If I connect my HDTV to my PC, will I be able to hear DTS audio?

[oleglelchuk]

If I connect my HDTV to my PC, will I be able to hear DTS audio while playing DTS DVDs? Even though my TV has HDMI inputs, I don't have an HDMI cable. Will I be able to hear DTS audio if I connect an analog PC cable to my HDTV? Also, will the TV still be able to display high-definition if I use the analog PC cable?

[Baldrick]

If you use a VGA cable you wont get any audio at all. You must then use a separate cable for the audio.

And yes you can get high definition using an analog vga cable.

[oleglelchuk]

I see the PC IN AUDIO connection on my TV below the VGA PC connection. If I use that connection too, I will be able to hear DTS, right?

[MOVIEGEEK]

You need a deluxe version(or DTS decoder pack) of PowerDVD or WinDVD to hear DTS,I believe Showtime in Nero 8 supports DTS as well.
Yes the PC connection on your tv is for DTS sound.If the jack is 3.5mm it only supports 2ch,if the jack is a single RCA then it is coaxial and supports 5.1ch.

[ontherocks]

You can also get DTS 5.1 audio through freewares like Media Player Classic, VLC & Foobar (audio only).
You can play DTS audio or not also depends on what kind of audio output ports you have in your PC. Does it have any optical or 3.5 mm "digital" output or a coaxial digital RCA output?
Could you post a pic of the audio input in your HTDV?

[oleglelchuk]

Oh, I am so confused. My TV is Sony KDL-32S3000. Here's the picture of its back:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B000P6R6CY/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_1?ie...ndex=1#gallery

I connected the RGB cable to the TV and the PC, booted the computer, and everything went fine: Vista booted with no problems. But I was never able to make the speakers of the TV to work with the computer because I don't have the cable that connects the audio PC OUT connection of the computer to the audio PC IN connection of the TV. My computer speakers connect to the computer by using the PC OUT and the USB connection of the computer. So, of course, I had sound only with them while using the TV as the computer monitor. I downloaded the VLC player and heard the DTS sound while playing my standard-definition DVD, but the picture wasn't as good as the one I get when using my DVD player with the TV. The DVD player has no upconversion capabilities, but I thought that if I used the PC with the TV, the TV could upconvert regular DVDs to a high-definition resolution? I was wrong? Also, this TV is only capable of the 720p resolution, but not the 1080p resolution? Do I need the 1080p capability if the screen size of the TV is 32 inches?
So, I am confused. Any idea how to make upconversion work and how to make the TV speakers work with the computer? I guess I need additional cables. I got the DTS sound working. but was it surround?
I don't wanna buy an AV receiver since DTS seems to be working when the TV and the PC are connected. I don't wanna get a Blu-ray player too since blu-ray technology is still underdeveloped or something.
So, I hope I explained the situation clear enough. Please help. Thanks. I am going to sleep now because it's 4:16 am.

[ontherocks]

You didn't tell anything about the PC sound card. Post a pic of the back of your PC otherwise the whole picture won't be clear.
Your HDTV has only one digital audio input, that is HDMI. To get 5.1 channel surround sound you will need to buy HDMI cable. All the other inputs in your TV are 2 channel analog.

By what you have said it seems you have a stereo PC speakers with a 3.5 mm stereo jack which goes into the sound card and a USB cable for powering the speakers.
Now, you are able to listen to a DVD played by VLC in your two PC speakers because VLC downconverts the 5.1 channel to 2 channel (left & right). Thats true for any DVD playing software, which lets you hear sound through your stereo PC speakers. You are essentially getting stereo sound, not true 5.1 surround.
You can get the same stereo sound in your HDTV as well. Get a cable that has 3.5 mm stereo jack on both the ends (something like this http://images.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/6451.jpg ). Plug one end to the headphone output of the PC and other end to the "L/R stereo mini plug connection" of your HDTV.

Now coming to the video part. You cannot view true high definition video (HD-DVD & Blu-ray) with RGB cables. You will need digital HDMI cables.

