Using Computer Speakers for consoles

[OhHenry]

I have an xbox 360 and Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1. I want to output sound from my xbox 360 to my promedia but it has no optical inputs but I can purchase a sound card that has optical inputs like the Turtle Beach Montego. Will that work or is there another better solution to this?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

My only concern is that the Montego may only allow a DD or DTS stream to be recorded rather than decoded and sent out via analog.

I looked at their site quickly and didn't see it explicitly state that it could do that. It was focused on being able to record it.

Does anyone know if it can decode from the digital input in real time and output analog? I would hope so, but I just want to make sure.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

From their FAQ:

S/PDIF In & Dolby Digital:
Q: Can the S/PDIF In accept a dolby digital signal and translate it? The
site only mentions it can handle 16 bit/48 kHz but doesn't specifically
mention whether it can handle more than PCM encoding (DD or DTS)

A: The Montego DDL will allow you to pass through a multi stream digital
signal. It will also encode to Dolby Digital 5.1 in real time. The card
will not decode Dolby Digital data. This must be done externally either
in your speakers, A/V receiver or stand-alone decoder.



So, nope, wont work.

EDIT: There are some devices that will do this though. Creative has their DDTS-100, but it's hard to find and quite expensive.

You could also get "fake surround" going if it's not a big deal for you. There are adapters that would allow you to get stereo sound played out all your speakers.

If you're really into sound, you might think about taking the fist step towards getting a "real" system together. Getting a receiver with multichannel input would allow you to hook up your computer through analog and then the 360 through digital.

 

[OhHenry]

Thanks for your help and clarifying what the montego would be limited to. I'll guess I'll wait till a/v reciever with HDMI go down in price. The only problem for me I guess is once I get an a/v receiver I won't be able to use my sub woofer?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: OhHenry
Thanks for your help and clarifying what the montego would be limited to. I'll guess I'll wait till a/v reciever with HDMI go down in price. The only problem for me I guess is once I get an a/v receiver I won't be able to use my sub woofer?

You will, just hook up the LFE pre-out to to the sub using an RCA to 3.5mm adapter.

 

[OhHenry]

So this adapter should work from the a/v receiver to the subwoofer.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: OhHenry
So this adapter should work from the a/v receiver to the subwoofer.

You want it the other way around, you want the RCA end to be male and the 3.5mm one to be female.