Does the soundcard really make a difference...

  • Thread starter Thread starter jtpryan
  • Start date Start date
J

jtpryan

....when pumping it through your receiver? I'm building a music server
and the MB has on board sound. I do have a nice Audigy card I could
use, but is it worth it if I am just pushing the sound out of the
system and then into the line in on my receiver?. Also, I might use
this for movies as well, will I get the decoded 5.1 from the receiver
or do I need to modify the connections somehow from the sound output of
the system?

Thanks,
Jim
 
...when pumping it through your receiver? I'm building a music server
and the MB has on board sound. I do have a nice Audigy card I could
use, but is it worth it if I am just pushing the sound out of the
system and then into the line in on my receiver?. Also, I might use
this for movies as well, will I get the decoded 5.1 from the receiver
or do I need to modify the connections somehow from the sound output of
the system?

Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...

To get 5.1 surround out of your receiver, you've got to put 5.1 surround
into it. You can't do that with analog connections on a typical receiver.
You will need a S/PDIF interface at both ends, also called a digital optical
connector. If your receiver has an available optical digital input, there
are sound cards that will drive it at 5.1 surround. A good cheap one would
be the Turtle Beach Riviera for about $25 (OEM version), if your motherboard
has a PCI slot.

I doubt if your motherboard or audigy card has the right connector, unless
it is the external version audigy card? -Dave
 
To get 5.1 surround out of your receiver, you've got to put 5.1
surround into it. You can't do that with analog connections on a
typical receiver. You will need a S/PDIF interface at both ends, also
called a digital optical connector. If your receiver has an available
optical digital input, there are sound cards that will drive it at 5.1
surround. A good cheap one would be the Turtle Beach Riviera for
about $25 (OEM version), if your motherboard has a PCI slot.

I doubt if your motherboard or audigy card has the right connector,
unless it is the external version audigy card? -Dave
Click to expand...

Quite a few recievers have the option of a coaxial digital input, another
common output from sound cards.
Also, many recievers take the 5.1 analogue inputs but you would need 6x
different phono leads (one for each audio channel) running across the room.
This method works for me as I have my pc monitor positioned differently to
my TV and I have switched the leads around so the 'front left' output from
my pc sends it's signal to the speaker to the left of my monitor, not the
left of my TV as it would if I were using a digital connection.

Check your reciever to see which options you have and decide from there.
 
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