Anyone with a HTPC, I have a sound question.

[Lizardman]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how they get their tv to produce good sound if you are playing a movie from your computer. If you dont use the TV speakers do you just hook up speakers directly to your PC then?

I have my R8500's TV displaying, but the problem is that I have a y adapter going to my receiver. I have to turn the volume 3/4 of the way up to hear it and then it gives off a loud hum. Any comments/answers are appriecated.

 

[cmdrdredd]

go directly from your sound card to the receiver. Perferably a Digital hookup like Optical. if that is not available you can use 5.1 inputs also known as analog inputs. Most receivers do not have this option however. This would mean that each channel has it's own input.

 

[Lizardman]

Since my reciever is old and ghetto it doesnt have a optical in even though I have optical out on my sound card. I just use a stereo y-splitter cable with splits the computer speaker port to RCA cables.

 

[Boogak]

I had that annoying hum too when I was using a RCA Y splitter to connect my soundcard to my Denon receiver. It's probably noise interference from the PC that's being carried over into the speaker line. I switched to using a digital coax output and it's made a massive difference. The sound is much clearer with no noticable background hiss or hum. So the answer is: Get a new receiver

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Boogak
I had that annoying hum too when I was using a RCA Y splitter to connect my soundcard to my Denon receiver. It's probably noise interference from the PC that's being carried over into the speaker line. I switched to using a digital coax output and it's made a massive difference. The sound is much clearer with no noticable background hiss or hum. So the answer is: Get a new receiver

I use both digital coax and mini to RCA splitters from my A2 and don't notice any signal degradation. What types of splitters are you using? I used a single cheapo recoton at first and noticed the sound quality was very distorted compared to my center/LFE and FR/FL channels that were using insulated gold contact Acoustic Research splitters (@$5). Went out and replaced it and no more distortion.

Chiz

 

[Boogak]

Originally posted by: chizow

I use both digital coax and mini to RCA splitters from my A2 and don't notice any signal degradation. What types of splitters are you using? I used a single cheapo recoton at first and noticed the sound quality was very distorted compared to my center/LFE and FR/FL channels that were using insulated gold contact Acoustic Research splitters (@$5). Went out and replaced it and no more distortion.

Chiz

I think it was a cheapy gold plated mini to RCA adapter I got from Radio Shack. I used this same cable as a digital coax line to connect my SBLive to my receiver's coax input for a week, and it sounded great. It's just when I use it to convert speaker out to analog RCA it gets a noticable and annoying hum at higher volumes.

 

[Lizardman]

I use a cheap radio shack RCA Y splitter. So its time to upgrade my receiver you thinks?