- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
If I got an Audigy OEM, could I hook it up to a surround sound receiver so that my tv and computer used the same speakers??
Would it pass the surround sound through it??
Would it pass the surround sound through it??
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Audigy and a receiver
- Thread starter brothernod
- Start date
Yes, the best way to handle this is to use the SPDIF output from the Audigy (Configurable in the Audio HQ applet), provided your receiver handles Digital Coax in. This will give you true Dolby Digital output to your receiver. In this scenario you would be using the Dobly Digital decoder in your receiver.
All you need is a single RCA to Mono 1/8" mini jack adapter and a 75 oHm (digital coax/video cable). Plug the Mini jack into the audigy SPDIF socket and other side of the cable into the regular RCA Digital Coax Input on the receiver.
I run this configuration into a Denon 2800 receiver which is capable of decoding the 24 bit/96kHz bitstream from the Audigy. Very nice. Note though, it is possible that the Audigy's DAC could be better than the one in your receiver. If that is the case, the following method would be better for sound quality...
The final option for DD would be if you have 6 channel external inputs on your receiver. Let the Audigy do the DD decoding and run analog cables to the external inputs on the receiver.
Your other alternative if your receiver does not support Digital input would be to run two sets of stereo cables into your receiver from the audigy. This can be done using 1/8" mini-stereo to RCA "Y" adapters. Then run these into your A-B front/rear channel inputs on your receiver. This will in effect give you Dolby Surround, but not Dolby Digital.
All you need is a single RCA to Mono 1/8" mini jack adapter and a 75 oHm (digital coax/video cable). Plug the Mini jack into the audigy SPDIF socket and other side of the cable into the regular RCA Digital Coax Input on the receiver.
I run this configuration into a Denon 2800 receiver which is capable of decoding the 24 bit/96kHz bitstream from the Audigy. Very nice. Note though, it is possible that the Audigy's DAC could be better than the one in your receiver. If that is the case, the following method would be better for sound quality...
The final option for DD would be if you have 6 channel external inputs on your receiver. Let the Audigy do the DD decoding and run analog cables to the external inputs on the receiver.
Your other alternative if your receiver does not support Digital input would be to run two sets of stereo cables into your receiver from the audigy. This can be done using 1/8" mini-stereo to RCA "Y" adapters. Then run these into your A-B front/rear channel inputs on your receiver. This will in effect give you Dolby Surround, but not Dolby Digital.
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OP
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
- Thread Starter
- #3
so using what you said, I could get the full positional audio that the audigy offers and have it use hometheater speakers??
that's awesome.
I don't own a receiver or home theater speakers, I'm just looking at my options.
I was gonna get the Logitech z560s cause they're loud as hell and damn cheap ($150), but then I can't share it with my tv/dvd player unless I get the live drive which I don't want.
this gives me new options.
SWEET.
that's awesome.
I don't own a receiver or home theater speakers, I'm just looking at my options.
I was gonna get the Logitech z560s cause they're loud as hell and damn cheap ($150), but then I can't share it with my tv/dvd player unless I get the live drive which I don't want.
this gives me new options.
SWEET.
Yes, both the retail and OEM Audigy's support SPDIF out on the card. I have both flavors. The only difference between the two is that the retail card has gold plated connections.
The SPDIF output is toggled on through the Audio HQ Application as a "Digital Output Only" check box.
The Live! 5.1 OEM cards did not support SPDIF out. Maybe that is what you were thinking of...But back to the Audigy's, they only have Digital Coax out. (see my first reply). To use TOSLink you have to use either the Audigy Platinum or the Platinum EX. Both of which I don't consider valuable and I feel are impractical due to cable routing issues. (Who wants every cable coming out of the front?!)
The SPDIF output is toggled on through the Audio HQ Application as a "Digital Output Only" check box.
The Live! 5.1 OEM cards did not support SPDIF out. Maybe that is what you were thinking of...But back to the Audigy's, they only have Digital Coax out. (see my first reply). To use TOSLink you have to use either the Audigy Platinum or the Platinum EX. Both of which I don't consider valuable and I feel are impractical due to cable routing issues. (Who wants every cable coming out of the front?!)
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OP
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
- Thread Starter
- #6
are the gold connectors worth the extra $20 bucks??
the games that come with a retail are worthless to me, so that's not part of the consideration.
keep in mind I'm only gonna have about $400 - $500 worth of a receiver and speakers to go with this, so will the gold ones make a difference??
and thanks so much for all your help, you've really been informitive.
the games that come with a retail are worthless to me, so that's not part of the consideration.
keep in mind I'm only gonna have about $400 - $500 worth of a receiver and speakers to go with this, so will the gold ones make a difference??
and thanks so much for all your help, you've really been informitive.
