ReignsOfPower

Hey guys.
I recently discovered that I could not get the Windows XP audio drivers for my ASUS Striker extreme on-board audio to work at all. So I decided to stuff it, and go all out on a good sound card.

Basically I've been looking at all of Creatives' XF-i series, but have found, annoyingly, that none have SPDIF / OPTICAL out! I have looked through these forums and have found that apparently Auzen X-FI Prelude 7.1 is meant to be the best card out there. Even better than the Creative XF-i Elite Pro.

Went to the website, checked it all out, has SPDIF RCA and OPTICAL out. Very nice.

Now, I really want to connect my PC to my Plasma. Is it best to run;
1. Separate HDMI and Optical cables to the AMP, or,

2. Find some sort of converter that can combine the two streams (audio and video) into one so that I can transfer it all over in HDMI.

I want Full HD 5.1 surround sound to be transfered across.

Problem is with option two, I don't know for the life of me where to find a converter which does this! If anyone could point me to a converter which combines my 1080p DVI output from my PC and the 5.1 DTS from the TosLink on the PC into HDMI, i'll +rep you a million times lol Jokes :P

Thanks guys!

nicoloco

I have never heard of a converter that can do that. But nowadays you can get converters for just about everything, so I wouldn't be surprised if you did find one. I would go for the first option, Toslink for sound and HDMI for picture.

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DJ.BigBear

1st,
Creative X-Fi do have digital out, you just need another module for it called "X-Fi digital I/O"

2nd,
X-Fi prelude is the best gaming card out there, and probably for movies to0, but most certainly not in music, since there are plenty of soundcards perform better than Prelude.

3rd,
doing it separate way is always better for any application.

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soloz2

actually DJ you are only partially correct. All X-Fi cards do have digital output, but you don't need to buy the module to use it.

The mic in is actually a flexiport on the X-Fi cards and can be used either for mic input or digital coax output. All you need is a mono mini-RCA adapter or a digital coax IC with a mini plug on one end. Both these items can be easily sourced. You can get an adapter from Radio Shack or a custom cable from Blue Jeans Cable (the better method)

If you want 5.1 sound all the time then you need to get a card that has DDL (Dolby Digital Live) so it can encode anything into surround sound and output it digitally in real time. The x-fi cards do not do this so if you play a stereo source file then you will get stereo signal. The Auzen has DDL and will be a better solution for what you want. You also do not need to buy a special cable or adapter to use the digital output on the Auzen Prelude.

Finally just keep your video and audio signals separate. Trying to combine them will probably do more to introduce interference than anything else. You can run a DVI or HDMI cable from your video card to your TV and then run your audio to your receiver, or run them both to your receiver so you have better switching capabilities.

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Current Sound: SA tweaked Auzen X-Fi Prelude > SA Reference IC > Musical Paradise MP-301 6v6 tube amp> Tekton Designs 4.1 single driver loudspeakers

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DJ.BigBear

well yes.... but it is much simpler when i just mention X-Fi Digital I/O....
packed with optical in/out and coaxial in/out.

plus, doing all in 5.1 is not always a good thing, some are just meant to be played with stereo or any other multichannel output.

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HatesFury

To answer both questions, i have yet to see a TV that worked as a receiver to drive a true 5.1 system. The best option for you will be to run a HD cable to your TV for audio, and then run a seperate optical cable into your surround sound receiver for you audio. If you'd like the TV to also be capable of giving off audio, you could run the SPIDF to the TV (i have 0 audio going to my TV, everything goes to receiver, TV speakers usually suck, and why would you want to use them if you have a 5.1 or 7.1 system).

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ReignsOfPower

Well, it's not every single program you watch, you would watch, in full surround sound (it can get annoying). News, some afternoon shows. You know the drill.


Just installed the Prelude, so far so good, downloading the drivers now.
Can't wait to hear it in action!

[EDIT] Installed drivers, and fired up my HT system.