dolby digital 5.1 & coax?

sunlitsix · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:13

is it possible to have dolby digital 5.1 using coax?

if it is then what settings should i have it set up as?
im using a creative xfi xtreme music sound card with the logitech Z5500 speakers.

thanks

squiffy · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:16

Yes, Dolby Digital can be sent via coaxial, as can PCM and DTS, the same as optical. I don't have that card but you'll need to set output on the souncard to SPDIF. Depending on the software/application also need to set FFDSHOW to SPDIF (as well as DVD playback software)

sunlitsix · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:21

well there isnt a SPDIF output on the card, but its got the option to set it to dolby digital bitstream out?

if that wont work properly ill just use the integrated sound for movies...

just seen that the front panel for the xfi's has coax in/out. is there anywhere where i can buy just the front panel?

squiffy · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:29

Well to send digital audio to your speakers you will need a digital output, either from the soundcard backplate or front panel. But if the X-Fi has built-in bass managment/channel decoding just use the 5.1/7.1 analogue outputs to your speakers, if it has analogue inputs.

Phil99 · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:31

Use a 3.5mm miniplug -> Phono splitter adapter thing and plug the 3.5mm end in to the S/PDIF port on the back of the card (think it also doubles as Mic/Line-In) and the white phono plug is then the S/PDIF signal.

Remember to turn of Dolby Digital decoding in the drivers/software if you want passthrough.

sunlitsix · 1 Jul 2006 at 14:57

ok ive got a 3.5mm miniplug -> Phono adapter, its got a red circle around the phono bit does that matter?

anyway plugged it into the sound card and plugged a black phono lead into it, no colours on it just a black lead. does it need to be a white phone plug?

sorry if that doesnt make sence, im not that good when it comes to all of these audio leads lol

edit : there isnt an SPDIF option on the DVD software

so i guess i need new software too then..

sunlitsix · 1 Jul 2006 at 19:16

ok ive got it working, so now ive got proper 5.1 dolby digital going

what i did was dl power dvd, used my adapter for the coax lead and voila.

thanks for the help

edit : wow! ive never heard anything like this! (except at cinema

)
just tryed star wars ep 3, the THX advert at the beginning is incredible!
one more question though, what would i use for games which are in dolby digital? coax or?

pinkacidbootson · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:11

Can this be done using a normal digital-coaxial cable? ie. using the mic/line-in on the back of my x-fi?

sunlitsix · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:20

yeah thats how im doing it

then set it to this in the control panel

RussZS · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:34

I want to do this, but my DVD player is Coaxial only

Does anyone know if the Digital Output would work via Optical too? (I assume it won't)

Cheers

Russ

sunlitsix · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:36

RussZS said:
I want to do this, but my DVD player is Coaxial only

Does anyone know if the Digital Output would work via Optical too? (I assume it won't)

Cheers

Russ

dolby digital 5.1 works with both coaxial and optical :

squiffy said:
Yes, Dolby Digital can be sent via coaxial, as can PCM and DTS, the same as optical.

pinkacidbootson · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:48

Do you have it set at 48khz or 96 khz?

sunlitsix · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:50

pinkacidbootson · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:51

So how does this work for games that use EAX? Dont they need the analogue 5.1 connection as its done by the soundcard?

sunlitsix · 2 Jul 2006 at 22:55

yeah thats what i want to know too.

splinter cell chaos theory for example says on the case and disc Dolby dgital, and it also uses EAX. so what do i do there?

dolby certainly isnt working when i use coax on chaos theory...