5.1 Audio & TV with iMac

[iSaac]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I run an audio signal from the new iMac G5 (w/ front row and iSight)'s optical audio out into a home theater reciever's optical audio in if I will be able to watch DVD's in 5.1 audio.

I was also hoping you guys could suggest a good TV tuner to get for the iMac. I'm helping someone potentially make it the centerpiece of their living room.

 

[pknz]

TV Tuner is relatively easy, Elgato look at the Firewire ones, not the USB as the USB will do the encoding on the iMac using up processor power.

 

[Josh396]

I was wondering if I run an audio signal from the new iMac G5 (w/ front row and iSight)'s optical audio out into a home theater reciever's optical audio in if I will be able to watch DVD's in 5.1 audio.

I'm not entirely sure yet, but I think this should be able to work. I think all you'll need is an TOSLink and mini TOSLink cord to connect the two.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I run an audio signal from the new iMac G5 (w/ front row and iSight)'s optical audio out into a home theater receiver's optical audio in if I will be able to watch DVD's in 5.1 audio.

I was also hoping you guys could suggest a good TV tuner to get for the iMac. I'm helping someone potentially make it the centerpiece of their living room.

Yes you should be able to listen DVD's in 5.1. Make sure to "disable Dolby dynamic range compression" in your DVD player preferences. This setting attempts to equalize the volume in speakers with a surround sound input but usually just makes the voices either too quiet or makes the volume swing up and down wildly in some DVDs.

Coincidentally, if you ever want to hook up an iBook or Powerbook to a home theater receiver digitally (analog can be done with a minijack to composite cable) look at M-Audio for external soundcards.

As the previous commenter stated, El Gato is the best place to look for a TV input for your Mac although there are alternatives available. Its a little pricey but definitely nice.

If your friend already has a TV then I would recommend waiting to see what Apple's home theater solution will be as most people think that there will either be a DVR Mac Mini or an 802.11n "Airport Express AV" for watching and downloading content to a TV soon.