Using computer as home audio stereo

[Necratis]

Hello all, i am looking to build an HTPC soon, and want to use a HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ as my sound card, with the Logitech Z5500 as my speakers. Is there a way to use this card and speakers as my home audio system so the sound coming from my TV will push through this hardware and out the Logitech speakers, or do i have to buy a separate stereo system? I am very fluent with computers but completely new to audio equipment, so if anyone can offer any advice it will be appreciated. Thanks !

 

[erwos]

Most HDTVs offer some sort of stereo output that you can route into your computer's line-in and then route out via your speakers. In fact, I am vaguely recalling that the Z5500s should have a pair of optical inputs, so you could connect your computer to one, and the TV to another (provided it has optical-out).

 

[Necratis]

Ok great, would doing this also take advantage of the sound processing of the HT Omega Claro? Is there a way to route the sound through the actual computer so the Claro makes the TVs sound output better? Basically using my computer as a home audio receiver

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Necratis
Ok great, would doing this also take advantage of the sound processing of the HT Omega Claro? Is there a way to route the sound through the actual computer so the Claro makes the TVs sound output better? Basically using my computer as a home audio receiver

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Y...wsDAjello/Welcome2.JPG

What kind of outputs does your TV have?
Are you using an antenna to pick up channels, or is there a cable box involved?

If you have true surround sound coming from either the antenna or the cable box for HD channels, going through the Claro is probably not going to allow you to improve upon things. I have not been keeping up with soundcards though, so I don't know if they've gone beyond the limitation of being sent surround sound digitally and then doing processing and outputting it via analog or digital.

By making the "sound output better", what are you proposing?
Like do you have an equalizer setting that you like to use to even out the z-5500s, or do you just mean inherently better digital to analog conversion by the claro vs. what the z-5500's DAC can do?

For ease of use and keeping surround sound intact as intended (and stereo as intended), I'd recommend just hooking up digitally to the z-5500 control pod as well.

 

[Necratis]

My TV has optical outputs, DVI, HDMI, all the regular stuff. I dont know much about audio so i assumed that sending my TV audio through the Claro would make the quality better as opposed to plugging it directly into the Z5500s. Is that wrong? If so then it does seem easier to just plug optically straight into the Z5500s from the TV. I am using a cable box yes

 

[Modelworks]

Connect the opitcal to the Z5500. No need for the pc to be involved.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Connect the opitcal to the Z5500. No need for the pc to be involved.

Yeah, go from the cable box to the z-5500s with a digital audio connection.
(Optical or digital coaxial, whatever it has)

(I asked about the TV since there are inputs and outputs. Some models only have inputs or outputs for certain types or the outputs only work with the internal tuner etc.)