You can build a home entertainment system for a home computer by adding a few components such as surround sound speakers and an optional large screen.
The majority of the computers on the market today have built-in CD/DVD drives along with video and sound cards that are sufficient for watching movies and listening to music in high quality formats.
Instructions
1. Ensure that the computer has at least a built-in sound card and a built-in CD/DVD drive. If the computer has speakers that can play audio, a sound card is present. A CD/DVD drive will allow you to listen to music and watch movies on the computer; most computers are sold with this drive today.
2. Purchase a surround sound audio system. Prices range from $50 U.S. up to a few hundred and even a few thousand dollars. A 5.1 or 7.1 system is sufficient for home entertainment purposes. Browse electronics stores and online stores.
You do not need a separate audio receiver or stereo receiver to run audio from the computer to the speaker system.
3. Purchase a large flat screen computer monitor display. This is optional, however a larger LCD screen will greatly enhance the video of DVDs. You may also choose to hook up your computer system to a television screen.
4. Hook up the monitor to the computer via the video out jack. Ensure before purchase that the connection on the monitor will fit the computer video line-out jack. Some computers, especially some laptops, require a digital video out connection. Adapters are available at computer and electronics stores.
5. Hook up the television to the computer if you will be using the television as the primary video screen for the home entertainment system. Again an adapter cable may be needed to connect the television to the computer. A digital video out cable will work if the television (or component stereo receiver if the television is connected to one) has a digital video in jack.
If not, purchase a digital video to component video cable adapter to connect the computer to the video only component jacks.
6. Connect the surround sound system to the computer's audio out jack. On some computers this may double as the headphone jack, but check the back of most desktops for a separate audio out jack.
7. Position the surround sound speakers according to the included speaker instructions based on where the viewer(s) will be sitting while using the entertainment system.
8. Insert a music CD or video DVD into the computer's DVD drive and use the default media player to play the disc. Turn on the surround sound system and the video display (either computer monitor or connected television) to test the system.
You may choose to install an aftermarket media player or upgrade the current one. Examples of computer media player programs include WinAmp, Quicktime, and Windows Media Player.
Tags: surround sound, digital video, computer video, entertainment system, home entertainment, audio jack, computer monitor
