Setting Up DD Receiver

[Gamingphreek]

Well im thinking about selling my Current Stereo System (Just 2.0 shelf system) and my Logitech Z-640's and really using my Soundstorm Capabilities.

I am somewhat limited on budget so i was thinking is this OK.

Link

Im not looking for anything fancy and im trying to stay around $100.

I will be connecting it to my M/B Via SPDIF Connection (I have no Optical Connection)
Then i was going to connect the DVD Player Itself to the Video Card and then i wouldn't have to use my horrible DVD-ROM drive on my computer (I have a VIVO Enabled Video Card).

Will all of this work? Also will it sound better than my current Z-640's? I dont think so but.. Will using SPDIF over Optical make any difference? Also do i need DTS Decoding or just Dolby Digital Decoding?

-Kevin

 

[Dug]

What are you trying to accomplish?
Just replace the dvd rom in your computer. They're only like $20 to replace.
Although that gateway system will probably sound better, with coaxial or optical out you won't get 5.1 in games, only movies.
You need to use the analog out to get surround in games and i'm not sure that Gateway system has the analog inputs needed for all the channels.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well i switched, because that was out of stock check the new link.

Remember im using Soundstorm so i will get 5.1 in games because it encodes in real time.

My goal here is to get rid of my current speakers and my stereo system and hook this up in its place... the DVD Player is just and added convenience.

Sony Phillips Digital interface means i can use the full soundstorm capabilites right?

Also what about this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...50002&type=product ... it is 6.1 so i know SS doesn't support that many channels, however it has DTS support (not sure what that means). Is it still able to output in 5.1 Dolby Digital? (Just leave one speaker unconnected.

-Kevin

 

[RanDum72]

Looking at the Koss system, I noticed it seems to have one digital input (probably coax,judging from the picture). This will work out just fine, IMO. Don't expect much from it though, you do get what you pay for.
As for picture quality, you would be better off using the the PC DVD drive than using the external DVD and hooking it up to the VIVO of your video card. Just get WinDVD or Power DVD software ( I prefer WinDVD).

 

[Gamingphreek]

What do you mean by dont expect much out of it. I mean i assume it will sound much better than what i have now.

How will my IQ degrade is it just the fact that the resolutions wont match and i will experience some signal loss or something. Well my software isn't the problem the DVD-ROM itself is screwed up when reading DVD's. It skips and makes whirring noises and stuff.

-Kevin

 

[newParadigm]

Yeah, i would agree, stick with ur DVD-ROM, and just get some decent Computer speaker for $150, try to find some z680's er sumthin

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
What do you mean by dont expect much out of it. I mean i assume it will sound much better than what i have now.

How will my IQ degrade is it just the fact that the resolutions wont match and i will experience some signal loss or something. Well my software isn't the problem the DVD-ROM itself is screwed up when reading DVD's. It skips and makes whirring noises and stuff.

-Kevin

PQ will be degraded because of the extra conversion step. Outputting from the DVD-ROM, the signal goes:

DVD->PC (digital-digital lossless decode)->PC Video-out (Digital->Analog conversion)->TV

Using the DVD player, it goes:

DVD->DVD Player (digital-digital lossless)->DVD Player Analog out (D->A conversion, lossy)->PC Video in (A->D lossy conversion, although minimal loss)->PC Video Out (D->A conversion, lossy)->TV

This isn't even to mention the headaches you'll likely have routing the audio (you'll have to put it through the PC as well to make it sync). Seriously, get a new DVD drive if yours is shot. They don't cost much, and it'll be a lot easier and better quality in the end.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Oh... Well im not going back out to a TV i will be displaying it on my Computer. Im not strining wires from that to my computer then to a TV that would be madness.

Also with the Audio im just talking outputting to a DD Receiver in realtime (The thing soundstorm can only do and is famous for it). The DVD Player is just an added benefit.

