Hi Everybody,
I have a six channel hi-fi amplifier (Cinepro 3.6 MkII) with balance analog input, plus high-end speakers (Monitor Audio – Gold Reference). I’m not planning to buy a new Receiver.
I want to build a HTPC which includes a sound card with analog balance output to connect it to my amp (and hope it’ll sound very good!). So far I found two sound cards: LynxTWO-B (Lynx) and E-MU 1616 PCI (Creative Lab).
The problem is the LynxTWO specifically says “Non-audio digital I/O support for Dolby Digital® and HDCD” and the E-EMU doesn’t actually say anything about supporting Dolby Digital, TrueHD (Blue-ray), Dolby Pro Logic IIx, multi-channel, etc.
I want these format to be supported so I can enjoy DVDs (Dolby Digital), Blue-Ray (TrueHD) and stereo material from TV into 5.1 channels (Dolby Pro Logic IIx).
If i buy a quad core or very powerful PC with a powerful video card, my question is: Can I get these formats to be decoded with whatever software I could buy/install and send the decoded digital output to one of these audio cards (I guess as Linear PCM)? Then, these cards can convert the digital stream into analog balance output and feed my amplifier.
I’m NOT looking to decode any weird format, just DVDs, Blue-ray and stereo source into 5.1 channels.
If this possible? If the board doesn’t mention any multi-channel support or decoding it means that is not possible to use them? Or software can do the trick.
Thanks in advance!
Javier
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