Audio/Video output from HTPC

[BrianBuan]

I am thinking about building a HTPC. One question I have is about the audio and video components. Ob viously the video component get sent to the TV through an HDMI cable but the audio component I don;t want to send to the TV speakers I wnat them on my surround sound system. I am fairly new to this concept so may just be a stupid question. But will plugging the speakers in to the Motherboard of the HTPC send the audio out that way or will it send it up the HDMI cable tot he TV. Don't really understand the seperation. Thanks.
Brian

 

[larkspur]

Since you have a surround system, just hook up the receiver for the surround system to the computer through one of the digital audio connectors (such as an optical S/PDIF or a digital coaxial). I use an optical cable from my PC to my surround receiver. My cable box also connects to the surround receiver in the same way.

 

[BrianBuan]

My bad I have the speakers for a surround system but not a true reciever it is just the DVD player. Would probably function the same way but part of the purpose of building the HTPC is to eliminate the other crap in my living room. One box.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Your HTPC will have multiple audio outputs. You will be able to select which one you want to use, (Speakers/HDMI/Optical etc...). Unfortunately, with an HTPC, unless you're using computer speakers, you're going to need a second device for surround sound. However, for the sake of completeness, please provide us with the make and model of your DVD/Surround Sound player.

-Wolf sends

 

[BrianBuan]

The DVD/Surround Sound system I have is a Panasonic SA-PT760. As a standalone DVD/Surround Sound system goes it is ok. The biggest downfall it has are the inputs. 1 HDMI port. Not enough when I want to run a PS3, DVD/Blue Ray, Satelite Reciever and now thinking about building an HTPC.

 

[larkspur]

The DVD/Surround Sound system I have is a Panasonic SA-PT760. The biggest downfall it has are the inputs. 1 HDMI port.

The SA-PT760 has an HDMI port to OUTPUT DVD video to the TV. It has no video inputs. It has two audio inputs - one is standard two-channel analog audio (red/white RCA plugs), the other is a digital optical S/PDIF. If you want true surround with any device, you'll have to plug the device's audio output into the digital optical S/PDIF input on the receiver.

People often wonder if they can just plug in all their device outputs into their TV's inputs and then use the TV's "audio out" output to connect to the surround system. You can, but due to Hollywood's obsession with BS copy protection, you won't get true 5.1. Only two-channel audio will be 'repeated' to the surround receiver. I'm not aware of any workarounds with regard to that. So again, you are stuck with your Panasonic receiver's single optical input for any device that you want in true surround.