TV sound out of computer speakers? 4

[dcloud]

I have a set of Logitech X-530 5.1 surround speakers hooked up to a C-Media sound card and I was wondering is it possible to get my TV sound to come out of my computer surround speakers? And if so how would I do this?

I'm asking because the speakers on my TV are going out.

- dc

 

[dcloud]

Also....

On the back of my TV I have S-video, and a white and red plug which are Right/Left audio Out. There are two other audio jacks but they are plugged into a transciever box (which I have my GameCube, DVD and TV plugged into).

I'm also wondering if I can run audio from the DVD player? On the DVD player I have the available plugs - Digital Out (Coaxial) jack, Component video out jacks, Line Out video jack. I do not know if it has 5.1 analog out. I checked in the user manual but I could not find anything.

On my computer I have a C-Media 5.1 surround card, and on it I have the X-530 speakers hooked up. The only other plugs left open on the card are a Mic and a Line In. There's a yellow SPDIF plug on the PC's backside which I think is onboard audio.

- dc

 

[cdogg]

OK, the problem you're facing is that you don't have a digital "audio in" on your sound card. Most don't. In order for PC speakers to work with digital sound, the speaker control module (often built into the subwoofer), must have a digital input. Again, most don't although Creative does sell some models that do.

Unless you can find some kind of wacky adapter online, the only real option you have is to use the "Line In" port on your sound card, which will give you left and right. Connect the L and R audio out RCA jacks from either the DVD player or the TV to the PC using a y-adapter that you can pick up at Radio Shack.

Your sound card utility in Windows can then "emulate" surround sound but it won't be anywhere near the quality of Dolby Digital or DTS.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
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[dcloud]

Thanks, cdogg. I just called Radio Shack and the guy said that I can get a cable that will hook up the Digital Out (Coaxial) jack on my DVD player to the SPDIF jack on the back of my PC. I'm just wondering now if the onboard audio will interface with the speakers hooked up to the sound card?

- dc

 

[cdogg]

But the SPDIF jack might only be an output. Might want to double-check that first, before going any further...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dcloud]

The only thing my motherboard guide says about the SPDIF jack is "This jack connects to external audio output devices." Does this mean the jack is an ouput? If so what's wrong with just being an oput?

- dc

 

[cdogg]

It matters because you want digital audio to "enter" your PC, so that your speakers can use it. That can only happen if it's an input. You wouldn't connect your DVD player's digital output to another output...


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dcloud]

Ok, could you explain a little more? You're throwing me crumbs and I need the whole recipe. I have a SPDIF Out on the back of my computer. So you're saying this is an output and I need an input. Ok, explain the difference? Explain how I can get it to enter my PC....what would I need to do this, and how? In more than a brief few words, if you would please.

Thank you.

- dc

 

[cdogg]

You got it, just a sec while a type my soon-to-follow novel...

 

[dcloud]

LOL ...thanks, cdogg.

 

[cdogg]

OK, I'm not sure what the confusion is all about, but here goes...



As I said in my first post above, the problem you have is that you don't have a "digital audio input" on your soundcard of your PC. The concept of input and output should be self-explanatory. Your DVD player only has outputs, because well, that's what it does. It "plays" and doesn't "record". That's why you wouldn't find any inputs on one.

Your PC's soundcard can be used in Windows to either play or record. So it's going to have inputs and outputs. Make sense?

The problem is this. Digital audio is one stream of data being sent over one cable. This "stream" contains information for all audio channels involved. For example in Dolby Digital 5.1, you're talking about 6 channels. You can't just hook a digital stream into an analog device (analog as in RCA Jacks, such as Left and Right). It just doesn't work. The digital stream has to be decoded, which is why for a home theatre, you would buy an audio receiver that can decode Dolby Digital and/or DTS from your DVD player.

So the bottom line is that you are trying to use your PC as a decoder. Soundcard makers assume that 99% of PC users are only going to need the soundcard to be able to decode what's coming from a DVD-ROM drive in the computer. So, most don't include digital inputs allowing you to hook up an "external" DVD player (which is what you are trying to do). There are digital outputs on many sound cards, like the SPDIF one you are referring to, but not many models have inputs.

This site might help explain more about the SPDIF connector you're looking at:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/82

So how do you get around the problem? Well, I can think of a couple ways that will cost ya.

1) You can upgrade your PC speaker system to a model that has both PC inputs and digital S/PDIF inputs. This will allow you to connect your DVD player directly to it.