I have the soundblaster audigy platninum and I like it a lot. I don't think spending $20 for gold plated stuff is that bad considering that you are spending 400-500 dollars on your system. you might as well go all out. Well anyway thats my two-bits on the subject. Have a fun time with the entertainment system.
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I don't see the coax out thingy you were talking about.
Are you sure I can do what you said with the sound blaster audigy cards??
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Yes, I am positive. In one of my first posts I mention that you need to get a RCA to Mono adapter like:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...name=CTLG_005_003_009_004&product_id=910-0770
It doesn't need to be right angled. It has to be mono like the one in the picture because it will be sending one bit-stream of information to the receiver.
The socket you want to use on the Audigy is labeled "Digital Output or -> 3". It is the one furthest from the firewire port. Plug the Mono adapter into it. Then, Plug a 75 oHM Digital Coax cable into the adapter that you just inserted into the card. Finally take that cable and plug it into the Digital Co-ax input on the receiver.
Finally on the PC open Creative's AudioHQ and select "Mixer" open the advanced properties tab, select speakers and make sure it looks like the attached screen shot.
You want to make sure that Digital Output is checked.
I don't see the coax out thingy you were talking about.
Are you sure I can do what you said with the sound blaster audigy cards??
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Yes, I am positive. In one of my first posts I mention that you need to get a RCA to Mono adapter like:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...name=CTLG_005_003_009_004&product_id=910-0770
It doesn't need to be right angled. It has to be mono like the one in the picture because it will be sending one bit-stream of information to the receiver.
The socket you want to use on the Audigy is labeled "Digital Output or -> 3". It is the one furthest from the firewire port. Plug the Mono adapter into it. Then, Plug a 75 oHM Digital Coax cable into the adapter that you just inserted into the card. Finally take that cable and plug it into the Digital Co-ax input on the receiver.
Finally on the PC open Creative's AudioHQ and select "Mixer" open the advanced properties tab, select speakers and make sure it looks like the attached screen shot.
You want to make sure that Digital Output is checked.
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OP
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
- Thread Starter
- #10
In that pic it says 2 speakers, will I be getting proper surround sound with this?? I know I can test it all out when I get it, but I'd really like to make sure I know what I'megetting before I invest... it's that whole poor college student thing.
Thanks for your help.
other question, with the setup you suggested, will I also be able to have a 2.1 set of speakers plugged in for when I don't feel like messin with thte receiver??
Thanks for your help.
other question, with the setup you suggested, will I also be able to have a 2.1 set of speakers plugged in for when I don't feel like messin with thte receiver??
You can try it any way you want! The speaker setting really doesn't matter because you will be sending the full binary bit stream to the recevier and it will be doing the Dolby Digital decoding and sending it to the appropriate channels (speakers). Provided that the receiver you will be getting has a DD decoder. Most do these days.
Your second question. you will be able to add 2.1 speakers for non HT type stuff using the regular speaker out ports on the Audigy. But, if they are regular computer speakers (Analog) you will need to uncheck the Digital Output box when you want to use them.
Your second question. you will be able to add 2.1 speakers for non HT type stuff using the regular speaker out ports on the Audigy. But, if they are regular computer speakers (Analog) you will need to uncheck the Digital Output box when you want to use them.
ahhh, ok, so thats how it is done, i was wondering where the rca jack was, but now i see how it is done, i thought it didn't have the spdif out because i didn't see the rca jack on it. unfortunantly i think i need a sound card with a TOSlink conector on it. and yes, i think that the cables coming from the front is pretty stupid.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2001
- Location
- Southern California, USA
i did the whole reciever route i had to use 2 recievers tho lucky 4 me i had em laying around im my garage...
2x 6" around 150w total (front channel) right next to my monitor
2x 10" 300w each speaker (rear channel) behind my head
2x 12" 350w each speaker (rear channel) behind my chair
1x 3" generic so idunno wattage (center channel) ontop of monitor
The bass it sooo sweet compared to my old generic speakers...
When i was first testing it out i hit my head on my monitor when my 10's jumped cause i got shot with a rocket in quake 3 i learned not to have it turned up that loud...
2x 6" around 150w total (front channel) right next to my monitor
2x 10" 300w each speaker (rear channel) behind my head
2x 12" 350w each speaker (rear channel) behind my chair
1x 3" generic so idunno wattage (center channel) ontop of monitor
The bass it sooo sweet compared to my old generic speakers...
When i was first testing it out i hit my head on my monitor when my 10's jumped cause i got shot with a rocket in quake 3 i learned not to have it turned up that loud...
