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ArkiStan
11-26-2005, 07:12 AM
I'm putting together a really basic HTPC. I'll be getting sound through an AV receiver, But right now, I only have a basic on-board soundcard. I'm assuming the easiest thing I can do to connect my PC to the receiver to get DD5.1 and DTS processing would be to get a soundcard with an optical out.

Correct? Assuming I'm correct...

What is the cheapest soundcard I can get with an optical out for Dolby 5.1 and DTS? If the sound quality will be noticeably better with a more expensive card, I'll consider more pricey recommendations.

Thanks!
Bires
11-26-2005, 10:24 AM
Audigy2

I have a cheap SC with optical out, and the sound quality is fine, but it's way too hard to get it to output anything other than Dolby Prologic.
ArkiStan
11-26-2005, 11:39 AM
What do you mean by it being hard? Shouldn't the optical out just send out whatever signal (DD, DTS. etc) is being read from the source?
Showtime
11-26-2005, 11:45 AM
I got the USB philips psc805 aurilium a while back for like $30. It goes on sale all the time. It has opitical out, but I haven't tried to use it for surround sound, just stereo.
Bires
11-26-2005, 01:12 PM
What do you mean by it being hard? Shouldn't the optical out just send out whatever signal (DD, DTS. etc) is being read from the source?

The card will only send an SPDIF signal when in two-channel mode. If I set the video player to DD, the card wouldn't output. So, I had to get a special codec to output .AC3 and VOB files over the SPDIF in DD instead of Dolby PL. Again...it was an older card, so newer cards may output DD just fine.
ArkiStan
11-26-2005, 06:01 PM
I was looking at the Audigy2. Looks like there are many types of packages, many with the input/output unit that fits in the HDD dock. I just want pure and simple surround sound output for my movies. Can I just get the basic card-only package for that?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178&ATT=Sound+Card&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=10-13210966-2
Hoser
11-26-2005, 07:21 PM
I have this card on one of my systems: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127001
Showtime
11-26-2005, 09:03 PM
basic card does not have an optical out. i have one and had to get the philips thingy for an optical... you can get the audigy with the font panel thingy and that has an optical out/in.
ArkiStan
11-26-2005, 10:22 PM
basic card does not have an optical out. i have one and had to get the philips thingy for an optical... you can get the audigy with the font panel thingy and that has an optical out/in.

I guess I meant SPDIF. I can use that to connect to the AV receiver right? Does the "optical(toslink)" connection sound better than the SPDIF?