Suggested sound card for computer for home theater

[maxgrampa]

I am trying to determine which sound card might be great to operate my home theater, with my computer driving things, for overall great experiences. TIA

 

[MongGrel]

Lot of people seem to not even like sound cards these days.

I still use one on the main.

You'd probably have to specify what you have in mind a bit for a build to begin with.

 

[nsafreak]

More info needed, although for HTPCs lots of folks don't bother with sound cards since they're typically sending the audio via HDMI to a receiver which does all the sound processing.

 

[maxgrampa]

Thanks,i will get more info. I use my home computer to send the recorded shows to the receiver and wondered if there was a great soundcard to use.

 

[gorb]

hdmi to receiver. skip the soundcard.

 

[Chapbass]

hdmi to receiver. skip the soundcard.

+1. HTPC used to suck and be so difficult, but ever since hdmi, ezpz.

 

[JeffMD]

If a receiver works well in your setup then use it. I love using mine, audio runs over the hdmi. Otherwise it is very hard to go wrong with creatives high end line, and asus puts out some good stuff too.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

If you don't have any HDMI inputs on your receiver (i.e., if you're using a receiver older than 5 years), you should still have a digital input, either RCA or TOSLINK (optical). If your computer has digital output capabilities, you probably won't need a dedicated soundcard. Just use the digital signal and let the receiver do the work.

 

[razel]

hdmi to receiver. skip the soundcard.

+2. If you go the optical/coax route, you will be limited to lossy multichannel (Dolby Digital, DTS) or stereo PCM which is still fine for most people.