Hi bit-tech'rs, I could really use some help in deciding on an external sound card for my Mac Mini. The cavet is that I require optical 5.1 DTS encoded audio through SPDIF Optical. The Mini supports optical audio through a special adatper plugged into the headphone port. The problem with this is the onboard audio for the Mini (as are probably 99.9% of all computers) is the optical port only supports 2CH PCM encoding through SPDIF Optical. The Mini does support SPDIF passthrough which allows DVD's and other files encoded with AC3 to pass their audio encoding directly through SPDIF and thus to the reciever for decoding. So.. I need an external sound card. Preferably USB, since id hate for this device to only ever work with the Mini (over firewire 800). One that supports Dolby Digital Live, Dolby DTS, etc.. over SPDIF Optical. There are a few that I have found but all seem to only support either 2CH PCM or only SPDIF Passthrough. I want SPDIF Optical 5.1..... is that to much to ask? For my other desktop I have a wonderful soundcard. The AuzenTech X-plosion 7.1 card, which supports 5.1CH Dolby (everything) through the optical port. There is actually a Dolby Digital Live logo on the card. If I could find an external version of this card, or find a method to interface a PCI card over USB I would be game for either. This is one of only a handful of cards that support 5.1 encoding through the optical port. Example of USB card that has optical port but DOES NOT support 5.1 Dolby Encoding through the SPDIF port, they only support 2CH PCM and/or SPDIF Passthrough http://www.grupoigarashi.net/images/a0008256_TARJETA SONIDO CREATIVE S-FI SURROUND 5-1 SB1090 .jpg quoted from its specifications "* * Optical Out supports stereo SPDIF out and pass through of multichannel DVD sound. " Please help
Pity the creative doesn't play ball, as that was exactly what I was going to suggest you look at, and as always, I have one here that I can be persuaded to part with. Shame
