Need an amp for my HTPC

[ballz0r]

since what i dont know about home audio would fill a very large book... I thought id throw this out to the experts.

my amp is the weakest link in my home theatre setup

HTPC is based on a X58 LE mobo using onboard sound

Speakers are Klipsh F-2 home theatre (http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/f-2-home-theater-system-overview/) set

ive been looking at av receivers, but since the only input will be the HTPC i dont see the need for all those other input options.

would i be better off just getting a big ass amp like this

http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/av_components/av_separates/pa-mc5500/index.html

and just running the audio out of the pc into that?

[KaptCrunch]

looks good the choosen amp, but dont see sub woofer port/channel from rear panel mite have to use a dedicated subwoofer to get the punch for amp is 150w per channel

the XLR connectors are $$$$$ for inputs unless you want to karaoke with a mic

just plug into amp with RCA stereo 4 sets cables To MB 1/8 mini stereo

MB Audio Port 8-Channel
Blue: Line-In
Green: Front Speaker Out
Pink: Mic In
Orange: Center/Subwoofer
Black: Rear Speaker Out
Grey: Side Speaker Out

oops i missed the speakers are 8 ohms and amp is rated @ 4-6 ohms will build more heat on amp running them and loose power

[Mikecdm]

I don't think that using onboard sound would work all that well or atleast give the desired effect for that type of money. The onboard has a bunch of stereo outputs. I don't know how it would separate the center and sub channel, the left and right front, or any of the rears. You also need to calibrate things to get the best sound. I don't think the onbard would have the features needed to calibrate and tune things properly.

The amp now, I'm not sure about it's quality but the specs listed on the link annoy me. The majority of speakers are rated at 8ohm. I know there are some that are 4 ohm and 6ohm, but they aren't as common or are really expensive. Some Dynaudio are 6ohm as are some psb. Then it says it's with one channel driven. Quality amps give a rating with all channels driven.

[ballz0r]

The majority of speakers are rated at 8ohm. I know there are some that are 4 ohm and 6ohm, but they aren't as common or are really expensive. Some Dynaudio are 6ohm as are some psb. Then it says it's with one channel driven. Quality amps give a rating with all channels driven.

My speakers are 100W, 8ohm with a powered sub. I want to be able to bi-cable the L&R floorstands.

The unit draws "close to 1kw at the socket" so that would be ~100w/channel

[ballz0r]

looks good the choosen amp, but dont see sub woofer port/channel from rear panel mite have to use a dedicated subwoofer to get the punch for amp is 150w per channel

the XLR connectors are $$$$$ for inputs unless you want to karaoke with a mic

just plug into amp with RCA stereo 4 sets cables To MB 1/8 mini stereo

MB Audio Port 8-Channel
Blue: Line-In
Green: Front Speaker Out
Pink: Mic In
Orange: Center/Subwoofer
Black: Rear Speaker Out
Grey: Side Speaker Out

oops i missed the speakers are 8 ohms and amp is rated @ 4-6 ohms will build more heat on amp running them and loose power


Yeah thats how i imagined hooking the PC up to the amp, so the idea of running the PC straight into a post amp is ok? I wasnt sure if the PC would push enough signal to the amp as it doesnt appear to have vollume control. Id like to just control the volume from my PC.

So I need to look for a post amp that can handle 8 ohms and has the ability to Bi amp the front speakers.

[KaptCrunch]

I don't think that using onboard sound would work all that well or atleast give the desired effect for that type of money. The onboard has a bunch of stereo outputs. I don't know how it would separate the center and sub channel, the left and right front, or any of the rears. You also need to calibrate things to get the best sound. I don't think the onbard would have the features needed to calibrate and tune things properly.

center is mono as well the sub coming from PC stereo plug eg. left sub / right center

BallZor yes can just volume via PC would need to calibrate amp with PC's output so not to clip/distort speakers once set then is good to allow kids to play

[Mikecdm]

The ability to Bi-amp a speaker is not a feature of an amp. If you have spare channels, then you can bi-amp. That amp has 9 channels. You have selected a 5.1 package. If you wanted to you can bi-amp the front and rear speakers. There would be 4 extra channels if you did not bi-amp. You are probably right though, it's most likely somewhere around 100w per channel with all channels driven.

