Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › How do I connect these speakers to my PC?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

How do I connect these speakers to my PC?

post #1 of 10
9/30/11 at 4:57am
Thread Starter 

Not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I want to buy the ONKYO HT-S3400 5.1 Home Theater System (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120182) for my computer.

 

Looking at the picture of the back of the receiver, I don't see any audio jacks that could connect to my PC, nor do I see any cables in the pictures to connect them...

 

What do I need to connect them to my PC? Will I lose "true" 5.1 surround sound?

 

I would also consider purchasing a different set of speakers for the same price (<$299) if they have better quality.

 

Thanks


Edited by dress - 9/30/11 at 5:01am
Reply
post #2 of 10
9/30/11 at 5:13am
If you look at all the product images, you get one of the back of the receiver. To connect to a computer, it looks like you could use a standard red-white RCA wire. I can't read what all those HDMI inputs are either, but perhaps that could be an option for audio out. Did you plan to use that system for home theater watching or just audio?
Reply
post #3 of 10
9/30/11 at 5:21am
Thread Starter 

You can zoom in on the pics.

 

Someone told me I need an optical audio cable but not sure how that would work.

 

I only have a PC (no TV) so I'd be watching movies, listening to music, playing games, etc. through those speakers, but only via my PC.

 

Thanks

Reply
post #4 of 10
9/30/11 at 5:38am
Sorry I can't be of any more help. I don't use optical out, and don't have a system which has such a feature.

I like keeping things simple with basic RCA jacks to stereo cables, which have performed more than well enough for many years in the audio world. I'd start there if you want the thing to work with the least amount of hassle because all computers can work with them.
Reply
post #5 of 10
9/30/11 at 6:00am

What motherboard you on with that PC? You can send digital out if your mobo has optical out else just get a cheap soundcard with optical out? I would also suggest steering away from boxed HT sets and hit Craiglist for a cheap AVR and hitting far better speakers/subs for better SQ for the green tongue_smile.gif Actually if $$ were a limiting factor i would look to slowly build a solid 2.0/2.1 1st rather than settle for mediocre 5.1 set up hehe


Edited by trog - 9/30/11 at 6:05am
Reply
post #6 of 10
9/30/11 at 6:04am
Thread Starter 

I have an MSI 890FXA-GD65 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813130565).

 

Someone else also tells me optical cables do not support 5.1 surround sound, or Dolby sound.

 

Is there truth to this?

 

Also I'm not too keen on audio technicalities so I have no idea what you're talking about with the Craigslist stuff. If there is something I can purchase on Newegg or another site like Amazon where the shipping is free, I'm also open to suggestions

 

Thanks


Edited by dress - 9/30/11 at 6:05am
Reply
post #7 of 10
9/30/11 at 6:14am

That mobo is equipped with Realtek ALC892 soundchip - also surround would depend on the source input/file

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/290647-28-enabling-surround-sound-realtek-alc892-spdif-windows

 

Which state you on? Peeps fish out used audio hardware on Craiglist all the time ^^

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites


Edited by trog - 9/30/11 at 6:16am
Reply
post #8 of 10
9/30/11 at 6:17am
Thread Starter 

Yes, but is there any truth to the fact that some hardware cables are physically unable to translate 5.1 surround sound from the source file/software through to the speakers?

 

I am in NYC. I am usually iffy about used hardware because of multiple incidents (I actually typed one out but it turned out to be like a paragraph long so I deleted it and am replacing it with this text instead) but I'll still consider it.

 

What should I buy with a $299 max budget?

Reply
post #9 of 10
9/30/11 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dress View Post

...is there any truth to the fact that some hardware cables are physically unable to translate 5.1 surround sound from the source file/software through to the speakers?



No.

 

Just get a toslink (optical spdif) cable and run it from your PC to the receiver.  It can handle most multi-channel formats except Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, and DTS HD.

Reply
post #10 of 10
9/30/11 at 12:54pm
Thread Starter 

Are these widely used formats for DVDs/blu-rays and other media?

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › How do I connect these speakers to my PC?