Talk to me about HTPC's

My current home theater system is pretty simple, it involves a PS3 plugging into a receiver, that goes to my TV and drives my speakers.

I'd like to build a HTPC that wraps everything up in one box. A blu-ray player is easy, but I cannot find anything that is capable of driving my speakers. I've poked around a little, and everyone seems to say plug the HTPC into the receiver and let it drive the speakers. I'd really like to have just one box under my TV though.

Does anyone know of a decent all-in-one HTPC/Receiver combo?

 

What do you want the HTPC to do that the PS3 can't? I use both. I find myself using the PS3 for Youtube, Netflix, and Blu-Rays, and the HTPC w/XBMC for movies and music. You could probably find something like a WD Live that could do all of that, and they're pretty small.

 

raspberry pi with xbmc on each tv with a backend storage server with all the movies/tv shows and sql for the library and of course sickbeard

 

and how do you power the speakers off these systems? ok

I don't know of any unit manufactured like this. I've seen one of these in person. It's a custom jobber. Forum member ItalynStylion custom built it. It's a full HTPC running windows 7 with integrated amplifiers. Truly an all in one system. Link to his website: http://www.stereoclarity.com/home-office-audio/onesource/

 

Well if he went with something small like a WD Live or a Raspberry Pi, he could still have the receiver as the big component...