new z-5500 speakers *Dead for now*

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: abaez

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: abaez
Can anyone recommend a sound card to hook these up to? Nothing Creative of course. Would the XPlosion work or is that unnecessary since the speakers have their own DAC or whatever (I'm not an audiophile).

Are you planning on gaming significantly or are you more movies/music?

I'm going to do both, but I'd wager it'd be like 60/40 more towards movies.

I might first try onboard. To get good 5.1 analog quality from a company that is not Creative, you have to pay quite a bit. Maybe try a digital connection for movies and analog for games.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: travisj

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Raider1284
Question for you audio guys. Would it be better to hook up these speakers using analog cables from my audigy 2... or better to use an optical cable from my motherboard's onboard sound?

Also whats up with dell "time to ship". I ordered on friday, and they arent even leaving the warehouse until this coming fri? Are dell's estimated ship date accurate or are they a "worst case senario" deal?

The Analog audio from your Audigy 2 would be the better choice.

Interesting, I always assumed Digital was better. What about digital onboard vs. analog onboard?

Is it just a matter of comparing decoders, i.e. the Audigy is a better decoder than the one built into the Z5500? If so, what about the Z5500 decoder vs. the typical onboard decoder?

Its a comparison of the encoders but also the limitations of the connection. Due to games rendering sound on the fly, the digital connection from a Audigy will not get you surround sound in games. Movies will work just fine with a digital connection from the audigy as the sound is preencoded.

When it comes to music and movies...its a comparison of the D->A converters, board design and preamplifier circuitry. I would say test connecting via digital from your mobo and analog from your mobo and see which sounds better to you. Sometimes the onboard will win out, sometimes the Speakers.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: abaez

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: abaez
Can anyone recommend a sound card to hook these up to? Nothing Creative of course. Would the XPlosion work or is that unnecessary since the speakers have their own DAC or whatever (I'm not an audiophile).

Are you planning on gaming significantly or are you more movies/music?

I'm going to do both, but I'd wager it'd be like 60/40 more towards movies.

I might first try onboard. To get good 5.1 analog quality from a company that is not Creative, you have to pay quite a bit. Maybe try a digital connection for movies and analog for games.

That's how I'm running these (on-board analog and digital) and it's great. Pop in a DVD, press Optical on the remote, and get drowned in surround. I'm picking up details that weren't there with my old Creative Audigy & SoundWorks combo and better imaging. Toss in a game, press Direct on the remote and you'll out of instinct start dodging bullets or blocking for a passing car.

 

[Raider1284]

You cant use an optical connection for games? I've never heard of that. So it sounds like the best bet is optical from the mobo for movies, and analog through my audigy 2 for games? Is the optical connection not fast enough or something? dont consoles use optical connections? how are they getting surround sound then?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Raider1284
You cant use an optical connection for games? I've never heard of that. So it sounds like the best bet is optical from the mobo for movies, and analog through my audigy 2 for games? Is the optical connection not fast enough or something? dont consoles use optical connections? how are they getting surround sound then?

You can, you just won't get surround sound unless the card/motherboard is capable of encoding the audio in real time. The Audigy 2 is not capable of this so stereo is the best you can do with optical.

Game consoles encode the audio in real time which is how they care capable of surround through an optical connection.

If you have an audigy 2 your best to use analog for everything.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Digital Audio Thread
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=1940133&enterthread=y

 

[Raider1284]

awesome guide yoyo! thanx

 

[schdaddy]

Originally posted by: Raider1284
schdaddy, my order said the ship date was that as well, but they left their warehouse the next day. I think their ship dates are, "at the latest" dates. I ordered mine on friday, and they shipped the following monday.

They arrived yesterday, a pleasant surprise.

I haven't had time to hook them up yet, can't wait to hear what they can do.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: schdaddy

Originally posted by: Raider1284
schdaddy, my order said the ship date was that as well, but they left their warehouse the next day. I think their ship dates are, "at the latest" dates. I ordered mine on friday, and they shipped the following monday.

They arrived yesterday, a pleasant surprise.

I haven't had time to hook them up yet, can't wait to hear what they can do.

If you have any acoustic performances (e.g.: MTV Unplugged series), these really open that style up. I'm listening to Alice in Chains Unplugged right now; sounds incredible!

 

[gotrdun]

Wow the price of these went up a lot.

 

[nvmyz71]

Originally posted by: gotrdun
Wow the price of these went up a lot.

WOW! Thanks for this very insightful post.

Incase you guys were wondering... they're up to $280. I'm sure they will come back down at some point.

Z-5500's