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I have been using WD/Roku boxes in the past and am looking to a long term solution. I have 2 1080p displays w/HDMI. 1 has a soundbar and 1 is just builtin speakers (which ). I use emby, netflix, pandora amazon and youtube (more or less in that order). My intial impulse is to grab 2 Intel NUC's and load them with ubuntu w/kodi for my 2 displays- but I have never done this kind of build. I am partial to open source - and OpenELEC didn't seem as robust as kodi. So I have some rather amateurish questions: What is the kind of low end solution to streaming 5.1 audio? I am looking at Home Theatres in a box, specifically Onkyo because I was told their build quality is worth it. I read somewhere that computers often convert audio to 2 streams before pushing it over HDMI. The whole point is I want 5.1 is to get that spatial aspect - so that would completely defeat the point. I have never built an HTPC, can i consolidate remotes? How do you consolidate remotes when you have IR and RF remotes. I prefer RF or wireless but don't have enough knowledge of IR/RF blasters/recievers and how they interact with both hardware and software. Please excuse my ignorance! thanks!