Using my PC from my desk to room. (Audio advice)

[Crow550]

Well I plan to run my PC from my desk to my room. As I am going to be getting a 3d set soon.

I have a 50ft RedMere HDMI and will be running a 49ft active usb cable that will go from one powered 7 port usb hub to another in my room.

It seems HDMI from the video card will only pass audio formats and not encode any formats which may be problematic for PC games? Unless there are video cards that do offer Dolby Digital Live or DTS connect?

I do own a Dolby Headset. The one Monoprice offers. I am planning to get a new Audio receiver and 5.1 speakers later down the line.

So should I go with a usb sound card like the Xonar U3 or the Creative Recon 3D or another brand?

Would USB be good enough or should I get an internal sound card and run 50ft optical cable? Or analog? Would there be any real advantages? (Of course it has a RealTek soundcard built in with some limited version of THX TruStudio and I do have a X-FI XtremeMusic card but the Creative drivers are kinda troublesome. I'm thinking it's time to retire it anyways.)

Is there a big difference between Dolby Digital Live, DTS connect and Creatives CMSS or THX TruStudio Surround or whatever Creative is calling it these days?

I figure Dolby would be best since I own a Dolby Headset.... However just curious on my options on which would be the best?

Thanks!

 

[Crow550]

Okay then. Guess I will just get the Xonar U3 then.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It'll work fine.

I have a Focusrite 2i2 which is nice. Probably a bit beyond your needs though.

 

[Crow550]

Alright. I think it should be decent enough. On sale for $30 after mail in rebate. Either that or pay more for the Creative Recon 3D USB card but I don't think it would offer anything much better?

 

[Crow550]

I got the Xonar U3 giving it a test run. Using it for DD Live encoding. So far seems good. However the Recon 3D is on sale for $40 after mail in rebate too....

I will do another test and see how this sound card does on Analog VS. Optical since it does offer a small Headphone amp too.

 

[Crow550]

Am I losing anything using this USB card?

I plan to use HDMI audio for DVDs and such and the sound card for gaming.

Or should I use HDMI to TV / Receiver then optical out to the Headset?

 

[mfenn]

Your receiver probably has better processing capabilities than any little USB card, plus USB itself adds a decent amount of latency.

 

[Crow550]

Well I plan to get a receiver soon. No real ETA yet. Plus I do use cans more than Speakers currently.

I will still game at my desk sometimes. I plan to get a 27" 2K Monitor. Just depends on the game and such.

Does anyone know if there is a difference between using optical and analog audio on usb or internal soundcard/receiver?

 

[mfenn]

Does anyone know if there is a difference between using optical and analog audio on usb or internal soundcard/receiver?

I'm not sure what you're trying to ask here. Optical audio (S/PDIF) is digital whereas analog is well, analog. All speakers are analog, so the digital source has to be converted at some point, but generally its better if that is done as late in the process as possible.

 

[Crow550]

I'm not sure what you're trying to ask here. Optical audio (S/PDIF) is digital whereas analog is well, analog. All speakers are analog, so the digital source has to be converted at some point, but generally its better if that is done as late in the process as possible.

So if I do use a USB sound card would it be better to use Optical and have the Headset do the conversion or use Analog and have the sound card handle it?

What is the best option for when gaming at my desk and room? Using a sound card on my PC then through the video cards HDMI to a Receiver in my room?

 

[mfenn]

It would be better to use the optical output on your motherboard and skip the USB sound card altogether. As for your remote setup, yes do the audio over HDMI and convert to optical at the receiver.

 

[Crow550]

Well the Realtek card doesn't do DD Live. So keep my X-Fi XtremeMusic card (or a new internal card depending on the drivers. I use Daniel_Ks) and purchase the DD Live encoder for like $5 and get a receiver that offers DD Live in my Room?(does any offer this?)

Return the Xonar U3. K.

 

[mfenn]

HDMI has enough bandwidth for 7 channels of uncompressed PCM, so no DD Live encoding is necessary. The receiver can mix that down for your headphones when the stream gets there.

 

[Crow550]

*Slaps hands on face* You're right. Sometimes all these audio codecs can get confusing.

So stick with the X-Fi Xtreme Music card (if drivers work) otherwise an internal sound card not usb that offers DD Live and then send the HDMI to a decent receiver in my room. Gotcha.

Thanks dude!

I think that solves everything for what I wanna do. Unless you have an additional input on what I am doing. Thanks again!

 

[Crow550]

Well if I do keep this X-FI card it would cost about $17 just to use optical with it.

I'd have to get a 3.5mm Mono to RCA jack adapter, a digital Coaxial cable then a Coaxial RCA to Optical Toslink converter.

Or find the bracket adapter or breakout box that Creative had released?

Plus $5 for Dolby Digital Live. So $22.... Not to debate if it's worth then continuing to use the card or something else....

 

[mfenn]

$17 for a coax to optical conversion box sounds like a pretty fair price to me. Just make sure to get the right version, they are typically not bidirectional! The other bits are just cables that you can get for super cheap at Monoprice or Amazon.

 

[Crow550]

Yup price quote came from Monoprice.