Do we really need a audio processor ?

[dillihifi]

Well HTPC is fast catching up and may soon replace both the audio controller and the DVD/Blue Ray player and along with its capabilities to stream audio and video over the net.

Well what I was wondering is do we really need a pre amp/audio controller when the the decoding can happen in the HTPC and analog signals can be fed directly to a power amp ?

 

[unleash_me]

Define "really need"

 

[aminder]

a htpc can never ever replace an av receiver or an audio processor

 

[CANDUU]

Htib and htpc is like general doctor , they can cure ur basic diseases , pre amp , power amp r like ent , neuro, dental like that ...
Each of them do there own specific work to get the output how it is mend to be....

 

[venkatcr]

a htpc can never ever replace an av receiver or an audio processor

An HTPC can never replace an AVR - agreed. But it has already in a position to replace an audio processor. There are software and hardware available that can decode every audio codec you can think of as well as every video codec you can think of.

Having said that, I would also say an HTPC is not everyone's cup of tea. You must know a number of things to be able to use an HTPC - OS, Codecs, audio and video containers, and so on. Be ready to face an HTPC that does not decode properly unless you install and fiddle around with drivers and other issues.

If you are faint hearted person keep away from HTPC.

Cheers

 

[spirovious]

An HTPC can never replace an AVR - agreed. But it has already in a position to replace an audio processor. There are software and hardware available that can decode every audio codec you can think of as well as every video codec you can think of.
Cheers

Only con that still sound delay option is missing.

 

[marsilians]

a htpc can never ever replace an av receiver or an audio processor

A HTPC is a general purpose processor while an AVR is specialised in functionality. Unless you are a very hands on person you will not get the most out of your AVR. Most people end up using HTPC -> AVR primarily for decoding and switching capabilities and ofcourse the speaker connectivity and in this case HTPC will become a media store device.

Also vibrations from hardware disks tend to distort sounds and so until solid state drives become a lot cheaper the HTPC has a disadvantage over an AVR.

 

[venkatcr]

Also vibrations from hardware disks tend to distort sounds and so until solid state drives become a lot cheaper the HTPC has a disadvantage over an AVR.

Mars, I do not see this as too much of an issue. I have placed my HTPC on a solid rubber base that is made to absorb sound and vibrations inside a generator. I have compared the output of the Blu-Ray drive with a ripped ISO copy, and I can hardly see any difference in either sound or video. Actually in Flight Of The Phoenix that I use as a reference, the ISO version seems a tad better in video quality. I suspect the GPU is able to resolve the pixels better as it gets data faster from a hard drive.

Cheers

 

[sud98]

Mars, I do not see this as too much of an issue. I have placed my HTPC on a solid rubber base that is made to absorb sound and vibrations inside a generator.

Cheers

I suppose Mars is referring to the vibration within the hard disks which the ruber base wont help as that is reducing the vibrations at the HTPC level and not within the hard disk.

 

[NetFreak]

If an AVR is being used, these vibration do not matter.

Reason is:

1. Even with assumed vibrations HDD is capable of 130 mbps sustained data transfer (more than enough for HD audio and video). This removes possibility of Jitter.
2. Since DAC in PC is not used at all, signal remains Digital and lands in Analogue mode only in AVR.

 

[dillihifi]

I need some clarifications.

If the HTPC can decode the audio formats does it provide line level outputs for which the volume can be controlled. Further, if you directly hook up a power amp to the HTPC will it work ??

 

[venkatcr]

I need some clarifications.

If the HTPC can decode the audio formats does it provide line level outputs for which the volume can be controlled. Further, if you directly hook up a power amp to the HTPC will it work ??

An HTPC is a generic term. A computer by itself cannot do what you are looking for. For audio decoding, you have to insert a appropriate sound card. The Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe (ASUSTeK Computer Inc.), for example, gives your 7.1 analogue out in addition to Digital Out.

None of these cards will give your pre-amplified output. So you do need a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier outside.

Cheers

 

[dillihifi]

The sound card bit I know.

I want to know as some of these cards have a provision of analog line level o/ps will a pre amp be required ? or can we just plug it into the power amp and control the sound be means of the media player interface ?

 

[maniac_2004]

The sound card bit I know.

I want to know as some of these cards have a provision of analog line level o/ps will a pre amp be required ? or can we just plug it into the power amp and control the sound be means of the media player interface ?

i too have the same question .. my oppo bdp 83 provides individual channel outputs can i go in for a emotiva upa7 power amp and skip the pre amp ?

 

[venkatcr]

You do need a pre-amp. Some of these cards may have an amplified output for headphones, but they cannot be used with an external amplifier.

Cheers

 

[sud98]

i too have the same question .. my oppo bdp 83 provides individual channel outputs can i go in for a emotiva upa7 power amp and skip the pre amp ?

I had the same thoughts before I went for the UMC1.

Impedance matching is one factor, but the upa and oppo are matched. However, I remember venkat having mentioned the efficiency of the amp would deteriorate due to the very low output voltage from the player.

Secondly, the oppo or any bdp will have a lot of limitations in items like bass management or if you need to manually change some of the gains for various frequencies.

 

[dillihifi]

Did some hunting and can safely say that we may need a pre amp in the chain. The analog o/ps provide the line level o/ps which may or may not have a volume control. Apart from this in high end amps you will always find a pre out as well as main inn which is different from the line level o/p or i/p found in the amp.

The pre out stage allows you to connect a different power amp whereas the main in acts as the i/p to the power amp and has to be preamplified before connecting the same.

So the saying is we can do away with the audio processor but would need a 7ch/5ch preamp in the chain before feeding the supply to the poweramp. I would rather suggest a 5 channel integrated without any decoding capabilities to be connected to a high end sound card.

BTW: I have also heard DACs with volume control being directly connected to the power amps and sounding good too (in a stereo setup) bypassing the preamp. Maybe it is possible with the right sound card.

 

[NetFreak]

So the saying is we can do away with the audio processor but would need a 7ch/5ch preamp in the chain before feeding the supply to the poweramp. I would rather suggest a 5 channel integrated without any decoding capabilities to be connected to a high end sound card.

Or you can use an Amp that accepts digital input. In that case, pre-amp or external DAC would not be required.

 

[dillihifi]

No then it would defeat the very purpose for which I started this thread.

If decoding can be done by the sound card therefore the sound processor is not required.

Further, here many persons are experimenting with a DAC with a volume control thereby bypassing the preamp so I wanted to know whether the preamp in this case would become redundant ??

As mentioned before I have also heard DACs with volume control being directly connected to the power amps and sounding good too (in a stereo setup).

 

[maniac_2004]

I had the same thoughts before I went for the UMC1.

Impedance matching is one factor, but the upa and oppo are matched. However, I remember venkat having mentioned the efficiency of the amp would deteriorate due to the very low output voltage from the player.

Secondly, the oppo or any bdp will have a lot of limitations in items like bass management or if you need to manually change some of the gains for various frequencies.

hi sud98,
had few queries .Have u tried this btw (connecting the oppo to the power amp) ? Efficiency deteriorates in the sense it will harm the power amp ?
by bass mgmt do u mean the crossover settings ?

thx