HTPC Audio

[turak]

I just built a new HTPC client in a nice Dvine5 htpc case for the livingroom. When I ordered the mobo I thought it had optical audio out on the onboard sound card. I was wrong. Any ideas as to how I can hook it up to a receiver with 5.1 audio without an optical out? Another posibilty would be a PCI sound card with optical out, but I couldn't find one just browsing the shelves at the local bestbuy. The only one I could find was an audigy 2 platinum with the optical out on a 5 1/4" bay insert. I think the platinum is overkill and the Dvine5 case doesn't have a bay for it anyway.

[Wheemer]

Some motherboards have header pins to hookup a pci slot optical out adapter.

[David Lawrance]

This works well for me:

http://www.xitel.com/product_phfl.htm

David

[turak]

I saw a USB audigy with optical out. I wasn't sure if there would be degradation or not.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by turak

I saw a USB audigy with optical out. I wasn't sure if there would be degradation or not.

Yep, that's called an Extigy.

[Blue]

What MB did you buy? Does it have coax out?

Any soundcards with the Envy24 chip come highly recommended. There is more info about this chip over at the AVSForum .

I recently purchased the Chaintech AV-710 from Newegg for $25. It shipped from the NJ warehouse, so it was received in 2 days. I would think that shipping time would be similar for you.

[turak]

Originally Posted by Blue

What MB did you buy? Does it have coax out?

Any soundcards with the Envy24 chip come highly recommended. There is more info about this chip over at the AVSForum .

I recently purchased the Chaintech AV-710 from Newegg for $25. It shipped from the NJ warehouse, so it was received in 2 days. I would think that shipping time would be similar for you.

It's an Abit NF7-S2G.

EDIT: I got it from newegg.com too. It also shipped from jersey.

[turak]

Originally Posted by Blue

What MB did you buy? Does it have coax out?

Any soundcards with the Envy24 chip come highly recommended. There is more info about this chip over at the AVSForum .

I recently purchased the Chaintech AV-710 from Newegg for $25. It shipped from the NJ warehouse, so it was received in 2 days. I would think that shipping time would be similar for you.

Thanks for the info. I just ordered a Chaintech AV710 VIA ENVY 24PT.

[mike_15]

did you have any trouble getting the optical to work on the av710? I have one and though there is red light comming out of it, there is no sound comming from my reciever.

[turak]

Originally Posted by mike_15

did you have any trouble getting the optical to work on the av710? I have one and though there is red light comming out of it, there is no sound comming from my reciever.

It worked fine for me. Have you previously had anything hooked up to the optical in on the receiver? On my receiver I had to assign the optical in to a source.