Table of Content
The only space I had available to me was a receiver-sized slot on my Home Entertainment rack. Therefore, I was aiming for the HTPC style computer and since I already had a TV and Audio/Video equipment with HDMI inputs, I had a good idea of what I hoped to carry out. The simplest way is to connect your smartphone toyour receiver’s auxiliary input via a stereominijack-to-RCA Cable Adapter. If your receiver has aMHL-compatible front-panel HDMI port, you can connect yourcompatible Android smartphone to it via a cable and control it withyour receiver’s remote.
I have 40- and 50-foot versions of Monoprice’s DynamicView Active High Speed HDMI Cables in my lab, and they handle 4K HDR video just fine. Monoprice also sells HDMI-to-optical cables that run over 300 feet, and Monoprice claims these cables can handle 18 Gbps. The company has even more expensive versions that can handle 48 Gbps, too, but such extreme lengths are beyond the scope of this guide. The Monoprice 4K Certified Premium cable is a bit thick and doesn’t bend easily. Depending on your setup, a thinner, easier-to-bend cable might be preferable. In that case, the Monoprice 4K Slim Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable is available in lengths of 1 to 8 feet.
How can I make my PC play 7.1 surround sound?
I added Steam for access to more games such as Half-Life 2, The Portal Series and Torchlight 1 and 2. This machine churns along and easily delivers what I wanted when I envisioned it. I went with the Silverstone ($85) because it was a decent match to the rest of my equipment, the layout looked reasonable, the cooling/airflow options were good and it did not destroy my budget.
If you're planning on running an HDMI cable through a wall or ceiling, it must be rated for that type of use. Do not run a standard HDMI cable behind drywall; its protective covering has not been designed to withstand accidental contact with construction materials like nails, screws, and metal drywall hangers. Look for cables with a CL2 or CL3 rating, and always check your local building codes for compliance before installing.
Pc Guitar Cable for Amp TRS Stereo Audio Cable Home Theater Cable
You can even get cables of different lengths to make connections even easier. Ensure you have chosen the right input channel on your receiver and the right output one on your laptop. Using an analog cable is the easiest way to connect your computer to a receiver. Most computers come with a headphone jack that will come in handy here. Yeah I tried some different options and finally all speakers started working, I don't like the sound thought... Your best bet if you only have 2.0 input is to use a sound mode like dolby pro logic to "fake" 5.1 audio.

To do this, you will need to specify the speaker configuration that you are using. Most high-end AV receivers will have an ‘amp assign’ option that you can use to notify the receiver that you are using an external amp for the front two speakers. If you are using a receiver without a dedicated AV input, ensure that you set the volume control at the same level as that of the surround amp when using them simultaneously. Using an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the surround system is the simplest and most convenient.
The Best 4K Blu-ray Player
If this is not the case for your computer, you will need a wireless video adapter for the connection. The front right and front left speakers should go to the stereo receiver while all the others are plugged into the AV amp’s corresponding terminals. You should then connect the front left and front right pre-outs of the AV receiver to the stereo receiver’s AV input. Using an HDMI cable should be your go-to alternative, especially if you are going after high-quality audio and video connections.

With that in mind, we knew that we could greatly simplify our criteria for what models to call in and test. We looked for cables that were rated as High Speed or Ultra High Speed, were easy to get, came from reputable companies, and preferably had lifetime warranties. Senior staff writer Chris Heinonen, who has reviewed TVs and home theater equipment since 2008 and is an ISF Level II–certified calibrator, performed additional cable testing. Likewise, if you own or plan to own a next-gen gaming console, an ultra-high-speed HDMI cable is essential if you want to be able to exploit all of the capabilities of your console.
AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (6 feet)
AMD’s RV7xx-series cards can deliver uncompressed eight-channel LPCM audio over HDMI because they route the signals over the PCI Express bus. For integrated graphics, motherboards with Nvidia’s GeForce 8300 chipsets and GeForce 9300 or GeForce 9400 chipsets , and those with Intel’s G35 Express, G45 Express, and G965 Express chipsets can do it, too. A properly outfitted PC running CyberLink’s PowerDVD 8, however, can decrypt and decompress Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD and output it as uncompressed eight-channel LPCM to HDMI. However, while videocards based on newer Nvidia GPUs are outfitted with HDMI, they’re all limited to two-channel LPCM audio over HDMI, and that’s only if your motherboard has a S/PDIF-out header. Modular Power Supply A computer power supply with optional cables one can choose to unplug if not needed. Discrete Graphics Card A video card that plugs into a slot on one's motherboard, these typically offer better performance than built-in cards / onboard video.
Besides, they are a safety hazard, especially if you have kids and pets in the house with you. Seeing as the AV receiver is the center of the home entertainment system, you just cannot do without it if you want some high-quality video and audio signals. With a Digital Visual Interface , you should get a clear picture since there is no digital to analog conversion. If you are using a DVI connection with your LCD TV, you will get clear images of high quality. This is the medium quality video option.If you have a Mac laptop or a desktop-like Mac Mini, you can use your TV as a PC monitor through a DVI connection.
Sound quality is important when you’re picking an AV receiver, but it’s critical to find one with the features you need, so we have multiple recommendations. Over longer runs, the signal can degrade, but that doesn’t mean the image itself degrades. There is no linear correlation between signal quality and picture quality. The image will look perfect, regardless of the signal strength, up to the point where dropouts or sparkles happen.
Right-click on the HDMI output option and set it as the default device. The exact name of the option will differ depending on the drivers and hardware components of your computer. Navigate to the input settings and set the device as HDMI.
Whether you’re utilizing a home theater receiver, check to see if your computer supports multi-channel outputs like those found on a powered PC surround sound speaker system. The best thing about HMDI cables is that they do everything you need them to. Unlike composite video cables, a HDMI lead carries video and audio signals through the same input connection, meaning all you need to do is plug in and go. They can provide HD video and up to 32 channels of audio. Integrating a HTPC into a typical living room requires a way of controlling it from a distance. Many TV tuner/capture cards include remote controls for use with the applications included with the card.

HDMI cables are the bread and butter when it comes to connecting your TV and various A/V components. And these days, you typically can't go without at least one HDMI cable somewhere in your hierarchy of equipment. Oh, and here's something else to chew on — not all HDMI cables are created equal.
Trouble Hearing TV Dialogue? The Right Soundbar Can Help.
Plug the HDMI cable into your PC, and plug the other end into the transmitter.Some kits just have a USB dongle as a transmitter. This will enable wireless display streaming between your PC and TV at 1080p resolution. You will find the HDMI port behind the CPU, for desktops; for laptops, it’s usually located around the sides of the unit. Thoughts on upgrading receiver and speakers from an old...