A/V Soundcards - Questions

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Parge, 11 Aug 2010.

  1. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

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    Hi guys, so this is something that I just can’t seem to get my head around, so I’m throwing it out there.

    I have a set of Z-5400s (same as Z-5500s except not as loud). It has the usual 3 x 3.5mm analogue inputs, as well as 1 x Coax and 2 x SPDIF.At the moment I have my Sky Box and my Xbox connected through the optical ports for Dolby Digital Surround. My PC is connected via Coax.

    Now when I play Xbox 360 I get all my games in lovely Dolby Digital, but it doesn’t seem like PC games support this for some reason as the onscreen display still just shows ‘stereo’. I can get it to run in DD when watching a DVD so it can’t be a connection issue. Are PC games not encoded with a DD soundtrack? If not, what do I need to buy (new soundcard?) to get 5.1 surround working?

    Additionally, when playing games through headphones, the explosions sound all crackly – is there a setting I need to change so this doesn’t happen?

    Thanks already!
     
  2. lcdguy

    lcdguy Minimodder

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    since your probably pushing the bitstream directly to your speakers and they are decoding the bitstream that is probably why. Since most games audio tracks are not encoded in dolby digital it is passing the information in a raw pcm format. if you want the dolby/dts you will need a soundcard that can convert the audio output to a dolby/dts bitstream. something from auzentech, asus, etc should do the trick.
     
  3. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

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    Ah ok! I need something cheap and cheerful then! Any ideas? I use Windows 7!
     
  4. Phalanx

    Phalanx Needs more dragons and stuff.

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    ASUS Xonar DX. I use it, quality is very good. Otherwise others recommend the Fatality sound card. If you're gaming though, I think the Xonar DX is fine.
     
  5. lcdguy

    lcdguy Minimodder

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    honestly your not going to get a cheap card that can do DDL or DTS connect and it will sound good. The cheapest asus one started around 80 GBP on scan. not sure where else you guys in the UK do computer shopping online.
     
  6. AstralWanderer

    AstralWanderer What's a Dremel?

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  7. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

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    The Sonar DX looks like the one to get! Cheers guys!
     
  8. Phalanx

    Phalanx Needs more dragons and stuff.

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    Sometimes I feel like I'm invisible on these forums... *sigh* :)
     
  9. raxonb

    raxonb Minimodder

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    Who said that?!!! Only joking ph4lanx your help is always appreciated :rock:
     
  10. smc8788

    smc8788 Multimodder

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    The DX doesn't do DTS (only DD), doesn't it? At least that's what I remember from the BT review, as only the higher end cards support DTS.
     
  11. Phalanx

    Phalanx Needs more dragons and stuff.

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    The other card I mentioned, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty, does DTS.*




    *wonders if people will read this one :)*
     
  12. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

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    Didn't someone say something about the X-Fi Titanium supporting DTS?

    Maybe I just thought I heard that here....hmmm


    Nah, only joking man! Great help, thanks!!
     
  13. AstralWanderer

    AstralWanderer What's a Dremel?

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    That seems strange since the cheaper version, the DS, does handle DTS (though only Neo). Thanks for the correction though.
     
  14. Phalanx

    Phalanx Needs more dragons and stuff.

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    Taken from the ASUS site for the Xonar DX:

    I've highlighted the important bit :)
     
  15. bdigital

    bdigital Is re-building his PC again

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    Sorry to jump on this thread, but the subject seems relevant as i have a sound card question!

    Would i really notice the difference from my on board sound is i was to get one of these Sonar DX cards?

    I currrently have Logitech Z3 speakers. Which is just basically 1 sub, with 2 speakers. Nothing special.

    what do you think?
     
  16. Phalanx

    Phalanx Needs more dragons and stuff.

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    I have the same setup, but with Z4 speakers. I can tell the difference switching from my onboard sound. I guess it's all subjective though. Personally I don't want onboard sound to take resources away from other things, plus I can hear the better quality from the DX sound card, but that's just my opinion.
     

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