Need a Sound Card - Kind of Tricky...

[Pariah]

You're in luck, it appears you do have 5.1 analog in. Refer to page 8 of the operating instructions and replace the DVD player at the bottomw of the page with your PC. The audio cabling on the left side of the diagram is the important part.

All you need is the cheapest X-Fi and then purchase one of these cables, then pray it is long enough.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Pariah
You're in luck, it appears you do have 5.1 analog in. Refer to page 8 of the operating instructions and replace the DVD player at the bottomw of the page with your PC. The audio cabling on the left side of the diagram is the important part.

All you need is the cheapest X-Fi and then purchase one of these cables, then pray it is long enough.

extensions are cheap at the rad shack 😉 Although the three pole connecter might be tough to find....a stereo might just drop the 7.1 to 5.1...which for most cases is fine.

 

[hondaf17]

Guys,

Take one more look at that manual and go to page 9. The SC-HT15 is what I have - since Panasonic is cheap they combined the manual for 3 tuners into one - the one on page 8 is for the SC-HT17, which I DO NOT have. I've got the SC-HT15 on page 9.

Very few inputs, but hoping there is a way.

Thanks again guys for your help.

 

[Pariah]

The extensions are cheap, but they're still an unwanted hassle, and even with just a 5.1 setup, you're either looking at 3 extension cables or 6 depending which side you choose. Would be nice if Creative would post how long that cable is, unless I just missed it somewhere.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: hondaf17
Guys,

Take one more look at that manual and go to page 9. The SC-HT15 is what I have - since Panasonic is cheap they combined the manual for 3 tuners into one - the one on page 8 is for the SC-HT17, which I DO NOT have. I've got the SC-HT15 on page 9.

Very few inputs, but hoping there is a way.

Thanks again guys for your help.

oooo. Ya, then the best you can do with a creative card is hook up via digital coax or optical connections. This will get you full surround sound in movies but not games. Games will be in a downmixed stereo.

An alternative route would be look into the Auzentech X-Plosion. You would lose most of your EAX support but you could get surround sound through a digital connection via its digital encoding abilities.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Pariah
The extensions are cheap, but they're still an unwanted hassle, and even with just a 5.1 setup, you're either looking at 3 extension cables or 6 depending which side you choose. Would be nice if Creative would post how long that cable is, unless I just missed it somewhere.

Ya, I looked for that too...couldn't find it. I might ask about it someday. I am somewhat interested. I sold my 2 12' component video cables I use to use for this purpose because they were insanely bulky.

 

[hondaf17]

Great input.

That Azuntech explosion was recommended earlier in this thread. Is it safe to say that, given my tuner capabilities, my desire for optical through a rear panel, and my primary use of gaming, that I will be able to get the best sound for my games, in 5.1 sound, via optical cable and that explosion card?

Would the explosion card give me 5.1 dts and dolby digital through the optical cable for movie viewing as well?

Thanks guys, I think we're almost to the solution.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: hondaf17
Great input.

That Azuntech explosion was recommended earlier in this thread. Is it safe to say that, given my tuner capabilities, my desire for optical through a rear panel, and my primary use of gaming, that I will be able to get the best sound for my games, in 5.1 sound, via optical cable and that explosion card?

In your case I do believe so. It's not perfect, but you should get surround sound in most of your games. Some games are a little problematic with supporting the card, but from what I hear it works well overall.

Would the explosion card give me 5.1 dts and dolby digital through the optical cable for movie viewing as well?

Thanks guys, I think we're almost to the solution.

Yes it would. When you want to play games you would turn DD/DTS encoding ON then when you want to watch a movie, just turn it off. Best of both worlds 🙂

 

[hondaf17]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: hondaf17
Great input.

That Azuntech explosion was recommended earlier in this thread. Is it safe to say that, given my tuner capabilities, my desire for optical through a rear panel, and my primary use of gaming, that I will be able to get the best sound for my games, in 5.1 sound, via optical cable and that explosion card?

In your case I do believe so. It's not perfect, but you should get surround sound in most of your games. Some games are a little problematic with supporting the card, but from what I hear it works well overall.

Would the explosion card give me 5.1 dts and dolby digital through the optical cable for movie viewing as well?

Thanks guys, I think we're almost to the solution.

Yes it would. When you want to play games you would turn DD/DTS encoding ON then when you want to watch a movie, just turn it off. Best of both worlds 🙂

Thanks again. :thumbsup: Saw you helping another member asking about sound cards. Your help was appreciated - I'll be picking up an Xplosion 7.1 next week just in time for the release of GR:AW.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: hondaf17

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: hondaf17
Great input.

That Azuntech explosion was recommended earlier in this thread. Is it safe to say that, given my tuner capabilities, my desire for optical through a rear panel, and my primary use of gaming, that I will be able to get the best sound for my games, in 5.1 sound, via optical cable and that explosion card?

In your case I do believe so. It's not perfect, but you should get surround sound in most of your games. Some games are a little problematic with supporting the card, but from what I hear it works well overall.

Would the explosion card give me 5.1 dts and dolby digital through the optical cable for movie viewing as well?

Thanks guys, I think we're almost to the solution.

Yes it would. When you want to play games you would turn DD/DTS encoding ON then when you want to watch a movie, just turn it off. Best of both worlds 🙂

Thanks again. :thumbsup: Saw you helping another member asking about sound cards. Your help was appreciated - I'll be picking up an Xplosion 7.1 next week just in time for the release of GR:AW.

Audio is my main forte. I try to answer anyones questions that haven't already been answered when I believe I know the answer. Have fun with your sound card 🙂

 

[imported_Brimstone]

Hi, I'm in a similiar perdiciment regarding my soundcard purchasing.

I do not think the X-Fi is the card for me because I have to by the extra adapter (through what looks like a cheapo connection too) and then I lose the benefit of EAX 3.0+ anyways.

I currently have an M-audio Delta audiophile 24/96 which sounds fantastic for games and DVDs, but no Directsound or EAX support at all, thus 3D sounds on games is lacking.

I spend quite a bit of time playing Final Fantasy XI and would love to get some sort of Surround Sound working with the game. (I'm not aware that it supports newer EAX or anything beyond the directX sound specs)

I've been temped to pick up the Revolution 7.1 from M-audio, but the Xplosion has me intrigued.

How's the DDL or DTSL on that card? Is the sound quality near that of M-audio?

Thanks,