"device" for PS4 and rMBP external speakers?

[jedolley]

My current setup(pictured below) is that I have my rMBP and my PS4 connected to my TV. I dual screen the rMBP, but both the rMBP and PS4 use the TV speakers for sound (when one or the other is in use).

What I was considering doing was getting some external speakers, but figured I would need a some sort of device that could accept two sources (digital and analog) and connect them to speakers. Am I even in the right ballpark with what I am looking for? If so, or if not, what should I be looking at?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anim]

Sounds like you need a Receiver with built in DAC (Digital to Analog converter)
but looking at your desk and setup that wouldn't look great.

What is your budget?
What speakers are you planning to use? Desktop speakers? separates? stereo speakers for music or do you want a subwoofer and rear surround speakers for blu-rays and games?

Edit: Just noticed you have PS4. I assume it has the same Optical Audio Out

For PS audio out, there are several options available. PS has Optical Audio Out as this provides the most direct audio path to a set of speakers/amplifier. I guess currently you are using HDMI and which is also fine. If your TV has an Audio Out on it, it is like a passthrough port so gives you more options if the speakers you find only allow single phono input or phono to 3.5 mini jack for example.

So, if you go for an AV Receiver for the most flexibility, high quality etc, keep in mind they are quite big and bulky but there are slimmer versions around. Basically you run everything into the receiver (both audio and video) and have one cable coming out of it to the TV, the receiver manages the switching between your mac and the PS and other connections you may have wired up to it (blu ray players, dvd players, apple TV etc)

You also have the option of using a 'sound bar' which has speakers and inputs built into one unit and runs along under your TV for stereo sound / virtual surround.

Some possible suggestions:

Receivers:
YAMAHA RXV373 Receiver
http://www.whathifi.com/review/rx-v373

PIONEER VSX-323
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/42/98/405/VSX-323-K/page.html

You will need to find suitable speakers for the above. There are so many available which is dependant on your budget.

TV has Audio Out
If you are on a budget AND your TV has "Audio Out" via either red/white phono or 3.5 jack on the back then you can pass that into something like the Creative T30's so have both PS and Mac connected to TV via HDMI but the TV audio (whatever is playing on the TV) is passed to the speakers.
http://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-t30-wireless
This would also work for Bose Sound Docks if you want a single wide field speaker, maybe a portable version too.

Also
The Creative T4's have Optical audio input too
http://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-t4-wireless

So you can see there are many options depending on what you want out of it.

Anyway, whatever you decide you will greatly improve your sound field by adding your own speakers.

Anim

 

[jedolley]

Sounds like you need a Receiver with built in DAC (Digital to Analog converter)
but looking at your desk and setup that wouldn't look great.

What is your budget?
What speakers are you planning to use? Desktop speakers? separates? stereo speakers for music or do you want a subwoofer and rear surround speakers for blu-rays and games?

Edit: Just noticed you have PS4. I assume it has the same Optical Audio Out

For PS audio out, there are several options available. PS has Optical Audio Out as this provides the most direct audio path to a set of speakers/amplifier. I guess currently you are using HDMI and which is also fine. If your TV has an Audio Out on it, it is like a passthrough port so gives you more options if the speakers you find only allow single phono input or phono to 3.5 mini jack for example.

So, if you go for an AV Receiver for the most flexibility, high quality etc, keep in mind they are quite big and bulky but there are slimmer versions around. Basically you run everything into the receiver (both audio and video) and have one cable coming out of it to the TV, the receiver manages the switching between your mac and the PS and other connections you may have wired up to it (blu ray players, dvd players, apple TV etc)

You also have the option of using a 'sound bar' which has speakers and inputs built into one unit and runs along under your TV for stereo sound / virtual surround.

Some possible suggestions:

Receivers:
YAMAHA RXV373 Receiver
http://www.whathifi.com/review/rx-v373

PIONEER VSX-323
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/42/98/405/VSX-323-K/page.html

You will need to find suitable speakers for the above. There are so many available which is dependant on your budget.

TV has Audio Out
If you are on a budget AND your TV has "Audio Out" via either red/white phono or 3.5 jack on the back then you can pass that into something like the Creative T30's so have both PS and Mac connected to TV via HDMI but the TV audio (whatever is playing on the TV) is passed to the speakers.
http://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-t30-wireless
This would also work for Bose Sound Docks if you want a single wide field speaker, maybe a portable version too.

Also
The Creative T4's have Optical audio input too
http://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-t4-wireless

So you can see there are many options depending on what you want out of it.

Anyway, whatever you decide you will greatly improve your sound field by adding your own speakers.

Anim

Wow, thanks for the great and informative post. I'm probably going to stay away from a receiver due to the size.

Since my original post I did find two DACs that accept both a optical and RCA source, but both of them are ~ $150 and then I would still need $ for speakers.

My other two options were getting a speaker with multiple source inputs (i.e. like the Creative one you mentioned) or using my TV's audio out to the speakers.

As for a budget, I haven't really thought of a hard number, but was thinking somewhere in the $200 - $300 range.

 

[Anim]

If you want the best and can stretch your budget or wait awhile then these MM-1's are highly praised:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TX583VC/A/bowers-wilkins-mm-1-speakers?fnode=4f
They produce amazing audio from the mac via USB (The speakers have their own sound card in them which is superior to the mac one) and then Audio Out on the TV to the Line-In on them.

I want a pair of them nearly as much as my new mac pro on order
Have a read of the reviews on the apple site.

Also these are both top end:

http://www.whathifi.com/review/epoz-aktimate-micro
and
http://www.whathifi.com/review/focal-xs-book

Take your time and research whatever you do as thats half the fun