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Oh... Well im not going back out to a TV i will be displaying it on my Computer. Im not strining wires from that to my computer then to a TV that would be madness.

Oh. I don't know how I got the other thing out of your post (somehow I thought you wanted to display on a TV...) You confused me with the whole standalone DVD player thing.

You'll still lose quite a bit of quality from having your VIVO card re-encode it. Just replace your DVD drive and you're all set.

 

[RanDum72]

What do you mean by dont expect much out of it. I mean i assume it will sound much better than what i have now.

It may or may not be better, sound quality-wise, compared to the Z-640's. The Koss satellites are probably single driver speakers encased in a plastic enclosure that doesn't have any damping or cross-over networks at all. Same thing with the bass-module. It MAY be louder because of its claimed higher wattage. However, we also don't know what kind of rating it is, it may be peak power vs. continuous, probably rated at 1khz with lots of distortion. The plus thing is it allows you to upgrade satellites later on. A minus for the Koss is that it doesn't have any 5.1 direct analog inputs (may come in handy later on when you get rid of your mobo).

As for the picture quality, if you use the VIVO, you're going to use the s-video connection (unless the video card has component input) or, God forbid, composite video in. In both cases the quality would just plain suck. What is wrong with your DVD-ROM drive? If it has problems reading, try to upgrade the firmware(if it has one available). Sometimes this does wonders for its read compatibility. Does it share the IDE cable with another drive? Are the mobo chipset drivers properly installed? Does the drive run in PIO or DMA mode?

 

[Kishan]

DON"T GET THAT SYSTEM!!! I work at best buy and I think all agree that thing's a POS. Get some logitech z-680's or Klipsch GMX D5.1 instead.

 

[Gamingphreek]

If you read i dont want the Z-680's i want to output through and external reciever.

Well since you guys have explained everything very well, why this system might not be too good, can you reccommend a good one for around $200.

I see what you mean with the DVD Player (lol Matthias, i dunno but we all make mistakes its all good ) but will i definately notice an IQ drop. Or will it be somewhat negligible. If i notice one what will it be like, staticy, or something else?

Can someone explain about DTS Encoding/Decoding. I noticed the 5.1 Koss doesn't have it but the 6.1 does is that something i might need?

Again can someone just reccommend a decent system?

As for my DVD drive... well its a cheapo drive and is kinda old. It is 16x, and there is no firmware for it. The proper chipset M/B drivers are installed (6.14 Betas) and there is a CD-RW drive on the same IDE Cable (the CD-RW drive is set as Master).

Thanks all,
-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

bump

 

[Gamingphreek]

bump

 

[Kishan]

you really seem to enjoy that Koss garbage. If you would like to call that a, "receiver," fine, but I think everyone on this board, even Z-680 haters, would choose the Z-680's over those.

 

[Gamingphreek]

No im not saying that i really like them.

Yiou guys said that they are not good so i shouldn't get that system. Which system can i get that is decent for about 200 dollars.

I want to use and external receiver, that is my only stipulation besides 5.1 Digital Surround SOund.

-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

What about this system. It says exactly what is in the system and seems fairly decent quality. The only thing i see wrong about it is it has no SPDIF input. My M/B does not have an Optical connection only SPDIF... is there anyway around this?

-Kevin

 

[Kishan]

dude-the z-680 have two dolby digital inputs as well as a digital coax input. You could call the control module a receiver if you would like. Sub two hundred dollar surround systems suck except for your computer speakers category

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
What about this system. It says exactly what is in the system and seems fairly decent quality. The only thing i see wrong about it is it has no SPDIF input. My M/B does not have an Optical connection only SPDIF... is there anyway around this?

-Kevin

I need to know the answer to this question. Honestly sub 200 dollar speakers cant suck that much.... i think my Z-640's sound awesome so do you really think im going to notice the difference . That 200 dollar system is probably better than what i have now.

-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

BUMP... bump bump bump!

 

[yhelothar]

ygpm