pc + speakers what goes in the middle?

[turbotoes]

Ok I'm new to all this fancy sound stuff, and have been asked to Join up a pc and two fancy Audio speakers (can't remember the name)
I think I've got figured out what I need to do the job

1 sound card with a digital output = Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space 8Ch

1 a/v amp with digital input = Yamaha - RX-V359S

so sound card in pc, digital out to yamaha thing = itunes on the speakers, I hope :~)

Could one of you audio experts tell me if I've got this right or totally got the wrong end of the sticky thing.

ps if you've got suggestions for better kit for under three hundred british ones ( £'s)
tell me

cheers much

turbotoes

 

[fish99]

Well if there's only 2 speakers then a stereo amp is all that's needed. However, stereo amps only have analogue inputs (unlike AV amps) so you would have to use the analogue output on the soundcard, which doesn't give the absolute best sound quality. It's not necessarily terrible either though. You can buy soundcard with good quality analogue output (M-Audio 24/96 comes to mind) or you can use digital output and buy an external DAC (digital to analogue converter).

Most people would be happy with analogue output into stereo amp to be honest, unless you're used to high quality components.

Would be nice to know what speakers they are. I'm presuming they're passive (ie they need to be driven by an amp), but if they plug into the mains then they're active and you don't need an amp.

Your original plan would be a good one if you were planning to expand the speakers to 5.1. What you propose will work of course, even with stereo speakers, but a stereo amp will be better quality for the same money.

 

[turbotoes]

thanks for that, I went for the 5-1 jobbie because that allows for future upgrades, and I wanted the digi output ( the guy is a bit of a sound freak) its not my stuff but I do like to allow a bit of expandability .
glad to know I was pootling along the right lines!!
thanks
turbotoes