Getting good sound to come through your home theater system from your computer

[RCGuy]

Hello. I'm new to the forum and found this forum through a search. Previously, I was having a problem with getting my home theater system to play music from my computer, however, through the help of one of my brothers, I finally learned that all that I needed to do was adjust my Volume and Wave control through the little "speaker" icon in my computer's taskbar. Well, I did so and slid the controls for Master Volume and Wave to maximum and that did help the sound to come out of my home theater system speakers via my computer much, much better than it had been. However, the problem that I'm having now is that the overall sound of music being played from my computer through my home theater system, just doesn't sound as good as when the music was being played from my 5 disc CD carousel changer.

I have a fairly good home theater reciever(Integra DTR-5.2), however, I only have right and left speakers hooked up to it along with a subwoofer, and I don't have the surrond sound speakers hooked up to it. Also, it's interesting because some of the "high" and "treble" sounds seem to sound better coming from my computer, however, the lows from the subwoofer and the overall sound in general does not sound as good. I'm thinking about just going back to playing my music through a 5 disc CD carousel changer(I actually bought a new one because my former on went out on me), however, I was wondering if anyone here had any thoughts or suggestions as to how to get good sound to come through my home theater system from my computer

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Hello. I'm new to the forum and found this forum through a search. Previously, I was having a problem with getting my home theater system to play music from my computer, however, through the help of one of my brothers, I finally learned that all that I needed to do was adjust my Volume and Wave control through the little "speaker" icon in my computer's taskbar. Well, I did so and slid the controls for Master Volume and Wave to maximum and that did help the sound to come out of my home theater system speakers via my computer much, much better than it had been. However, the problem that I'm having now is that the overall sound of music being played from my computer through my home theater system, just doesn't sound as good as when the music was being played from my 5 disc CD carousel changer.

I have a fairly good home theater reciever(Integra DTR-5.2), however, I only have right and left speakers hooked up to it along with a subwoofer, and I don't have the surrond sound speakers hooked up to it. Also, it's interesting because some of the "high" and "treble" sounds seem to sound better coming from my computer, however, the lows from the subwoofer and the overall sound in general does not sound as good. I'm thinking about just going back to playing my music through a 5 disc CD carousel changer(I actually bought a new one because my former on went out on me), however, I was wondering if anyone here had any thoughts or suggestions as to how to get good sound to come through my home theater system from my computer

If you are playing music through your computer into your receiver, then it is likely going through windows media player which is lossy, and through your computer D/A converters which are not usually as good as a DVD player. This is probably why audio through it doesn't sound as good as your DVD player.

[RCGuy]

Hi, Sir Terrence and thanks for the reply. Actually, I'm using the iTunes player rather than the WMP, however, what you said about the music going through my computer D/A converters and not being as good as a DVD player(or CD player) seems to have anwsered my question. I didn't know the technical explanation for it, however, I did instinctively feel that my computer just didn't have the ability to play music through my home system as well as a CD player could. Thanks.

[hermanv]

1. Most sound cards have an output where the volume is fixed at maximum, this output might sound better (less circuitry and no variable attenuator in the path).
2. Better sound cards exist.
3. There are sound cards with digital outputs so your the decoders in your receiver can be used, they are probably better than the ones in the inexpensive sound card.