Need advice on a perfect home audio setup, using the PC

Vav00m · 05-26-2005, 01:08 AM

OK, this is the setup.. if anyone has any suggestions, big or small, PLEASE post, it may or will help, and i have a large budget for this project ($200-$2000, more if it's worth it).... SO, this is where i stand.. My computer needs to feed audio to several sound systems, and possibly video to some lcd screens. this is what i have now:

My computer, audio sent to 6.1 surround (Logitech X620 [in the computer room]), split from there to a 6.1 surround sound home audio amp (Panasonic SA-XR25 [in the living room]) and speakers, and split once again to a 5.1 surround mini-system (Sony 991AV[in the kitchen]), THEN, my video card (ATI 9600SE) has a handy TV out which has the S-video going to the digital projector (Hitachi PJ-TX10, which has VGA-in, not using...), and split to a 36" tv in the kitchen.. NOW, what i wanna do is have S-Video going to the kitchen, and use VGA-in on the projector, but i have to get an adapter, easy pickup at the local computer store, no biggie (i have 2 DVI on the vid card)..

THE CONFUSION:
10,000,000,000 wires in my house. Low quality sound due to splittage.

WHAT I WANT:
Use of optical cables, even if it requires upgrading the sound card to an audigy4 or higher, upgrading logitech speakers to the logitech Z-5500, upgrading the sony minisystem, and I want to stretch my audio signal to go to two more sets of surround, both downstairs. Wireless audio transer? Optical Splitting? Use of plain old magic? Should I get another PCI-based video card to send clones of my video picture to the kitchen and the basement? Maybe I should photoshop up my system in a diagram and repost it.. I've spent probably $15,000 altogether in audio/video equipment.. I just dont think it's up to par..

email me at xuolaiv69@hotmail.com if that’s easier..

THANKS for readin! Now tell me what you think!

Vav00m · 05-26-2005, 02:02 AM

i just threw together a 200kb diagram of the setup, so you can visualize it better.. now i want to go digital, so imagine a way to put optical cables everywhere.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DIAGRAM

bpmax · 05-26-2005, 05:47 PM

Sounds to me as though you are making the jump to LCD and digital audio, in which case, some additional audio upgrades might be in order as well. In which case, Firewire is the answer. It carries both the audio and video signals thru a single cable. PCI adapters with firewire outs are very reasonably priced.

Replacing the 2 existing a/v recievers, with models that have Firewire ins/outs, along with the purchase of those LCD's would be very close to an end-all solution to your connectivity issues.

A/V receivers that have Firewire infrastructure are really coming down in price. (Some within the $500 - $600 price range)

Whatever you do, don't sacrifice your "future expansion/upgrade" capability for the sake of getting digial audio to those rooms "right now." Firewire based infrastructure is a pretty good way of ensuring that will not happen.

Vav00m · 05-26-2005, 09:51 PM

well the ultimate goal would be:
an LCD panel in the computer room, computer running dvi to the projector, LCD in the kitchen, and maybe one more LCD downstairs... and for audio, just want seemless digital audio in all rooms..
i've seen $10,000 recievers that don't have firewire.. is there some sort of a little box that could recieve the firewire signal and then make optical out of it? also , what do you think of AirTunes and the like? WiFi might be my answer..

05-26-2005, 01:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Vav00m Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	Need advice on a perfect home audio setup, using the PC OK, this is the setup.. if anyone has any suggestions, big or small, PLEASE post, it may or will help, and i have a large budget for this project ($200-$2000, more if it's worth it).... SO, this is where i stand.. My computer needs to feed audio to several sound systems, and possibly video to some lcd screens. this is what i have now: My computer, audio sent to 6.1 surround (Logitech X620 [in the computer room]), split from there to a 6.1 surround sound home audio amp (Panasonic SA-XR25 [in the living room]) and speakers, and split once again to a 5.1 surround mini-system (Sony 991AV[in the kitchen]), THEN, my video card (ATI 9600SE) has a handy TV out which has the S-video going to the digital projector (Hitachi PJ-TX10, which has VGA-in, not using...), and split to a 36" tv in the kitchen.. NOW, what i wanna do is have S-Video going to the kitchen, and use VGA-in on the projector, but i have to get an adapter, easy pickup at the local computer store, no biggie (i have 2 DVI on the vid card).. THE CONFUSION: 10,000,000,000 wires in my house. Low quality sound due to splittage. WHAT I WANT: Use of optical cables, even if it requires upgrading the sound card to an audigy4 or higher, upgrading logitech speakers to the logitech Z-5500, upgrading the sony minisystem, and I want to stretch my audio signal to go to two more sets of surround, both downstairs. Wireless audio transer? Optical Splitting? Use of plain old magic? Should I get another PCI-based video card to send clones of my video picture to the kitchen and the basement? Maybe I should photoshop up my system in a diagram and repost it.. I've spent probably $15,000 altogether in audio/video equipment.. I just dont think it's up to par.. email me at xuolaiv69@hotmail.com if that’s easier.. THANKS for readin! Now tell me what you think!

05-26-2005, 02:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Vav00m Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	the basic setup i just threw together a 200kb diagram of the setup, so you can visualize it better.. now i want to go digital, so imagine a way to put optical cables everywhere. CLICK HERE FOR THE DIAGRAM

05-26-2005, 05:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
bpmax Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1 OS: Win98se	Consider Firewire Sounds to me as though you are making the jump to LCD and digital audio, in which case, some additional audio upgrades might be in order as well. In which case, Firewire is the answer. It carries both the audio and video signals thru a single cable. PCI adapters with firewire outs are very reasonably priced. Replacing the 2 existing a/v recievers, with models that have Firewire ins/outs, along with the purchase of those LCD's would be very close to an end-all solution to your connectivity issues. A/V receivers that have Firewire infrastructure are really coming down in price. (Some within the $500 - $600 price range) Whatever you do, don't sacrifice your "future expansion/upgrade" capability for the sake of getting digial audio to those rooms "right now." Firewire based infrastructure is a pretty good way of ensuring that will not happen.

05-26-2005, 09:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vav00m Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	well the ultimate goal would be: an LCD panel in the computer room, computer running dvi to the projector, LCD in the kitchen, and maybe one more LCD downstairs... and for audio, just want seemless digital audio in all rooms.. i've seen $10,000 recievers that don't have firewire.. is there some sort of a little box that could recieve the firewire signal and then make optical out of it? also , what do you think of AirTunes and the like? WiFi might be my answer..