Utterly confused with new audio things!

[MajorMaccas]

I've recently built myself a new PC in a nice small corsair air 240 to replace my CM HAF X 17KG empty hulk.

Since this is MATX space is limited, and I assumed onboard audio had improved significantly since I last used it about 10 years ago. I'm coming from a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional. (What an absurdly long name )

This has been an amazing card, having had the original X-Fi before it, and as you can imagine, the Realtek HD onboard sound is pretty terrible next to it, and lacks a swathe of settings and configurations.

My problem is I won't have any PCI-E free with dual 1070s, so I need an external (usb?) sound card. I believe these are better anyway since audio doesn't like being in a buzzing electrified metal box anyway.

However, I have Creative Inspire T7900 7.1 speakers (very old too), which take 4x 3.5mm analogue inputs for L/R, Centre/Sub, RL/RR, SL/RR. No optical, no RCA.

So, does a USB sound card exist with these 3.5mm inputs? On creative's product line I can only find ones with RCA or optical outputs etc. Is there any sort of converter for optical to analogue inputs?

I'm so out of my depth! Please Help!

 

[Marsman]

You might have been looking at the Creative X-Fi HD, which I think is for stereo only. I think it was intended to be the external equivalent of the Titanium HD, which was a stereo card.

Both Creative and Asus have USB sound cards that have both RCA and 3.5mm connections, such as the X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro and the Xonar U7. RCA connectors are normally used for the front left and right, probably so people can hook up stereo speakers that use RCA connectors.

You'd need an adaptor cable for the RCA sockets, which may come with these USB sound cards. Just looking at the Surround 5.1 Pro page on Creative's site, and it does indeed come with a RCA to 3.5mm adaptor cable. I assume the Xonar does as well.

In any case, neither of the Creative USB cards are of any use to you, not having 7.1 output. Creative have dropped 7.1 support altogether from their products I think, which is odd since they were probably the only company to make a 7.1 PC speaker set.

Anyway, that pretty much leaves the Xonar U7. There is a U5, but that is 5.1.

Although the U7 is a good sound card, I've read some recent comments on these forums from people whose U7 broke or developed a fault after just a year. Not a good sign, and poor from a company like Asus, whose internal sound cards are normally very good build quality.

Nonetheless though, I think that's the only one with 7.1 output from the more well known companies. Only other options would be to drop two speakers, have 5.1 and get a Creative Surround Pro, or go for a unknown brand like Sweex.

 

[MajorMaccas]

Thanks for the reply, looks like I'll just get some new speakers eventually.

I think the main thing I miss is the surround upmix, where creative software would take a stereo source like iTunes and send it to surround speakers as well, making for a very immersive sound sitting in the middle. That and the onboard equaliser is absolute rubbish.

There's some really nice looking sound cards out there now, seems to have really advanced since I got this X-Fi.

 

[slipperydave]

i've got the U7, it's just what you're looking for. i've had mine for nearly 2 years and haven't had a single problem with it. it's got 2 RCA sockets from front left & right, plus 3.5mm jacks for centre/sub, rear r/l and side r/l.

sound quality is exceptional.