I'm posting to see if my idea of this setup is right and can be done. I currently have the following "equipment": a JVC VCR -quite old-, which has built in surround sound (aka it has several speaker outputs, which I believe is 5.1 and are connected to several speakers that are in every corner of the room), a computer with SPDIF optical output and a new flat screen TV (with built in HDMI).

I want the computer to take advantage of the VCR's surround system (all the speakers in the room) in order to play mainly music and video always with all the speakers (5.1) and with the maximum sound quality.

Currently, the computer plays sound only through the front speaker (I connect one output to the on board pc audio input) and the quality is really bad. As a side note, the computer video runs with S-video (old school), and the picture quality as you would imagine, is really bad with the new big LCD screen.

My main goals are:

• to upgrade the picture with a new video card which would support HDMI (my tv has HDMI).
• to buy a SPDIF optical cable, connect one end to the VCR SPDIF input and the other end to the PC output

This is theoretically what I've researched so far, and I came out with several questions:

• in this case, with the SPDIF cable connected, and all the configurations done in windows allowing the 5.1, will I get every content I play "converted" or played through all of my speakers? (I read this forum post). I already know that in order for this setup to play from all the speakers, the content/audio source has to be 5.1. but my question is, if there is a way to play from all of the speakers no matter what type of content I'm playing (that's why I said conversion there)

• I already know that HDMI cables carry digital sound. Is there a way I can only use said HDMI cord to the tv, and get sound through the VCR? (I'm not too sure about this, I would have to disable the TVs speakers and use the VCR surround as default, but I have no clue wether this can be done or not).

Update: The ultimate question is, do I really have to rely on "sound virtualization" technology to get sound from all the speakers, no matter what content I play? (do I require a newer sound card, like a creative soundblaster with said technology?)

Thanks!