What do i Need? Confused :(

edd1e · 8 Mar 2007 at 17:25

Hi all,

Right at the minute i have the following setup. (sorry for poor diagram)

Basicly i have the PC plugged into my 5.1 speakers and my xbox360 then on the 'Line In' port on my PC, so i have to have my PC on when playing the 360, and i just use my normal TV speakers for TV.

I would like to run all my sources (TV, 360, PC) all through the speakers, (like below) am i right in thinking i need a reciever? if so can some1 please recommend me one that could do this.

Also could i am pretty sure how i would connect the TV and 360 to the reciever just not the PC? just normal 3.5mm Jack's from PC into the Reciever?

Sorry for the noob questions.

Cheers! Edd

Voy06 · 8 Mar 2007 at 19:54

I'm presuming your 5.1 speakers are PC speakers, if so have you considered buying the Creative DDTS-100 decoder or something similair. I have the same set-up as you and I use the decoder too connect my 7.1 speakers too the xbox360, PC and dvd player. Might set you back a few pound but have no other suggestions i'm afriad.

LazyManc · 8 Mar 2007 at 20:58

From the looks of things you have a 5.1 PC speaker setup. Assuming this is the case, how are the speakers currently connected to the PC?

You can use an AV receiver to connect multiple devices to a set of surround speakers, but whether one will work with your existing speakers is not something we can determine without knowing the make / model.

Most connections to the receiver would be via digital optical or digital coax cables as these can provide multichannel sound and not just stereo. If your PC doesn't have a digital out then you'd have to make do with stereo via the line out jack.

edd1e · 8 Mar 2007 at 22:29

thanks for the reply.

The Speakers atm are normal 5.1 PC Speakers how ever i would be getting a normal set of 5.1 speakers as these will work with the receiver.

Can anyone recommend me some speakers and a receiver doesn't have to be top of the range!

Cheers guys.

LazyManc · 9 Mar 2007 at 14:51

You really need to give a budget so that we know what's suitable, there's no point suggesting something that may be out of your price range.

If you've got less than £300 to spend then don't be expecting to get a brand new receiver and full 5.1 speaker set up, for that money you're looking at the All-in-one (HTIB - home theatre in a box) type kit which may suit you but might not be a vast improvement over your current PC speakers.