Digital Out on Audigy 2ZS Not Working??

[bdub]

I have the Audigy 2ZS sound card. I want to hook it up to my Sony DAV-C770 receiver, which has an optical in that I know works, because I'm currently using it with my XBox. So I buy a Miniplug to Toslink (optical) cable so I can hook the two together. Now, when my XBox is on and has the optical connection hooked up you can visually see red light comming out the opposite optical cable end. When I hooked up the Miniplug to Optical connector to my Audigy and played a variety of sounds (mp3, ac3, and a DVD movie) no light ever came out of the other end. So I decided to hook it up anyway, and as expected, no sound. What's the deal? I installed all the stupid programs that came with my Audigy, and fooled around with all the options, but nothing helped. I'm currently downloading all new drivers and program updates from Creative, but I doubt that will help anything.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Brandon White
bpw@iastate.edu

 

[Auric]

It shouldn't be necessary but you could try enabling the Digital Output Only option.

I am not familar with the Xbox so am not sure if you meant the same coaxial to optical adapter works with the XBox or if that is a different optical-only cable. If the latter, then the adapter needs to be tested with another source. Otherwise, confirm the Audigy digital output is operational with a coaxial cable. If so then the adapter is faulty.

 

[bdub]

Originally posted by: Auric
It shouldn't be necessary but you could try enabling the Digital Output Only option.

I am not familar with the Xbox so am not sure if you meant the same coaxial to optical adapter works with the XBox or if that is a different optical-only cable. If the latter, then the adapter needs to be tested with another source. Otherwise, confirm the Audigy digital output is operational with a coaxial cable. If so then the adapter is faulty.

I messed with that option, did nothing.

XBox cable is different from the one I need for my Audigy. XBox one is your basic optical cable, or Toslink as companies seem to call them, same on both ends. The only reason I brought up the XBox optical out connection is because when the cable is hooked up to the XBox, and the XBox is on, on the opposite end red light is comming out, so I know it's working. There is never any light comming out of my Audigy miniplug to Optical end cable.

Thanks,
Brandon White
bpw@iastate.edu

 

[Nebor]

Can you give us a link to the cable with more details?

 

[Shooters]

nevermind

 

[Pariah]

The problem is with the coax-TOS adapter. There should be light out of the TOS end whether or not there is any audio playing. No light would indicate it isn't properly powered. You say it is a cable, but I would think it would have to be an adapter that needs to be plugged in. Are you sure you got the right parts to connect the Audigy to your receiver?

 

[Big Lar]

I had the same problem, with my Audigy2ZS, and my klipsch Console. I even ordered the cable direct from Creative, still a no go, so I guess you need a standard connector, ie; silver like the rest. The creative was a coated connector, which did not work.

 

[bdub]

Here's a link to the cable I bought to connect my Audigy to my receiver.
www.buyextras.com/bquopdiaucam.html

Then I saw this on this Creative page...
us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=33

Creative Labs Products With Optical Connectivity

Sound Blaster Extigy
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX
Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 with Live! Drive IR
Live! Drive II
Optical Digital I/O Card 2

I have the Audigy 2ZS, which is not listed there... So it seems I wasted all my money on these cables I bought. Why the hell would they have that digital out if you can't use it???

This sucks,
Brandon White
bpw@iastate.edu

 

[Accord99]

Originally posted by: bdub
I have the Audigy 2ZS, which is not listed there... So it seems I wasted all my money on these cables I bought. Why the hell would they have that digital out if you can't use it???

Because it works when you plug it into certain Creative speakers to get 5.1 digital audio in an uncompressed form, and is also compatible with the standard digital coaxial connector found on the vast majority of receivers sold today for providing 2 channel uncompressed digital audio, or transporting multichannel audio compressed using Dolby Digital or DTS. I think its the cable's problem, a simple passive cable cannot convert an electrical signal into laser. You need a full fledged adapter, like this one:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1228

 

[lazybum131]

Use a coaxial cable, optical won't work unless you buy or make a coaxial to optical adapter like in the previous post.

 

[Pariah]

I have the Audigy 2ZS, which is not listed there... So it seems I wasted all my money on these cables I bought. Why the hell would they have that digital out if you can't use it???

They've done nothing wrong, you bought the wrong cable that won't work with any equipment for what you are trying to use it for. The cable you bought is a TOS link to mini-optical cable. It's optical on both ends. Like I said above you need an adapter to convert the electrical signal from the Audigy to optical signal your receiver needs.

 

[CSMR]

You should see whether there's red light coming from the card with no cable attached. Generally if optical out is enabled the signal goes out whether or not there's anything plugged into the optical out. (That's why there are buttons to cover the optical out.)
Presumably there's no red coming from you optical out, so it's a problem with the card or the settings.

Edit: didn't read other posts thoroughly. Perhaps there's no optical out on that card.