Cheapest sound card with DD live/DTS-connect

[Bossk128]

As title really, I'm thinking of experimenting in HTPC and would like a card which outputs all the sound over optical or coax (including games, movies, brower, and standard Windows sounds).

Is there anything around 20-30 pounds?

Assuming it's all a digital path until it hits my amplification, will a cheap DD-live soundcard be just as good as e.g. a Xonar?

 

[Bossk128]

Thanks for that- yes I already know that I need a DD Live card. Your previous thread was pretty informitive, thanks- same question as me really (I failed to search properly....). The Xonar looks like a good card, however as you alluded to in one of your posts, analogue is not important for me so if there is a cheaper card that supports DD Live, that would be better. In essesnce, using the sound card just as an audio transport and letting the AV amp DACs do all the hard work.

It seems though that DD Live is a high end function, and there are no budget cards with this. I'll research the X-Fis, maybe I can get a cheap 2nd hand one on MM/auction or something.

Cheers.

Edit: Didn't realise the DX was as 'cheap' as that, my bad. I assumed they all were £90-100. I'd be interested in your findings when you get a chance to try your card out

 

[Bossk128]

6 channels, as in 5.1? What is the PCM setting for, is it sent as PCM over the connection? What connection did you use (coax or optical)? I take it your amp says "Dolby Digital" on the front panel.

Will the DTS equivalent send a higher bitrate (1.5MBps)?

Do you think that the sound quality over digital would be improved over the higher specced Xonars? In my mind I think no, seeing as your external hardware is doing the work......

I may shortlist this soundcard

 

[Bossk128]

Hm, thanks for that too. I've found something that may be useful, the "ASONIC C-Media CMI8768+8CH Sound Card". It's cheap so I may give it a punt!

Thing is, for analogue I'm currently happy with my Audigy 2, it's only hooked up to £40 5.1 computer speakers anyway

So the CMI8768+ chip should be fine for HTPC use.

If I get/fit this weekend I'll update.

 

[Bossk128]

If the gaming machine moves to the living room, then a swap. If not, seperate PCs. I agree, two sound cards in one machine for gaming would be hard work!
I'm sticking with XP at the moment until I have to change.


Totally OT, but Uriel, where did you get the AM2 daughter board? I used to have that mobo and thought it was a great upgrade path- but I never knew where to get one.