But what I was saying earlier is that I don't think that the onboard sound has the capability to properly tune a home theater system. For example, you have the Black output. This is one mini jack that would be split into a left and right surround speaker. How would you determine which is left and right? How would you set up the delay for each one? How would balance each speaker? The same would apply to the fronts and the to center.

Controlling the audio level through the computer is possible.

[ballz0r]

The ability to Bi-amp a speaker is not a feature of an amp. If you have spare channels, then you can bi-amp. That amp has 9 channels. You have selected a 5.1 package. If you wanted to you can bi-amp the front and rear speakers. There would be 4 extra channels if you did not bi-amp. You are probably right though, it's most likely somewhere around 100w per channel with all channels driven.

But what I was saying earlier is that I don't think that the onboard sound has the capability to properly tune a home theater system. For example, you have the Black output. This is one mini jack that would be split into a left and right surround speaker. How would you determine which is left and right? How would you set up the delay for each one? How would balance each speaker? The same would apply to the fronts and the to center.

Controlling the audio level through the computer is possible.

The onboard sound is pretty decent, 8 channel but i havent dicked round with the configuration options yet as im just running SPDIF Optical to the Reciever.

If it comes to it, ill drop one of the 295s and install a decent sound card.

[Mikecdm]

So you already have a receiver and the speakers? Are you looking at more power without buying a new receiver, thus spending the money on a more powerful amp instead of a receiver? May I ask what's the model of the current receiver?

[ballz0r]

the reciever is a POS yami... dont know the model no, but its ~10 years old

I want to ditch this and replace it with a simple post amp, 1 input, fat output

[ballz0r]

That onkyo will handle 4-16ohm speakers... It's just the channel power rating was based on 8ohm

http://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/product_info/pdf/pa-mc5500_ex_leaflet.pdf

[RedRaider]

I would suggest not doing it this way Ballz0r.

You would be much better served buying a receiver with pre outs to feed an amp or buy a pre/pro.

Feed the receiver or pre/pro with a single digital signal, then let the receiver or pre/pro send the signal to an amplifier.

[ballz0r]

I've dicked around with my system trying to get 5.1 over spdif optical.. Even installed the ac3 codec, but I can't get it working

[mcoffey]

I think you need to check the line level and impedance specs for both ends on that Ballz. I'm not sure of they would even match up to run the amp correctly....

I'd definitely look into it before I went much further though.

andyc

[RedRaider]

I've dicked around with my system trying to get 5.1 over spdif optical.. Even installed the ac3 codec, but I can't get it working

:bird: spdif optical

Use spdif 75 ohm coaxial cable

[KaptCrunch]

SB wants cash for optical connection with dts connect, when buying x-fi hardware stating its dts ready when infact isn't for the price of card should be included.

dolby codec is needed for optical to work

[Mikecdm]

I would suggest not doing it this way Ballz0r.

You would be much better served buying a receiver with pre outs to feed an amp or buy a pre/pro.

Feed the receiver or pre/pro with a single digital signal, then let the receiver or pre/pro send the signal to an amplifier.
This is the reason why I asked the model. Even though it's old, if it were a decent model, it might have pre-outs. But I agree that new receiver would be the way to go unless he is willing to spend more cash on a receiver and an amp or a pre/pro.

I've dicked around with my system trying to get 5.1 over spdif optical.. Even installed the ac3 codec, but I can't get it working

Recently I had a hard time getting my htpc to output DD or DTS via digital output. I tried both the digital coaxial and the optical. I also tried a few AC3 codecs and nothing worked. I ended up installing FFdshow and it worked for some reason.

[ballz0r]

woah I just did some googling on high end pre/pro stuff fucking expensive.

since my only input is from the HTPC, I get the feeling that the high end stuff wont really reach its full potential.

