Janeen Perona: Yes, it's possible, just don't buy a home theater in a box.When it comes to audio for music and movies.- Stereo speakers+subwoofer is good for listening to music that's encoded in stereo=2.1=2 channels+LFE channel=2 or 3 channels.- Surround sound speakers+subwoofer, receiver can set it to use stereo=2.1=2 channels+LFE channel=2 or 3 channels, but it can also use 5 channel stereo=5.1=2 channels+LFE channel=2 or 3 channels, but 5 channel stereo only sounds good when music has no vocals in it.- Surround sound speakers+subwoofer, receiver can set it to a surround sound format which is good for music that has vocals in it, it's best if the music is not in stereo and instead already encoded in a surround sound format, otherwise you have to use crappy dolby pro logic II (DPLII) for surround sound because the music is in stereo.- Surround speakers+subwoofer, movies are best in surround sound=5.1=5 channels+LFE channel=6 channels or 7.1=7 channels+LFE channel=8 chan! nels.How to hook up a computer for audio and video. - Note I recommend real surround sound speakers+receiver and a hd tv.For video + audio: Best.- 1st hdmi cable to hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on receiver, then 2nd hdmi cable to hdmi out on receiver to hdmi in on tv.or- dvi-d + s/pdif to hdmi converter and then use the above setup.(Instead of to tv, you could go from receiver first with any video cable, then hdmi from receiver to tv and maybe your receiver can upconvert/upscale other video signals other than hdmi-set the settings).For video: From best to least.- hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on tv.or- dvi out on computer/laptop to dvi in on tv.or- dvi-d to hdmi cable (does not carry audio).or- vga out on computer/laptop to vga in on tv.or- component out on computer/laptop to component in on tv.or- s video(super-video) out on computer/laptop to s video in on tv.or- composite video (video) out on computer/laptop to composite video in on tv.or- coax video o! ut on computer/laptop to coax video in on tv.(For audio, it is! possible to go to tv with hdmi cable, then tv's audio outs go to receiver).For audio: From best to least.- hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on receiver.or- s/pdif coaxial or s/pdif optical out on computer/laptop to s/pdif coaxial or s/pdif optical in on receiver.or- rca, Red (right channel) and white (left channel) stereo out on computer/laptop to in on receiver or tv.Now there is usb options.- Like displayport cable to hdmi adaptor, or use a regular usb on a blu-ray player.For audio:- You have to use a hdmi cable for audio if you have a 8 channel=7.1 surround sound speaker system hooked/wired up to your 7.1 receiver. You want to use hdmi cable for audio if your receiver supports the dolby-true-hd or dts-hd surround sound formats.- You need to download k-lite codec pack for windows media player or media player classic and use ffdshow (output -> ac3 s/pdif encode mode+48000 hz+many other settings) to send a surround sound signal through a s/pdif cable.- If you have a ! sound card that supports multi-channel audio (select output + 5.1 or 7.1.ect speaker setup).For video:- You need a video driver that supports multiple monitors and/or can use dual/clone view.or- If you cannot use the above (if your video driver is up to date and is not able to do multiple monitors or dual/clone view),- Method 1: Use a control center for your video driver or windows media center so you can set your tv as your primary monitor+many other settings.(I have a ati display driver, so I downloaded a matching version of my ati display driver with ati/amd catalyst control center).- Method 2: Shut down computer, hook up video cable, disconnect your monitor (vga), turn tv onto either video 1 or hdmi or w/e works, then turn on computer and video will display on tv....Show more
Tatiana Evanosky: I have one of my home theater systems hooked up to a desktop computer, so that I can play anything coming from the computer through the audio system. On another of our HT sy! stems, we have a plug available to connect to the headphone jack of our! laptops.. This is actually very easy to arrange; Just get an audio cable that has a male 3.5 MM stereo plug at one end, and a pair of stereo RCA male jacks at the other end. The 3.5 MM plug goes into the audio output of the computer, and the RCA jacks go into an audio input on the home theater audio receiver. Then, select the audio input that the RCA cables are plugged into, to listen to your audio feed from the computer. The final point is get a cable that is long enough for your needs....Show more
Rodolfo Merel: Absolutely, but choose the home theater system and speakers carefully, as most "home theater" speakers do a very poor job of playing back music. There is a difference in the design and sound quality's of home theater speakers and high quality music speakers so I would recommend you buy home music speakers and use them for home theater as well. There is no draw back in doing so, and I feel the best home theater systems use high quality music speakers.The d! ifferences are, that home theater speakers are designed to be directional, so you can pinpoint sounds with in a multi channel surround system. They are also not designed to playback music at a high level of fidelity but more to reproduce sound effects.Home music speakers on the other hand, are first designed to reproduce music at the highest level, and not be directional but be more open when playing back two channel music. Most high quality music speakers also make surround and even center channel speakers to complement the main left and right music speakers to complete a high quality surround and music system.This is one of the main reasons "most" home theater systems do a very poor job of playing back music.The equipment of course also contributes to the sound quality for music, so its a good idea to buy equipment that is more intended for music, but also plays surround sound material.Setup and calibration is a little more critical to get right in a music system so car! e full setup and calibration is a good idea. If your not comfortable de! signing and installing a good music/ home theater system, then you might want to consider going and discovering your local independent high end audio video store, as they carry the better brands of speakers and equipment, and the salesmen at these stores also have years of experience designing and installing the better systems.The chain stores dont have a clue what they are doing, and 98% of the equipment they carry is low end anyway.You may not be familiar with the better brands these smaller high end stores carry, so find a salesmen that will take the time to help you discover the better brands, and audition speakers and equipment that sound good to your ears, keeping in mind the room they will be played in. If you take your time and discover these smaller high end stores, you will have a system that will work well, sound good to your ears, and you can be proud to own.Kevin40 years high end audio video specialist...Show more
Darrel Stele: Yes, just buy a 3.5mm to L! +R RCA cable to go from your source to the receiver.
Coleen Carignan: Those home theater in a box are not very flexible for adding anything to them or for up grading. They are mainly designed for you to watch a movie with surround sound. The only such system that I can recommend with confident is the Onkyo HT-S3500. It is a 5.1 receiver and a set of speakers. You can get an ipod dock and connect it to the receiver along with other electronic. Demo the unit at any Fry's Electronic and it retails for around $300. Hope this will help you out.
No comments:
Post a Comment