WOT - Digital 5.1 Systems...

[Random Hero]

This seemed as good a place as any to ask, so...

Any of you guys using 5.1 systems via digital/optical? I'm currently running an analog 5.1 system on this comp, which is about 6 years old, on a PC which doubles as a HT setup. I recently picked up a new PC with a SoundBlaster X-Fi 7.1 card, and I'm looking at getting a digital sound system to make good use of the digital out on the PC and my 360.

Anybody have any recommendations for any systems that are well priced, and actually, does anybody have any experience with this system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-970180 ... B000BSVAFA

 

[CoachZ]

This seemed as good a place as any to ask, so...

Any of you guys using 5.1 systems via digital/optical? I'm currently running an analog 5.1 system on this comp, which is about 6 years old, on a PC which doubles as a HT setup. I recently picked up a new PC with a SoundBlaster X-Fi 7.1 card, and I'm looking at getting a digital sound system to make good use of the digital out on the PC and my 360.

Anybody have any recommendations for any systems that are well priced, and actually, does anybody have any experience with this system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-970180 ... B000BSVAFA

On the X-Fi, are you talking about the digital out from the minijack? That's just a pass through, it doesn't do any actual 7.1 mixing. If you get a 7.1 receiver, hook it up analog. Much better and no audio compression. The only two sound solutions that support actual digital surround sound without pass through is the SoundStorm found on nForce2 motherboards and an AuzenTech X-Mystique.

Edit: In regards to the Logitech speakers, they're of high quality. The speakers themselves are made by Alesis. I have the way older models, the Z680s. The subs need to be a little tamed. Too boomy but aside from that, good stuff.

 

[Random Hero]

This seemed as good a place as any to ask, so...

Any of you guys using 5.1 systems via digital/optical? I'm currently running an analog 5.1 system on this comp, which is about 6 years old, on a PC which doubles as a HT setup. I recently picked up a new PC with a SoundBlaster X-Fi 7.1 card, and I'm looking at getting a digital sound system to make good use of the digital out on the PC and my 360.

Anybody have any recommendations for any systems that are well priced, and actually, does anybody have any experience with this system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-970180 ... B000BSVAFA

On the X-Fi, are you talking about the digital out from the minijack? That's just a pass through, it doesn't do any actual 7.1 mixing. If you get a 7.1 receiver, hook it up analog. Much better and no audio compression. The only two sound solutions that support actual digital surround sound without pass through is the SoundStorm found on nForce2 motherboards and an AuzenTech X-Mystique.

Edit: In regards to the Logitech speakers, they're of high quality. The speakers themselves are made by Alesis. I have the way older models, the Z680s. The subs need to be a little tamed. Too boomy but aside from that, good stuff.

I'm talking about the optical out on the X-Fi?

And about the Logitech speakers, you would recommend them?

 

[CoachZ]

This seemed as good a place as any to ask, so...

Any of you guys using 5.1 systems via digital/optical? I'm currently running an analog 5.1 system on this comp, which is about 6 years old, on a PC which doubles as a HT setup. I recently picked up a new PC with a SoundBlaster X-Fi 7.1 card, and I'm looking at getting a digital sound system to make good use of the digital out on the PC and my 360.

Anybody have any recommendations for any systems that are well priced, and actually, does anybody have any experience with this system? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-970180 ... B000BSVAFA

On the X-Fi, are you talking about the digital out from the minijack? That's just a pass through, it doesn't do any actual 7.1 mixing. If you get a 7.1 receiver, hook it up analog. Much better and no audio compression. The only two sound solutions that support actual digital surround sound without pass through is the SoundStorm found on nForce2 motherboards and an AuzenTech X-Mystique.

Edit: In regards to the Logitech speakers, they're of high quality. The speakers themselves are made by Alesis. I have the way older models, the Z680s. The subs need to be a little tamed. Too boomy but aside from that, good stuff.

I'm talking about the optical out on the X-Fi?

And about the Logitech speakers, you would recommend them?

I would, just lower the sub a bit. They tend to be a little overpowering. So you have either the X-Fi Elite Pro or the Fatal1ty one. The reason why I asked is because Creative cards have this 3.5mm connection in the back labeled "Digital Out" and it's just SPDIF pass through, I thought you were talking about that which won't give you any upmixing support. And the same goes for the optical out on any Creative card. If you want 5.1 or 7.1, you're gonna have to upmix using ProLogic.

Personally though, the most ideal thing is Computer > Analog out > Receiver if you got it. The Logitech speakers are excellent for the money but they pen-ultimate to a receiver setup.

 

[Random Hero]

On the X-Fi, are you talking about the digital out from the minijack? That's just a pass through, it doesn't do any actual 7.1 mixing. If you get a 7.1 receiver, hook it up analog. Much better and no audio compression. The only two sound solutions that support actual digital surround sound without pass through is the SoundStorm found on nForce2 motherboards and an AuzenTech X-Mystique.

Edit: In regards to the Logitech speakers, they're of high quality. The speakers themselves are made by Alesis. I have the way older models, the Z680s. The subs need to be a little tamed. Too boomy but aside from that, good stuff.

I'm talking about the optical out on the X-Fi?

And about the Logitech speakers, you would recommend them?

I would, just lower the sub a bit. They tend to be a little overpowering. So you have either the X-Fi Elite Pro or the Fatal1ty one. The reason why I asked is because Creative cards have this 3.5mm connection in the back labeled "Digital Out" and it's just SPDIF pass through, I thought you were talking about that which won't give you any upmixing support. And the same goes for the optical out on any Creative card. If you want 5.1 or 7.1, you're gonna have to upmix using ProLogic.

Personally though, the most ideal thing is Computer > Analog out > Receiver if you got it. The Logitech speakers are excellent for the money but they pen-ultimate to a receiver setup.

Interesting. Thanks. My card is the X-Fi extreme. So are you saying, using the digital out, I won't get 5.1 through the Logitech system? I'm all set to order it, aswell as an optical cable to run with it, so I wanna make sure I'm gonna get 5.1 from both my PC and Xbox 360.

 

[CoachZ]

Yeah, you'll get 5.1 through anything except your PC. You need what is known as Dolby Digital EX on soundcards and it's a hardware feature unlike ProLogic but you could use the analog inputs for your PC. If you want sound in 5.1 through analog, you'd use CMSS or you don't and use a nice foobar2000 upmix plugin if you use fb2k for music. Feel free to PM me if you got any more questions, I was in a similar situation a few years back.