Digital outs

[Matrix]

I tried using the digital out on my audigy but found its only stereo, do the x-fi support true digital 5.1 output? I know the platinum version has optical outs from the expansion box thing and I assume this would be a proper 5.1 signla?

 

[Mister X]

Nope.
(you will only get two channels unless the material is already encoded in a multichannel audio format)

 

[towert7]

Nope, the Audigy and X-fi do not pass through an unencoded surround signal. The result will be the same, just stereo.

 

[Matrix]

So I'm better off using the analogue outs and running them into the external in on my amp right?

Why can't they run a mutli channel signal through optical/coax? For example the x-fis platinum panel has optical/coax outs on it so why can't they be multi channel?

 

[towert7]

So I'm better off using the analogue outs and running them into the external in on my amp right?

Why can't they run a mutli channel signal through optical/coax? For example the x-fis platinum panel has optical/coax outs on it so why can't they be multi channel?

Why can't they? Who knows, its been loung enough that they should have been able to engineer a technology for it (other card makers have). They simply don't have it encode the surround signal for transfer over SPDIF / toslink.

It can "pass through" a already encoded signal though, such as Doubly Digital or DTS. it's just the card itself doesn't have a surround encoder. Funny thing was, someone just recently bought an M-audio card and complained about the same exact thing. It's a shame these companies arn't swifter.

If you use all the analog outputs and connect them to your receiver correctly, you will get true surround sound.

~Hope this helps

 

[insanarchist]

I thought I had heard somewhere that they didn't want the computer to be an easy way to get full surroundsound audio from DVD's (harder to copy).

I could be full of shit!

 

[Vertigo Acid]

I thought I had heard somewhere that they didn't want the computer to be an easy way to get full surroundsound audio from DVD's (harder to copy).

I could be full of shit!

I do believe you are, as the optical out will pass 5.1 audio that has already been encoded that way..... like a DVD

 

[insanarchist]

I do believe you are, as the optical out will pass 5.1 audio that has already been encoded that way..... like a DVD

Hah, fair enough! Long day, I suppose...

 

[DarkBahamut]

The only thing that should output in stereo (or not at all) over digital on an Audigy is DVD-Audio (not to be confused with DD5.1/DTS). Everything else will either output in multi channel or you can use the card to up mix it to multi channel if its a stereo source. Even the live could upmix stereo source content.