PC Peripherals Building HTPC.. Need Some assistance

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pitchucold

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Hi Guys,

I have found a pretty interesting forum. I guess while browsing hifivision/ team-bhp, i hit upon this forum. It is very very interesting ...Thanks to all you guys :)

I watch lot of movies and PLay games in Ps2. I do not play games in my Pc. But i am in interested in converting my existing PC into a HTPC, though i dont own a Flatpanel, But I intend to buy one in near future. I have gone thru posting of gmano, gunman, greenhorn etc on HTPC. Pretty detailed..written very well and easily understandable even for dummies like me.

I am trying to integrate the PC, AVR and other components. I need help on few things listed below.

Let me post the current Rig and AVR components :

1) Onkyo SR TX 505
2) JBL Control 1 Extreme -Fronts
3) JBL Voice - Center
4) Velodyne VX-10.

I am currently looking at Morduant Short / Wharfedale as Fronts and move JBL 1X to rear. I am intending to settle with 5.1..no plans to upgrade to 7.1.

My PC configuration is
Intel C2D E6550 || Intel DG33FBC Mobo | 1 GB DDR2 -667- Ram ||Sound Onboc Ac'97 !! Lite On DVD Writer || 250 GB SATA HDD || Viewsonic 1912WB || Zebronics Rage.

Question 1:
To AVR Onkyo 505, I have hooked PS2 and DVD Player via Digital Toslink. Sounds works perfect no issues. But Ps2 video is the problem. Current PS2 Video is on

composite. I have bought 2 Monster PS2 Component Cables, but they are not working right, Picture is jerky. I am not sure if it caused by mod on my PS2. Did any

one of you encounter this problem?

Question 2:
I have Connected PC to my AVR via SPDIF. I am using fronts and Sub in Onboard sound card output and Other one is used as Line in for Pixelview Pro 3 TV Tuner!!

The audio when played from Win Amp is playing in stereo. just the front channels work fine. But Sub is playing the bass!!. How do i make the Sub Sing as well. I

just want the Sub Sing...not the center Channel

It is vice versa when it comes to movies!! the Sound output from Movies is feeble. I need to pump the volume in AVR to hear things better...But still i am not

satisfied.

I want better sound. I believe output via Optical Toslink would make it better. I intend to throw away my philips..as it does not play half of the seventy mm

Rental DVD's and use my PC as HTPC for playing DVDS and movie rips downloaded.

I checked view of the forum / postings found Turtle Beach TBS-3300-01 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Montego DDL Sound Card which is costing around $60.

The Other MAudio doesnt have Digital Toslink and EMU's are mostly stereo. I seek Multichannel Audio.

To summarise,

1. If i go for new sound card turtle beach, Can i play music in 2 Channel/ 2.1 Channel and movies in 5.1 . Should i connect Two Channel via to AVR for stereo and Optical for movies?

2. Is Turtle Beach Montego DDL a right pick ?? Reference drivers from C-Media Electronics | Total PC Audio Solutions work great with this card than the stock drivers.

Question 3:

on Graphics CArd!! I understand from gmano's postings, an ATI RADEON HD 3650. Should i invest on this card even if i want usemy current LCD Monitor and i am not very keen on HD for now. But even when i buy a Flat Panel, I intend to use dual monitor. Would HD3850 match that requirement.
Question 4:

I intend to use my existing Zebronics Rage. I have already stopped using Fan as it is noisy, probably i would switch off the LED as well :) ...BAsed on how HTPC Matches my requirement, i intend to invest further in it ...

Question 5:

NEed better PVR for Pixelview Pro 3. Can i perform scheduled recording in the PVR?? I am using the Pixel view. DScaler did not work fo some reason..so was chris Tv. Can you guys provide any other suggestion?

Question 6:

I am currently using XP unlicensed. I dont have MCE. I am intending to go for Vista Home Premium. How is MCE in it ??

Apologies for the long posted with too many questions. All these were bothering me for a long time.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and going thru the long post .

Regards,
Prasanna KV
 
I guess My long post has put off people. I have not a single reponse. I have answer to my second question.

I have decided to go for the HT Omega Striker 7.1 . Is it costing ariund $74 (sale Price).

Newegg.com - HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

This seems to be better for HTPC has some raving reviews. It has DTS INTERACTIVE / DTS NEO:PC / Dolby Digital Live. Since I have just 5.1 channels, I guess this do the job.

Please do let me know your thoughts.
 
Firstly, welcome to the forums ! :)

1. Which version of the PS2 do you have? I believe there's a setting in the PS2's system menu that allows you to change the display setting between composite and YPbPr - have you tried it? Though with the measly 480i/p output of a PS2, you shouldn't see a breath-taking difference between composite and component, so stick to whichever one works.

2. I didn't quite get this? Isn't a sub's purpose only to play low-end freqs aka bass?

The audio tracks in DVD Movies/rips are supposed to have a larger dynamic range, thats why the volume appears lower. You can always boost the volume, either through AC3 filter or ffdshow.

