There are ways to allow you to play music and video currently stored on your computer to an AV receiver (and the TV connected to it) - subject to some limitations. If you already have a receiver you are happy with, you might be able to do what you want with just an add-on device - and if you want video then a new AV receiver won't by itself give you what you want. I'll give you some ideas - please ask if you need more explanation on any of these options.
If you want just audio:
- The USB port (on AV receivers equipped with one) is typically designed to plug into a USB flash drive, hard disk drive, or portable music player - enabling it to play the music files stored on one of those devices. To the best of my knowledge no receiver allows video to be played back in this manner - audio only. You can not directly cable the AV receiver's USB port to the USB port of your Acer computer. What you can do is copy the music files from your Acer computer to a USB flash drive or external hard drive, and then plug one of those devices into the AV receiver.
- Many of the mid- and higher-priced AV receivers now being sold have built-in networking ability, and if you connect one of these receivers to your home network (along with your Acer computer) you will be able to stream audio files from the computer to the AV receiver for playback. Again, audio only.
- For lower cost (or older model) AV receivers without built-in networking, it is possilble to buy an add-on device that connects to the receiver and your home network, allowing you to stream music files from the computer for playback on the receiver. The best example of such a device is the "Apple Airport Express" which allows you to wirelessly stream any song in your computer's iTunes library to a receiver via that device. Again, audio only.
If you want both video and audio, some of your options are:
- Buy an add-on device that connects to the receiver and your home network, allowing you to stream both audio and video files from the computer for playback on the receiver (and the TV it is connected to). Examples are the "Apple TV" device, and the Western Digital "WD TV Live" device. One of these devices could be cabled to most any AV receiver and TV for the actual audio and video playback. Each of the two devices I listed has its own advantages and limitations that you need to make yourself aware of before you buy.
- Buy a Blu-ray player with a USB port that can be connected to a USB flash drive or hard drive, and has the ability to play video files stored on one of those devices (of course you'd first have to copy the video files from your computer to the USB flash drive or hard drive). The Blu-ray player could be cabled to most any AV receiver and TV for the actual audio and video playback.
- Buy a Blu-ray player that has built in networking and the ability to stream audio and video files via your home network from your computer
- To be complete, I should mention that many new TVs also have a built in USB port (to play back video files from a USB storage device) and/or built in networking to allow video streaming from the internet or a home network.
