[trdsw20]

I am really interested in knowing my options for Digital optical out. I currently own a set of z680s and there great. Doesnt seem to matter what input mode I put them in They sound just wonderful (I upgraded from a trebbile full creative 4.1 set) for MP3s I usually use the coax digital out. For movies and games I use the analog plugs. But the Analog is missing that kick that the digital out has. The crispness of digital is something you just cant ignore. Of course the problem is that I cant do 5.1 with the coax.
So I have to come out with an option.

I was surfin and found a review of the a7n8x delux at here. And according to there review the A7n8x has a header on the mobo for digital optical out?? REally???
This is all based on what was said

"The last problem I had with this board is the lack of an optical ribbon to plug in to the Optical header. This motherboard has the header for the optical audio out but it did not include the ribbon to use it"

I am really interested in finding this out. If this is true Where can I get the optical out bracket?
Thanks

[moz_21]

It has the S/Pdif ? or whatever header that you can plug a little card into (and sits in the pci slot cover). It doesnt come with it. There is a coax digital out built into the back by the usb/lan ect.

[Ir0nman]

I would call Asus Customer service and ask them, I haven't looked on the board to see if the header is really there, but I believe I read the same review that you did. If I remember correctly there is even a model A7N8X that is higher then the deluxe, with extra software for video editing and stuff. i think that one comes with the bracket. You should be able to get it from Asus though with no problem.

[Norrko]

No optical with my Dlx/golden edition...
I'll think that you have to stick to the coax output...

/Norrko

[moz_21]

It shows them here. It's near the middle.

[otoc]

newegg usually has them in the US.

[Norrko]

Originally posted by moz_21
It shows them here. It's near the middle.

Yeah. I know that they exist.. But it's not included with the Dlx/gold edition...

/Norrko

[trdsw20]

Damn what was Asus thinking. I have the motherboard header (between the pci slot 1 and 2) but it looks like this :.: the dots being where the pins are located. At new egg they have the spdif bracket


If you look at the mobo connector its the one that has 4 columns but only one row. So hows that gonna fit?



This is another one that new egg has but its only coax as you can see.
Now Im stuck with one thatll work but what I dont need and one that wont fit but that I dont need.

[trdsw20]

Alright I think I figured it out the header shown at newegg has the same pin confiugration but in the picture there just solder joints. dont know why its like that. The funny thing is its almost as if Asus doesnt want you to use the Optical digital out. they dont provide you with the bracket but they tell you that you have the SPDIF on the board. Then they advertise it on their site but provide no links to where you can obtain it wtf is ASUS thinking. I emailed them and asked them where I could obtain it. Ill let you guys know how it turns out.

Oh yeah The thing is my friends MSI KT3 Ultra came with the Bracket WTF?!?!?! Well Maybe if Asus doesnt respond quick enough Ill have to go and steal that from him.

[james.miller]

sp-dif (standing for sony-philips digital interface) is a standard for the transfer of digital data. it is NOT the conection used. it can be either optical, or electrical.

asus a7n8x's DO have spdif onboard. co-axail SP-DIF to be exact.

to be honest, i dont know what you guys are worried about. co-ax spdif is much easier to work with, and its also cheaper. AND, to top it off, the quailty is marginally better aswell, due to there being less conversion processes involved with co-ax

[Ir0nman]

I have a feeling that the reason that they are hiding the header for the digital out has something to do with the soundstorm/dolbydigital certification. Maybe there is something wrong with the optical out on this board.

[trdsw20]

james miller
The difference is with the z-680 I get many different effects then I use the optical digital out. With coax I only get one. Thats the reason why I am tryin so hard.

Does anyone know if the other Nforce 2 boards come with the header?

[otoc]

Newegg used to have the right one. Maybe call them to see if it's going to be stocked again. Sorry about that goose chase. The problem is they were the only one's stocking the optical in/out.

Then again, with some decent digital coax cables I agree with the comment above. It's gonna be hard to hear the difference, unless there's a specific reason you need optical.

[james.miller]

Originally posted by trdsw20
james miller
The difference is with the z-680 I get many different effects then I use the optical digital out. With coax I only get one. Thats the reason why I am tryin so hard.

