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HELP! HTPC without receiver

post #1 of 6
10/2/12 at 6:16am
Thread Starter 
Hi! ive been trying to piece together a home theatre for over two weeks now and im getting ever so frustrated and desperate! i need to experience what you people experience! but i dont have the cash mad.gif

ive looked at systems that will cost me near enough £250-£390; when a thought came to my head, and i need to know whether it will work so im hoping someone can help me.


if i was to buy this: Asus 3d Bluray drive

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/31967955/Asus-Blu-Ray-Rewriter-Black-Retail-Drive/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518%7Ccat:31967955%7Cprd:31967955

for my PC which is connected to my existing 5.1 pc surround sound and i get a player PowerDVD 12 or similar will i be able to experience 5.1 sound even DTS-HD? or will their be some restriction preventing me?


otherwise this is my other solution that will hurt my wallet

Sony STR DH-520 Receiver
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh520/sony-strdh520-blk

Speakers
http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/pioneer/s-hs100/pion-shs100

Thanks guys
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post #2 of 6
10/2/12 at 11:46am
^If you can play 5.1 audio to your surround sound system now then you will be able to with your Bluray drive. You need to make sure your existing PC has the CPU/GPU capabilities for 1080p Bluray.

You should be able to find & download some test files and play them. Use XBMC or other free player software. It won't cost you anything. If all is good, then you could go with a BR drive & player software. If you want to save money, buy a read only BR drive.
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post #3 of 6
10/2/12 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
thanks a lot! helped a lot. is it depending on the software or the hardware for DTS-HD decoding?

Also my CPU is Core2duo E8200 2.66ghz and GPU is a GTX560ti connected to a Samsung es6300 via HDMI
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post #4 of 6
10/2/12 at 3:18pm
Most blurays have two audio streams: the HD audio stream and the "core", e.g. DTS-Master Audio and a DTS 5.1 "core". Whatever software player you use should be configured to use the audio stream that is compatible with what you're outputting to, though this usually happens automatically by it reading the EDID and knowing what is supported. Some will even downmix it to stereo if need be.

It should just work.
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post #5 of 6
10/3/12 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MANiaC3173 View Post

thanks a lot! helped a lot. is it depending on the software or the hardware for DTS-HD decoding?
Also my CPU is Core2duo E8200 2.66ghz and GPU is a GTX560ti connected to a Samsung es6300 via HDMI

That hardware is plenty good enough.

Don't forget that if playing BR is all you want, then a BR player may be the best value, simplest, and most certain to work satisfactorily solution. If Ripping is in your future, then the HTPC approach makes sense.
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post #6 of 6
10/4/12 at 5:35am
Thread Starter 
thanks! really appreciate all the input
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