If you used the same RGB cable with your DVD player as well with your PC but you are getting bad picture through your PC then your video card is not capable of giving 720 resolution output (which means you need to upgrade the video card)

[Krispy Kritter]

The whole connectivity issue aside, unless you have an AVR (audio video receiver)/ receiver and surround sound speakers, it is pointless. Your TV only has stereo speakers and only requires stereo input. Inputting DD5.1 or DTS will only playback as stereo anyway.

[oleglelchuk]

My computer's model is Gateway GT5620, but I can't find the picture specifically for my computer. My video card is Intel 82945G. I connect my DVD player to my TV using component cables (not composite or S video). To get audio with the DVD player, I use white and red audio cables. It looks like my computer doesn't have an HDMI connection, so I need to buy it? My sound card is Realtek High Definition audio.
Maybe I didn't get the true surround sound, yet the DTS track seems quite louder than the Dolby Digital track when I play it.
So, what are your suggestions?

[Kayembee]

My computer's model is Gateway GT5620, but I can't find the picture specifically for my computer. My video card is Intel 82945G. I connect my DVD player to my TV using component cables (not composite or S video). To get audio with the DVD player, I use white and red audio cables. It looks like my computer doesn't have an HDMI connection, so I need to buy it? My sound card is Realtek High Definition audio.
Maybe I didn't get the true surround sound, yet the DTS track seems quite louder than the Dolby Digital track when I play it.
So, what are your suggestions?

Turn up the volume?

Reread what Krispy Kritter wrote: you get no benefit from piping 5.1 to your
TV if you lack a surround system to play it on. Period.

[ontherocks]

Yes, default volume level of DTS audio is always higher than Dolby, thats how DTS and Dolby are encoded. There is nothing wrong anywhere.

What are your goals?
You won't get 5.1 channel audio through your TV because it has only two speakers. Even if you used HDMI your TV will downconvert 5.1 channels to 2 channel.

If you just want to able to get audio through your TV use the method I suggested.
I can't tell you more until I know your soundcard & videocard outputs. Take a photo of the back of your PC and upload it here.

[oleglelchuk]

Okay, I can't photograph my PC, but I know this for sure:
1. For audio, the computer has 3 connections: IN, OUT, and MICROPHONE.
2. It doesn't have the HDMI connection, it has only the VGA connection.
I guess now I have only 2 goals and one of them I already achieved: to hear stereo sound when playing the DTS track and to view SD DVDs in the high definition resolution. One person in this thread said it was possible to get high definition with the RGB cable.

[ontherocks]

Sometimes digital output and audio IN (or mic or audio OUT) have the same port. Just to make sure that isn't the case, do you find anything that says "digital output" or something like that when you double click on the speaker icon?
If not then it seems your soundcard doesn't have any digital ouptut. So you are out of luck and cannot listen to 5.1 channel in any way. So the only way to get audio in your HDTV, which would be stereo, is the process I mentioned earlier.

Of course you can view high definition videos through RGB component cables but that won't be "high definition" meaning you will loose quality, defying the main purpose of viewing "high definition". But standard DVD videos will look fine with RGB cables.

Now, you say that in your video card has only a VGA port. How do you plan to connect RGB component cables to your PC anyway?

[oleglelchuk]

Yeah, I have the digital output because when I click on the Sound icon, I see the info that both Speakers and Realtek Digital Output are working.
I never said I wanted to connect component cables to the PC; I can connect them to the DVD player. I am speaking about the VGA port/cable that my Operation Instructions for the Sony TV call analog RGB. So, I guess analog RGB and VGA port are the same thing.

[ontherocks]

Ok.
So then your connection to the TV should be straightforward.
For VIDEO - Get a VGA cable and connect that to the VGA port in your PC and other end to your TV VGA port.
For STEREO AUDIO - Get a 3.5mm stereo both end male cable and connect one end to the microphone or audio OUT to the PC and other end to the "L/R stereo mini plug connection" to your TV (just below the VGA port, in the "PC IN" column).

