Audio Newb. HTPC Media Center questions

[Tristerin]

Disclaimer - never have been and never was an audiophile - so I know nothing of terminology, and how-to/why-cause. 

 

Over the last few months I have been putting together a media center since planned obsolescence with Fire Sticks and their ilk (I have all of them, roku's, 4k boxes, off brand, branded blah blah blah) have wasted my time and money. 

 

Tower - HP Pro 6300 Microtower audio codec (Realtek 2-channel ALC221 codec) and information best displayed here https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03382665#AbT7

(PC specs in signature)

1 open 5.25" bay

1 open PCI-Ex1 slot

(can make things happen if its worth it, splitters, risers frankenmods galore!)

 

Currently running HDMI sound passthrough to my TV from the HD 7750 GPU.  I have only the line outs on the motherboard specs.  My TV has HDMI, Audio in/out RCA ports, Optical Audio port and a green line in port.

 

My thoughts were to get a Sound Card, somehow passed through the TV into a future 5.1 channel surround Receiver to speaker setup (or passthrough to just a decent soundbar and woofer)

 

But since I don't know what it takes figured Id ask here before making purchases or looking into products.  My guess is a DAC means Dedicated Audio Card?  I promise I didn't google just perused the forums and noticed that acronym quite a few times!

 

Thanks!

 

[Havardr]

2 hours ago, Tristerin said:

My guess is a DAC means Dedicated Audio Card?

DAC means Digital to Analog Converter

[Tristerin]

1 minute ago, Havardr said:

DAC means Digital to Analog Converter

See, I knew I was a noob!  lol  Wanted to display my lack of understanding but took an educated guess lol

[akio123008]

What exactly are you looking for? What's the goal of this audio system you're building? (what matters to you in this situation?)

[Havardr]

If you are using HDMI you do not need a sound card. And in the future if you are getting a receiver you would connect it with HDMI.

[Tristerin]

7 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

What exactly are you looking for? What's the goal of this audio system you're building? (what matters to you in this situation?)

I am looking for better than what I have with the final component yet to be selected - receiver and speakers, likely 5.1 surround.  My audio chip on my board is ancient (though I don't know what EXACTLY that means) and currently if I play an actual Blu Ray disc through VLC or Leawo software it sounds TERRIBLE (like its playing surround over 2 channel I think is the right way to describe it) so when internet is down I have to use an old Blu Ray player and I want a 1 stop shop for my Media

 

I want to make sure I have everything correct when I begin the choice of a Receiver - I.E. the correct connections, passthroughs, and a system that can adequately utilize the Receiver though Im not sure that's even a thing LOL

 

End goal - surround 5.1 with a woofer and minimal headaches getting to that point (with sound WORTH putting into 5.1 channel)

5 minutes ago, Havardr said:

If you are using HDMI you do not need a sound card. And in the future if you are getting a receiver you would connect it with HDMI.

So the way this hooks up would be HDMI out of GPU, into Receiver HDMI, out to TV HDMI and this would ensure my sounds and graphic output match up etc?  And then the receiver does its magic to amplify the speakers?

Sorry, am nub

[akio123008]

2 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

My audio chip on my board is ancient (though 

The audio chip won't be used when you're using HDMI audio. The receiver handles the D/A conversion.

3 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

End goal - surround 5.1 with a woofer and minimal headaches getting to that point (with sound WORTH putting into 5.1 channel)

So the way this hooks up would be HDMI out of GPU, into Receiver HDMI, out to TV HDMI and this would ensure my sounds and graphic output match up etc?

Sorry, am nub

The receiver takes the audio and the video signal, it then decodes the audio data and uses that to send the right audio signal to each speaker in the setup. It won't do anything to the video stream, that will simply be passed on to the TV.

[Havardr]

3 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

HDMI out of GPU, into Receiver HDMI, out to TV HDMI

Correct.

[Tristerin]

2 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

The audio chip won't be used when you're using HDMI audio. The receiver handles the D/A conversion.

The receiver takes the audio and the video signal, it then decodes the audio data and uses that to send the right audio signal to each speaker in the setup. It won't do anything to the video stream, that will simply be passed on to the TV.

 

1 minute ago, Havardr said:

Correct.

 

Oh...wow, well this is a little more simpler to understand than I expected.  Fully ready to shell out $100+ for a sound card LOL

 

So now it comes to the Receiver and Speakers I choose for the quality of sound (not the other hardware I have) - well then - I will be perusing my shopping website and come here for advice! 

