5.1 sound card for home theater PC

[MustISO]

I have a PC that I sometimes use to play DVD's that are output to my TV. I want to get a 5.1 sound card that would be able to connect to my home theater reciever and output in Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS.

 

[Workin']

Just about any current-model sound card that has the same type of digital output connector (i.e., optical - aka Toslink or coax - aka S/PDIF) as your HT receiver will do the job.

 

[Beau]

yeah, but the SB Audigy takes the crown in the category.

 

[Workin']

<< yeah, but the SB Audigy takes the crown in the category. >>

That's your opinion

The digital out from one card to the next is pretty standard stuff. I'm not aware of any current card that doesn't pass DD and DTS signals properly.

 

[MustISO]

Has anyone tested the output of the S/PDIF? I have read that on the older model SB cards the power output is WAY out of spec and can hurt a reciever. I'm not sure if the audigy has the same problem but the Live does.

 

[Workin']

<< I have read that on the older model SB cards the power output is WAY out of spec >>

That's why I said "current-model cards". As far as I know NO other card has exhibited this problem.

 

[sandorski]

Philips AE is generally considered best for DVD/HT output. Audigy, TB SC, or Hercules GTXP will work fine though.

 

[VBboy]

Hercules Game Theater XP cannot produce 5.1 sound, according to many findings on the Web.. Or only can, with specific software like WinDVD...

 

[Avarice55]

philips AE or santa cruz