i basically want to get around buying a receiver and still get optical sound. my current set up is that i have a ps3 with hdmi that plugs into my tv, and a cable box with hdmi that plugs into my tv. can i use that optical audio out in the back to plug into separately powered speakers (like speakers made for a computer, like those that klipsch makes) and get surround sound or do i need a receiver?
2007-01-17 05:02:12 · 6 answers · asked by wristshot0 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Home Theater
No, you do not need a receiver if you use powered speakers (unless they have a separate unit with a surround decoder and an Optical input). You need a preamp/processor. A receiver is a combination of a preamp/processor, amplifiers and a radio tuner in one box. When you start going up the food chain in home theater systems, you start buying the units as separate products.
You may WANT to buy a receiver since separate preamp/processors tend to run considerably more money because they are less compromised and more performance oriented. Also, many receivers have preamp outputs that allow you to bypass the internal amps and use better offboard amps or powered loudspeakers.
Now...should you do this? My vote is no unless you have a pretty substantial budget and can afford to buy a real active monitoring system (ala PMC...think many thousands of dollars). Computer speakers are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to home theater sound. You would be better off buying a Klipsch passive speaker system (I've sold lots of their Reference Cinema 10 packages) and a receiver than computer speakers. Even Klipsch's computer speakers...which happen to be the best of the breed...are a step down in sound quality vs. even their smaller dedicated home theater speaker packages.
2007-01-17 10:49:12 · answer #1 · answered by The Soundbroker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I may be mistaken - but the optical audio out from your TV is probably active only for Cable Card. If you use a Cable Card instead of the cable box, there is no way to route the sound to the receiver - and this is what provides the receiver that source.
Some form of a receiver able to process Dolby Digital and/or DTS is required to decipher the signal and feed the speakers appropriately.
2007-01-17 06:34:29 · answer #2 · answered by deepakmravi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maximum television can't cope with powering separate audio equipment that did not caome with the television. they have low watts for an impact amp 5-10 watts. in case you opt for extra useful sound than the television can grant you opt for a receiver or an impact amplifier and audio equipment. Optical output for digital output, rca jacks for analog connections.
2016-11-24 23:26:23 · answer #3 · answered by shuler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your powered speakers is 5.1 and have an optical digital input, then yes, you can plug from the tv to it, otherwise, you will need a receiver.
2007-01-17 06:34:53 · answer #4 · answered by gandalf 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the optical audio output needs to be decoded and you need a receiver for that.
2007-01-17 07:58:28 · answer #5 · answered by gkk_72 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want surround sound, you need a receiver.
2007-01-17 05:10:32 · answer #6 · answered by Some guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