 

Looking to spend $150-200 on an ON SALE receiver, Pioneer, Onkyo, sometimes I can see a Harmon Kardon for that price on sale on Newegg - any brands I should STAY away from, anyones I should consider potentially over that budget that will FUTURE proof it?  Any input/outputs I should consider because some are ANCIENT and some are FUTURE proof?

 

As for speakers, should I wait until a Reciever is selected or better to buy the entire system for compatibility?  I figured speakers are where the REAL money is spent based on my perusal of websites.

 

Thank you all so much!

 

[Havardr]

If you are going for a 4k tv in the future you should make sure the receiver can handle HDMI 2.0 and 4k signal.

[akio123008]

9 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

As for speakers, should I wait until a Reciever is selected or better to buy the entire system for compatibility?  I figured speakers are where the REAL money is spent based on my perusal of websites.

The order of importance of speakers in a 5.1 is roughly: front center speaker > front left/right speakers > subwoofer > rear speakers > side speakers. So make sure the money is in the front speakers and the sub for the best experience. Sure rear and side speakers are important, but they're not doing the majority of the "work". 

[Tristerin]

4 minutes ago, Havardr said:

If you are going for a 4k tv in the future you should make sure the receiver can handle HDMI 2.0 and 4k signal.

Yes will be going 4k thank you for this tidbit of info to remember!  Havent pulled the trigger yet because haven't done my research yet

 

2 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

The order of importance of speakers in a 5.1 is roughly: front center speaker > front left/right speakers > subwoofer > rear speakers > side speakers. So make sure the money is in the front speakers and the sub for the best experience. Sure rear and side speakers are important, but they're not doing the majority of the "work". 

 

Thank you!  Will absolutely remember this!

 

So is HDMI 2.0 currently the new standard?  I.E. Optical Audio Ive never used but its been around for a while, is this a dinosaur port?  Or is this the new standard for convenience as well due to video and audio on one cable?

[akio123008]

Just now, Tristerin said:

So is HDMI 2.0 currently the new standard?  I.E. Optical Audio Ive never used but its been around for a while, is this a dinosaur port?  Or is this the new standard for convenience as well due to video and audio on one cable?

 Optical audio and HDMI don't sound different, they're both digital audio and therefore sound equally good, HDMI is probably just a more convenient solution here. Your computer doesn't have an optical output anyway right?

[Tristerin]

1 minute ago, akio123008 said:

 Optical audio and HDMI don't sound different, they're both digital audio and therefore sound equally good, HDMI is probably just a more convenient solution here. Your computer doesn't have an optical output anyway right?

Correct - my follow up was going to be (depending on your response) would it be prudent to get a sound card at all but sounds like the question was answered by you in that statement

 

Or maybe this question - is Optical Output currently being utilized to its Max?  I.E. would it be prudent to ensure I have one of those input and output on the receiver in case things continue to extrapolate out and Optical has more range (Im not sure how to express what I am saying in audio terms...like how bandwidth affect things, is HDMI 2.0 being fully utilized while Optical still has generational leaps to go?)

 

Sorry if I am asking wrong/stupid/ignorant questions - still claiming full nub status over here.

[akio123008]

Because HDMI is far more popular, it is more likely to be invested in, and therefore less likely to become obsolete than optical audio. Both could technically be improved and have "leaps to go", but again, HDMI is more likely to be invested in.

[Havardr]

Bandwith wise, HDMI 2.0 is leaps ahead of optical. 

You can't get Dolby true HD or DTSHD over optical.

 

[Tristerin]

1 hour ago, akio123008 said:

Because HDMI is far more popular, it is more likely to be invested in, and therefore less likely to become obsolete than optical audio. Both could technically be improved and have "leaps to go", but again, HDMI is more likely to be invested in.

 

1 hour ago, Havardr said:

Bandwith wise, HDMI 2.0 is leaps ahead of optical. 

You can't get Dolby true HD or DTSHD over optical.

 

 

Thank you both so much for your assistance this afternoon.  I will absolutely be utilizing this Forum once I decide to make some purchases. 

It was really nice to be engaged with, without snide comments or remarks against my intelligence regarding Audio - Im new to LTT because I stopped using forums a year or so ago because of how Toms Hardware folks treat each other - wasn't impressed with the people there or Admins and spent to much time upset reading posts there lol.