I'm sorry, i didnt quiet understand that. my friend also has the delux and the co-ax digital out works perfectly connectly to my yamaha rx-v630 6.1 amp. It seems to me that its a software fault rather than a hardware fault.

Originally posted by otoc
Then again, with some decent digital coax cables I agree with the comment above. It's gonna be hard to hear the difference, unless there's a specific reason you need optical.

i couldnt even tell the difference between a 1.5meter optical cable and a 10meter co-ax. i think you only start to hear real differences when you spends thousands on audio gear.

[trdsw20]

THe Z680 has 3 different inputs.
For the direct analog there are I think 6 different audio modes(IE PL2 Music, PL2 MOVIE).

For the digital coax there is only one mode dolby digital ( Great for music but no 5.1 movie quality).

The Optical Digital has i think 4 modes (PL2 Music, PL2 Movie, Stereo, Stereo x2).

I want to be compltely independent of Analog inputs and use just digital ones and thats why I need the optical. Does that make sense or am I just wasting time?

[james.miller]

your right. with an attitude like that you are wasting time.


according to logitechs site, the suround mode are available for both co-ax and optical (well, they dont say otherwise from what i could find). To be honest, id be shocked if a set of THX speakers didnt have it.

[trdsw20]

I dont understand your response???

Do you have a set of 680s, have you seen a set of 680s, had the chance to play with them yet?
Like I said the coax has a different enviroment. This is strictly off of the speakers but its not 5.1. The control pod allows you to change the setup of how your speakers sound.
The optical has way more effects then the coax does (Once again from the physical aspect, nothing to do with software).

James miller
To be honest and polite if you dont have the experience with my setup (A7N8x delux and z680s) and If all you can base on the situation is something you read on a website. Id much rather not hear your input. I dont have a yamaha amplifier but if you do great good for you. (not flaming)

For those that do know what I am talking about and have interest in what is goin on please help me out.

[james.miller]

ok look calm down. I have a few questions.

1) you said there was only dolby digital available for co-ax, but no 5.1 movie quality?. can you explain that in more detail?

2) im asuming you have used optical on that set, but not with your asus motherboard.? what was you using to output the optical digital to the 560's?

I took this for logitechs site:

For some types of input sources, including 6-channel digital audio sources such as Dolby® Digital, DTS® and MPEG multi-channel, the effect is automatically selected and cannot be changed. However, for most 2-channel sources, you can choose a desired effect. Use the Effect button to cycle through the different choices, including: Dolby® Pro Logic II Movie, Dolby® Pro Logic II Music, 6 Channel Direct, Stereo x2, and Stereo. Note that the list of available effects can be limited depending on the input source.

Im assuming this is what you ment by only being able to select one surround mode using co-ax. that would mean the co-ax is outputting 5.1 correct - as it should.

it says that only for 2 channel sources you have pro logic and the other modes. Which is obvious, since pro-logic decodes a stereo source, not a dolby digital source. According to this (and only this, please feel free to prove me wrong) you wouldn't have the modes available for optical digital connection, either. The only way to get them. is to send the speakers a 2 channel signal (stereo).

[james.miller]

bump

[trdsw20]

1) I meant that for the coax the 680s only offer 1 effect mode. Which is limited to Dolby digital, If you select this mode then the control pod LCD says dolby digital. (This is assuming that you are using a coax connection which comes with the A7n8x deluxe). However, it doesnt have the PL2 options like the Analog or optic digital.

2.I dont have a set of 560s I have the 680s. Big difference and that might explain some of your confusion.


(See the control pod thats what tells you what input and audio modes you are using)

So far I have only had the chance to use my PS2 for the audio source.
As far as Im concerned the digital optical source has the different effects availibe. I havnt had a constant source that provides all of the inputs I need ( Optical digital, Coax digital and direct analog).

Does that clear things up?

As for the modes that each different input offers I mentioned them before

THe Z680 has 3 different inputs.
For the direct analog there are I think 6 different audio modes(IE PL2 Music, PL2 MOVIE).

For the digital coax there is only one mode dolby digital ( Great for music but no 5.1 movie quality).

The Optical Digital has i think 4 modes (PL2 Music, PL2 Movie, Stereo, Stereo x2).

I want to be compltely independent of Analog inputs and use just digital ones and thats why I need the optical. Does that make sense or am I just wasting time?