Isn’t it a bit like drinking urine out of a ridel crystal wine glass? itll never taste like chardonnay.

[Mikecdm]

Well, pre/pro are expensive. The cheap way out is using a receiver with pre-outs and an amp.

[ballz0r]

Well, pre/pro are expensive. The cheap way out is using a receiver with pre-outs and an amp.


Yeah I was originally looking at good reciever / amp combo units, but I just look at all those un used inputs and think its such a waste since i only use one. which got me thinking "what has only one input?"

Im under the impression that as the output of the HTPC is already processed, all the reciever is doing for me is switching between sources. Am I wrong?

[talladega]

:bird: spdif optical

Use spdif 75 ohm coaxial cable
digital coax FTW!!!

[thadman]

Scrap the home audio receivers altogether.

The cheapest high quality option would be to purchase a USB --> RS232 cable, directly connect your PC to a Behringer DCX2496 (6 channels with independent crossovers and equalization), and connect the DCX2496 to a pro audio amplifier (something like a Crown XLS602D which has 600w/channel at 4ohms).

The best option for a HTPC would be to purchase a multichannel DAC and connect the DAC outputs to your amplifier inputs. You can use your HTPC for all your digital processing (surround, etc) as well as apply individual finite impulse response filtering to each channel:D

[ballz0r]

The best option for a HTPC would be to purchase a multichannel DAC and connect the DAC outputs to your amplifier inputs. You can use your HTPC for all your digital processing (surround, etc) as well as apply individual finite impulse response filtering to each channel:D

thats more like it :up: thanks mate

any suggestions for a good DAC?

[KaptCrunch]

ithinks your MB (http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=28&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=173) supports adc

[talladega]

thats more like it :up: thanks mate

any suggestions for a good DAC?
maybe this?

http://hllyaudio.com/dac/matrix-dac/matrix-mini-i-24192-balanced-dac-headphone-amp.html

[ballz0r]

got a lead on a good 2nd hand power amp.

is this a good buy for 500 aussie pesos?

Rotel RMB-1075 (http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Rotel+RMB-1075&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=b0566bd253f6579a)

http://www.rotel.com/NA/products/ProductDetails.htm?Id=3

[ablatman]

Probably... Sounds like something I'd like too...

[ballz0r]

5 channel... you only need 2 :)

[KaptCrunch]

5 channel... you only need 2 :)

5 channel is really tri-channel stereo with sub woofer

[ablatman]

5 channel... you only need 2 :)

It'd be nice to have the ability to run four speakers as two pairs though.....

[ballz0r]

I would suggest not doing it this way Ballz0r.

You would be much better served buying a receiver with pre outs to feed an amp or buy a pre/pro.

Feed the receiver or pre/pro with a single digital signal, then let the receiver or pre/pro send the signal to an amplifier.

After a fair bit of research it appears you were right mate. While it would have worked running my audio outs to an amp, the noise signal ratio would be fucked. Better off taking the decoding load off the computer and just running pure digital to a preamp/processor.

I bought that 5 channel power amp and an ex demo pre/pro from a hifi shop in Sydney.

Rotel RSP-1098 Preamp/Processor
http://www.rotel.com/NA/products/ProductDetails.htm?Id=20&Tab=2&Pic=1

http://img.techpowerup.org/100830/Capture130.jpg

Rotel RMB-1075 5x130W Power Amp
http://www.rotel.com/UK/products/ProductDetails.htm?Id=3&Tab=2&Pic=1

http://img.techpowerup.org/100830/Capture131.jpg

By all reports a good combo and not too expensive

They should get here this week

[mcoffey]

Dude,

Rotel is real top quality gear. Can't wait to hear how you like the setup.

andyc

[Mikecdm]

I had my eyes set on that amp years ago, but never pulled the trigger. That pre/pro was something that I liked but really couldn't afford. I think it went for $3k when it came out. I think it's time to upgrade the speakers now :D