Sound Card

phenixdragon · #1 11-06-2003, 04:33 AM

Does anyone have an idea on who would make a sound card that has optical out but also is Dolby Digital 5.1 certified? I was looking at the Audigy 2 ZS Plat. Pro but it has a drive bay to get optical out and that would suck to have a drive bay. But they are DTS and THX certified would could make me just find a way to keep the drive bay inside the case but iwll cause me to have a larger case.

But the Digifire 7.1 is also a nice looking card.

Or is there a I/O card that will fit in the PCI slot for the SB card? I know they sell them but it doesn't work for the Audigy 2.

mlbdude · #2 11-06-2003, 09:38 AM

This card has coaxial digital out but is considered the best card you can get or us non pro's.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...ew/default.asp

mlbdude · #3 11-06-2003, 09:45 AM

Also, if on a budget, check out the Hercules cards.

http://us.hercules.com/products/show...p?p=56&b=0&f=1

I use the XP version (but it has the break out box).

phenixdragon · #4 11-06-2003, 01:13 PM

Ya I was checking out the Hercules one but it doesn't have DTS which could be fine for now. But the other I won't be able to use the coaxial digital out since my recevier only will actually play 5.1 via optical. Thanks for the info though.

stanger89 · #5 11-06-2003, 01:59 PM

Just about any card with digital out can pass DD and DTS from a DVD just fine, the Revo is about the only non-pro card that doesn't resample 44.1kHz (CD) audio to 48kHz.

If you need optical give this card a try it should have similar Digital out characteristics to the Revo since it's also based on the Envy24, but he analog output probably isn't anywhere near as good. But it's only $27 at newegg.
http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/p...o=16&PISNo=199

mlbdude · #6 11-06-2003, 02:28 PM

stanger89 is right. Any card with digital passthrough will give you DD or DTS. It is all up to your Reciever.

phenixdragon · #7 11-06-2003, 04:26 PM

So as long as the card is able to do optical out it shouldn't matter if it is DD or DTS certified, correct?

stanger89 · #8 11-06-2003, 06:50 PM

Yup.

phenixdragon · #9 11-06-2003, 07:39 PM

That is great news. So I am guessing my Vortex2 card that I have laying around should work fine then since it has optical out. Or am I wrong?

stanger89 · #10 11-07-2003, 11:50 AM

You're not out anything trying it.

phenixdragon · #11 11-08-2003, 06:38 AM

http://web.epox.com/html/ex5.htm

Would anyone happen to know if this optical out would also bypass the DD and DTS sound? I think I will be taking a chance on the system.

Colin · #12 11-08-2003, 10:16 AM

Just to note, my Shuttle box has optical out/in connections, but only does stereo, even though it's got the Realtek ALC650 6-channel onboard-sound. They expect you to use the phono outs I guess.

phenixdragon · #13 11-08-2003, 10:22 AM

Good info to know on that Realtek onboard. Right now I am confused on what I will buy. I really like that case but it is not out yet from what I can tell. It was suppose to come out last month.

But the MSI MEGA PC looks pretty cool, just outdated. *sigh* what to pick. I do not want to spend more then $200 for the mobo and case and it is so hard. I think I am liking the MSI or ASUS now. Maybe if there was more info aobut the output quality on the PVR 350 it would help a lot. I wan the best output I can get, PCI or AGP.

phenixdragon · #14 11-08-2003, 10:46 AM

I would say I am fine with stereo since I do not plan on using this for movies and such. Actually I only plan on using it for basic cable since I can just rent or buy DVDs.

I would plan on using it for HDTV once it is supported and if I go out and buy a screen with DVI.

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