[SOLVED] Windows 10 to Denon Receiver for Audio, best options ?

[Laban007]

I have a Denon AVR-1713 with a couple of speakers that I have connected to my Windows 10 machine via HDMI. I have a dual monitor setup.

The problem is that I can only play audio if I also connect my TV to the receiver and have it turned on, which also creates a third unwanted monitor which interferes with the aspect ration of one of my computer monitors.

I would like to simply connect my Windows computer to the Denon AVR without involving the TV, but that appears difficult with HDMI (based on https://hardforum.com/threads/is-there-a-way-to-output-sound-by-hdmi-without-video.1896250).

I am not by any means an audiophile, but I do like the sound to be decent and I use my computer to listen to music.

I would like some suggestions on good, preferably inexpensive options.

Thanks

Ps. Would these help? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardfocom-20

 

[dwd999]

This would depend on what types of audio outputs you have on your computer. Do you know the make and model of your computer's motherboard? Can you identify what audio outputs it has?

 

[emitfudd]

If your motherboard and your receiver have optical audio ports that would be the best. You would have to buy a toslink cable though. You also don't have to connect to your receiver, just a speaker system. I'm using a Klipsch 2.1 speaker system that just plugs into the green mono port on my motherboard.

 

[Laban007]

I have a Dell XPS 8930 with these ports:
3x USB 3.1 (1x Type C, 2x Type A)
6x USB 3.0
2x USB 2.0
1x HDMI
1x Combination Audio jack

My speakers are a couple of Infinity IL 10 (8 watts).

Note: the Dell above is from 2017 and I might get a new machine over Black Friday weekend (but I am a software developer and my main criteria will be the amount RAM, CPU, SSD, etc., so I may still have to get a separate audio card).

Any recommendations re. sound cards, if that is the best way to go?

 

[dwd999]

The port you need to use is the grey colored one closest to the edge of the computer. Connect that with a cable to the AUDIO IN ports on the back of your Denon receiver. You can use either the ones marked CBL/SAT or DVD since they both perform the same function. Then just select that input on the front of your receiver. You'll need a cable like this:

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...1&sr=1-1-5519553e-2baa-451e-af83-b0156e5c6669

Depending on how you have your software set up, you may need to open the Control Panel Sound Applet and make sure that the grey output is enabled. Once its enabled and shows up when you click on the sound icon on the task bar you should be able to select it when you want to hear music. Hopefully this will not interfere with your other use of the HDMI ports. As an alternative, you could plug the cable into the headphone output on the front of your computer and this should also work.

 

[Laban007]

dwd999, thanks for your detailed reply. I am pretty sure that I did try the headphone output in the past and the quality was not good (very weak, as if the headphone port could not drive the RCA input of the receiver. I will try the grey audio port on the back (need to order a cable).

Also, re. sound quality, do you think that using an inexpensive sound card (<$100) instead would give markedly better sound than using the on-board audio port? Or perhaps something USB adapter based?

 

[dwd999]

You would most likely get the best quality using the Digital Audio Optical input port on the back of your receiver. With optical toslink, there's no metal to metal contact in the cables, its all plastic, so there's less chance of interference or hum. So if you can find a sound card with an Optical digital output, that might be better. But a lot would depend on what music source you're listening to. The way most music is overprocessed these days, its hard to distinguish true quality. If you have some files in flac format, you might be able to hear quality differences.

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Audigy-Performance-Headphone/dp/B00EO6X7PG/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=computer+sound+card&qid=1635959566&refinements=p_89:Creative&rnid=2528832011&s=electronics&sr=1-5

https://www.amazon.com/Douk-Audio-C...G,B00L3KO3YU,B00BIQER0E,B087R2SGT1,B097NBKFHR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7MUY5...l&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_title&th=1

 

[Laban007]

@dwd999, Great, thanks for all your help!