Logitech Z-680's

[Deque]

This is a repost from another message board I read, but here goes

Maybe I don't know how to set up 5.1 surround with my PC, maybe I'm not playing games that are encoded in Dolby Digital?

I have the Logitech Z-680's, and when I play with my Xbox (Advanced AV Pack -> Fiber Optic cable -> Logitech Control Center) the sound is simply amazing. You can hear the bullets flying in the background, you can hear people talking behind you, and all the other perks of Dolby Digital. Same thing works when playing DVD's on the Xbox.

The thing is, I know it works because when I play a game that's encoded in Dolby Digital (virtually every single Xbox game) the Control Center pod will say Dolby Digital on the screen.

I have it also hooked up to my PC at the same time through the Front/Rear/Sub out to the appropriate Front/Rear/Sub on my Santa Cruz Sound Card. Maybe I don't have a setting set up correctly, but when I try playing Dolby Digital games (Farcry) it doesn't display Dolby Digital on the pod even though in the sound options for Farcry I have it set to Dolby 5.1

Do they make a Fiber Optic Y-Cable so I can install this SPDIF card that came with my motherboard and not have to worry about switching the cables on the back of the pod around?

Also, I'd like to hook up my TV to the pod also, but the only other connection available with be the Digital Coax input on the pod, but what would the appropriate connection on the TV be? Audio Out? Or would I need a TV with Digital Coax out? Do they make a converter to convert stereo out to digital coax so I can use a digital coax cable to hook up my TV to the speakers?

Sorry for all the questions. I've had the speakers for awhile now, and am tired of being content of the way things are right now, because I want my money's worth. ;p

 

[Mister X]

I have it also hooked up to my PC at the same time through the Front/Rear/Sub out to the appropriate Front/Rear/Sub on my Santa Cruz Sound Card. Maybe I don't have a setting set up correctly, but when I try playing Dolby Digital games (Farcry) it doesn't display Dolby Digital on the pod even though in the sound options for Farcry I have it set to Dolby 5.1

Ummm, let me see if I got this right.... you are feeding the control pod an analog source and wondering why the Dolby Digital indicator doesn't indicate this is a Dolby digital signal?
Oh wait...don't you need a Soundstorm equipped motherboard for the Dolby Digital thing to work in FarCry?

Do they make a Fiber Optic Y-Cable so I can install this SPDIF card that came with my motherboard and not have to worry about switching the cables on the back of the pod around?

No. But they do make switched selector boxes.

Also, I'd like to hook up my TV to the pod also, but the only other connection available with be the Digital Coax input on the pod, but what would the appropriate connection on the TV be? Audio Out?

Yes, audio out.
Grab yourself a y splitter and patch this into the analog inputs on the control pod.
Obviously, if you go this route you can only have one of the sources (the computer or the TV) feed a singnal to the control pod or you will get a jumbled up mix of both sources.
The way to avoid that is with another switch box.

Do they make a converter to convert stereo out to digital coax so I can use a digital coax cable to hook up my TV to the speakers?

They sure do but the cost for a GOOD Analog to Digital Convertor is pretty far out there.
Does the cable box have a coax out?

 

[Deque]

Thanks for the input! I'm obviously a newb when it comes to this stuff.

Obviously, if you go this route you can only have one of the sources (the computer or the TV) feed a singnal to the control pod or you will get a jumbled up mix of both sources.
The way to avoid that is with another switch box.

Won't be a problem because the control pod has a switch that switches between the Digital Coax in, the 3 connections (sub, front, rear), and the optical in.

But I'm probably going to upgrade my sound card to a Creative Labs sound card that has digital out, invest in that selector box and get everything going.

Thanks again

 

[Deque]

Oh wait...don't you need a Soundstorm equipped motherboard for the Dolby Digital thing to work in FarCry?

I don't know if you're serious or that's a play on my newbishness. Don't play with the newb's mind like that ;p

 

[tenken]

No he's not kidding. The only way to experience Dolby Digital in PC games is to use a Soundforce equipped mobo. I suggest you take some time and read this thread. To summarize what I feel about this, Dolby Digital in PC games isn't really anything special. Console games can make better use of it because they have no other way of processing surround sound. On the PC however there are other ways to process surround sound in games, specifically I'm thinking of EAX. Get a plain Audigy 2 card, they don't go for much nowadays, and you'll be set for EAX 3 and 4 support.

 

[Deque]

After reading this thread I have came to a few realizations:

1. I know absolutely nothing about sound
2. I need to read up on said sound
3. I need to upgrade my motherboard if I want DD (and processor if the motherboard doesn't support mine)
4. I can probably just get an EAX enabled Creative Labs card to do pretty much what I want at a much more affordably price



Last question though, if I get a Creative Labs card and want to use EAX, will I use a fiber optic cable for S/PDIF or will I be using analog connections? From the looks of the post it seems like I won't have to use a fiber optic cable for anything other than Dolby Digital, but I just want to make sure.

 

[tenken]

Yes you'll be using the analogue connections for EAX. RIght now my Audigy 2 is hooked up to my 680's with both analogue and coax connections at the same time. I spend most of my time in coax mode, but if I need to play a game or listen to a DVD-Audio disc it's very easy to switch over to analogue mode.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mister X]

Last question though, if I get a Creative Labs card and want to use EAX, will I use a fiber optic cable for S/PDIF or will I be using analog connections?

Use the analog connectors for everything.
But stuff like DVDS and other previously encoded DD material can also use the Coax input.

From the looks of the post it seems like I won't have to use a fiber optic cable for anything other than Dolby Digital, but I just want to make sure.

You got it except one thing..... OK, two things.
The card can decode the Dolby signal and output via the analog connectors and also remember that the basic Creative cards don't have an optical interface.

 

[Deque]

I think I've made up my mind and I'm going to build me another PC this summer with an nforce2 board.

I've been trying to find a reason to get an AMD system just so that I can say I've tried both sides of the argument, and I think this is reason enough for me.