advice needed on pc-audio setup

2016-02-03 22:04:49

Hi,
I was happy with the following setup for several years: I played flac files using foobar on a PC connected to a pre-amp passing through the signal to a 35-years-old Threshold power amp and a pair of ProAc SuperTowers at the end of the chain. Quite old, but good enough to make me happy. The system was used to hear music a lot, but lately I use it more and more for watching movies, playing (ISO images of) blurays and DVDs with Cyberlink PowerDVD. This is limited to stereo of course but I would like to have surround sound now. So I bought a pair of ProAc Super Tablette (small) speakers. Now I'm a bit confused how to proceed and would appreciate any thouhtful advice.

In short, here's a list of hardware I have and what I want.
* PC as source (no special audio card atm)
* stereo power amp
* old (stereo only) pre amp
* a pair of large speakers
* a pair of small speakers
* a tape deck

I'd like a setup where I can still hear music plus watch movies using surround sound (4.0? - from my point of view there's no need for a subwoofer, but maybe for a center?). I see the following options, but maybe I'm missing something.

1. buy a new amp (and sell the old stuff)
2. buy a new pre-amp and a second power amp

If a new amp (1) is the way to go, should I buy a multi-way amp or a receiver?
If 2 is ok, could a PC sound card do the pre amp job?

Hints to specific equipment would be great. Thanks in advance!

P.S.: I don't want to spend more than 1K Euros. I don't need the latest surround thing with speakers from above etc.

Re: advice needed on pc-audio setup

Reply #1 – 2016-02-03 23:07:51

You can get a very, very good AVR for well under your budget. If you get one in the 500 euro range you could even use the excess for modest surround speakers to build out a full 5.1 or better surround system.

You indicated a PC as the source. What kind of audio outputs does it have available?

Re: advice needed on pc-audio setup

Reply #2 – 2016-02-04 03:16:15

Yes, especially if your PC or video card was bought in the last, say, 7 years or so you're better off with a multichannel AVR and using HDMI. What's your PC hardware and monitor?

Re: advice needed on pc-audio setup

Reply #3 – 2016-02-04 08:32:09

Thanks for the quick replies.

The motherboard is an Asrock H67M-GE/HT with 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec). On the back there are 5 audio connectors: 1. Central / Bass [Orange], 2. Rear Speaker [Black], 3. Line In [Light Blue], 4. Front Speaker [Lime], 5. Microphone [Pink] plus Optical SPDIF Out Port.

ATM I use the Front Speaker [Lime] connector to connect to the pre amp and HDMI to connect to the projector.

Re: advice needed on pc-audio setup

Reply #4 – 2016-02-04 15:49:11

I agree that an AVR is your best choice.    You can connect the computer to your AVR via HDMI.  (Then HDMI out of the receiver to your projector.)

You'd probably pay 5 to 10 times as much for a separate preamp & power amp, and you won't get the center channel or the surround encoders, and you'll be missing a bunch of other features.  And, you'll have money left over for a center speaker, and a sub if you want one.

If you are using your computer and it's analog outputs, you don't need  the surround decoders, but if you ever wanted to connect a DVD/Blu-Ray player or TV, you will need decoders in your hardware.   But, using separates with surround is difficult and "awkward".  

I assume your soundcard has a utility to downmix from 5.1 to 4.0, but it seems kind of silly to skip the center channel...  The center is where all of the movie dialog is...

Also, a normal downmix doesn't include the "point one" Low Frequency Effects channel.   That may be OK for you because the 5 main surround channels contain normal bass, but you'll be missing some of the extra from "booms & explosions".      (Most home theater systems use an optional AVR feature called bass management that routes the bass from all 6 channels (or more) to the subwoofer.)