Lowest price 5.1 speakers *WITH A DIGITIAL INPUT* (SPDIF or Optical) ??

[joshg]

Can anyone tell me what are some of the "low end" 5.1 speakers that have a digital (Optical or SPDIF) input?

They don't have to be able to decode DTS/DD or anything.

Something like the Logitech Z640, do these have digital input?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Maetryx]

Beware! I understand that the digital out for an Audigy soundcard is ONLY STEREO. You have to use the analog outs to take advantage of the 5.1.

 

[joshg]

I know. I will be using a digital out from a NFORCE2 motherboard.

I had not realized (at least, until I used it on my PC ) that the only TRUE way of using the NVIDA Soundstorm APU is to use the digital outs.

This is not a problem for me, since I use Midiland S4-8200s. However, I'm trying to recommend a "cheap but good" set of 5.1 speakers to accompany either an A7N8X Deluxe or NF7-S.

The Soundstorm APU can convert all PC output to 5.1 if this is needed. And, it sounds VERY good. This is the intent!

 

[joshg]

Also, the digital out is not stereo. It actually only outputs what it is told to output.

Therefore, if you are outputting, say, an MP3 or a WAV file, it will only output stereo.

If you are outputting a 5.1 DVD or video game, then the output will be in surround.

The NFORCE APU, on the other hand, converts all sound to 5.1 and "creates" the LFE and surround channels from the frequencies of the wave. This means that you can listen to WAV, MP3, etc., in an "emulated" 5.1 in addition to listening to 5.1 in true 5.1.

 

[Accord99]

Except of course, you need a DD decoder in between your motherboard and speakers.

 

[joshg]

Not necessarily. At least, I don't think so.

There is an option in the nForce audio tray that says:

"My digital speakers support Dolby(R) Digital decoding."

or

"My digital speakers do not support Dolby(R) Digital decoding."



Anyone care to comment as to if this means that you can turn this option to "not support" and it will be able to pass the information directly to the speakers if they don't do degital decoding? Seems like that is what it is saying to me, at least.

 

[Accord99]

If your speakers don't support DD decoding, you get 2 channel. The NForce can only output 5.1 using DD encoding, so naturally you would need speakers to decode it. The only soundcards that can output 5.1 digital audio uncompressed is the SB Live 5.1 and Audigy series but only Creative speakers can support this standard.