Digital audio out

[inqztive]

I noticed all DVD and CD roms have a digital audio out. It's kind of interesting because the analogue sound out has only 3 cables that means it can support only 2 independent channels i.e just a stereo sound system. Where as the DVD movies may have sound track which is not just stereo like 5.1 surround sound. I can't understand how one can get 4 independent channel from 3 cables (1 ground and rest 2 are the 2 channels) analogue output that is connected to the sound card. To my mind to get the 5.1 surround sound properly we need to use the digital output. I may be wrong (correct me if i am). Now what are the hardware needed to use the digital sound output from the DVD ROM? My guess will be a sound card with digital input. Can someone throw some more light on this? e.g. which company manufacture such sound cards and what will be the price range.. and what will be the advantage of such sound cards...

 

[AC]

I've been looking for a digital audio cable to run between my drive and my sound card. Has anyone seen any of these for sale?

[Edit]
The newer Creative Sound Blasters have digital input (eg. live!).

I think digital would rid you of the static that is associated with the analog.

 

[inqztive]

Yes I think digital audio out can get rid of the static if its generated from the soundtrack of the CD or DVD. can you please let me know if you see any noticibale difference in sound quality when you connect using digital audio? Thanks

 

[UNCjigga]

Don't worry about the digital-output on your DVD-ROM drive...it will be used for playing CD Audio only! The 5.1 channel audio is decoded by your host processor or hardware DVD-MPEG2 expansion card (if you have one.) In other words, the soundtrack on a DVD does not pass through your analog audio connector or digital audio connector on the back of your DVD-ROM--instead it goes through the IDE cable as data and the software decodes it into the proper format for output to your soundcard. For 5.1 channel digital audio, just hook up your Dolby Digital/DTS receiver/processor to the digital-out of your soundcard and enjoy!

 

[Zucchini]

He is correct, for most ppl a digital out on a cd/dvd out makes absolutely no difference... unless you are bent on playing audio cd's 🙂

 

[StrangeRanger]

People often overlook one other very handy aspect to using the digital out on your cd/dvd. it allows you to hook your other cd-rom or cdrw up to the "cd in" of your sound card and not to have to use that nasty "aux in" which sounds like hell.
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