PC as pre amp

[ironlung]

I am thinking a HTPC with a DVI video card and 5.1 analog output to a five channel amp and powered sub. This will be most compatible and cheapest to upgrade early (although most technically difficult) for the next 1-2 years. With an ATSC tuner card and/or DVB-S card it could be tivo like with dishnetwork HD/SD(with correct software PM if your curious) and OTA HD. Software can decode DVD-A and potential future surround formats(sorry no SACD) and H.264 HD, WMVHD and other HD formats with DRM, Mpeg2, Mpeg4 whatever. It could be a top notch DVD player at the moment and upgraded to HD/BD DVD when drives and content become available.

I quoted my post in another thread bashing HDMI 1.1. I started thinking more and more about the possibilities of using a PC as a Pre/Pro. What do all of you think? Has any one heard of software for dolby processing, bass managment, real time room correction etc to make a PC seem like a nice pre amp?

Is any one using a PC for a pre amp currently? What kind of success have you had?

 

[ironlung]

I guess it was a bad idea.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

It's a great idea. Have you seen the processing program downloads at Winamp? That stuff is amazing.

My prediction is that all audio will be run off PC's in the near future. After all, a receiver is mainly a switching tool. At one time, receivers were purchased to integrate FM tuning into a pre amp and amp. Now that very few of us ever listen to FM broadcasts, switching can be done on a more efficient basis through PC. With broadband, soon we'll be able to control all zones in a house. We'll still need an amplifier to power our speakers, but all the sound processing can be controlled with the worlds best "Harmony" remote - the PC.

 

[Reorx]

I like the idea as well.
I've tried hooking cheapo pc sound cards to amps before (mid 90's), and had horrible results. Very high distortion.
I continued to look into it for a while...and saw that most the distortion was cleaned up in pc soundcards with the soundblaster Live's. I've also heard that the Audigy cards have made additional leaps and bounds in improvment.

I will be hooking my pc to my receiver to test out DVD-A, and SACD. I've heard that it'd work, and that it wouldnt work...so we'll see.

WinAMP for the Win, whoot!

Reorx