Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Another HTPC question. Output to multiple TVs?

Do show.

I couldn't live without my HTPC anymore. I don't have a dog so this guy is man's best friend.

Will try and get the pics posted before I take off for Axiom, to many projects keep showing up here.

That's true! There is double boxing, but I'm so cheap... Well they shipped me a brand new case double boxed at no cost for me... I have to say that's good customer service!

Do most people put a DVD drive in the HTPC and watch movies from that, or still use a separate DVD player and just use the HTPC for recording TV and a music library?

I'm trying to plan ahead for whatever shelf unit I get and want to make sure I have space for everything.

Depending on how you build your HTPC having the DVD player in it is the best part (perhaps tied with DVR functions). With the right configuration it will be one of the best upscaling DVD players you can get.

Would I be able to have the DVD in the HTPC also play SACD, or because of the apparent need for the 6 different connections for SACD back to the receiver would that be an issue?

If I could do SACD as well, I could replace the 2 DVD players (one was bought later just for SACD) as well as the VCR with one component. That would be a nice way to free up some space.

As far as I know there isn't any software to play SACDs with your HTPC. I'm sure somebody will gladly correct me if I'm wrong .

CD is based on a digital sampling method called PCM (Pulse Code Modulation). It takes a 16-bit snapshot 44,100 times a second. DVD-Audio has created more options with the ability to do 24-bit samples up to 192,000 times a second.

SACD is based on a completely different technology called DSD (Direct Stream Digital). This uses a 1-bit sample taken 2,400,000 (roughly) times a second.

So at the very basic level of sound card technology, DSD is not even supported. It has only now begun to penetrate the high end recording studios. Even DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) such as Pro Tools cannot yet record DSD material.

All that said, the first thing we need standard in all computers to play SACDs is for the sound cards to support DSD. I believe that is part of the new Azalia standard others are talking about. Once that becomes standard on PCs, then we will begin to see the ability to play SACDs on the computer.

http://anandtech.com/multimedia/showdoc.aspx?i=2079

So my DVD-A's will work (and Dualdisc I assume), but not SACD, correct? If so, I can live with that. I think the only 5.1 disc I have in SACD format is DSOTM.

yes DVD-A is supported as long as the hardware and software support it.
http://www.soundblaster.com/musiclistening/
I thought DSOTM is on DVD-A format?
don't quote me on this but I think SACD is still at 4.7 GB unl. The data for DSD stereo and multichannel is small enough to be put on a single DVD layer. DSD stereo can practically be put on a mini-SACD. DSD multichannel takes up a lot more space.
You might have a Hybrid and that same SACD might have a hidden tracks that can be played on a regular Cd/DVd player. Try it on a DVD player and see if you get anything.