My darling mother-in-law bought us a beautiful new LCD HDTV, the Samsung LN46B540
Right now, it just has cable plugged in, but I want it to play games and show movies, and as a user interface to play audio files.
Since I am broke, I can't do it all at once, but over the next 3 months I may have 500-700 to spend. Can't see how to really do it for the money.
How do I want the system to look when I am done? It's nice to dream:
* 5.1 audio, with at least two good speakers and 10" sub for playing music.
* A budget but quality receiver/amp which powers the speakers and allows for connecting everything else. May have to go refurb.
* A HT/Game PC plugged into either the TV or the receiver.
* Single remote required, wireless KB, mouse, headphones.
* Wife-acceptable == pretty.
Any ways to cut corners or costs?
The TV has many inputs and allows source switching, but do I want to avoid passing audio through it for quality reasons? It has digital in and out..
Non-PC speakers all require some type of amp, and it seems more recommended to use a receiver/amp as the center of connectivity, rather than the PC or TV. That requires that the receiver's remote be used, or purchase of a universal remote?
Would it be reasonable to just use an amp and speakers, plugged into the TV's outputs?
If using the computer as an audio source, it needs a decent sound card?
With this TV, using DVI-to-HDMI or the VGA video inputs both require a separate cable for audio, while that is not indicated for HDMI-HDMI connection. If using a video card with HDMI output or HDTV-out, does that provide good digital audio out?
When are the next price drops coming for video cards, maybe I should wait a bit?
I read a bunch about it but I am just getting more confusted. Pardon me if this should be in general hardware forum.
Right now, it just has cable plugged in, but I want it to play games and show movies, and as a user interface to play audio files.
Since I am broke, I can't do it all at once, but over the next 3 months I may have 500-700 to spend. Can't see how to really do it for the money.
How do I want the system to look when I am done? It's nice to dream:
* 5.1 audio, with at least two good speakers and 10" sub for playing music.
* A budget but quality receiver/amp which powers the speakers and allows for connecting everything else. May have to go refurb.
* A HT/Game PC plugged into either the TV or the receiver.
* Single remote required, wireless KB, mouse, headphones.
* Wife-acceptable == pretty.
Any ways to cut corners or costs?
The TV has many inputs and allows source switching, but do I want to avoid passing audio through it for quality reasons? It has digital in and out..
Non-PC speakers all require some type of amp, and it seems more recommended to use a receiver/amp as the center of connectivity, rather than the PC or TV. That requires that the receiver's remote be used, or purchase of a universal remote?
Would it be reasonable to just use an amp and speakers, plugged into the TV's outputs?
If using the computer as an audio source, it needs a decent sound card?
With this TV, using DVI-to-HDMI or the VGA video inputs both require a separate cable for audio, while that is not indicated for HDMI-HDMI connection. If using a video card with HDMI output or HDTV-out, does that provide good digital audio out?
When are the next price drops coming for video cards, maybe I should wait a bit?
I read a bunch about it but I am just getting more confusted. Pardon me if this should be in general hardware forum.