This is Probably One Of The Most Common Asked Questions...

Alty

Alty

Alty

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I have just had a quick look over the first 8 pages of Sound City and not seen the question I am about to ask for a while....

You have got a hi-fi amp with bi-wire cables connected to your lovely speakers (Sirocco Crossfire in my case) and active subwoofer. You just purchased an X-Fi Fatal1ty soundcard. The question is this:

How the hell do you get 5.1 (or any kind of) surround sound capability when Creative in their wisdom create a proprietary set up requiring 3 line out jacks?

Connecting to one of their own brand speaker set ups is easy as pie but for those of us who want to incorporate our own amp/speaker set up and not have to fork out for a whole new speaker system is really infuriating.

I read very carefully thru the instruction manual and it seems I will only be able to have 2.1 max. Surely this can't be right?!? I just feel a lil bit peeved at the moment - maybe I'm missin summit obvious but I just have no idea :(

Can someone please help me before I think about the money I have apparently wasted on such a lovely sound card that currently I cannot use to its full potential.... :mad:
 
um can't you just connect the two up with two or three sets of 3.5mm to 3.5 mm cables? (back of soundcard) I know for proper audio gear you have individual RCA outputs (6 RCA connectors) but for the soundcard have L/R, RR/RL, Centre/Subwoofer? What connectors on the speakers amp?

edit had a quick look, from the looks of it 3.5mm stereo to stereo RCA should get you 4.1

Your speakers aren't 5.1 though? Do you have a fifth speaker, and amplifier channel for the center? I can't see a center speaker inputs/output on the Videologic amp module. If not you'll just get quadraphonic. You'll need to buy a new set of speakers.

Why didn't you buy a 5.1 speaker system? :confused:
 
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Considering that the Crossfire has stopped being available for quite some time, I will assume that the OP had them all these years. Based on it's reputation, I probably would've kept them if I had bought them at the time.

But anyway, one of the line out power the L/R, so that leaves two line out for the RL/RR and the subwoofer.. Surely that is enough? (I've not tired on a 4.1 system though)
 
The amp has phonos (amongst other connections such as digital) so I connect the soundcard to the amp with a 3.5mm to 2 phono cable.

- I can't connect 3 sets of 3.5mm as each input (TV/DVD/CD/Radio etc) on the amp only has 2 phonos or 1 digital input

- I have 5 individual speakers connected to the amp each using bi-wire and to their own individual connection on the amp (IE: L, R, Centre, Rear L and Rear R as well as an active sub-woofer).

- I didn't buy a 5.1 system, I happened to have the components to create a 5.1 set up - I have 12 Sirocco Crossfire speakers so decided to use 5 and simply add an amp and sub-woofer to make a 5.1 sound system (which I may add works fine with both DVD player and Xbox).

I just don't see why I need to buy a 5.1 setup when I already have the equipment at home - its just a case of tryin to work out the connections, etc.

TBH i am gonna be really peeved if I need to buy a new set up.

**EDIT** The crossfires DO rock ;)
 
Well assuming the amp is a proper surround sound, multi channel one, dosen.t it have a set of six individual inputs for the channels? I think the Creative setup has them paired out of the jacks. I.E. f/l and f/r, r/l and r/r and lastly center/sub.
Failing all that why not just use a digital link?
What is your amp by the way?
 
im no expert but surely if the amp only has 2 channel inputs then it's just going to be stereo sound through 5.1 speakers? Do you definitely get surround sound with your DVD and XBox or is it just stereo through more than 2 speakers?
 
ok so you have 5 sats and the subwoofer? Could you replace the amp unit with a standard AV amplifier? How do you control the master volume without getting the other speakers at a mismatched volume? (I take it adjust the centre amp to match the Sirroco amp, then whenever you adjust volume you don't touch the amps, only windows master volume?)
 
I have the speakers connected to a "Pioneer VSX-D510" Multi-Channel Reciever.

The surround sound I get from the DVD and Xbox are from the Digital connections.

If I were to connect the X-Fi soundcard via digital - what output would I use since they are only 3.5mm jacks anyway? I dont have the (black) break out box installed as it currently doesn't match my Coolermaster Aluminium Case - vanity I know!
 
The SB should just pass any signal through, check drivers support Dolby Digital & DTS though. You will need the front bay (or use a rear digital output, if there is a bracket version available for your SC)
 
X-Fi doesn't do DD encoding. It can pass on a DD encoded signal from a DVD through digital, but you'll only get stereo in games using digital. So if you want surround sound in games, you have to use the analogue outputs, so you need three 3.5mm -> stereo phono cables and your AV receiver needs to have multi-channel analogue inputs (5.1/6.1 etc).
 
my receiver only has the options of a digital or 2 phonos per input. What kinda amp/receiver do you know of that can take 3 3.5mm to 3 stereo phonos?

**EDIT**
Been lookin in the handbook n think I may know what you mean now - will have to check to see if i got enuff cables now!

**EDIT 2**
Got it up n running - ty for your help :D (woo woooooo!)
 
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