Hardware Wii U to LED monitor

[the_randomizer]

Okay, so I have an Asus VH238H 23" LED monitor which has HDMI input on it so form the get go, hooking a Wii U to this monitor won't be an issue (I think). But my reasoning for this are as follows, or rather, why I wish to experiment.

1 - My roommates tend to make good use of the TV, inconsistent times, I can never predict when they don't use or use the TV, so gaming sessions on the big screen are limited at best.

2 - Sure, there is the game pad and is convenient, but I prefer seeing the games in at least 720, but this monitor does full 1080p and not fixed at 480p. That and I can't find a comfortable position to hold it while gaming.

For the sake of convenience, and so I can experience Wii U games in at least HD glory, hooking it up to my monitor would be the quickest solution and possibly the easiest as far as not having to wait for people to be done with the TV (not mine, but a roommate's TV mind you). That, and I want to avoid any inconveniences during said use. Now, like I said, hooking it up to the screen itself will pose no issues, aside from channeling the sound since my PC speakers are hooked up to the motherboard. Rerouting the sound to the PC speakers will be a pain to be sure, worse case scenario, I could always unplug the connector and into the headphone jack on the game pad, or simply use headphones The other problem is I also use the monitor when I use the PC for Steam games and the like, so there would be a signal conflict I would imagine, the DVI to GPU vs. HDMI to Wii U, I would have no means of changing input easily from Wii U and when I'm done, use the PC without having to fiddle with the cables in the back of the LED monitor, unless there was a more streamlined way to change inputs on the fly.

So to sum up:

Roommates use HDTV at inconsistent intervals, making it hard to find out when I can use the TV for the Wii U. Using game pad/off-screen only gets uncomfortable really fast.

PC monitor accepts HDMI so hooking up Wii U would work fine, problem is rerouting audio to proper source and swapping back and forth between PC usage and Wii U with one being DVI and the other being HDMI

What would be the best way to approach this?

Edit: The monitor switches input easily with DVI and HDMI plugged in, issue now is the sound

 

[ShadowSoldier]

i dont have a solution, but that's why I gave up on using the WiiU on my monitor. I could get the picture no problem, it was the sound that was stopping me. I couldn't get any sound at all, had the WiiU's composite cables (Red and White) plugged into an adapter plugged into my speakers, wouldn't work.

 

[orcid]

You can use Wii AV Cables or Wii Component Video Cables for the audio output while using hdmi for the picture. you only need to change the audio output in the system settings of the Wii U.
Maybe you can connect your speakers with one of these cables.

 

[the_randomizer]

i dont have a solution, but that's why I gave up on using the WiiU on my monitor. I could get the picture no problem, it was the sound that was stopping me. I couldn't get any sound at all, had the WiiU's composite cables (Red and White) plugged into an adapter plugged into my speakers, wouldn't work.

Worst case scenario, I can always use headphones as they're actually pretty nice Or take the speaker jack from the back and plug it in the game pad. Sure, it'll sound pretty crappy compared to using the composite white/red cables, but better than silence, and now that Wii U has multi-out, it shouldn't be as bad Picture wise, it'll look helluva better than the game pad lol!

You can use Wii AV Cables or Wii Component Video Cables for the audio output while using hdmi for the picture. you only need to change the audio output in the system settings of the Wii U.

Maybe you can connect your speakers with one of these cables.

Yeah, I totally forgot they finally added that feature in system menu 4.0.0 and above, which makes things less complex. Only problem is with these speakers and how it uses only the green-tipped audio jack for input, routing the sound is gonna be a pain, unless I got some kind of split, like a y-cable to split the left-right channels into the speaker output ....which I might have. I think I have one, I'll have to check. On a 23" monitor, would 720p or 1080p be the best setting despite its size?

