SPDIF or Line out

[aniruddha23]

Am planning to buy this card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178

Question 1 Although the spces say SPDIF out I dont see teh black connector on the back. Does this really have SPDIF out?

Question 2 For gaming and other use will SPDIF out sound be better than teh usual line out? I have an Onkyo system which accepts both

Feedback appreciated.

 

[PurdueRy]

1. Yes it does, its just in the form of a miniplug, not toslink optical or RCA digital coaxial

2. You will not get surround sound from either unless you run 3 line out cables for the left/right sub/center and L and R surround. So technically the lineouts are better for gaiming

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
1. Yes it does, its just in the form of a miniplug, not toslink optical or RCA digital coaxial

2. You will not get surround sound from either unless you run 3 line out cables for the left/right sub/center and L and R surround. So technically the lineouts are better for gaiming

Thanks,

The Right left subs Center and Right left surrond speakers are connected directly to teh Onkyo System. U mena to sya that my onkyo will most probably have inouts for each of tehse on its back which will go thru to teh sound card? and this should give me surround right? will have to go back home to see what it has on its back for input.

Am not an audiophile as such but technically how much sound quality will I gain by using 5 connections form SC to Onkyo Vs using teh single line out.

 

[Ike0069]

If you're going to spend $75 for a sound card, you should go ahead and step up to the X-Fi.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aniruddha23

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
1. Yes it does, its just in the form of a miniplug, not toslink optical or RCA digital coaxial

2. You will not get surround sound from either unless you run 3 line out cables for the left/right sub/center and L and R surround. So technically the lineouts are better for gaiming

Thanks,

The Right left subs Center and Right left surrond speakers are connected directly to teh Onkyo System. U mena to sya that my onkyo will most probably have inouts for each of tehse on its back which will go thru to teh sound card? and this should give me surround right? will have to go back home to see what it has on its back for input.

Am not an audiophile as such but technically how much sound quality will I gain by using 5 connections form SC to Onkyo Vs using teh single line out.

You need 5.1 analog ins on your onkyo for this to work.

Yes, this would give you surround sound.

You gain a direct connection to your sub which avoids bass management...but the difference would definitely be noticeable

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
If you're going to spend $75 for a sound card, you should go ahead and step up to the X-Fi.

already placed my order. thsi one should be more than enough though cause I have been surving on really sh1atty onboard that comes with ABIT KN8 ultra.

will I have to disable onboard sound or somehting to avoid a conflict?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aniruddha23

Originally posted by: Ike0069
If you're going to spend $75 for a sound card, you should go ahead and step up to the X-Fi.

already placed my order. thsi one should be more than enough though cause I have been surving on really sh1atty onboard that comes with ABIT KN8 ultra.

will I have to disable onboard sound or somehting to avoid a conflict?

you don't have to usually..but I would

 

[aniruddha23]

Thanks ton guys

 

[Childs]

Use a mono 1/8" to RCA adapter, and run a RCA cable to the digital coax on your Onkyo.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: Childs
Use a mono 1/8" to RCA adapter, and run a RCA cable to the digital coax on your Onkyo.

I think the Onkyo has a digital input. am not sure if thats the same as COAX but the last time I used it I has the super thin black cable which connected my DVD player to the onkyo and I could see teh red light coming out of teh cable.

Will teh digital give me 5.1? better than the line out?

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: Childs
Use a mono 1/8" to RCA adapter, and run a RCA cable to the digital coax on your Onkyo.

You said right my friend. Unless I connect it to teh digital I cant get teh surrounds to work.

So what are my Options here

I got teh following from its manua
l
1 x SPDIF input (RCA phono)
1 x SPDIF input (TOS Link)
1 x audio line-in (RCA phono x 2)

also here

http://hardware.gamespot.com/Onkyo-GXW-5.1-8434-S-10-13

The 5 speakers connect directly to the base system.

What would be teh best way to connect this to my Audigy 2?

Currently I have connected Analog Line out to the third input from the left in teh pic shown here

Text

Front left and right work. And center mixes both. left and right subs dont work.

Please help.

