Using a HTPC as a pre-amp

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post #1 of 8

4/8/12 at 3:02pm

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215 Posts. Joined 2/2007
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Hey guys I was thinking about adding a amp but my receiver doesn't have preouts so I would need to buy a new receiver as well. So I was wondering if I buy an sound card that has outs that I could run to my amp?

I use my htpc for cable and Blu-Ray. I have all my blus riped to mkv. So will that work and have the computer or the player decode the truehd and dtshd? Or is it not possible or not advised to do? Thanks.

post #2 of 8

4/9/12 at 6:36am

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I think you are asking if a PC can output analogue sound after decoding it from DTS-HD, and the answer is definitely "Yes". FFDShow will do this for you without much of a problem (assuming you are using a compatible player).

post #3 of 8

4/9/12 at 8:21am

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This topic comes up every couple of months. A search through the forum should uncover *a lot* of argument on both sides of the topic.

-Suntan

post #4 of 8

4/9/12 at 10:05am

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Don't forget that one of the major advantages of most modern AVRs is that they include room-correction software (like Audyssey and several competing packages) which optimizes the sound at your listening position, but not when used with their multichannel analog inputs.

Edited to add:
Some room correction software packages for HTPCs are described in http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1396695
They seem to be more expensive than many AVRs.

post #5 of 8

4/9/12 at 10:36am

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Selden Ball

Don't forget that one of the major advantages of most modern AVRs is that they include room-correction software (like Audyssey and several competing packages) which optimizes the sound at your listening position, but not when used with their multichannel analog inputs. I don't know of any such available for use in PCs.

That's true I didn't think of that

post #6 of 8

4/9/12 at 10:37am

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Selden Ball

Don't forget that one of the major advantages of most modern AVRs is that they include room-correction software (like Audyssey and several competing packages) which optimizes the sound at your listening position, but not when used with their multichannel analog inputs. I don't know of any such available for use in PCs.

I did and nothing came up.I found some stuff on Google but just wanted to see what you guys thought

post #7 of 8

4/9/12 at 10:38am

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A Web search found mention of several (expensive) room correction products for PCs. See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1396695

(I edited my post above, but was too slow about it

)