 

[mickcris]

Use something like this.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011001&p_id=8150&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2404&seq=1&format=2

monitor speakers should work with hdmi, so either use monitor speakers for wiiu and pc speakers for pc, or use monitor speakers for both.
http://support.asus.com/Troubleshooting/detail.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=VH238H&os=&no=1766

 

[the_randomizer]

Use something like this.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011001&p_id=8150&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2404&seq=1&format=2

monitor speakers should work with hdmi, so either use monitor speakers for wiiu and pc speakers for pc, or use monitor speakers for both.
http://support.asus.com/Troubleshooting/detail.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=VH238H&os=&no=1766

The monitor speakers sound like crap (well most do anyway), would those splitters allow me to use the speakers for both Wii U and PC or would I need to unplug each time? I'd like to avoid monitor speakers if at all possible. Looking at the second link, it's an HDMI to DVI cable, but since the monitor I have has native HDMI support, I wouldn't really need it As for the sound, yeah, I might just need to unplug the speaker jack or stick with headphones, unless there was a way to split the audio to go to the Wii U and PC simultaneously

 

[mickcris]

this should work
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

i saw you edited the 1st post. dont need other splitter and cable (that was to hook the pc into hdmi). you may need some sort of y to hook into your pc speakrs if you dont want to switch the audio cable each time.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021808&p_id=668&seq=1&format=2

 

[the_randomizer]

this should work
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

i saw you edited the 1st post. dont need other splitter and cable. you may need some sort of y to hook into your pc speakrs though like this
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021808&p_id=668&seq=1&format=2

Ah, so the y-part would go to the Wii U composite (white/red) while the end goes into the audio input jack? These are PC speakers and don't have native red/white cables, just the standard green tipped jack. And that y-cable will work with it? The speakers I have are similar to this model here
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/2-1-com...&skuId=9402185&st=insignia speakers&cp=1&lp=7

Same brand, so this should give an idea of whether or not the cable will work

 

[mickcris]

y cable into speaker outlet and then both pc and wiiu into it. the y cable is a trs jack just like the pc. you would need to get a trs to trs for the hdmi box instead of the one with rca jacks on one side that that comes with it.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=644&seq=1&format=2

would be a lot easier if you monitor had an audio out, but it doesnt.

 

[the_randomizer]

y cable into speaker outlet and then both pc and wiiu into it. the y cable is a trs jack just like the pc. you would need to get a trs to trs for the hdmi box instead of the one with rca jacks on one side that that comes with it.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=644&seq=1&format=2

would be a lot easier if you monitor had an audio out, but it doesnt.

So...how would the setup look like? Do I really need a converter box? I mean, is this the cheapest solution to the audio issue? Not trying to sound ungrateful or nitpicky, I'm just trying to figure all this out lol I THINK the monitor has a headphone jack, I don't know if that would do any good though.

Wii U >>> Monitor

Speakers >>> PC

Is it possible at all to use them on both PC and Wii U without getting a box?

 

[mickcris]

cheapest would be just to use the monitor speakers.

this setup would be:
wiiu hdmi out to hdmi audio convertor. then from there, hdmi to monitor and trs jack from hdmi box to y-splitter at speakers. your computer audio cable will be plugged into the other side of the y splitter.

that is the only way i can think to do it if you dont want to use your monitor speakers.

edit:
i missed the other persons post about being able to use the multi out at the same time. maybe this would work:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=666&seq=1&format=2

can probably get one at radio shack.

 

[WarMachine77]

I think there's a hub/switch you can get so your monitor accepts two HDMI ports..I think.

 

[the_randomizer]

cheapest would be just to use the monitor speakers.

this setup would be:
wiiu hdmi out to hdmi audio convertor. then from there, hdmi to monitor and trs jack from hdmi box to y-splitter at speakers. your computer audio cable will be plugged into the other side of the y splitter.

that is the only way i can think to do it if you dont want to use your monitor speakers.

edit:
i missed the other persons post about being able to use the multi out at the same time. maybe this would work:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=666&seq=1&format=2


can probably get one at radio shack.

Yeah, something like that would probably work, plus that's dirty cheap 62 cents is pretty cheap


can probably get one at radio shack.[/quote]

I think there's a hub/switch you can get so your monitor accepts two HDMI ports..I think.

Could I ask why I would need 2 HDMI connections for my monitor? I just need to be able to avoid using the monitor speakers because one, they lack bass, which is necessary for gaming and would sound pretty flat to be honest

 

[the_randomizer]

So I seem to recall there being an issue with the off-screen and HDMI cable conflicting when it's not on the right input. Why the crap doesn't the Wii U load vWii when it's not on the HDMI input? Is there any way around it?

 

[trumpet-205]

If you want good sound, you would need HDMI audio stripper that strips audio into TOSLINK (not RCA), then use a reputable DAC that accepts TOSLINK.

HDMI audio stripper and PC monitor typically use crappy DAC, so you want digital audio out and have something else do DAC.

