Cheap Sound Card to connect to 5.1 System

[roakes]

Hey all,

Buying a Sony HT-DDWG800 (http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-cinema-surround-kit/ht-ddwg800) surround system for my TV downstairs. I currently have my PC connected to my TV using DVI to HDMI cable for the video and the speaker jack to phono leads for the audio. When I get the Sony system I am looking to hook my PC up to it so I can output the sound from divx files encoded with 5.1 audio and get the full surround experience when watching films.

So basically I need some advice as to which sound card to get to best achieve this? The surround receiver has optical inputs so I'm guessing these would be the connection of choice for passing the audio through from the PC?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Russ

 

[wolvers]

Doesn't your DS3 have SPDIF?

 

[roakes]

Apparently it does yes. Never looked at that option. Aside from that what about a separate card?

As I said I think the optical connection may be the best? Or is SPDIF just as good? Not very knowledgeable about all this audio malarky

 

[wolvers]

Either optical or coaxial SPDIF will do, they'll both give you the 5.1 from your divx files. Just enable the SPDIF out in your sound options. You'll need to download and configure the AC3 codec too if you haven't already.

Post back if you get stuck.

 

[roakes]

I just realised my current sound card has a digital out, doing some reading up do I just need a 3.5mm Mono Plug to RCA Jack Adapter to come out of the digital socket on my card and then run a digital coaxial cable from the RCA connection to the coaxial digital in on my receiver?

 

[wolvers]

What's the exact model of the motherboard?

You should just need a digital spec coax cable or a toslink cable for optical.

 

[roakes]

At work at the moment so can't tell you but I did look last night and no sign of a coax or toslink connection on the board, only 3.5mm jack ports.