Receiver for separate TV / Computer speakers

Due to the layout of my office I can't use the same speaker setup for TV and computer (see below). So I'd like to accomplish two things.

1. Have a single receiver that can switch between 3.1 TV speaker setup and 2.1 computer speaker setup. (Room layout doesn't really lend itself to surround). My receiver has a second zone function, but Thus is only for two speakers and it has other audio decoding limitations too.

2. Be able to route computer video/audio to TV display and 3.1 audio . Would be cool to play computer games on 55" screen from sofa

How can this be done?

Full specs of all your gear will make it easier to help you.

450 said:

Full specs of all your gear will make it easier to help you.

Click to expand...

Onkyo TX-NR535
Asus Xonar Essence ST sound card

TV speaker setup
- Infinity RS center channel
- Bose Acoustimass 3
- Velodyne V-1012-B sub (bought 1993, and still kickin)

Computer speaker setup
- Bose Acoustimass 3, also have an extra Bose Acoustimass center channel speaker that can be paired, if needed.


Headphones
- Sennheiser RS180 wireless, sometimes use for TV, and computer


Most of this stuff is from the 90's - but it still gets the job done. Receiver is new, but I can move that to family room if it needs to be replaced.

For the TV speaker setup, are you using the sub from the AM3?
For the computer speaker setup - are you intending to use the Velodyne or just have the AM3's running on their own?

Setup your computer as such
7970 -> DVI -> Monitor
7970 -> HDMI -> NR535 -> TV (this will send both audio and video - remember to set receiver and TV to game mode or PC for best effect)

In terms of your computer setup, in this case, a second amplifier or receiver connected to the Xonar makes the most sense. Something like this: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton...source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

When you are ready to switch from computer to TV modes, just change the display settings in windows to switch monitors and change the default sound output to go from the Xonar to the 7970 HDMI out. Using a single receiver would be suboptimal here because running HDMI means the receiver shows up as a second monitor; which makes window management challenging at times. The amplifier I linked is really small and can tuck in anywhere.

I tried using audio via HDMI from 7970 card, but I had problems with certain sources. So I ended up just running RCA cables from the Sound card to receiver. With HDMI for video only. This seems to work ok.

The Velodyne is wired directly to the receiver sub channel. The AM3's are wired to left/right channels. Center channel is wired directly to receivers center channel. Odd mix, but it's what I had in available, so I used it. It was supposed to be a temporary setup, but I could find replacement speakers that sounded any better for less a reasonable amount.

I would love to use the Velodyne with both the computer and TV. All I really need are two speakers for left/right of monitor.

Is it possible to have an A/B switch for front channel speakers? Then I could just switch between desktop front channel setup and TV front channel setup. I don't even need the center channel for computer use. I just want proper stereo imaging when I'm at desk.

When you were using HDMI with your receiver for audio, did you change the speaker configuration in Windows? If you only use RCA cables, the receiver will have to use Pro Logic II to send audio to the center and subwoofer.

Well, you could get a speaker switch, but the center channel would still be active, unless of course you were running the receiver in Stereo or Direct (instead of Pro Logic or similar).

450 said:

When you were using HDMI with your receiver for audio, did you change the speaker configuration in Windows? If you only use RCA cables, the receiver will have to use Pro Logic II to send audio to the center and subwoofer.

Well, you could get a speaker switch, but the center channel would still be active, unless of course you were running the receiver in Stereo or Direct (instead of Pro Logic or similar).

Click to expand...

I did a fresh install of windows, with new drivers for video card. I think that may have fixed the HDMI issues.

Zone 2 from my receiver is limited to analog signal. How lame is that... So your idea for small secondary amp is best option. Thanks for sharing! I didn't even know these little mini amps existed.

My next question is this,

I am using this mic for voice control and dication


The unit has a 3.5mm headphone out port that (I think I recall reading) can be used to connect to external speakers for echo cancellation so it can be used in a conference call type setup.

How exactly would this be accomplished with my sound card and a mini amp?

If you had a higher end receiver, it would be amplified. But honestly, multiple zones on most receivers are difficult to manage.

I don't think its for echo cancellation, I think its just for monitoring.