In an ideal setup it would just be:
audio card->TRS cables->amplifier->speakers
video card->HDMI cable->HDTV
This would give you the best possible quality for the lowest price. The audio card would act as your dsp, dac, and preamp. Problem is no other device can use your audio card.
I suppose the best possible solution with the PS3 included would be to use the above and:
PS3->HDMI->HDTV->amplifier->speakers
Most amplifiers have at least 2 inputs. With this system your PS3 would be at the mercy of your TV DAC for quality (I don't think you care so much about this) and you would have to switch the input on both your TV and amp whenever you switched between PC/PS3. Is that acceptable?
Your other options are an A/V receiver, an external dac, preamp, or pre/pro.
Preamps provide line level analog input and line level analog output (but with input switching, volume leveling, etc.). External dacs provide uncompressed digital input and line level analog output (they just convert a digital input to analog). Pre/pro combine a dsp, dac, and preamp into one device. Inputs include uncompressed digital, compressed digital, and line level analog. Outputs include all three as well. A/V receivers combine a pre/pro with a power amplifier to provide speaker level analog output and a bunch of other shit that you will probably never use. And audio cards are basically pre/pros that can be inserted directly into a computer and communicate with it via drivers.
A/V receivers provide the entire audio system in one box. Nice and convenient. But they offer less bang for your buck quality wise. You're paying for lots of components, many of which you don't need. And since they're all jammed together in one box EMI causing distortion/noise between the different components is an issue without very elaborate shielding (which only high end models have). Problem is the midrange preamps, pre/pros, and dacs have been driven out of the market by cheap convenient A/V receivers that trade quality for features and convenience. So much so that audio enthusiasts often purchase a/v receivers and configure them as pre/pros since there are no pre/pros in the midrange pricerange. And unless you spend the big bucks receiver sound quality tends to suck. So you end up in a "go big, go small, or go home" situation no matter what since consumers are idiots and have shifted the market in the wrong direction. Audio cards are the only real way to get a good pre/pro for cheap these days since there is still a market for it but of course they only work with PCs. And audio only receivers don't even exist anymore.
Ultimately you need all of the above in some form. Compressed digital audio source or signal -> DSP or software -> uncompressed digital signal -> DAC -> analog line level signal -> preamp -> power amp -> analog speaker level signal -> speakers -> sound
The only differences here are which components in the chain are in seperate boxes/devices or together in one box/device. So basicly the level of integration in the system. As integration goes down (by using separate parts) maximum quality goes up but cost efficiency goes down.
The advantage of buying a good a/v receiver is that you can enjoy the benefits of it on any device you hook up to it. Including your ps3 and pc. It also saves a lot of space and greatly simplifies setup.
audio card->TRS cables->amplifier->speakers
video card->HDMI cable->HDTV
This would give you the best possible quality for the lowest price. The audio card would act as your dsp, dac, and preamp. Problem is no other device can use your audio card.
I suppose the best possible solution with the PS3 included would be to use the above and:
PS3->HDMI->HDTV->amplifier->speakers
Most amplifiers have at least 2 inputs. With this system your PS3 would be at the mercy of your TV DAC for quality (I don't think you care so much about this) and you would have to switch the input on both your TV and amp whenever you switched between PC/PS3. Is that acceptable?
Your other options are an A/V receiver, an external dac, preamp, or pre/pro.
Preamps provide line level analog input and line level analog output (but with input switching, volume leveling, etc.). External dacs provide uncompressed digital input and line level analog output (they just convert a digital input to analog). Pre/pro combine a dsp, dac, and preamp into one device. Inputs include uncompressed digital, compressed digital, and line level analog. Outputs include all three as well. A/V receivers combine a pre/pro with a power amplifier to provide speaker level analog output and a bunch of other shit that you will probably never use. And audio cards are basically pre/pros that can be inserted directly into a computer and communicate with it via drivers.
A/V receivers provide the entire audio system in one box. Nice and convenient. But they offer less bang for your buck quality wise. You're paying for lots of components, many of which you don't need. And since they're all jammed together in one box EMI causing distortion/noise between the different components is an issue without very elaborate shielding (which only high end models have). Problem is the midrange preamps, pre/pros, and dacs have been driven out of the market by cheap convenient A/V receivers that trade quality for features and convenience. So much so that audio enthusiasts often purchase a/v receivers and configure them as pre/pros since there are no pre/pros in the midrange pricerange. And unless you spend the big bucks receiver sound quality tends to suck. So you end up in a "go big, go small, or go home" situation no matter what since consumers are idiots and have shifted the market in the wrong direction. Audio cards are the only real way to get a good pre/pro for cheap these days since there is still a market for it but of course they only work with PCs. And audio only receivers don't even exist anymore.
Ultimately you need all of the above in some form. Compressed digital audio source or signal -> DSP or software -> uncompressed digital signal -> DAC -> analog line level signal -> preamp -> power amp -> analog speaker level signal -> speakers -> sound
The only differences here are which components in the chain are in seperate boxes/devices or together in one box/device. So basicly the level of integration in the system. As integration goes down (by using separate parts) maximum quality goes up but cost efficiency goes down.
The advantage of buying a good a/v receiver is that you can enjoy the benefits of it on any device you hook up to it. Including your ps3 and pc. It also saves a lot of space and greatly simplifies setup.
"Normally if given a choice between doing something and nothing, I’d choose to do nothing. But I would do something if it helps someone else do nothing. I’d work all night if it meant nothing got done."
-Ron Swanson
"I shall be a good politician, even if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else for that matter. "
-Mark Antony
-Ron Swanson
"I shall be a good politician, even if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else for that matter. "
-Mark Antony