Audio question

James2k

Senior member
Jul 8, 2000
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I have no idea where to ask this, so I figure this is as good a place as any. I wanna plug my SB Live! Value into my reciever using the Digital out on the sound blaster. My reciever has a "digital coaxial input terminal" or something like that, and a "digital optical input terminal". What kind of cable should I (if i can) purchase to use the digital connection. And if I can get something for this, where in Canada would I go to get it?
 

Goi

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Check what sort of output your SB Live! Value has. If I'm not wrong, it should be a digital coaxial cable rather than an optical TOSLink type. It should also be a 1/8" jack rather than the standard RCA jack.
 

James2k

Senior member
Jul 8, 2000
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I know that the sound card only has the 1/8" jack, I'm just wondering if I can run a cable from it to the digital ins on my reciever, and if I can, what kind of cable can I get. It was suggested by a uh salesperson (don't trust the RadioShack guy) that I can use a mono 1/8" - single RCA cable, but that just doesn't sound right.
 

Goi

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
6,771
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You might be better off checking the manual to see what kind of digital output your Live! Value provides, since I don't own one. Since there's no real connector standard, different soundcards support digital output differently...
 

Lithium381

Lifer
May 12, 2001
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I think it's a digital out, not sure about optical, i know i've got some weird little yellow on on mine....labled digital out.....standard 1/8"...good luck!
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
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I have the same soundcard and did the same thing...

You need a MONO 1/8"(Headphone) to RCA converter.


I got one from Radio shack for about 3 bucks.

I couldnt find one in a box by itself..a few other converters came with it..

 

James2k

Senior member
Jul 8, 2000
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Does the mono cable really work all that well? And will it allow for the front/rear to be utilized through the surround speakers, or just the front as before? Just wondering what capabilities the SB Live! Digital has.
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
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You only get 2-channel STEREO through the Digital out on the SB Live.!...

You also get passthru for DoblyDigital and DTS, but you need to be using software like WinDVD and have a receiver with DD or DTS decoding.


There is a product called the Hoontech SB DB III that gives you
more digital ins and out with a Soundblaster Live! card..I think it also allows you to get 4 channel out like you would with the analog jacks.
 

James2k

Senior member
Jul 8, 2000
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Unfortunately my reciever can't use 2 sets of inputs at the same time. That's why I was hoping digital would be able to send out 4 channels, but I'm not too concerned. I guess I just got too excited over the prospect of having front/rear sound coming out of my surround setup.
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
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Does your receiver have 5.1 inputs for external decoders?

You could plug 4 ananlog lines in that way...


what receiver do you have?
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
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<< The reciever I have is here and here. >>



yep, that receiver will decode a DD bitstream..and your sblive will pass said bitstream through the SPDIF out as long as you use the mono adapter listed above.