[Danja]

Hello,


I have a HTPC/HDTV set up on one end of the living room, and two column speakers + Sony R2600 stereo system (component audio input) on the other end. I'd like to be able to wirelessly stream sound from the PC or TV to the speakers for a more fulfilling home theater experience. I looked online and found some hideously expensive dedicated solutions, but not much within my budget.


My best bet seems to be a bluetooth system such as the following:

http://www.amazon.com/Xantech-BDXTT-Table-Bluetooth-Receiver/dp/B0041GTNM0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top


Can that device be paired with any bluetooth USB dongle? Are there any better ways of doing it? I know that I'm not going to get perfect lossless audio over wireless and it doesn't really matter, but I need something that a non-audiophile would be able to listen to without complaining about noise.


Any tips?


Edit: Also, I can't tell if the audio inputs in the system are component or RCA; how do I tell (and is there a difference)?

 

[MarkHotchkiss]

Hi Danja,


My opinion is that you should steer clear of any Bluetooth solution. Bluetooth's bandwidth is so low that music needs to be heavily compressed to fit. Having said that, I am surprised at how well it sounds, considering the high compression. But you can hear a difference, similar to a low-bitrate MP3.


For not much more, you can get units that transfer an uncompressed stereo audio stream. Here is one:
http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-W3-Wireless-Audio-Adapter/dp/B00815ARFO


There are others at the same price point of $150 that are uncompressed and contain both transmitter and receiver.



BTW: Yes, RCA and component are the same.

 

[Danja]

Thanks a lot for the info.


I actually have a revised plan now. The house and equipment belongs to my parents; I've been setting up the HTPC for them. I just consulted with them and it turns out that we have rather easy access to underneath the floor via the basement ceiling. Given that I have the following motherboard, what would be my best option for running a cable to the stereo?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445


I know very little about audio device. Are the motherboard ports sufficient for what I need? Can I get a cable that goes from the analog audio ports on the motherboard to RCA on the other end? Do I need to buy a sound card?


Thanks again

 

[MarkHotchkiss]

Hi Danja,

Quote:
Originally Posted by Danja  /t/1421403/home-theater-wireless-audio-setup#post_22241486


. . . Are the motherboard ports sufficient for what I need?

Yes. That motherboard gives you two options: digital and analog.


If the stereo has an optical-audio input (TOSLINK), then my first choice would be to use an optical cable, like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=2669&seq=1&format=2

They have lengths shorter than 50 feet, as well. There are tricks if you go this route, so post back if you decide to go optical.

Quote:
Can I get a cable that goes from the analog audio ports on the motherboard to RCA on the other end?

If the stereo has no optical input, then you need to run a analog stereo cable, like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021815&p_id=5603&seq=1&format=2

I am making assumptions on the connectors you need, as they are pretty standard.

Quote:
Do I need to buy a sound card?

No, the motherboard has everything you need.

 

[Danja]

Great, thanks so much for your help!

 

[Danja]

Sorry to bump this thread up to the top but I have one more question. I have the Y audio cable connected to the speaker jack of the HTPC and the L/R RCA outputs connected to the speakers. Everything there works great. I have a Sony TV connected to the PC via HDMI. Is it possible to use the TV as the center channel?

 

[arnyk]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Danja  /t/1421403/home-theater-wireless-audio-setup#post_22261347


Sorry to bump this thread up to the top but I have one more question. I have the Y audio cable connected to the speaker jack of the HTPC and the L/R RCA outputs connected to the speakers. Everything there works great. I have a Sony TV connected to the PC via HDMI. Is it possible to use the TV as the center channel?

Only if the TV has a specific feature for doing this. I've never seen that done!


I guess you could take the TV apart and wire up the internal speakers to separate jacks.


Good luck!

 

[MarkHotchkiss]

Yeah . . . what Arny said . . .


There is one work-around, but it would require that you use the component-video input to your TV, which would necessitate you viewing 1080i instead of 1080p.


If you switch your TV input to component, then you can take the analog center-channel out of your HTPC, and use a splitter-cable to feed it into the left and right analog inputs on the TV. The center channel will then come out both the left and right speakers of the TV, but it might sound awkward when audio pans from the left channel, through the center, to the right channel. That is why you typically want to have three matched speakers in front.