AC-3 audio question.

[skewed]

Last night I hit a mile stone. I figured out the viewsat sat file is junk and was missing ALOT of transponders, this was culprit in better than 95% of my troubles. I am finally, after a month able to watch pbs. Problem is there AC-3. I know this is something to do with home theather enc like dolby or something but my question is would a cheap suround sound system like those for 50 bux at wally world work? I want to save for a HD reciever before I get a surround sound!

 

[Lak7]

As long as the Stereo Receiver has Optical Input, the Viewsats have Optical Output, you should be OK.

 

[concord]

A cheap alternative is the Sonic Voom Surround Headset Headphone, it will decode AC-3 to L/R outputs...search on ebay.

 

[Anole]

I have a cheap audio system from a Black Friday sale some years ago.
It has an optical audio output, but does NOT have an optical audio input.
So, do check carefully. I had to buy a better unit to get the feature.

Now, as for cheap, what about a little adapter to take your optical or coaxial sound and convert it to plain stereo?
Search the forum for "Sonic Voom"; they are $15..20, if I recall.

 

[Cadsulfide]

MCM Electronics sells a decoder for $99, a Sound Blaster Extigy USB is purported to work too ~$50 EBAY

 

[skewed]

I found one on *bay, do you have to use the headphones? I want the pbs for my litle girl shes 3 and likes the sprouts.

 

[Anole]

I didn't get one , but if I recall from previous posts...
It has both optical input and coaxial input.
For output, you can use the headphones, or the line-out RCA jacks over to your TV or stereo.

 

[Davage]

I've bought 3 sets of those Sonic Voom headphones - the decoder works great. Anole is correct in stating that the unit has both optical and coaxial input. I have only ever used coaxial, but my brother has used optical with success. The decoder has a Line-out jack on it so that you can feed it into a VCR's AV Plugs, Stereo, etc. I haven't even put the headphones on my head to be honest, I immediately fed the output into my stereo..

 

[gabshere]

I found one on *bay, do you have to use the headphones? I want the pbs for my litle girl shes 3 and likes the sprouts.

i use a set of $10 powered computer speakers

 

[harshness]

AC-3 = Dolby Digital

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Digital"]Dolby Digital - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/Fileolby-Digital.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/34/Dolby-Digital.svg/220px-Dolby-Digital.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/3/34/Dolby-Digital.svg/220px-Dolby-Digital.svg.png[/ame]

 

[skewed]

I found this on ebay,
Toslink Optical to Coax/Coaxial Digital Audio Converter - eBay (item 380075619488 end time Oct-31-08 06:00:00 PDT)

But I just thought of something else, correct me if I am wrong but won"t the output still be digital? I will still need a theater system. Looks like the cheapest route will be the sonic vooms with a set of putter speakers. If I am sounding like a cheap scape its because I am, I am already trying to save for chirstmas, in these times its my only choice.

 

[Davage]

If you've got a VCR, you won't even need the computer speakers. Just feed the left/right audio from the Sonic Voom decoder to the left/right audio inputs on the VCR, and put the video from the FTA receiver to the Video Input on the VCR. Let the VCR combine the signals for you. It works good. You WILL need a cable to plug from the Sonic Voom decoder to the VCR - See picture attached below.

 

[skewed]

Can I find the sonic voom at wally world?
What is that cable called, and where will I be able to find it?
I should not need a vcr as I do have a 55 ws hd tv that has the audio inputs. I just do not have a home theater system.I sold my old one a few years with an upgrade in mind but then My wife got pregnant and well........that was the end of that.

Thanks in advance for all of the help.

 

[Anole]

a little research . . .

Take a look around the SatelliteAV site.. you might find other things besides just these A/V cables.
And buy several sets. They'll come in handy on that next project!
Last time they were at this price, I think I bought 10 sets.

As for where to find the Sonic Voom, search the forum for previous discussions.
I know they used to carry 'em at Fry's.
Dont' recall where else.
Do some shopping.
THEN, UPDATE US SO WE'LL KNOW.

 

[Wescopc]

The cable you need would be RCA to Mini-phone jack (stereo) you can also use an adapter like the one shown here:
RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: A/V connectors & adapters: Y-Adapter, Phono Jacks to Stereo 1/8" Plugsee picture.
Bob