Skipping the reciever?

I have a Macmini running wirelessly with a 750 gig HD hooked directly all mounted behind the 32"Hdtv.
I am wondering if there is a way to connect the digital audio out(3.5mm TOSlink) to a pre amp 8 channel splitter. THis way I could use powered speakers and skip the amp.

would I get surround sound, or just a 7.1 stereo?

should i just build a receiver closet hidden somewhere and use redeye with my ipod touch.

I am basically trying to clean up the living room. I want the tv on the wall with everything else gone..... except of course a few speakers (6-8 speakers) hidden around the room.

Or a small foot print digital receiver closer to the size of my mac mini (i know dreaming, based on heat dispurtion)

I can either get rid of my Onkyo receiver, or hide it. What are my options peolpe. I need help.

Thanks Late247

my tv is mounted on a brick wall with nowhere to hide anything, other than behind the tv itself. If the mac processes the digital (or just passes on the 5.1)signal , and the amplification is done by the powered speakers, isn't there a device to simply separate the different channels?
Does this make sense, or am i going about this the long way?