- Jun 30, 2004
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I had posted this thread linked here some couple months ago:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2374970&highlight=
The reason I was testing the water over multiple-audio configurations derived from troubles I had when I transitioned from an analog 5.1 configuration with an old Logitech Z740 (760?) speaker system (and the 3.5mm stereo plugs) to an HDMI-fed configuration between my graphics card and my ONKYO 7.1 AVR -- which in turn provides input to my HDTV via HDMI.
For so very long, I had pretty much left my ONKYO turned on, getting my TV from Media Center -- broadcasts coming in through my SiliconDust HR Prime on my network. And the reason for that?
Caution. When I first hooked up the AVR, I would stumble into configuration-confusion with the onboard HD-Audio feeding the Logitech speakers. Media Center would malfunction in some or another way. So finally, I just turned off the Logitechs and disabled HD-Audio in BIOS.
Now, I've re-enabled the HD-Audio in BIOS, turned on the Logitech speaker system, and discovered that I only need to raise the "Sounds" dialog with "Playback devices" to see which is the default speaker arrangement. As long as the two audio/speaker configurations are configured separately and these configurations are not "confused," I can switch the default back and forth. At this point, I'm only guessing I should avoid raising Media Center until the AVR audio is again set as default and working properly.
My cable provider just recently gave me an offer I cannot refuse: An extra HDMI cable-box -- free for 12 months and $7/mo thereafter. Either way, no (or not much) addition to our bundled cable-internet-telephone monthly billing. I run the new cable-box directly to the TV, which has a 2.1 speaker configuration. I can switch the TV input from one HDMI plug to another.
This enables me to put the AVR on standby for ENERGY-saving and EQUIPMENT longevity. If I want to view TV or Netflix through Media Center, I only need to make the orderly switch from one default audio device to another -- if necessary, restart the computer with the AVR turned "on." Or I can configure the AVR to pass-through the HDMI audio to the TV while the AVR is in standby -- feeding also to the 2.1 speaker set.
I had started looking at freeware with "virtual audio" options that might enable me to fix one or the other audio setup to this or that application, but I think this is the simpler and more reliable solution.
Am I missing something here? Can anyone tell me that there is a "better way" to do this?
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2374970&highlight=
The reason I was testing the water over multiple-audio configurations derived from troubles I had when I transitioned from an analog 5.1 configuration with an old Logitech Z740 (760?) speaker system (and the 3.5mm stereo plugs) to an HDMI-fed configuration between my graphics card and my ONKYO 7.1 AVR -- which in turn provides input to my HDTV via HDMI.
For so very long, I had pretty much left my ONKYO turned on, getting my TV from Media Center -- broadcasts coming in through my SiliconDust HR Prime on my network. And the reason for that?
Caution. When I first hooked up the AVR, I would stumble into configuration-confusion with the onboard HD-Audio feeding the Logitech speakers. Media Center would malfunction in some or another way. So finally, I just turned off the Logitechs and disabled HD-Audio in BIOS.
Now, I've re-enabled the HD-Audio in BIOS, turned on the Logitech speaker system, and discovered that I only need to raise the "Sounds" dialog with "Playback devices" to see which is the default speaker arrangement. As long as the two audio/speaker configurations are configured separately and these configurations are not "confused," I can switch the default back and forth. At this point, I'm only guessing I should avoid raising Media Center until the AVR audio is again set as default and working properly.
My cable provider just recently gave me an offer I cannot refuse: An extra HDMI cable-box -- free for 12 months and $7/mo thereafter. Either way, no (or not much) addition to our bundled cable-internet-telephone monthly billing. I run the new cable-box directly to the TV, which has a 2.1 speaker configuration. I can switch the TV input from one HDMI plug to another.
This enables me to put the AVR on standby for ENERGY-saving and EQUIPMENT longevity. If I want to view TV or Netflix through Media Center, I only need to make the orderly switch from one default audio device to another -- if necessary, restart the computer with the AVR turned "on." Or I can configure the AVR to pass-through the HDMI audio to the TV while the AVR is in standby -- feeding also to the 2.1 speaker set.
I had started looking at freeware with "virtual audio" options that might enable me to fix one or the other audio setup to this or that application, but I think this is the simpler and more reliable solution.
Am I missing something here? Can anyone tell me that there is a "better way" to do this?