Z680 + Audigy2 + Optical = Headache

[imported_Strang]

I just got Logitech z680s last week -- they've been working great hooked into my Audigy2 with an analog 6 channel connection. However, part of the reason that I got z680s was so that I could use the hardware DTS/Dolby decoding. As a result, I got this miniplug -> optical cable at Radio Shack. I'd read a post on another forum mentioning it in regards to this problem.

So today, I got home with the cable and hooked a miniplug into my Audigy2's digital-out jack and plugged the optical connector into the base unit of the z680. Problem is, the base unit sez "No digital data" on the optical channel.

I've gone through the Sound Blaster software and set it to 5.1 speaker, digital out only and disabled the software DTS/Dolby decoding. I get no sound, even with a DTS dvd playing.

I'll admit up front that I'm pretty much a complete newb to home theater stuff -- I know a little about it, but in execution, I'm not very experienced. I'm wondering if the problem isn't in the cable -- should the optical end be emitting light?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize that this is almost more of a home theater issue than a computer hardware issue, but I'm hoping that someone can help.

Cliff Notes:

Have Logitech Z680s and Audigy2
Want to use a digital connection between the two
Tried a miniplug -> optical cable to accomplish this
Doesn't work

 

[Neurorelay]

I can only answer one portion of your question: the optical end should indeed by emitting light. Ideally, you want an optical to optical connection, or a digital coax to digital coax connection. Another thing to make sure, is in your dvd software setup (not just your sound card setup), you have output to SPDIF only.

 

[MDE]

I'd try just using a coax connection if possible so you don't have to deal with the convertor nonsense. I jsut got Z-680s today but I don't have the right cables for a digital hookup to my Audigy2 ZS Platinum yet.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I can only answer one portion of your question: the optical end should indeed by emitting light. Ideally, you want an optical to optical connection, or a digital coax to digital coax connection. Another thing to make sure, is in your dvd software setup (not just your sound card setup), you have output to SPDIF only.

I did make sure about the SPDIF thing. I think you're right, though, optical is just complicating things. Unfortunately, I have the Audigy2 ZS and thus don't have the LiveDrive or whatever they call it these days. Maybe if I got a miniplug -> RCA connector to use w/ the digital coax input?

Otherwise, I'm thinking about just getting a new sound card w/ optical jacks. This Audigy2 has been nothing but a PITA since I got it, heh.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: MDE
I'd try just using a coax connection if possible so you don't have to deal with the convertor nonsense. I jsut got Z-680s today but I don't have the right cables for a digital hookup to my Audigy2 ZS Platinum yet.

Yeah, the only reason I got this cable was b/c I saw someone on another forum say that it worked great (and now I can't find that post or forum for the life of me). The only bright side is that the cable was on clearance for $9 (reg. $35), so I get an extra optical cable for relatively cheap.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: Strang

I did make sure about the SPDIF thing. I think you're right, though, optical is just complicating things. Unfortunately, I have the Audigy2 ZS and thus don't have the LiveDrive or whatever they call it these days. Maybe if I got a miniplug -> RCA connector to use w/ the digital coax input?

Otherwise, I'm thinking about just getting a new sound card w/ optical jacks. This Audigy2 has been nothing but a PITA since I got it, heh.

Yeah, mini-jack to coax is the simplest method I believe. No optical to mess with, no conversion really going on in that set-up, coax is always easiest, most cable top boxes, home theaters, have alot of coax, they must know something.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay

Originally posted by: Strang

I did make sure about the SPDIF thing. I think you're right, though, optical is just complicating things. Unfortunately, I have the Audigy2 ZS and thus don't have the LiveDrive or whatever they call it these days. Maybe if I got a miniplug -> RCA connector to use w/ the digital coax input?

Otherwise, I'm thinking about just getting a new sound card w/ optical jacks. This Audigy2 has been nothing but a PITA since I got it, heh.

Yeah, mini-jack to coax is the simplest method I believe. No optical to mess with, no conversion really going on in that set-up, coax is always easiest, most cable top boxes, home theaters, have alot of coax, they must know something.

Cool, I'll stop by Radio Shack tomorrow on lunch. Hopefully I can find what I need.

 

[bigj3347]

is there any audigy series soundcards that have coax or optical out for the z-680s?

 

[Auric]

That cable you bought is not even a coaxial/optical adapter, it is just optical (with two different optical plugs). All you need is something like this mono mini plug to RCA jack adapter and a common RCA plug video cable. All Live & Audigy cards have digital coaxial output and almost all have the external jack.

 

[Kaido]

I've heard it said on the forums that it's better to hook up the z-680s via analog on the Audigy since you're using the DAC or whatever on the Audigy, instead of an optical cable to the z-680s and having the lesser-quality z-680 DAC do the work. Or something to that effect.

 

[Zelmo3]

Well, shoot. I've heard it can be done, but may be tricky. There's a Digital Passthrough setting in the Creative software that has to be set to let the card know not to do the decoding, but I can't seem to find that on Google right now. I've also seen in other forums that you may need a special 1/8" connector for the card because the jack is designed for a cable that comes with Creative's own line of speakers and has a proprietary connector on the other end. The cables to connect the Audigy2 to an RCA digital output are supposed to exist, like at Radio Shack or something.

For my part, I decided it wasn't worth bothering to get a digital signal all the way to the 680s and let them decode it. I just use the 6-channel analog connection, which works 100% and doesn't lose enough signal quality for me to notice.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I've heard it said on the forums that it's better to hook up the z-680s via analog on the Audigy since you're using the DAC or whatever on the Audigy, instead of an optical cable to the z-680s and having the lesser-quality z-680 DAC do the work. Or something to that effect.

Yes. It's not like the Z-680s are audiophile speakers. They sound fine over the analog connection with an Audigy 2. The onboard decoding on the Z-680 is for situations where a sound card like an Audigy is not available. Like if you wanted surround sound on an X-BOX in a kid's room.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Auric
That cable you bought is not even a coaxial/optical adapter, it is just optical (with two different optical plugs). All you need is something like this mono mini plug to RCA jack adapter and a common RCA plug video cable. All Live & Audigy cards have digital coaxial output and almost all have the external jack.

I was wondering if it was an adapter -- what threw me is that the packaging shows it with miniplug on one end and toslink on the other to hook between a receiver and an mp3 player. Hooray for misleading packaging. At least it was on clearance.

Anyway, based on the replies to this thread, I think I'm going to just give up on the digital and use the Audigy2 for decoding.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Auric]

Yeah, like Kaido said, connecting via analog and thus using the Audigy DAC is prolly better quality. It also allows for true surround gaming. However rather than using the Audigy decoder for movies I recommend disabling it in AudioHQ and using the DVD player's instead. PowerDVD's, for one, is much better in my experience and also has many options.

Presumably both analog and digital could be connected and toggled betwixt so that if the quality is not noticeably reduced then you can still take advantage of the hardware decoding for movies and any preferred upmixing effects that may be available for two channel sources. There is certainly much more variety on the PC side but it is easier to just leave them all disabled in favour of using those on the hardware decoder via remote. In any case, just make sure that only one side has effects enabled at a time.