- Jun 30, 2004
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Won't elaborate too much, but to say the KISS or simple-is-best principle prevails in my thinking about HTPC and Home Theater. The PC had been configured with a Logitech 5.1 speaker system and the onboard analog RealTek audio.
But the new receiver and speakers needed HDMI digital input, passing through to the HDTV. Managing both simultaneously (analog and HDMI) did not work too well, and there were conflicts. I discovered a few things:
1) I can turn the receiver off and pass through HDMI and audio to the HDTV (saving energy with other advantages)
2) All the PC Windows and game sounds pass through the HDMI to the Receiver and/or the HDTV.
So I decided I didn't need the original Logitech speaker system. Only one problem: my HT-enabled PC is on one side of the room with the "main" monitor; the TV is on the opposite side of the room and the receiver's 5.1 speakers and the TV's own speakers have that Left/Right orientation.
I can use a PC speaker system (2.1) to improve the sound output of the TV with the receiver (and 5.1) turned off. Speakers would plug in to TV's 3.5mm headphone jack.
It occurred to me I could put another (PC) speaker system on the PC side of the room so that I could reverse Left and Right channels. To do this, I need a switch for two stereo (2.1) speaker systems -- with either RCA red/white or 3.5mm input port(s) and either type of output ports. But the output ports must be capable of exclusive use and switching -- they cannot be enabled and producing sound at the same time.
This latter shortcoming is shown by this 4x2 switching device I found at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/C2G-28750-S-Vi.../ref=pd_cp_e_0
I would much prefer some sort of 1x2 or 2x2 switch that otherwise worked the same way.
Does anyone know of such a switch? The Amazon link was about the closest I could find to it, but has too many input ports and the shortcoming I described. I could "use" it -- by turning one speaker system off and leaving the other on or vice-versa. But I'd like to have "better."
But the new receiver and speakers needed HDMI digital input, passing through to the HDTV. Managing both simultaneously (analog and HDMI) did not work too well, and there were conflicts. I discovered a few things:
1) I can turn the receiver off and pass through HDMI and audio to the HDTV (saving energy with other advantages)
2) All the PC Windows and game sounds pass through the HDMI to the Receiver and/or the HDTV.
So I decided I didn't need the original Logitech speaker system. Only one problem: my HT-enabled PC is on one side of the room with the "main" monitor; the TV is on the opposite side of the room and the receiver's 5.1 speakers and the TV's own speakers have that Left/Right orientation.
I can use a PC speaker system (2.1) to improve the sound output of the TV with the receiver (and 5.1) turned off. Speakers would plug in to TV's 3.5mm headphone jack.
It occurred to me I could put another (PC) speaker system on the PC side of the room so that I could reverse Left and Right channels. To do this, I need a switch for two stereo (2.1) speaker systems -- with either RCA red/white or 3.5mm input port(s) and either type of output ports. But the output ports must be capable of exclusive use and switching -- they cannot be enabled and producing sound at the same time.
This latter shortcoming is shown by this 4x2 switching device I found at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/C2G-28750-S-Vi.../ref=pd_cp_e_0
I would much prefer some sort of 1x2 or 2x2 switch that otherwise worked the same way.
Does anyone know of such a switch? The Amazon link was about the closest I could find to it, but has too many input ports and the shortcoming I described. I could "use" it -- by turning one speaker system off and leaving the other on or vice-versa. But I'd like to have "better."
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