Soundblaster X-Fi HD optical port?

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bitibomer

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My computer have optical out and soundblaster have optical in. Can i use that port?
 
Great Tiger said:
I think you need to be more specific even though the answer is technically yes.
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like will that soundblaster X-Fi HD will give me better sound quality if i used that optical port(i have lossless file) compare to normal aux port even if i had onboard soundblaster already?
 
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Assuming your question is
Is there any difference between on-board audio with optical output vs SB X-FI HD with optical output.

If expect to handle only 2-channel audio, there will be no noticeable difference. The difference comes from post-processing and stereo-quad-5.1 channel encoding via DD Live or DTS Interactive. Most on-board codecs can do DDL/DTSI.
 
ashmelev75 said:
Assuming your question is
Is there any difference between on-board audio with optical output vs SB X-FI HD with optical output.

If expect to handle only 2-channel audio, there will be no noticeable difference. The difference comes from post-processing and stereo-quad-5.1 channel encoding via DD Live or DTS Interactive. Most on-board codecs can do DDL/DTSI.
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onboard audio with aux output vs SB X-Fi HD with optical output
 
bitibomer said:
onboard audio with aux output vs SB X-Fi HD with optical output
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The regular analog output from on-board or even from X-Fi is susceptible to some very annoying audio from video/cpu due to power consumption spikes and/or bad power supplies. A digital output (Optical or HDMI) eliminates that issue completely.
 
i got the soundblaster X-Fi HD, it included rca to aux cable, do u guys know what is this for?.Because i just need to plug USB to have sound, i dont know what rca to aux cable use for ,and because i have my optical cable coming so i want to know that is there any difference
 
bitibomer said:
i got the soundblaster X-Fi HD, it included rca to aux cable, do u guys know what is this for?.Because i just need to plug USB to have sound, i dont know what rca to aux cable use for ,and because i have my optical cable coming so i want to know that is there any difference
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First, you need to clarify what you mean by "rca to aux cable". "RCA cable" is fairly standard terminology, but the times that I've heard "aux" used to refer to a cable, it's generally also referring to RCA cables. Since you used both terms, I'm assuming you are instead referring to something different. Elaborate on what you mean by "aux" and/or if you are using the term "RCA cable" to refer to something other than these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

Second, if you are using USB to "have sound" then you are completely bypassing your X-Fi. If you have a USB external DAC, a USB headset, or similar, then you have what is basically a "USB soundcard" built-in to the device. You could completely remove the X-Fi from your system and it wouldn't make any difference to your USB audio devices. But then again, USB would completely bypass your onboard sound also, which you've made it sound like you are using. Please tell us exactly what you currently have connected, and to what port.

Finally, try to tell us what you actual goals are. Do you WANT to use the X-Fi or do you not care?
 
GotNoRice said:
First, you need to clarify what you mean by "rca to aux cable". "RCA cable" is fairly standard terminology, but the times that I've heard "aux" used to refer to a cable, it's generally also referring to RCA cables. Since you used both terms, I'm assuming you are instead referring to something different. Elaborate on what you mean by "aux" and/or if you are using the term "RCA cable" to refer to something other than these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

Second, if you are using USB to "have sound" then you are completely bypassing your X-Fi. If you have a USB external DAC, a USB headset, or similar, then you have what is basically a "USB soundcard" built-in to the device. You could completely remove the X-Fi from your system and it wouldn't make any difference to your USB audio devices. But then again, USB would completely bypass your onboard sound also, which you've made it sound like you are using. Please tell us exactly what you currently have connected, and to what port.

Finally, try to tell us what you actual goals are. Do you WANT to use the X-Fi or do you not care?
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after reading the fking manual, i understand everything. But the thing that i wanna ask is: "can i use my pc optical out to give sound to the soundblaster instead of usb, and do i need an amp that have DTS in order to use optical??"
 
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bitibomer said:
after reading the fking manual, i understand everything. But the thing that i wanna ask is: "can i use my pc optical out to give sound to the soundblaster instead of usb, and do i need an amp that have DTS in order to use optical??"
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You can run optical from your onboard to the X-Fi if you want, instead of plugging the X-Fi in directly via USB. At that point you will only be using the X-Fi as a DAC and nothing more. You don't need DTS to use optical. The default signal is 2 channel PCM, the same format as a Compact Disk. Anything that supports digital will support at least 2 channel PCM.

There are both USB and PCI-E versions of the X-Fi HD. My previous post has assumed that you had the PCI-E version. Your question makes more sense now.
 
GotNoRice said:
You can run optical from your onboard to the X-Fi if you want, instead of plugging the X-Fi in directly via USB. At that point you will only be using the X-Fi as a DAC and nothing more. You don't need DTS to use optical. The default signal is 2 channel PCM, the same format as a Compact Disk. Anything that supports digital will support at least 2 channel PCM.

There are both USB and PCI-E versions of the X-Fi HD. My previous post has assumed that you had the PCI-E version. Your question makes more sense now.
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So i plug optical out from my computer to optical in in the soundblaster right?. but usb is the power too so i dont know. should i plug the usb to an outlet?
 
bitibomer said:
So i plug optical out from my computer to optical in in the soundblaster right?. but usb is the power too so i dont know. should i plug the usb to an outlet?
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You can have the USB plugged in also. It will show up as two different sound devices (your onboard and the X-Fi). Go to the Sound control panel, and set whichever one you want to "default", and that will be the one that your computer will output to.
 
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