A computer audio section

[mudrummer99]

What is a HTPC considered?

What is, a Source? *CORRECT* It can go in the source section.

What do you with with an HTPC?

What is, play games (Gaming Sections), play music (again, source section) and DVDs/BDs/HDDVDs(?) (What do you know, source). *CORRECT*

What do you do if you need help with building up a computer?

What is, go to a PC forum? *CORRECT* There is better forums that have more know-how regarding PC parts and building then AH.

Thank you for playing Audioholic Jeopardy!

SheepStar

Why are you adamantly against such a section? I do agree with the fact that we do not wish to gunk up the site with extra sections that are useless to folks here. But this is my entire point, I do not believe a section based around HTPC or computer audio would be useless. Is it a source? Yes. But is it as simple as you make it out to be, certainly not. When you need help building one, should you go to a PC forum? Sure, but if it boils down to this, why does Audioholics have an entire "How to build an HTPC"? As a matter of fact, I can't think of a single HT/AV publication that has not had at least 1, if not more, articles dedicated to this same topic. Obviously they think it is important enough to publish an entire how to section on it, why can't we discuss it in this forum? Do I want to invite 14 year olds to come in for some of those great VC flame wars? Of course not, but I also don't like wading through those same threads on other sites either, so why not give our mature and more focussed audience here a chance to share their experiences and suggestions in a centralized forum. If the Mods are completely against this, then that's fine, it's their playground, we play by their rules. But if they aren't, what would adding this one section do for you? Add .2 secs to your scrolling down to the Steam Vent and back up? Thanks for the good debate, keep it up.

Mike

BTW: a quick search with the topic "HTPC" came up with 419 threads, I'm guess that atleast 100 of them would meet your criteria

 

[Jusbegood]

In my opinion, Audioholics definitely needs such a section. My reason being that audio, and video has finally converged after 30 years.

Does anybody remember the Quadraphonic competition between brands of the 70's? It was on a fast track to evolve into 5.1 music back then, but something came along that sidetracked the companies to kick it to the curb. That little phenom that came on the scene in 1982, was called the CD. A new paradigm that changed everything about what what we know about music today. Companies then started manufacturing, and competing with CD players. First it was the single disc CD player, then 5 & 6 disc CD players.

With the exponential growth of sales of CD players; and the music business, the result was the introduction of CD changers to the now present mega CD changers. If you have a vast collection of music CD's, you need to have space to play and store them. Even 300 to 400 CD changers take up a lot space in your audio equipment rack/s.

Enter $MS in 1985 to bring about another paradigm change to the masses. The Windows OS. Only 92% of the world's population runs some type of $MS Windows OS. It was only a matter of time that there would be some type of computer software that would allow one to enjoy music on their PC

The audio manufacturers had no choice but to integrate various audio patents to their audio units; in order to be competitive.

The past 3 generations are mostly visual oriented as opposed to aurally oriented; like myself. Thus, the vastly improved televisions.

Integration, and connectivity are the prime words here. However,one likes to enjoy their music and/or videos, and has a vast library of both; it would seem logical to me to have a computer act as a music/video server; and be able to stream my music/video to my HTPC. With hard drives now having the capacity of a Terrabyte, I look forward to ripping my vast vinyl library to a computer, and streaming it to my HTPC. I would be able to pass on my music legacy to someone in my family, who really enjoys vinyl. I would also be able to put back the 2 windows I took out to add shelving for the library, + I would have the possibility of being a real couch potato.I don't know how much music I could store on a pair of 1Terrabyte hard drives with/wo any audio codecs, but I do know that I would save 150 s/f of floor space.

I disagree with some individuals who think that having a PC Audio forum, would devolve into people just comparing audio cards, and video cards.
They should realize that the computer is a natural convergance tool to enjoy either their music (aural), videos (visual) singly or the combination of the 2.

The HTPC is here to stay! The future is now.

