[Possibly retarded] analogue vs. optical outputs...

[OCdude]

Okay so right now I have an ancient SBLive! Platinum, connect to my Digitheare DTS speakers via optical.

Because my (ancient) card can't decode anything like DD/DTS AND my amp doesn't have analogue inputs, I know that i can only get that output if i use SPDIF bypass (which i use to play DVDs). Obviously in games i only ever get a stereo signal, but i've just 'lived' with this for years........

Now my question is:

I'm planning to get a Xonar D2X and probably some Gigaworks S750 speakers. I'll most likely be connecting these via analogue inputs... i'm assuming this is 'standard' and there's no different in quality between that and my previous optical setup?

Am I also right in thinking that the D2X will happily decode whatever's chucked at it and simply output it via the analogue without any issues, therefore letting me have nice (proper) DTS/DD sound when watching DVDs etc, and STILL giving me proper 5.1/7.1 sound in games?

Thanks!

(ohh also, does the Xonar support DTS Master Audio and the other funky stuff that appears on Blu-Ray?

 

[OCdude]

[Actually, ignore the Master Audio question for now, i can see that i'd need the Xonar HDAV 1.3 for that!]

 

[OCdude]

Weeeeeeeee okay so while i've been waiting for a reply, i've been doing some more investigation and from what I can gather:

1) There's bugger all difference in sound quality between using analogue / digital inputs (none that I will be hearing anyway!)

2) Yes 7.1 in games and outputting DTS-MA etc will be achievable if i use the Xonar HDAV

Something that did confuse me, was how/why the analogue cabling goes from 7 > 4 (green/orange/black/grey) - but I guess that was answered when I saw what actually comes bundled with the HDAV:



But i'm assuming it's just because it sends 2 channels down one cable?

Anyway, i'll stop talking to myself now

 

[Ch3m1c4L]

yes its 2 channels down one cable, center/sub front left/right and rear left/right for 5.1, cant remmeber off the top of my head which is which for 7.1.

It should all just work, more or less, analogue is normal unless you have a decent enough amp and setup and then peopl euse optical but its not as common.

 

[OCdude]

Yeah, I think for 7.1 it's:

Front Left & Front Right = Red & White > Green
Side Left & Side Right = Blue & Grey > Grey
Centre & Sub = Green & Purple > Orange
Rear Left & Rear Right = Brown & Black > Black

Good job i'm not colourblind