Soundcard with Optical Out?

ArkiStan · 11-26-2005, 08:12 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, 11:24 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, 12:39 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?

Showtime · 11-26-2005, 12:45 PM

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, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkiStan

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, 07:01 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/Produc...=10-13210966-2

Hoser · 11-26-2005, 08:21 PM

I have this card on one of my systems: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829127001

Showtime · 11-26-2005, 10:03 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, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showtime

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?

11-26-2005, 08:12 AM	#1
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,898	Soundcard with Optical Out? 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!

11-26-2005, 11:24 AM	#2
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	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. __________________ Five years...

11-26-2005, 12:39 PM	#3
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,898	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? Last edited by ArkiStan : 11-26-2005 at 12:43 PM.

11-26-2005, 12:45 PM	#4
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	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. __________________ NBA REPORT 10-11/ The 3-Peat! 1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 Reigning NBA CHAMPS!

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11-26-2005, 07:01 PM	#6
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,898	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/Produc...=10-13210966-2

11-26-2005, 08:21 PM	#7
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	I have this card on one of my systems: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829127001

11-26-2005, 10:03 PM	#8
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	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.

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