Soundcard with Digital Optical Output?

[Go3iverson]

Ok guys, whats a good sound card that has a digital optical output.

Wanna connect my PC to my home theater system via optical cable.........price is very much considered, so the lower the better!

Thanks guys!

Mike D

 

[Peter]

Look for PCI audio cards that have the C-Media 8738 chip on. Many of these have optical SP/DIF in/out. What that chip's drivers can NOT do yet is Dolby-AC3-ize computed sounds. It does loop AC3 through for DVD applications.

regards, Peter

 

[tantalus0]

I think the cheapest you'll find is the Hercules Fortissimo II digital.

Other, more expensive cards with toslink (optical) are Hercules GTXP, Soundblaster Audigy Platinum, and the Terratec DMX 6Fire. From what I've heard, the Terratec is probably the best card. I would buy one but I haven't found them for sale in Canada.

 

[Go3iverson]

Thanks for the input. The Hercules cards should be ok? Haven't seen or heard of the Terratec before.

Thanks again!

Mike D

 

[Goi]

Why do you insist on an optical digital connection, when coaxial RCA is cheaper and arguably better? Anyway, to answer you question, check out the M-Audio Delta Dio 2448 or Dio 2496. Both can be had for under $200 and provides sound quality beyond any consumer soundcard.

 

[Peter]

Odd that the el-cheapo C-Media 8738 sound chip is highly regarded in professional audio handling exactly because it does NOT mess around with the digital sound data. Spend $200 for a "professional" card, or $25 for the "consumer" card that does it just as good.

Also, there is no "arguably better" cable in digital data. Either the data gets there or not.

regards, Peter

 

[Goi]

There ARE differences among different digital signals, the difference is mostly attributed to jitter, although data errors can also be a problem with really bad or improperly implemented equipment. If there weren't any differences, then a $30 CD-ROM drive would sound as good as a $30K Mark Levinson CD player, but that's not the case obviously.

 

[Peter]

Jitter is a problem introduced at the source of a digital signal. Whether you transmit it optically or on copper wire doesn't make a difference to that.

Besides, there are quite a few $50 CDROM drives and (especially) $100 CDRWs that have an immaculate readout quality and digital output. While there's a difference between $30 and $100 gear, spending $30K for a CD player is beyond any reason.

regards, Peter

 

[Goi]

True, but most Toslink transceivers have much more inherent jitter than the wired coaxial interfaces on BNC or RCA, so given a choice, I'd avoid carrying S/PDIF over Toslink.

I'm not a supporter of $30K CD players, personally I wouldn't spend that much even if I had the money, I'm just using it as an extreme example. I can however here a subtle difference between my standalone CD player and my computer DVD-ROM when both are connected digitally to the same preamp with the same model of coaxial RCA cable. Its not just the output from the CD-ROM, which is quite a moot point if you transmit it through the IDE channel rather than the cable from the drive to your soundcard. Its also the output from your soundcard. There are measureable and audible differences among different cards.

 

[Peter]

If you keep the data stream digital all the way to the final amp, there will be no difference. That's exactly my point, CMI8738 does not mess up digital data passing through it in any way.

regards, Peter

 

[Goi]

If you're talking about digital signal processing(DSP), then yeah there are not data differences made purposely. However, at certain parts of the data chain(I/O especially) stuff like jitter get's introduced inadvertently, causing differences in the final signal. These differences can be measured if you plug the output to an oscilloscope or something. THD, SNR, frequency response etc all becomes different.

 

[Peter]

That's the theory, we've heard you. Now you hear me: In practice, the CMI8738's output signal is jitter-free enough to make studio professionals happy. Period.

 

[rbhawcroft]

a sound blaster 5.1 range card 45usd with an aud_ext header at the back of the card and a optical output board from either hoontech, opticomponents, or apache micro ~25usd

 

[rbhawcroft]

'peter' doesnt know anything beyond the half right basics:|

 

[Peter]

I know what I know, and I'm not a troll. Unlike you.

 

[rbhawcroft]

Originally posted by: Peter
I know what I know, and I'm not a troll. Unlike you.

your icon and user handle choice says it all. <^>

if all the guy wants is ac3 passthrough then you can use a usb audio dongle. if he wants to rig his pc to his hifi for audio and games, then there is no contest the 5.1 cards are the best choice.

in this case the only diff between your crap and the5.1 is that the 5.1 resamples to 48khz for processing which is obviously lossy, but i doubt youd ever notice it normally even with exceptional equipment, except if you just want a cheap card with no re-sampling as a pro might, in which case your crap would be acceptable.

also as far as im aware computer rom drives are designed to eliminate jitter, or data error, so you wont get any error tht isnt reread and eliminated from them.

 

[Goi]

Comon, we don't need any name calling here, everyone's entitled to his/her opinion

 

[hoihtah]

haha... i love how a very simple and basic question like the one that go3iverson asked can turn a thread into a flame war.



i'm loving it. keep the fire burnin'!

 

[rocketbubba]

If price is considered, I'd recommend the Fortissimo II. It's a good card at a great price. In addition, their custumer support has been good. I needed a new adapter cable (if you know the Fort II, you know Herc designed a special adapter cable for the speakers and other things so they could squeeze the optical I/O ports in there) and was a little bit frustrated with their initial lack of response to my emails. However, when I did hear from them, they were very courteous and helpful and did their best to make me happy. So I have to give Hercules props for good custumer support, which makes all the difference to me. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Chu]

This is the card you are looking for. Even comes with the cable.

-Chu