5.1 and or 7.1 Audio for games

[Joeteck]

If you have a sound device that has optical out and or S/PDIF, will I get 5.1 and or 7.1 audio from my games?

Most sounds cards today have multiple analog channel outputs to each speaker, I don't want all of these wires, just want one going to my receiver.

I found one turtle beach sound card that does DTS pass through, but wondering if games are just as good, or does it send it all to the center channel?


I need someone who has done this type of setup before or is using their HT for gaming. EAX uses analog if I'm not mistaken...

I would hate to invest in a 7.1 receiver and only get 2.1.

[thideras]

If you have a sound device that has optical out and or S/PDIF, will I get 5.1 and or 7.1 audio from my games?If you have SPDIF and a receiver that can handle it (and decode it), then the answer is yes. But there is a catch. If the game is incapable of outputting 5.1, then it will not be in surround. I run all my sound through digital to my JVC RX-8010V receiver...and I love it.

[Joeteck]

If you have SPDIF and a receiver that can handle it (and decode it), then the answer is yes. But there is a catch. If the game is incapable of outputting 5.1, then it will not be in surround. I run all my sound through digital to my JVC RX-8010V receiver...and I love it.


What sound card do you have?

And what games are in 5.1?

Based on what I want to do, I'm getting this sound card.

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829118109

[thideras]

What sound card do you have?

And what games are in 5.1?

Based on what I want to do, I'm getting this sound card.

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829118109I have the one that came with my AW9D-Max motherboard. It uses a PCI-e x1 that is closer to the edge of the motherboard. What games are in surround? I can't list all of them here, and I wouldn't want to. You'll have to check online if it support 5.1. WoW does, I know that.

[Mr. Roboto]

Yes, as long as you have a card that supports DD Live! and a game that has 5.1 audio.

[thideras]

Yes, as long as you have a card that supports DD Live! and a game that has 5.1 audio....the card does not have to support DD Live...it just has to output digital 5.1...

[nd4spdbh2]

...the card does not have to support DD Live...it just has to output digital 5.1...

yes it does as DDL is the only realtime encoding process that allows 5.1 analog signals to be encoded into a SPDIF connection that will be true 5.1 if the reciever can decode dolby digital.

[-_{MoW}_-Assasi]

Get upmixing programs :)

[Mr. Roboto]

Get upmixing programs :)

I've tried a couple, they all made the sound delayed. Do you use one?

[PWatterson]

yes it does as DDL is the only realtime encoding process that allows 5.1 analog signals to be encoded into a SPDIF connection that will be true 5.1 if the reciever can decode dolby digital.


So this means the X-FI cards cannot do what the OP wants to do because they don't support DDL? All this audio stuff is confusing.

Edit: Minor spelling.

[Mr. Roboto]

So this means the X-FI cards cannot do what the OP wants to do because they don't support DLL? All this audio stuff is confusing.

Correct. Gotta use the analog out to get 5.1 in games.

[Joeteck]

It seems that C-media is the leader in DDL and DDC technology.

There are many DDL sound card options (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=C-media&x=0&y=0") to choose from.

I like the Auzentech XPlosion 7.1 Sound Card. It uses the C-Media CMI8770 chipset. The new type CMI8788 is a little cleaner, but not worth another $100 since I'll be using digital output instead of analog, so that option would be moot.



AuzenTech XPlosion