 

[Sheep]

Why are you adamantly against such a section? I do agree with the fact that we do not wish to gunk up the site with extra sections that are useless to folks here. But this is my entire point, I do not believe a section based around HTPC or computer audio would be useless. Is it a source? Yes. But is it as simple as you make it out to be, certainly not. When you need help building one, should you go to a PC forum? Sure, but if it boils down to this, why does Audioholics have an entire "How to build an HTPC"? As a matter of fact, I can't think of a single HT/AV publication that has not had at least 1, if not more, articles dedicated to this same topic. Obviously they think it is important enough to publish an entire how to section on it, why can't we discuss it in this forum? Do I want to invite 14 year olds to come in for some of those great VC flame wars? Of course not, but I also don't like wading through those same threads on other sites either, so why not give our mature and more focussed audience here a chance to share their experiences and suggestions in a centralized forum. If the Mods are completely against this, then that's fine, it's their playground, we play by their rules. But if they aren't, what would adding this one section do for you? Add .2 secs to your scrolling down to the Steam Vent and back up? Thanks for the good debate, keep it up.

Mike

BTW: a quick search with the topic "HTPC" came up with 419 threads, I'm guess that atleast 100 of them would meet your criteria

That was a typo, I meant 1000. 1 HTPC article, out of how many articles? If we make this section, then someone will post up for something else, and something else, and by the time we know it, we'll be up to our balls in stupid sections. Take a look at www.hometheatershack.com to see what AH would turn into (Minus being run by a friendless moron). There isn't enough demand for this section. The new Games section barely sees any action, and if people aren't that into gaming, you can bet that will hurt the HTPC section.

Have a lovely day,
SheepStar

 

[Biggiesized]

I'm actually in favor of a computer audio section or something there of. Sure there are other great resources on the web if you need help with computers, but what's the harm in starting up a sub-forum here? HTPCs have less to do with video cards than you think. Sure you can stick a monster 512 MB card in your mobo, but it's highly unncessary when integrated solutions will do just fine instead.

 

[Sheep]

I'm actually in favor of a computer audio section or something there of. Sure there are other great resources on the web if you need help with computers, but what's the harm in starting up a sub-forum here? HTPCs have less to do with video cards than you think. Sure you can stick a monster 512 MB card in your mobo, but it's highly unncessary when integrated solutions will do just fine instead.

Unless you game.

SheepStar

 

[mudrummer99]

That was a typo, I meant 1000. 1 HTPC article, out of how many articles? If we make this section, then someone will post up for something else, and something else, and by the time we know it, we'll be up to our balls in stupid sections. Take a look at www.hometheatershack.com to see what AH would turn into (Minus being run by a friendless moron). There isn't enough demand for this section. The new Games section barely sees any action, and if people aren't that into gaming, you can bet that will hurt the HTPC section.

Have a lovely day,
SheepStar

1000? The following sections on this forum have not even reached a thousand yet: Projectors & Screens, Write Your Own Review, Deals, Musical Goodness, Movies/DVDS/etc..., Gaming Central, DIY Corner, and Member's Galleries.

Mods, please remove these forums til we get sufficient interest in them to warrant having their own areas See my point? Just because you aren't interested in it doesn't mean there aren't other people who would be. I personally will probably never own a projector setup but I at least acknowledge that others may and that there is a need for such an area. That's all for the moment.

Mike

PS. No I do not want this forum to turn into all the other forums on the net that are simply too large to be manageable. I come here because I don't have to wade through tons and tons of crap and flamewars to get the information that I'm looking for. I think it is a combination of the people and the mods that keep this place that way and with that continued vigilance this place would not become a new debate area for the best "gaming" cards out there and other crap like that. There are places for that and if you are into gaming or want to debate that style of card, this place would probably not be of much use to you.

 

[Sheep]

No, but I'm not interested and it seems to bother you. So, I will remain uninterested.

SheepStar

 

[mudrummer99]

No, but I'm not interested and it seems to bother you. So, I will remain uninterested.

SheepStar

It doesn't bother me that you aren't interested. But why would you actively lobby against something that others are interested in? Just because you aren't interested, does that mean other's interests are unnecessary because you deem it so? I thought that was the job of the Mods.

Mike

 

[Sheep]

It doesn't bother me that you aren't interested. But why would you actively lobby against something that others are interested in? Just because you aren't interested, does that mean other's interests are unnecessary because you deem it so? I thought that was the job of the Mods.

Mike

I have just as much right to go against it as you have to go for it.

SheepStar

 

[jinjuku]

I have just as much right to go against it as you have to go for it.

SheepStar

Why would you bother yourself with something you could care less about?

 

[Sheep]

Why would you bother yourself with something you could care less about?

I care, just not as much as he does.

SheepStar

 

[sleepysurf]

FYI... here is a (fairly) new site, with an active forum, dedicated to PC Audio (though not Home Theater per se)...
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/