 

[PurdueRy]

I already said...if you want surround sound in games...analog is the way to go.

http://dmzweb3.europe.creative.com/SRVS...http://us.creative.com/,Case=obj(2971)

Go there and click connecting to external consumer devices.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I already said...if you want surround sound in games...analog is the way to go.

http://dmzweb3.europe.creative.com/SRVS...http://us.creative.com/,Case=obj(2971)

Go there and click connecting to external consumer devices.

So heres what it says

If your receiver has discrete Line-In jacks for Front Right, Front Left, Rear Right, Rear Left, Center, and Subwoofer:

Connect Front Right and Front Left to the Line-Out 1 on the sound card with a 3.5mm (stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable
Connect Rear Right and Rear Left to the Line-Out 2 jack with another 3.5mm (stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable
connect the Center/Subwoofer In to the Line-Out 3 on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with a 3rd 3.5mm (4-pole or stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable.
Connect the white RCA plug to the Center input and Red RCA plug to the Subwoofer input on the receiver.


Problem is the Onkyo does not have discrete line in jacks for Front Right, Front Left, Rear Right, Rear Left, Center, and Subwoofer:


the only inputs it has are
1 x SPDIF input (RCA phono)
1 x SPDIF input (TOS Link)
1 x audio line-in (RCA phono x 2)

Sorry if I am being ignorant but I just cant understand how to get 5 lines into one input?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aniruddha23

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I already said...if you want surround sound in games...analog is the way to go.

http://dmzweb3.europe.creative.com/SRVS...http://us.creative.com/,Case=obj(2971)

Go there and click connecting to external consumer devices.

So heres what it says

If your receiver has discrete Line-In jacks for Front Right, Front Left, Rear Right, Rear Left, Center, and Subwoofer:

Connect Front Right and Front Left to the Line-Out 1 on the sound card with a 3.5mm (stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable
Connect Rear Right and Rear Left to the Line-Out 2 jack with another 3.5mm (stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable
connect the Center/Subwoofer In to the Line-Out 3 on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with a 3rd 3.5mm (4-pole or stereo) to RCA "Y" adaptor cable.
Connect the white RCA plug to the Center input and Red RCA plug to the Subwoofer input on the receiver.


Problem is the Onkyo does not have discrete line in jacks for Front Right, Front Left, Rear Right, Rear Left, Center, and Subwoofer:


the only inputs it has are
1 x SPDIF input (RCA phono)
1 x SPDIF input (TOS Link)
1 x audio line-in (RCA phono x 2)

Sorry if I am being ignorant but I just cant understand how to get 5 lines into one input?

If you don't have a receiver with analog 5.1 in...then you are stuck without surround sound in games with the SB audigy 2 ZS. Use the digital connection and at least you will have surround sound for pre-encoded DD or DTS

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
If you don't have a receiver with analog 5.1 in...then you are stuck without surround sound in games with the SB audigy 2 ZS. Use the digital connection and at least you will have surround sound for pre-encoded DD or DTS

Well if thats the case I really wouldnt mind getting rid of the onkyo on craigslist.

What Speaker Set woudl work best with this card? around 150 ish for the set?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aniruddha23

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
If you don't have a receiver with analog 5.1 in...then you are stuck without surround sound in games with the SB audigy 2 ZS. Use the digital connection and at least you will have surround sound for pre-encoded DD or DTS

Well if thats the case I really wouldnt mind getting rid of the onkyo on craigslist.

What Speaker Set woudl work best with this card? around 150 ish for the set?

I would just buy a Sound card capable of DD and DTS encoding. Search Zipzoomfly for the HDA X-Plosion

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

I would just buy a Sound card capable of DD and DTS encoding. Search Zipzoomfly for the HDA X-Plosion

Would I get comparable better quality than the Audigy?

Also the card seems to be mad expensive

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: aniruddha23

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

I would just buy a Sound card capable of DD and DTS encoding. Search Zipzoomfly for the HDA X-Plosion

Would I get comparable better quality than the Audigy?

Also the card seems to be mad expensive

It would be about the same quality. It would only take one cable also, and no need to buy a new receiver.