Home Theatre question

Hello!
I need to know what is needed to hook up my computer with Xtreme Gamer to my 42" LCD TV. The TV? has a Sony 5. surround with RCA hookup. I don't want to buy a computer-speaker system.
I heard you can get 3.5mm to RCA coversion cables, but will this work? Most cables I see are a single 3.5mm to two RCA.
Please help out a noob!!

You would use all the output jacks on the back of your sound card IF you were connecting it directly to a set of 7. surround sound speakers designed specifically for computers. The difference between computer speakers and home stereo speakers is that computer speakers are self-powered, meaning just how it sounds. You'll notice on desktop computer speakers they have a power cord tha runs to them. Any amplification happens independently of the sound card or computer that they're connected to. Where a home stereo speakers are powered by the amplifier or receiver that they're connected to. Home stereo speakers (except some powered subwoofers) only have a left and right chanel wire going to each one, and no power cables. Any amplification is done by the amplifier/tuner/receiver, not by the speakers.
Sorry, I got off track a little bit.
So, you would connect your 3.5 phono plug to one of the outputs on your sound card. (Generally, the green one is the one to use for a single cable. Not always, but usually.) Then, find an empty input on your Sony receiver. Red goes to red, the other color to the other color. Some use black, some use white. But they all use red. (Because the R in Red goes with the R in Right. Makes it easy to remember.)
Then, you can either use the virtual 3D settings in the Creative Console to adjust your listening preferences, or use whatever controls your Sony receiver has to adjust the sound how you like it.
This won't give you true surround sound, though. If you want true surround sound, you either need to buy/borrow/steal a set of 7. or 5. surround sound computer speakers, or your Sony receiver needs to have RCA inputs for front left/right, rear left/right, center, and subwoofer.
Usually, home stereo receivers won't have that many inputs for surround sound. They'll use a single optical input. But your sound card doesn't have an optical output, so that doesn't help anyway.
The single cable connection is easy though. And it's cheap...that cable should be under twenty dollars, maybe even under ten dollars. Try it and see how you like it. Unfortunatly, if you're like most people, you're going to have parents/room-mates/a wife/children/neighbors who don't want to hear the gunfire and explosions of Call of Duty at two in the morning, and you'll end up using a headset anyway.

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I want to get a Mac Mini to install Plex on and use as a home theatre. I have a few questions:
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2) What's the earliest Mac Mini I could by 2nd hand to fit my needs? Or would I need the new, latest one?
Cheers

1) Can I connect it via HDMI to my amp (my amp accepts HDMI in and then connects by HDMI to the TV). Will it pass audio by HDMI also?
No. You'd need DVI to HDMI, and DVI doesn't pass audio. You'll need to run the audio separately. Note that some TVs will not accept a separate audio signal when they're set to an HDMI input, so if you plan to run the audio through your TV, check your set to find out. If you're planning to run the audio through a separate audio system, then you don't have to worry.
2) What's the earliest Mac Mini I could by 2nd hand to fit my needs? Or would I need the new, latest one?
I'm using one of the original G4 Mac minis and it works just fine (using a DVI to HDMI cable), though I'm not using it for any HD content from the iTunes Store. The only hitch is that the G4 mini doesn't have an infrared port for a remote, so I have to control the mini via a keyboard or remote from another computer. Plex of course would require an Intel Mac mini.
Depending on what you want to do, you might also consider an Apple TV. If all you want to do is media playback and don't need other functions (web surfing, etc.) the Apple TV might meet your needs and be less expensive (plus it has an HDMI output which will pass audio).
Regards.
Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Question on hooking up an Audigy 2zs to my home theatre syste

im trying to hook up my home theatre system to my pc. does anybody know if the "creative sound blaster digital I/O module cable" (which is an adapter that converts /8" headphone jack to a digital optical cable), is compatible with the Audigy 2zs card? so far i heard its only compatible with the audigy 2 value card..why not the 2zs?
Message Edited by listento3 on 06-27-2006 :6 AM

listento3,
Are you referring to the Digital I/O module unit's If that's the one, then no, I'm afraid it doesn't work with the Audigy 2 ZS soundcard. If your HT system works with coaxial input, you can use coaxial instead of optical.
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How to output video to TV or Home Theatre? (iphone)

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I have a Sony HT-DDW990 (Home Theatre Receiver with Subwoofer and 5 speakers) and I need to connect it to all the following devices:
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DVD Player - Model: Sony DVP-NS78H
Digital Cable Receiver - Model: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250HD (Videotron)
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Nintendo Wii
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Is there a website I can go to that can let me choose the devices I want to hook up to one another? I need step-by-step instructions and also the cables I will need (ex. HDMI cables, Audio/Optical cables etc.).
Thanks

That TV only had 2 HDMI inputs and the receiver only has 2 HDMI inputs, and it will not upconvert the wii to HDMI. So heres what we will do and need:
You need 4 HDMI cables, one optical cable, and get rid of the Wii video cable and replace it with a Wii component video cable.
Plug one cable from the hdmi out of the receiver to HDMI one of the TV. For HDMI 2 of the tv, plug in the PS3. Plug the Wii into component video 1, there is an optical out on the TV, the optical cable will go to one of the receivers optical inputs.
Plug the dvd and cable box to the receiver using HDMI. The inputs are most likely labeled Cable TV? and DVD.
When watching Cable and the Sony dvd the tv will need to be on HDMI 1, then select between DVD and the cable box on the inputs of the receiver. Video will go to the TV, audio will come out of the speakers.
for wii and the PS3 you will select that on the TV, HDMI 2 for PS3 and COmponent 1 for Wii. To get the audio, turn the receiver input to whichever optical input the cable got plugged in to. This will be the input for the audio when you are using these two devices.
If no sound comes out, then you will need to enter the tv's menu and disable the TV speakers, and sound will then rerout to the receiver.
If you have any more hookup questions, ask. It isn't easy for you due to your limited inputs on the TV and the receiver. I will check back to see how you do.
If you want to make life easier, Keep your speakers and get a new receiver and life will be so easy. Everything can pass through the receiver. Call around for a Sony receiver Model: STR-DH800 | SKU: 9246602, maybe find an open box deal. Everything can pass through that unit, and one HDMI to the TV.
Good luck.
Best Buy employee, 15 years selling electronics

For those who use home theatres...