I don't think there's much of a difference between S/PDIF Coax and optical TOSLink. If at all, optical TOSLink rules out the possibility of any ground loops and EMI, which would be minor or non-existent in a HT setup. But yes, a good quality cable - irrespective of whether its Coax or optical - will make a difference.

Whether you connect your 2-channel audio via S/PDIF or via the sound-card's analog outs depends on the quality of the DACs in your sound-card and the receiver. If the DACs are better in your sound card, use analog out; if they're better on your receiver, use S/PDIF.

The HT Omega Striker looks good, and eerily similar to the Auzentech cards. If you fancy swapping op-amps and all, then perhaps the Auzentech Xplosion 7.1 would also do.

3. The HD 3650 is good, but with the 4 series out.. you should probably look for a 4 series option. Something like the HD 4650/4670 should offer better performance and lower power consumption. HD 3850 is not worth considering.

About managing on onboard graphics, I'm not sure how that would be possible since there's only one VGA-out.

4. Thats fine. HTPC casing options are pretty poor out here anyway :)

5 & 6 - no clue sorry :)
 
Crazy_Eddy said:
Firstly, welcome to the forums ! :)

1. Which version of the PS2 do you have? I believe there's a setting in the PS2's system menu that allows you to change the display setting between composite and YPbPr - have you tried it? Though with the measly 480i/p output of a PS2, you shouldn't see a breath-taking difference between composite and component, so stick to whichever one works.
Click to expand...

I disagree. There's a significant difference on the ps2 between component and composite. There is a setting in the ps2 system menu that you have to change to Y-Pb-Pr and that should do the trick.
 
Hi Gmano, Eddy, Vebk

Thanks for the response and welcome:)

I didnot know that i have to change the setting in PS2 to Y-Pb-Pr in System MEnu Earlier. Let me try changing it and keep you posted.

You guys have clarified q 1 on PS2, Q3 on Video Card, Q4 on Case.

Pending Ones are Q2,5,6. Out of which Q2 on Sound is confusing.

Let me clarify my question:

I use the Onboard Sound card ACL888 audio Codec in Intel DG33FBC Mobo. Out of three outputs, I have connected by Fronts and Sub / Center Channel in other. Third One is used for Line in for tv tuner, as i dont have surrounds yet. I intend to purchase one of the listed speakers and move the current Fronts JBL to rear. I have connected the AVR Inputs with Monster Cables with 3.5 mm Jack in one end and RCA on the other. (Is this connection is called SPDIF or SPDIF is only co axials / Toslink..(excuse my ignorance))

The Issue i faced was when played from Winamp, it sounded on all the speakers (even the center channel). I could set it to play in stereo mode in Onkyo 505. It was always in Multichanel.

But when i switched the Output playback plugins it was playing in Stereo and sub was playing LF as well. That issue is resolved.

Eddy would there be a beeg diference if i moved from Current RCA to Toslink optical? I intend to either go for HT Omega Striker or Asus Xonar as gmano suggested.

I read somewhere in the forum that when Sound card is connected via Toslink optical, the sound card cababilities are not fully used. It is only AVR which does the magic of decoding. Did I understand it right? In that case Investing on powerful sound card does not help at all if i am connecting with Toslink Optical?? As Onkyo 192K/24 Bit DACs would do the work!!

Onky 505 Specs
DOLBY Decoder PLIIx, DD, DD-EX
DTS Decoder DTS, ES, NEO6, 96/24
192K/24 Bit DACs

Secondly If i have understood the SPecs of Asus Xonar right, I connect it to my Onkyo 505 only with current RCA Cables?

i shall browse the forum on how to tweak using the AC3 filter or ffdshow as Eddy suggested. As a matter of fact, i am just learning things. I dont know what exactly is swapping op-amps :( .

Thanks for support and patience

Regards,
Prasanna KV
 
Hi Eddy /Vebk,

Thanks for the PS2 tweak again. My component cable woked fine for me.

Stupid of me i bought a second cable. I shall post sale in classifieds :)

Cheers
Prasanna KV
 
pitchucold said:
I have connected the AVR Inputs with Monster Cables with 3.5 mm Jack in one end and RCA on the other. (Is this connection is called SPDIF or SPDIF is only co axials / Toslink..(excuse my ignorance))
Click to expand...

The way you're connected right now is *not* an S/PDIF connection, its the conventional Analog out connection. Yes, S/PDIF connections are via Coax/Optical cable AND using S/PDIF ports alone :



Silly of me, but I should've paid attention to your config since your board does not have an S/PDIF out anyway.

pitchucold said:
Eddy would there be a beeg diference if i moved from Current RCA to Toslink optical?
Click to expand...