If I were you I would go with Monoprice HDMI audio stripper already mentioned,
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

Then use something like Fiio E17 or Audioengine D1 to do DAC.

Although adding good speaker improves sound significantly. Bottom line, want good sound, needs better budget.

 

[the_randomizer]

If you want good sound, you would need HDMI audio stripper that strips audio into TOSLINK (not RCA), then use a reputable DAC that accepts TOSLINK.

HDMI audio stripper and PC monitor typically use crappy DAC, so you want digital audio out and have something else do DAC.

If I were you I would go with Monoprice HDMI audio stripper already mentioned,
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

Then use something like Fiio E17 or Audioengine D1 to do DAC.

Although adding good speaker improves sound significantly. Bottom line, want good sound, needs better budget.

Alternately I have a set of Logitech speakers I used for my Wii U in the living room, it has RCA as well as a PC connections , but damn man, those converter boxes are kinda expensive. I should wait till I have job if I ever get one. If I swapped the PC speakers with the other ones out there, I'd need one of these http://www.amazon.com/30S1-01260-St...87564844&sr=8-5&keywords=rca+to+speaker+cable for my PC speakers so my roommates can use RCA cables for the left/right channels when he plays Mario Kart on his Wii, so yes, I have two sets of speakers. One for PC, one for consoles, the latter which has two types of connections (RCA and PC), I'll do some more poking around/For now, I'm simply using headphones, but it's a temporary solution until I can actually use real speakers. An unusual set up for me to hook a game console to a monitor, the native HDMI support is a real boon though. Again, I do this so I can free up TV usage and so I can use it whenever I want to without having to rely on figuring out when other use the TV, etc. That and the picture quality is actually quite nice despite being a 23" LED screen

For TOSLINK and wouldn't I need a sound card to support that, or speakers? Because I have neither, though the monitor does have SPDIF, oddly enough.

 

[trumpet-205]

Your monitor has SPDIF out, that's actually quite a rare feature. Is it TOSLINK or Coaxial?

Anyway, if your monitor has SPDIF out then you don't need HDMI audio stripper, it'll be something like this,

* Wii U --- (HDMI cable) ---> Monitor ---> (TOSLINK/Coaxial out) ---> SPDIF capable DAC ----> (RCA cable) ---> Speakers.
* On some sound cards such as Creatitive Titanium, you can have it fulfill the role of external DAC since it has SPDIF input. Downside to this approach is that you need PC on.

Anyway, those setup is if you want quality sound when budget permits. If not then simply use a 3.5 mm or RCA cable straight from monitor to speakers.

 

[the_randomizer]

Your monitor has SPDIF out, that's actually quite a rare feature. Is it TOSLINK or Coaxial?

Anyway, if your monitor has SPDIF out then you don't need HDMI audio stripper, it'll be something like this,

* Wii U --- (HDMI cable) ---> Monitor ---> (TOSLINK/Coaxial out) ---> SPDIF capable DAC ----> (RCA cable) ---> Speakers.
* On some sound cards such as Creatitive Titanium, you can have it fulfill the role of external DAC since it has SPDIF input. Downside to this approach is that you need PC on.

Anyway, those setup is if you want quality sound when budget permits. If not then simply use a 3.5 mm or RCA cable straight from monitor to speakers.

Yeah, I was surprised too actually. I don't know if it's toslink, but it ain't coax that's for sure, it has an orange color to the input, so I'm sure a standard RCA jack would probably work. Anyways. Turns out I had a spare set of speakers that had a PC input as well as RCA input, just tested it and it works on both without me having to spend money on any adapters. So yeah, I now feel like a dunderhead for not realizing I had them before and for wasting your guys time To think I had all the necessary hardware under my nose

I don't have a dedicated sound card, just one of them Realtek 5.1 HD audio deals, works just fine so I've no need to upgrade Picture-wise, looks pretty damn good for being full HD on a 23" LED.

 

[trumpet-205]

Orange input, that sounds awfully like coaxial digital audio.

 

[the_randomizer]

Orange input, that sounds awfully like coaxial digital audio.

Yeah, it is likely But yeah, the set up actually worked perfectly with the stuff I had in my apartment this whole time (oh the irony), so yeah. The Asus VH238H is a very nice monitor for $160 and looks fantastic, and, well, now that I have it in working order, all is well, and as such, this thread was useless from the start

My apologies for wasting your time