What is "Night Mode" (Z-5500's)

[mista ting]

When connected via optical i see this setting "Night Mode" on the Z-5500 controller under settings what does it do?

 

[dicecca112]

if I had to guess it lowers the volume and bass level so you can listen to your music without keeping your roommates or housemates awake with the noise.

A google provides the answer

The Dobly Digital decoder has a 'night mode' which is a sort of normalizer--if you're watching a movie at night, this will make sure that the explosions don't sound too much louder than anything else so you don't wake anyone up.

http://www.donationcoder.com/Columns/mts/b_tenseiken/archives/2005/06/fun_with_hardwa_4.html

 

[Trap05]

Seems like it might be a useful feature if it does a decent job of it.

 

[mista ting]

ohh i see thx

 

[pak]

I woulda guessed it meant the speakers were going to sleep.

--pak

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Yeah, basically, you know how when you watch a movie and it's a quiet scene with just people talkign, so you have to turn it up, then BOOOM!, something explodes?

Well, it makes the explosion alot quieter.

Essentially, it lowers the dyanmic range of the speakers.

 

[FIZZ3]

Random question.

I've recently got the Z5500's in and looking at the back of my X-Fi card there's two ways I could hook them up, it seems. One is called 'direct' and it would use 3 mini-jacks, and the other is via optical, using just that one specific jack. I'd like to use the optical port, as it would allow me to hook up my headset to the regular mini-jacks. Is there a drawback to using the optical port for these speakers?

 

[Maviryk]

Random question.

I've recently got the Z5500's in and looking at the back of my X-Fi card there's two ways I could hook them up, it seems. One is called 'direct' and it would use 3 mini-jacks, and the other is via optical, using just that one specific jack. I'd like to use the optical port, as it would allow me to hook up my headset to the regular mini-jacks. Is there a drawback to using the optical port for these speakers?

If you use Optical, you won't get 5.1 surround while gaming since the Xifi's can't do DDL encoding. You will get 5.1 surround in Dvds and movies as the signal is just passed through.

Hook up via the three mini jacks for gaming. When you watch Movies swap to Dolby mode.

 

[FIZZ3]

If you use Optical, you won't get 5.1 surround while gaming since the Xifi's can't do DDL encoding. You will get 5.1 surround in Dvds and movies as the signal is just passed through.

Hook up via the three mini jacks for gaming. When you watch Movies swap to Dolby mode.

Hm thanks. That blows though; I'll have to keep swapping plugs when I want to use my headset. Should have gotten an USB set like I had before.

 

[Maviryk]

I don't see why you don't just plug your headset into the Z-5500s. There is a jack on the side of the control pod.

 

[FIZZ3]

I don't see why you don't just plug your headset into the Z-5500s. There is a jack on the side of the control pod.

! Haven't taken the Zs out the box yet. But the problem may be that there is no mic jack... or is there?

 

[Maviryk]

There's a line input jack... for an MP3 player or some other thing.... may or may not be able to plug a Mic into it, I've never tried.

 

[FIZZ3]

There's a line input jack... for an MP3 player or some other thing.... may or may not be able to plug a Mic into it, I've never tried.

Hm at least some hope... got to try that once my videocard comes in and I can actually use the PC again. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

That wont work, the line in on the speakers just plays whatever is connected to it through the speakrs. It's for hooking up something like an mmp3 player.

 

[pak]

well the speakers aren't using the mic input on the back, just use that one. Unless your using headsets, maybe you can just position them close to each other.

--pak

 

[FIZZ3]

Well, I'm glad my case has those little wheels... I'll be doing a lot of miles on them sliding it from under the table and back again to switch plugs. I'll be buying a USB headset again when this one breaks.

 

[LordFess]

I just got my Z5500 speakers last Tuesday and have been working hard for the past 2 nights after getting off work getting them operational...I am using optical cable as well. I did dot realize that you had to hook up the control pod to the analog connections to get the surrround sound in PC games....so I guess this is my next chore tonight when I get home.

Ok now to the OPs concern about headphones....I read in the manuel today on the Creative Labs support site and it states in the manuel you can hook them up to the control pod which I already knew cuz I tried it out last night...I was using my Sennheiser 350 ProGamer Headset....

In the manuel it states that when you plug your headset into the control center that the sound on your speakers is supposed to be automatically muted......but last night that was not the case and I could hardly hear any sound coming out of the set....

Although there is no mic hookup on the control pod I was hoping to plug them in there and use the mic on my Logitech Cam that sits on top of my monitor as my recording device. Oh well I guess I will have to some more monkeying around with that tonight when I get home from work.

 

[ahalibut]

If you use Optical, you won't get 5.1 surround while gaming since the Xifi's can't do DDL encoding. You will get 5.1 surround in Dvds and movies as the signal is just passed through.

Hook up via the three mini jacks for gaming. When you watch Movies swap to Dolby mode.

I'm guessing this has since been added.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Nice Bump! haha. Anyways, not all sound cards can do DDL, it's a hardware feature of some sound cards.

 

[TommyD872]

I have my z5500s hooked up to xbox 360 via optical and DD plays just fine 5.1. Also have earbuds into z5500 side jack and it mutes speakers auto for me.