[DaveInFL]

I was looking at the Hercules GameTheatre XP and was wondering if I can run my speakers straight out of the GTXP or do I need an amp. I need to get 5.1 DD without a receiver.


Dave

 

[Cliff Watson]

Dave,


Only if you have powered speakers. If not you will need a multichannel amp.

 

[[email protected]]

Let's say you do have an external amplifier, is there a sound card that can decode Dolby Pro-logic and Dolby Digital from external sources?

 

[Sherbona]

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Coughlin Let's say you do have an external amplifier, is there a sound card that can decode Dolby Pro-logic and Dolby Digital from external sources?

Creative's Audigy with the latest Audigy drivers from Compaq decode DD from an external source. It cannot decode DTS from an external source however. See details at: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=137529


As far as Dolby Pro-logic, I don't believe the Audigy can do this. However, it has 'cmss' which is similar effect, and I *think* that it also works on external signal.


But, if you run your CDs, DVDs, TV tuner, etc etc from the htpc , you won't need to decode an external source and can use PowerDVD/WinDVD etc... for DPLII and such for decoding your internal sources.

 

[tomes]

I believe there is a card called M-Audio 410 that has 8 ch analog output. Don't think it will decode from an external source though. And as mentioned above, all of these cards would need an amplifier to work. Would you expect to fit decent onboard amplifiers 5x60 watt+ on a pci board???

 

[madsam]

i was looking at terratec sound cards yesterday and i was eventually directed to an actual amplifier for your pc and it uses an expansion slot in the rear of the pc....duh..... and cost about 200 smackeroos. it has an ..ok...power supply giving your pc direct 20 watts per channel to regular unpowered speakers. it works with your pc's sound card, and is not a sound card , but rather an amp for your pc.


i imagine if your pc has enough slots in the back, you can probably run 2 of these for 4 speaker setups, and use the sub-woofer output on your sound card for a powered sub-woofer.


either way , i can't justify 200 dollars for a mere 20 watts per channel...stereo only...., and to top it off...i imagine any decent amp would throw unwanted heat into your already warm pc.


if you already have the speakers, go buy an inexpensive surround receiver . i would guess a 100 watt per channel receiver would sound better than a 20 watt amp in a pc anyway


if the pc amp thing was 20 dollars each, i still would not go that route because of the heat in the pc.....they are about 200 each....eeewwwwww.......


if you are into pc's or know anyone who is, and i mean someone who really knows about pc's.........they will tell you a pc's worst enemy is heat....hmmmmm, i think that holds true with most things.....he he he


if you want any kind of quality sound from a pc, don't start building up some lame-ass , slow crap. make sure your pc is resourceful enough. none of those 400, 500, 600 mhz systems........


either way, good luck, and i hope i was helpful


ps...i'm smarter than einstein.....he he he