2) You can leave your PC speakers where they're at, and just buy a separate set with an amplifier for your TV. Getting a separate set isn't a bad idea, since seperating the amplifier from the speakers usually results in better overall quality and gives you the option to switch out the speakers anytime (like if one blows for example). Plus, you no longer have to rely on your PC for watching movies on your tube. PC Speakers are usually much cheaper than home theatre solutions for a reason - they're not going to sound as good (unless you bought the $300 Klipsch set of PC speakers).

3) Buy a different sound card that has digital inputs.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dcloud]

cdogg, thank you for taking the time to explain that for me. Could you recommend a sound card that would have the capability to do what I want?

- dc

 

[cdogg]

Well, there would be a lot of options there. Off hand, I know that the more expensive Creative Audigy cards come with a Live! drive that has what you're looking for. Some may even have the inputs you need on the card itself. There will be two different types of digital inputs - Fibre Optic and Coaxial.

It would be easier and more convenient to make sure the sound card you go with has the "type" of input that matches what your DVD player has. Many DVD players have both, so that's not much of an issue. Plus, as you said, Radio Shack sells adapters to convert one to the other in case they don't match.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[norty303]

On the back of my TV I have S-video, and a white and red plug which are Right/Left audio Out. There are two other audio jacks but they are plugged into a transciever box (which I have my GameCube, DVD and TV plugged into).

I'd like to pick up on this piece of information too, given you're difficulty with in/out earlier.

Have you tested the audio L/R to ensure they really are outputs or are they labelled as such?

Lots of TV's will have these plugs as inputs so that you can connect camcorders, computers and other AV devices to them for display, they frequently have them on the front panel but more often now on the sides or rear for aesthetic purposes.

If it is a set of inputs then you can still utilise a SCART output socket using an adaptor, if you have a spare (socket that is, not adaptor)

I take it that the 2 other audio jacks you mention are inputs given that you're probably feeding the audio from all those devices to the TV.

 

[cdogg]

norty,
I think whether or not the TV jacks are inputs or outputs is a moot point. He wants a digital signal to make it to the PC speakers for true surround sound, and those jacks are analog.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[felixc]

dcloud, are you hoping to get true 5.1 out through your computer, or do you just want a way to cheaply redirect the sound from your TV to the computer speakers, in order to replace the speakers of your TV? As Norty said, if there's really a pair of Audio OUT connectors then it can be easy. In my home setup, I have such outputs on my TV and I plugged them into an AUX input of my sound system. It works great!

If outputting the TV stereo to teh computer speakers is okay, then all you need is a stereo RCA to 1/8 phone jack cable adapter. Send the TV sound out to the Aux input of the mobo and enable the Aux input in your sound mixer. That's it.

In the same line, a nice way to improve the sound of a TV set is to use such an adapter cable, again, but to connect it directly into a a set of powered computer speakers. You can always find some on sale somewhere.

 

[dcloud]

I wasn't having any difficulty with in or out. On the back of the TV there are four Audio plugs - 2 R/L audio IN and 2 R/L audio OUT. The audio IN goes to the swticher box for my DVD player, but the audio OUT is not used.

My sound system doesn't have the AUX input, but I have found that Logitech carries a small switcher plug that will take the three plugs from my surround speakers and the Red/White RCA plugs that go to my TV (audio OUT plugs). This small plug from Logitech is $5.00

I think this is the best way to go. I was looking at other sound cards but I am unsure if those cards have what I need (that's why I asked for recommendations). I was hoping to take advantage of the surround sound, but at this point I would just like to have sound I can hear (from the TV).

Thanks for your help.

- dc

 

[felixc]

dcloud,
if your sound system has any free "tape" or CD input, this is the same as an AUX. In fact this is where I plugged my TV. The only input that isn't an AUX type is the phono (I mean the vinyl ones). The adapter plugs or cables are probably available at Radio Shack or Circuit City. Believe me, if you already have a good sound system in the same room as the TV, don't waste your money on anything else. The audio out from a DVD has an unbelieveable dynamic range, and a true sound system will do it justice.
felixc

 

[dcloud]

Thanks, felix. My DVD player has a Digital Coaxial Out, but the speakers themselves have no other outlets or inlets. They just have hookups for the surround speakers and those are all used. The sound card they are plugged into (on my PC) has two available plugs - a Mic plug and a Line In plug.

- dc

 

[cdogg]

OK, all of these points have been touched on in this thread already (though I understand it's gotten quite long and hard to follow).

If you don't care about digital surround sound, see my first post way way at the top!

If you want to have a digital solution eventually, see my long-winded post above.




~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884