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What would my option be for home theatre

I just bought a new home theatre system recently with a blu ray player. I am buying a new 3d tv but dont want to waste my home theatre system. It is a 1000w system but most recievers i looked at run at 500-800w. I dont want to spend a fortune on a reciever but will a 700-800w reciever be ok with my speakers. Each speaker is roughly 180w. Any advice on what route to go would be greatly appreciated.

So many questions and issues here.
Did you purchase a HTIB? What brand and model of speakers?
A speaker will most always sound better with more power to a point and as long it is clean power and not distortion. What usually kills speakers are clipping amplifiers that produce distortion, not a good clean audio signal.
Is the 180W rating the nominal or peak rating that it can handle?
As far as 3D is concerned, I would be hesitant to jump on that right now. If you TRULY want to create a home theater experience your money would be better spent on the integration of your speakers in the room. You should also work on the acoustics and lighting in the room.
I feel that a better home theater experience is obtained by getting the lighting and room acoustics right. I would also recommend getting a lesser display, say a 57" Panasonic, and then pay to have it calibrated by an ISF certified technician. Make sure that you also calibrate the speakers using multiple methods and definitely the speakers in the right position.
You do realize that there is very little 3D content and you have to watch the TV in a dark room since the 3D technology pretty much reduces the output by 1/2. You must also wear glasses all the time(yuch) and the best picture is really only within 30 degrees from being straight on to the TV.
My best advice, research, research, and more research before laying down your $$$.
I do not work for Best Buy and am not affiliated with them in any way. I like HT and want to help people improve their HT experience. "There is a LOT more than just having a TV to make a home theater"

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hi Adam,
Welcome to the Lenovo Forums.
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Thanks for the reply.
Andy

Re:Connect T-Box to home theatre not working

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Deebs wrote:
G'day,I recently bought Highlander 5.1 home Theatre system and have tried to connect through T-Box withOptical Toslink S/PDIF to 3.5mm Optical Mini Plug Jack Digital Audio Cable with no success,the sound system works great through the DVD player that the home theatre system came with.But I am unable to get it to work through my T-Box. Any ideas?I triedFrom the User guide; "CONNECTING YOUR T-BOX TO A HOME THEATRE SYSTEM Your T-Box has digital audio (S/PDIF) and RCA audio (left and right) connectors that you can use. However you’ll need either digital audio optical cable or RCA audio cables, which aren’t included with your T-Box. You can purchase these, and any additional accessories, from any good electronics retailer." Don't forget to turn down the volume on your TV. I have copied and pasted,hence the weird mash up of the question.Can anyone help?cheersDeebs
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http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...gital&doy=26m5
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Hello all,
I am having a similar issue. I would like to connect my Audigy 2ZS to a Sony Reciever (STR DE-898) preferably via the digital out. The sound card and reciever are 25 feet apart.
I have read that the digital out on the Audigy 2ZS is specifically for creative lab speakers, and that if you connect it to a normal reciever that it may damage the reciever is this true?
Second, the other option that I have is to buy the 7. adaptor and connect RCA extension cables to the reciever.
The last option is to connect it to the regular headphone jack out, and use an extension cable to connect to the reciever (This is what I am currently using), but the sound quality is terrible.
Please help, I read the recent post on digital out ,which helped some, but still the question remains... if you connect the digital out on the Audigy 2ZS to a Sony receiver will this damage the receiver?Message Edited by asharabi98 on 05-27-2006 0:38 AMMessage Edited by asharabi98 on 05-27-2006 0:39 AM

PC and Home Theatre Hookup....need advice

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I am in the process of connecting my PC to my home theater setup and have the following:
. The computer has the X-Fi Platinum Fatality card with the I/O Bay
2. The A/V receiver is the Sony STR-DG70...it has the Optical and Coaxial digital inputs and it does have the dts logo
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2. Could I have just used the Sound Blaster Digital I/O Module from the Flexijack connection on the card?to receiver digital optical input?
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Kenny

- This will fit your "flexi-jack" when connecting to optical sources........
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V0ETB0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V0ETB0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product[/url]
This may save you the trouble of buying the I/O module.

Home Theatre

I would like to build a home theatre system centered around a desktop. My questions are?
Speakers 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1
Best home theatre sound card to match the above choice?
Does my computer or the sound card have a decoder for dvd movies or do I have to buy something like the extigy or DDTS-100?
What other goodies do I need?
What other goodies can I add?
I look forward to your replies!

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If you're going to be using the PC as the entertainment center, a soundcard like the Audigy 2 ZS matched with analog speakers would be the best. If you want something a little more powerful than sets like the T5400 and T7700, take a look at the Megaworks (ProGamer G500, 550) and Gigaworks (S700) speakers.
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