Ok, first a bit about the audio stream in soundcards :

1. Audio data on PCs/DVDs/CDs exists in the Digital format

2. A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) converts this digital data to analog audio

3. Op-amps amplify this analog audio up to line level

4. Line level audio is transferred via Analog outs to your Amp/AV Receiver i.e. your Onkyo in this case.

What an S/PDIF connection does is, bypass the whole chain from the DAC (step 2). Theoretically this means, your digital data goes 'as-is' from your source MP3/DVD/CD/etc to your AV Receiver. The AV Receiver then does everything that the sound-card would have done, but with better/worse quality dependant on how the DAC/Op-amps on your receiver compare to the ones on your sound-card! In other words, RCA Analog outs or S/PDIF - either could be better depending on the quality of components.

Answering your quesiton - with your present onboard sound, it would be quite likely that the A/V Receiver > Realtek. With your sound-card upgrade, its anyone's guess and upto your ears to tell which one is better ;)

pitchucold said:
In that case Investing on powerful sound card does not help at all if i am connecting with Toslink Optical?? As Onkyo 192K/24 Bit DACs would do the work!!
Click to expand...

So yes, when you use a Coax/Optical S/PDIF connection, you are bypassing a major portion of your sound-card and it does look like you're making that huge investment worthless.

BUT, here comes the tricky bit - even when transferring what should theoretically be the same digital data across S/PDIF, there is still a difference in the quality across sound-cards. This is down to a number of reasons dependant on the card - either it resamples, runs it through some DSP, etc. So, getting a dirt-cheap S/PDIF equipped sound-card may not sound as good as it could be. What you need is a sound-card that offers *bit-perfect* audio output with the least hassles.

pitchucold said:
Secondly If i have understood the SPecs of Asus Xonar right, I connect it to my Onkyo 505 only with current RCA Cables?
Click to expand...

Which specific Xonar model? If i'm not mistaken all the Xonars have S/PDIF outs, so you could connect it either way depending on what was said earlier ^^ :)

Glad to hear the setting fixed your PS2 component cable woes :hap2:
 
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is it poss to convert coax>optical out? both being S/PDIF

planning on gettin an htpc myself... my receiver only has the optical line in..
 
Yep. There is the M-Audio CO2. Cheaper options are there for ~30$.

But I guess with these prices you're probably better off getting a sound-card that has both coax/optical outs :)
 
Hi Eddy,

Thanks again :). It has helped me to understand things better.

So, getting a dirt-cheap S/PDIF equipped sound-card may not sound as good as it could be. What you need is a sound-card that offers *bit-perfect* audio output with the least hassles.
Click to expand...

I have Striker HT Omega 7.1 in mind. Cos it has seperate Line in for TV Tuner.

Newegg.com - HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

Or Asus Xonar DX. You are right, asus indeed has SPDIF but it is with Line in.

SO probably i shall go with HT Omega Striker 7.1. This way i can switch to Analog out and check which sounds better.

Do you have any other sound card in Mind which can suit my requirement??

I see a jack called CD along midi in & Aux in the Inner side of the card. How exactly it is used?? Does connecting the DVD To this port make it sound better??

Thanks in advance

REgards,
PRasanna KV
 
Sorry i'm not really into the sound-card scene at the moment so I would trust Mano's recommendations. The HT Omega Striker is good - and considering the Xonar DX only has a combined S/PDIF/Line in jack - would be the better option :)

The CD in/Aux in headers on the inside of the card are simply other optional audio inputs, similar to your line-in jack.

In earlier days, when you played a CD in your drive, the CD Player app would get the CD drive to play and decode the audio by itself and output the analog audio through the 'CD in' header on the soundcard. In other words, it was dependant on the CD Drive's DAC for its final quality.

But nowadays, your system can read the data digitally off the drive and decode it the better way.

Obviously the latter option is preferable, so avoid hooking up the CD/DVD drive to this header.

spynic said:
thnx eddy... i was searching for some DIY solutions and this is what i found..

How to build an optical SPDIF bracket - MythTV

Datasheet for the transmitter: http://www.toshiba.com/taec/components/Datasheet/TOTX173.pdf

i wudnt mind giving it a try...
Click to expand...

Yep, you can give it a try. But do note that your motherboard/soundcard has an S/PDIF header firstly!

Which card are we dealing with here that only has a coax S/PDIF output ?
 
pretty good topic...really solves many spdif kinda questions..

I dont think one should buy a soundcard if gonna use spdif output..if m not wrong ?
 
coolraghav said:
pretty good topic...really solves many spdif kinda questions..

I dont think one should buy a soundcard if gonna use spdif output..if m not wrong ?
Click to expand...

you are not wrong, if the mother board has got a spdif out.
 
coolraghav said:
I dont think one should buy a soundcard if gonna use spdif output..if m not wrong ?
Click to expand...

Only if your motherboard has an S/PDIF output like mano mentioned above

*and* it offers bit-perfect output (if you're looking for optimal sound quality).

In most cases with onboard S/PDIF, the latter is not true.. in which case a good soundcard is needed.
 
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