How do I connect my computer to the receiver?

[Sgt_Strider]

Due to budgetary reasons, I can't afford to get my desire speaker configuration at this time. However, since the Yamaha RXV465 is on sale, I'm thinking of just picking that up for now. Can someone tell me how do I output sound from my computer to the receiver?

I'm thinking of just using headphones now since it seems like some people use their receiver as some sort of soundcard. It'll probably be a couple of months before I have the cash to get those Paradigm speakers that I have my eyes on. In the mean time, does it seem silly to use my Westone earphones with the receiver?

If I connect my Playstation 3 to the HDMI input of the RXV465, will I get sound from my earphones?

 

[Aimless1]

Yamaha RX-V465 A/V Receiver - RX-V465BL

Interfaces/Ports 1 x iPod - Rear
2 x RCA Component Video In - Rear
1 x RCA Component Video Out - Rear
2 x Toslink S/PDIF In - Rear
1 x S/PDIF In - Rear
4 x Composite Video In - Rear
2 x Composite Video Out - Rear
4 x Stereo Audio Line In - Rear
2 x Stereo Audio Line Out - Rear
2 x Antenna In - Rear
4 x HDMI Digital Audio/Video In - Rear
1 x HDMI Digital Audio/Video In - Rear
1 x Subwoofer Out - Rear
1 x Pre-amplifier Line Out - Rear
3 x Spring Loaded Speaker Terminal - Rear
2 x Banana Receptacle - Rear
1 x Headphone - Front
1 x Composite Video In - Front
2 x Stereo Audio Line In - Front
1 x Audio In - Front
1 x Microphone - Front

Appears that either toslink or S/PDIF would be easiest depending on your computer output options. The receiver has a built in digital to analog converter (DAC) which will over ride your computer's sound card.

 

[MD1032]

I'm guessing your computer doesn't have SPDIF out (optical or coaxial), but if it does, you can just plug it into any input on the back of the Yammy. Otherwise you need some kind of USB to SPDIF device like the EMU 0404 USB.

 

[gbacic]

If he get's an EMU 0404 he can just use the RCA out to the yamaha. I doubt the yamaha has a better DAC than the 0404.

If you plug your PS3 into the receiver with HDMI and then plug your headphones into the headphone out on the receiver out then yes, you will have sound going through your headphones.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Thanks for the responses guys, but I don't think using SPIDF or TOSLINK will get me Dolby or DTS Lossless audio. If I were playing MKV files or Blu-Ray discs, won't I need to use another kind of connection to bitstream Dolby True HD to the receiver?

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbacic /img/forum/go_quote.gif If he get's an EMU 0404 he can just use the RCA out to the yamaha. I doubt the yamaha has a better DAC than the 0404. If you plug your PS3 into the receiver with HDMI and then plug your headphones into the headphone out on the receiver out then yes, you will have sound going through your headphones.

Will I need a HDMI switch for one of my monitors if I want to change the input from the computer to the PS3?

 

[swmtnbiker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt_Strider /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the responses guys, but I don't think using SPIDF or TOSLINK will get me Dolby or DTS Lossless audio. If I were playing MKV files or Blu-Ray discs, won't I need to use another kind of connection to bitstream Dolby True HD to the receiver?

The only way to bitstream DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD out of a source is via HDMI. That also means of course that the soundcard in your PC must support it and your receiver must be capable of decoding it. Another option, if your source and receiver support it, is to let the source do the decoding and output it as multichannel PCM over HDMI. The PS3 will ONLY output DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD as multichannel PCM over HDMI. It will not bitstream these codecs.

 

[tosehee]

You can't get lossless with HDMI either, unless with Windows 7 + Secure Audio Path (hardware support is required) + right Software.

You can buy ATI 58xxx series that can do so. Then, buy another software (forgot its name) that would allow bitstream of TrueHD and DTS-HDMA

 

[gbacic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt_Strider /img/forum/go_quote.gif Will I need a HDMI switch for one of my monitors if I want to change the input from the computer to the PS3?

If you plug your computer into another HDMI socket then you can just switch the input on the receiver and have the video stream from your computer to the receiver to the TV rather than Ps3->receiver-> TV

 

[MrKazador]

SPDIF can get you Dolby Digital and DTS which 99% of MKV videos have on the internet. For Blu-ray audio I suggest a 5000 ATi series video card which will bitstream HD audio to your receiver for decoding. The cheapest is $100 on newegg.com

 

[tosehee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKazador /img/forum/go_quote.gif SPDIF can get you Dolby Digital and DTS which 99% of MKV videos have on the internet. For Blu-ray audio I suggest a 5000 ATi series video card which will bitstream HD audio to your receiver for decoding. The cheapest is $100 on newegg.com

From what I know, you need power dvd to bitstream. Without the software that enables it, you won't be getting Tuehd/dts hd

 

[MrKazador]

Its possible to bitstream HD audio with ffdshow but then you would have to rip the disc to the pc. TotalMedia Theater 3 can also bitstream HD audio.

 

[tosehee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKazador /img/forum/go_quote.gif Its possible to bitstream HD audio with ffdshow but then you would have to rip the disc to the pc. TotalMedia Theater 3 can also bitstream HD audio.

You can convert the TrueHD and DTS HD to FLAC and such your eac3to, but that's NOT bitstreaming.

If this isn't what you are referring to, please, elaborate plz.

 

[linuxworks]

don't drive yourself nuts on 'bitstreaming'. its JUST movies, guys.

dts and dd5.1 are spdif compliant and they WORK just fine. no need to make the studios any richer with your license fees for 'true hd' nonsense.

stick with the interoperable open standards. just say NO to hdmi audio.

 

[ROBSCIX]

The new Auzentech HTHD 7.1 offer Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HDMA over analog outputs if that is something that might help you with your configuration. You can still use the HDMI outputs etc, but it is nice to have these standards available for analog output if you don;t have a compatible receiver for HDMI or have no receiver at all