the speakers.
When I want to Play a video game, I will use a universal remote to simultaneously change the HDMI input to the TV to cable and turn on the game console (and turn off the cable box if it is on). Sound and video will travel through the HDMI cable to the TV and sound will continue through the toslink optical cable to the computer through the sound card and to the decoder which connects to the speakers.
1. What sound card do you recommend?
2. Do I need to have some kind of software running at all times on the PC for the sound to play for all of these items?
3. What will the sound card do if I switch between these various functions using my remote? Will it seamlessly switch, crash, or demand I flip into PC mode to change setting to continue?
Thanks for your help!
John
Logitech Z-5550 speaker system: www dot logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en
HDTV: www dot toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en§ion=2&group=6&product=8210&category=
The PC: I am in the process of acquiring the parts. We are assuming your sound card and a 9800 GTX video card along with a Blue Ray player.
HD-PVR: www dot hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html (this probably does not matter in this configuration relative to the sound because playback is through the PC)
Cable Box: I will not know until I switch the service
Gaming Console: Wii or maybe an xBox (Have both, just not sure which will go in room)