[oleglelchuk]

I am confused. Didn't u say I will only get the stereo sound if I use this method? I don't have 5.1 speaker system.

[ontherocks]

Yes it will be stereo of course. You CANNOT get 5.1 channel in your TV.
May be I am giving you too much information. I have edited the above post. See it.

[oleglelchuk]

Ok, thanks for help.

[edDV]

Back to your original goal. DTS audio is multichannel. To decode it you need a surround audio system with a DTS licenced decoder. Your TV has two speakers but no DTS decoder. Evidently your DVD player has a DTS decoder if you can hear it but it just mixes DTS to two channel or passes the digital stream to optical or coax digital out.

HDMI supports AC3 audio and may pass a DTS stream but HDMI support and DTS support are separate issues.

Best way to proceed is buy a DTS capable audio system and DTS capable player and hardware for your PC. This will cost you between $250-3,000+ depending on the audio system. This is a typical DTS capable surround audio system.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/501899906?v_c=BizRate&srccode=cii_1004...=12-47039143-2

[oleglelchuk]

Thanks to you too.

[Midzuki]

Well, I would NOT (and will not) spend hundreds of $$$ with
speakers that were designed by some wannabe hair-stylist.

[edDV]

Well, I would NOT (and will not) spend hundreds of $$$ with
speakers that were designed by some wannabe hair-stylist.

Ideal position for speakers and screen is eye level while sitting.

[Midzuki]

Ideal position for speakers and screen is eye level while sitting.

And what should be the ideal size, the ideal weight, and the ideal shape
for minimally-decent speakers

[oleglelchuk]

Back to your original goal. DTS audio is multichannel. To decode it you need a surround audio system with a DTS licenced decoder. Your TV has two speakers but no DTS decoder. Evidently your DVD player has a DTS decoder if you can hear it but it just mixes DTS to two channel or passes the digital stream to optical or coax digital out.

HDMI supports AC3 audio and may pass a DTS stream but HDMI support and DTS support are separate issues.

Best way to proceed is buy a DTS capable audio system and DTS capable player and hardware for your PC. This will cost you between $250-3,000+ depending on the audio system. This is a typical DTS capable surround audio system.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/501899906?v_c=BizRate&srccode=cii_1004...=12-47039143-2

On cnet.com, they say the sound quality of this model is disappointing, LOL. Do you own a better Home Theater System?

[edDV]

There are dozens of models at price points from ~$200 to over $10k. These are well reviewed on the internet.

I use a 100W per channel 6.1 receiver and Polk speakers all bought on deep discount.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/equipmentreviews/
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/ProdColl.asp?cID=2851
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-cwL7eHOofmo/

[oleglelchuk]

Oh, by the way, since I don't have a standalone DVD recorder yet, can I use my PC DVD burner to record stuff from TV if I connect the PC to the TV?
Also, on the back of my TV, next to COMPONENT jacks, it is written 480i/480p/720i/720p/1080i/1080p. Why is 1080p mentioned there if this TV can't actually support 1080p in its full resolution? It simply implies that it can play 1080p stuff on TV, but not in its full resolution? What if I decide to buy a 1080p Blu-ray player to use with this TV? Will it be a big deal that this TV can't display 1080p resolution? Or it doesn't matter if the screen size of the TV is 32 inches? I will only notice the difference if I obtain a bigger-screen TV?
Thanks in advance for your replies.

[oleglelchuk]

Oops, 720i is not mentioned there.

[oleglelchuk]

Another oops: 1080i and 1080p have the same resolution, as I just read, but 1080p supports progressive scan.

[oleglelchuk]

Oh boy, it looks like it can't display 1080i in its full resolution too.

[edDV]

That TV has a native resolution of 1366 x 768 which is fine for that 32" screen size. Downscale from Bluray 1920x1080 will look nice (better than upscaled 720x480 DVD) but not enough to justify today's high BluRay cost. Get a quality progressive DVD player (like the Oppo) instead.

What capture card do you have now?

Where do you get your TV? If off air you can record from the TV's analog outputs. Otherwise record from the cable/sat box.