The HP TouchSmart PC makes an excellent "preamp / processor" for a media center located in a kitchen or bedroom. With a few reasonably priced peripheral components, you can use the HP TouchSmart PC to automatically turn amplifiers and/or subwoofers on and off with the computer itself, basically using the HP TouchSmart PC as your media source hub.

I have the following setup in my kitchen using an HP TouchSmart PC model 600, wall mounted.

Search for the parts listed below; I always find them on sale somewhere.

• Tripplite Energy Saving US550VA 120V Standby 8 out with USB, model ECO550UPS (about $65).
  
  
• Niles TVA50 amplifier or Niles Jobsite A45x2 amplifier (about $200) - I like the Niles amps becuase they sound excellent and are small, and seem to never break, but you can actually use any home audio amplifier.
  
  
• One or more pairs of in-ceiling / in-wall speakers - I am using BG Radia PD-8Ci 8" speakers ( www.bgcorp.com - Expensive at $600/pair, but OMG awesome- Any good 8" inwall or in-ceiling speaker from Polk Audio, Boston or Niles will do about as good. Never use 6", they suck- the 6" is just too small.)
  
  
• Reinforce the low end with a small powered subwoofer - Boston Acoustics HPS 10HO (about $200). It's a 250 watt subwoofer, comes in white, and is easy to hide. I have mine hidden on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Hook up everything

Power connections: 

1. Hook up the USB cable from the Tripplite UPS to the HP Touchsmart PC, and enable the "eco" setting on the Tripplite UPS. The Tripplite has several "switched" outlets that turn on and off with a signal from the computer via USB. When the computer wakes, the outlets are on. When the computer is off or sleeping, the outlets turn off.
   
   Neat, eh?
2. Plug in the power from the Niles amplifier and powered subwoofer to the switched "eco" outlets on the Tripplite UPS. They will turn on and off with the HP Touchsmart PC.
3. Run the audio out from the Hp Touchsmart PC's 1/8" mini-jack on the rear-left side to the Niles amp (you'll need a 1/8" jack to RCA adapter) . Then, daisy chain the RCA audio out to the powered subwoofer as well.
4. Hook up Niles amplifier to your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
5. Adjust gain levels on Niles amplifier and subwoofer, and enjoy.

Tip on adjusting volume levels:

 

Initial setup

When adjusting volume gains on the Niles amplifier and sub, set the Windows volume on the TouchSmart PC to 100% and turn gains up or down on amplifier / sub to comfortable levels. Try out both music and a movie withh good bass, and turn the sub gain up or down until it "blends" well with the other speakers.

On the HP Touchsmart PC, set all application volume levels to about 25% (the slider on bottom of screen). 



UUse the master Windows volume (slider at top of screen or up/down volume hard keys on right side of the HP TouchSmart PC) to adjust volume when in the apps; do not use the indivudal app volumes. This will keep volume levels the same when switching applications.

Wall mount

Any VESA 200mm wall mount bracket will work on the HP Touchsmart PC model 600. Be sure to get one that has a tilt adjustment.