What sound card for 5.1 DTS/DD encoding for games over optical

agnes · 29 Oct 2012 at 11:24

I need the above, optical out to my amp (5.1 setup), which will be DTS/DD encoded from the soundcard. As the optical from the mobo is only putting out 2.1 PCM for games.

Thus it's a bit saddening knowing my lovely sound system isn't being properly used unless I'm watching HD stuff from my PC (video has 5.1 DTS/DD encoded into it already, so the digital signal is just passing through, no encoding needed).

What do you suggest?

Kosmiche · 29 Oct 2012 at 12:31

For dolby digital you just need any card that has dolby digital live.

Something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

I think the equivalent dts technology is dts connect, but I'm not sure. That card does both anyway

agnes · 29 Oct 2012 at 13:33

That card has no optical out

Thanks though.

sadbuttrue · 29 Oct 2012 at 13:42

It does. Asus cards combine the optical output with the 3.5mm mic/line in jack. A small adapter is provided to allow spdif connection.

Scroll to bottom:

http://techreport.com/review/14500/asus-xonar-dx-sound-card/2

agnes · 29 Oct 2012 at 22:24

Awesome! So this will give me live encoding of games to put out 5.1 DTS/DD for my AV? For games, I just want a 5.1 digital output signal. Obviously HD content (.mkv, mp4 etc) will have DTS/DD encoded into it already, so the card will just pass that through.

But, I just want to take my PC games to the next step using my home cinema system! As I have given up on the consoles now and use my PC to game on my plasma.

If so, I'm sold!

Marsman · 29 Oct 2012 at 22:43

D1/X has Dolby Digital Live, only. If you want DTS Connect as well, then you will need a D2/X.

sadbuttrue · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:12

Games generally don't have DD/DTS support, but many will happily output 5.1 over analogue.

The Asus D1/D2 cards will allow 5.1 sound from games over optical. You simply need to set 5.1 analogue output in Windows Sound Control Panel and then MultiChannel Input (6 channel) in the Asus software. The Asus card will then encode 5.1 analogue into DD/DTS for you. This workaround is detailed over at Asus and I've used it myself when I once owned the D2X.

agnes · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:27

sadbuttrue said:
Games generally don't have DD/DTS support, but many will happily output 5.1 over analogue.

The Asus D1/D2 cards will allow 5.1 sound from games over optical. You simply need to set 5.1 analogue output in Windows Sound Control Panel and then MultiChannel Input (6 channel) in the Asus software. The Asus card will then encode 5.1 analogue into DD/DTS for you. This workaround is detailed over at Asus and I've used it myself when I once owned the D2X.

Was it picked up by the AV and decent sound quality?

I am going to order before lunch if so.

sadbuttrue · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:40

It worked fine from what I recall (this was 2 years ago mind you). I've since gone stereo for HTPC and PC tho.

Sound quality will always be better if you run analogue directly to the amplifier. The encoding process will lower audio quality as DTS/DD provides limited bandwidth. The difference may be negligible depending on your setup tho.

http://support.asus.com/faq/detail....E&os=&no=93983BCA-CFA5-9FAD-5EF1-0AA9A64F7674

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx..._id=21&model=Xonar+D2X&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2755163

etc. Plenty of threads like that around.

agnes · 30 Oct 2012 at 14:01

Sweet, the card should be here tomorrow. Will give it a shot and report back!

Can't wait to immerse my self in some 5.1 goodness