From: whosbest54@NOSPAM.yahoo.com.invalid   
      
   In article , nyyki@gypsyheir.com says...   
   >I have a Yamaha receiver that regularly annoys me. It doesn't do any input   
   >conversion, so if I want to run either component, S-video, or digital sound   
   >(like AC3) I'll have to run everything that way, and of course my gear   
   >doesn't support all that. I also can't replace all my gear, as some of it,   
   >especially the Laserdisc player, aren't made anymore.   
   >Volume is a problem with some of the components. My Boston Acoustics   
   >speakers require a higher input power rating than I consider a comfortable   
   >listening level. I discovered the problem wasn't a blown driver when I   
   >hooked up my laptop to the receiver and dropped its volume and cranked up   
   >the power amp. I need more wattage and the ability to  lower independent   
   >volumes for each component.   
   >   
   >And I'd like to go Blue Ray so I can start taking advantage of the Blue Ray   
   >discs with descriptive video on them. I already have a computer in there,   
   >(to play my ripped CD's and downloaded files, as it was easier to just rip   
   >everything and then access it through the computers instead of trying to   
   >find something on a shelf) and with Jaws it'll be fully accessible, assuming   
   >I find the right applications. Plus I could take advantage of Amazon Prime   
   >and Netflix content, which will have to have descriptive video fairly soon   
   >as an option.   
   >So here's what I'm thinking. I want to get rid of the receiver, pick up a   
   >few power amps to feed the Boston Acoustics speakers, Grab three more   
   >speakers for a 7.1 setup, and then set up the Stereo Computer (A dual core   
   >Dell) as the nexus of my home stereo system.   
   >The Dell has PCI Express slots. I'll swap out the internal DVD-R drive for a   
   >Blue Ray drive. I'll need inputs for a VCR, (until I get all my VHS tapes   
   >converted -- I have some rare things there that will need custom conversion,   
   >and I have a friend who's good at this) and the AC3 and video inputs from   
   >the Laserdisc player. A turntable and cassette deck are always nice but not   
   >mandatory. I'll also want to put a tuner card in the computer in case I   
   >decide to get cable again.   
   >So this is 2-4 inputs, One of which (the VCR, just in case) also needs an   
   >output, and a 7.1 PCI Express card out. I'll need at least two video inputs   
   >in for the Laserdisc player and the VCR, and AC3 in there somewhere, again   
   >for the Laserdisc player. Four inputs could mean an 8 port audio interface,   
   >and I'd also need an output card that will support 7.1.   
   >Then I'll need to source some way to get HDMI video into a regular composite   
   >TV signal for now until I get one of my two projection units troubleshot and   
   >hung.   
   >After that it's a matter of locating seven channels of power amplification,   
   >some way to use a remote with the computer, and some applications that I can   
   >control all of this. I'll probably use IBlink or Winamp for radio stations,   
   >too.   
   >   
   >So:   
   >Anyone know of any good PCI Express 7.1 cards for a reasonable price? 24/96   
   >or better would be a plus.   
   >Anyone know of anything that will let you control a computer with a remote?   
   >Anyone got any good suggestions on multi-channel power amps at a reasonable   
   >price? I don't need pro-audio stuff for this, and the room is about fourteen   
   >feet wide and eighteen feet long for the living room portion of it.   
   >What PCI Express interfaces are good enough to do home audio at a reasonable   
   >price with at least 8 inputs?   
   >How can I get at least two composite video inputs into the computer? What   
   >about an AC3 input?   
   >How about something that will output video? I probably need only one   
   >additional video output for the VCR.   
   >Anyone have any suggestions for control software for home audio systems? I   
   >want this to be user friendly enough that a roommate or visitor doesn't need   
   >a thirty minute teaching session to be able to do something to watch a movie   
   >or listen to music. And being able to control the additional outputs would   
   >also be nice, as my plans are to eventually wire the whole house for sound,   
   >so I can do a stereo feed to the rest of the house for music in the   
   >bedrooms, kitchen, game room Zen room, and back patio. But the software also   
   >has to use standard navigation commands so I can navigate without a mouse.   
   >General suggestions on this procedure and all will also be appreciated. I'm   
   >not in a hurry right now -- I'm in the initial stages of all of this, so   
   >there's a lot of thinking that will happen long before any real serious   
   >purchasing happens. And suggestions of who I might contact for more   
   >information would also be nice.   
   >   
   >Thanks for any assistance y'all can provide.   
   >   
   I'm fairly knowledgeable of PCs and home theater (HT) and I don't think your   
   plan is very practical.  It might be possible to make it work, but by the   
   time you find everything you need and get software that does it all to work   
   the way you want, you may be out a lot of time and money that would be better   
   put into a more standard HT setup.   
      
   The 2 most significant gaps in the info you provided are:   
      
   What inputs does your TV have?   
   What outputs does your PC have?   
      
   Once I have that info, I might provide more recommendations, but for   
   starters, assuming your TV has HDMI inputs:   
      
   - Get a decent 7.1 A/V receiver with enough power for your speakers as   
   proposed that converts all video to HDMI and does HDMI switching.  It will   
   need the necessary audio inputs for all your components as well.  Most decent   
   A/V receivers will meet your needs, including multi-room audio.   
      
   - If your PC has only VGA video and a 2 channel analog output, then you could   
   hook the vid out to the TV if it has a RGB/VGA input and the analog audio to   
   the new receiver.   
      
   A plus would be an HDMI output from the PC you could hook up directly to the   
   receiver.  It might be worth getting the hardware to do that on the PC, but   
   it really depends on what you want to use the PC for.  If you are serious   
   about internet sources being your main form of entertainment, then consider   
   it.  A new PC with a Blu-Ray drive and HDMI output might not be tremendously   
   more expensive than adding the hardware for HDMI and Blu-Ray to your existing   
   machine.  If your TV only has a HDMI input and no RGB/VGA, then you may have   
   to go the HDMI route.   
      
   I have a PC with a digital coax audio and VGA out.  My LG flat screen plasma   
   has a RGB/VGA input and the audio goes to my receiver.  I've had great   
   results with internet sources.   
      
   A generic tuner card would work for over the air, but many cable companies   
   are beginning to encrypt everything and if your cable provider is doing   
   the same, then you'd need their tuner box or perhaps something CableCard   
   ready.   
      
   whosbest54   
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