Setting up speakers on a HTPC

[millerjd0315]

I am trying to set up a HTPC rig with an old computer that I have really no
use for anymore. And I have a Philips Blu ray surround sound home theater
system that I want to scavenge the speakers from. (I really just want to
get confirmation that this will work, I don't see why it wouldn't) The only
real issue with this is the Philips speakers use an Easy-Fit™ connectors (aka
Idiot proof) I want to install
a 5.1 channel sound card on my old motherboard and a small Video card, but
the sound card has 3.5mm jacks. Can I just cut the Easy connectors off and
splice on a 3.5mm plug and live happily ever after?

Sorry for the long post, and I know I'm getting a little frankestien-ish
with this contraption. But I have a small budget and too much stuff going
on within my TV stand and really want a sleek consolidated HTPC with quality
surround sound.

 

[americanaudiophile]

Sound cards do not have power amps in them so you won't be able to use the speakers from the HTiB directly. If you get any sound at all it will be very low in volume. If amps for all the speakers in the sub woofer so it may be possible to feed the PC directly to it if it has discrete inputs for each channel. Otherwise just connect the PC to the external input of the HTiB.

 

[millerjd0315]

I'm not real sure what you are talking about with the amp in the sub thing. Could you please explain? What I have is 5 regular speakers with regular speaker wire that all plug into the back of the blu ray player.

 

[millerjd0315]

OK never mind, I totally understand what you were saying now. Thanks for the wisdom.

 

[millerjd0315]

Do you have any suggestions on how I could get this to work? Or if I just need to go about this in a whole different direction

 

[USAFRet]

Do you have any suggestions on how I could get this to work? Or if I just need to go about this in a whole different direction

There are basically two different types of speaker setups.
Built in amplifier and non-builtin amplifier.

The ones that will run directly from a computer have their own built in amp.
The ones with your Philips do not have a built in amp, and are meant to run from something with an amp, like the blu-ray player.

The computer soundcard does not have the power to properly drive them.
So you need an amp of some sort to run those speakers.

The chain of equipment would be:
PC -> amplifier -> speakers.
You could use the existing Philips blu-ray thing, if is has an input of some sort.

 

[millerjd0315]

Thanks, I was hoping to do away with the Philips unit all tigether . I will look online for an amp and explore some more options. Thanks again for the details