About to order z5500 setup...

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brfitzp1337

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
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Hey guys next week some time i'm planning on ordering the logitech z5500, a few weeks ago i was set on the z5300s but no toslink support drove me away(360 only supports 5.1 over toslink). I'll be using onboard audio, and i have Toslink on my pc as well. My audio is all onboard, so i was looking for a sound card, and I wouldnt want to settle for anything less than the best, so I was reffered to the creative X-fi and it has no Toslink....why not? Isn't optical better that having 3 3.5 mm jacks? I seen one version with 2 optical connections in the front, but i wouldnt want to run a wire to the front of my pc....Would it even be noticeable with a system such as the z5500 to get a sound card over my onboard?

With my onboard would using the Toslink over the 3x 3.5mm cables sound any better?
 
The toslink would be digital input... while the 3x3.5s would be analog inputs. It depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want your soundcard to decode the information (i.e. EAX or some gaming encoding) then use the 3x3.5. If you want the 5500 to decode the info, then use the toslink.
 
Digital isn't always better than analog. If you're getting a new soundcard and want the best for gaming and such, get the Prelude by Auzentech - which also has an optical/coaxial combo port. Even so, I advise you use direct analog connections for your pc, and your other devices on optical/coaxial.

Although the Z-5500s can't compete with home theater speakers and equipment, considering they're computer speakers - it's definitely a bang for the buck. Your onboard sound won't do these speakers justice, especially for gaming. Also considering your onboard sound can't process EAX effects, it will be better to partner it up with an X-FI based card.

I currently have my pc connected to the analog of my z-5500, along with my PS3 on optical and finally my HD cablebox on coaxial. It works out well due to the fact that the speakers can decode dolby digital, which the ps3 supports well.
 
Yeah, I say go for the X-fi with your z-5500s. I think that EAX doesn't work in games over digital outputs anyway, so use the analog for your PC, then the optical for your PS3.
 
enyceexdanny said:
Digital isn't always better than analog. If you're getting a new soundcard and want the best for gaming and such, get the Prelude by Auzentech - which also has an optical/coaxial combo port. Even so, I advise you use direct analog connections for your pc, and your other devices on optical/coaxial.

Although the Z-5500s can't compete with home theater speakers and equipment, considering they're computer speakers - it's definitely a bang for the buck. Your onboard sound won't do these speakers justice, especially for gaming. Also considering your onboard sound can't process EAX effects, it will be better to partner it up with an X-FI based card.

I currently have my pc connected to the analog of my z-5500, along with my PS3 on optical and finally my HD cablebox on coaxial. It works out well due to the fact that the speakers can decode dolby digital, which the ps3 supports well.
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Listen to this post. I have my Z5500 set up the same way. There is NO reason to ever use a digital audio output from the computer with these speakers.
 
PCMusicGuy said:
Listen to this post. I have my Z5500 set up the same way. There is NO reason to ever use a digital audio output from the computer with these speakers.
Click to expand...

Unless you want to use the decoders of the 5500. Say you wanted to do a prologic multichannel mix of your mp3... you can use the digital out in this case. However, what everyone is saying is that if you have a good enough soundcard - then the digital inputs wont serve you well.
 
Phobos666 said:
I think that EAX doesn't work in games over digital outputs anyway, so use the analog for your PC, then the optical for your PS3.
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I think EAX does work over the digicoax out, but naturally only in stereo.
 
brfitzp1337 said:
wow thanks for all the info guys, one more question,
is there much of a difference between the X-Fi XtremeGamer, and the X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty? is the Fatal1ty worth the extra money?
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As of now, not really. But if you have the extra cash, might as well. Personally, if I'm making a purchase - I tend to go for the best.., no the most expensive one. ahem.

Hopefully more games would start supporting x-ram. But yeah, if it doesn't matter to you - just go for the cheaper one. Just make sure you don't get the xtreme audio.
 
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