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Onboard VS X-FI

P

pfunkman

2[H]4U
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
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Ok heres the deal i just bought a yamaha reciever with digital inputs and was just wondering is there actually a way to hook up my reciever via these inputs through the X-FI?

If not, my onboard audio is realtec alc 850 AC97 codec, would it sound better through this because i do have digital outputs from these?

Dont get me wrong i love my X-FI but if it would make more sense to use onboard for this i will.
 
The X-Fis have a digital out on the back panel. However, it's a mini 1/8" connector, and you need to go in via digital coaxial, which is a standard RCA connector. So, you need a mono 1/8" to RCA female adaptor and a standard 75 ohm coaxial cable with RCA connectors. Don't fall in to the high-end cable hype - you can get standard 75 ohm coaxial cables at the Shack for $3. They're every bit as good as any $10,000 digital coax cable.

Digital is digital, but it may end up making a difference. Depends on a variety of factors, but you'll cut CPU usage down by using the X-Fi, as opposed to the onboard, at the very least.
 
phide said:
The X-Fis have a digital out on the back panel. However, it's a mini 1/8" connector, and you need to go in via digital coaxial, which is a standard RCA connector. So, you need a mono 1/8" to RCA female adaptor and a standard 75 ohm coaxial cable with RCA connectors. Don't fall in to the high-end cable hype - you can get standard 75 ohm coaxial cables at the Shack for $3. They're every bit as good as any $10,000 digital coax cable.

Digital is digital, but it may end up making a difference. Depends on a variety of factors, but you'll cut CPU usage down by using the X-Fi, as opposed to the onboard, at the very least.
Click to expand...

Thank you i was hoping that was the case
:D
 
I just realized my reciever has 6 CH input that match the 6 ch output on the X-FI (3 sets of RCA hookups). I would imagine that would be better, or owuld it?
 
If your motherboard has a S/PDIF output (think that's what it's called), then just get a optical cable and connect the two. If this is the case then you won't notice much different from going from a X-Fi to Onboard or vice versa. If your motherboard doesn't have that output then just stick with the X-Fi's outputs.
 
Unfortunately the SPDIF/Optical outs on the Xifi and the onboard sound will only give 5.1 sound when playing back DVDs or any 5.1 source recorded using AC3.
If you want 5.1 sound in games etc, you will need to connect the 5.1 analogue up.
 
Chernobyl1 said:
Unfortunately the SPDIF/Optical outs on the Xifi and the onboard sound will only give 5.1 sound when playing back DVDs or any 5.1 source recorded using AC3.
If you want 5.1 sound in games etc, you will need to connect the 5.1 analogue up.
Click to expand...

hmm. well 85% of what i do is listen to music so from what ive gathered i should just stick with analog output then?

So far it sounds great in 2 ch. but i just want to be able to have the surround for games / movies, but like i said music is #1 for me.
 
Output 5.1. 5.1 doesn't hurt music, heck if you want you can turn off the rear and center channels with your reciever.
 
Not a lot of music is 5.1 so for music it doesnt matter that much.
Use the XiFi not onboard sound, its a much better solution and will also give you up to EAX 5 in games as well.
Onboard sound can at best give you EAX 2, the Realtek onboard chips have been shown to have a bad implementation of that as well!

If the Receiver you are using is top notch then the Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) is likely to be better than the one used in the XiFi so movies will sound better using optical/SPDIF.
If your Receiver is under £400 (around $700), you will most likely get better sound using the DAC in the XiFi so use analogue out for movies then.

It might be an idea to hook both Analogue and Digital up. It will make comparisons easy and you can keep it should you find the need to switch between them.

ps mirroring the front speakers to the rear can sound really nice.
I use it and wouldnt change back to just using fronts for music.
It helps to have matching speakers all round for films but for music, mismatched fronts/rears can sound really good as at times, different instruments appear to come from front or rear only (if you like a more spatial sound).
 
Chernobyl1 said:
Not a lot of music is 5.1 so for music it doesnt matter that much.
Click to expand...


I think using a discrete analog connection is better because it will allow you to play back hi def audio disc's (usually the newer cd's that have dual format symbols on the cover)

For example, Nine Inch Nails [With_Teeth] uses this format. The X-Fi will play it and the onboard sound will not.
 
Right. DVD-Audio can only output via analog connectors, because, I believe, the bandwidth required is beyond the capabilities of S/PDIF. It is, after all, a consumer interface.

If the Receiver you are using is top notch then the Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) is likely to be better than the one used in the [X-Fi] so movies will sound better using optical/SPDIF.
Click to expand...
Depends a great deal. It's nearly impossible to say for certain, as no manufacturers independently test the DAC chain. Getting audio signal out of a computer and into a more neutral device may prove valuable, however.
 
phide said:
Depends a great deal. It's nearly impossible to say for certain, as no manufacturers independently test the DAC chain. Getting audio signal out of a computer and into a more neutral device may prove valuable, however.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I specced a cutoff to give an idea from around where differences might be perceived.
The idea is to test what sounds better.
 
phide said:
Right. DVD-Audio can only output via analog connectors, because, I believe, the bandwidth required is beyond the capabilities of S/PDIF. It is, after all, a consumer interface.


.
Click to expand...
Nope.. copy protection.It's essentially to prevent bit-perfect digital recordings of the DVDA...
 
TechHead said:
Nope.. copy protection.It's essentially to prevent bit-perfect digital recordings of the DVDA...
Click to expand...
first thing that came to my mind as well.
 
TechHead said:
Yaaayy for the RIAA.. screwing over non-American consumers since inception!

(check my location :p)
Click to expand...

In case anyones interested i took Phide's advise and grabbed the 1/8" to mono rca connector and hooked it up today, For music it sounds quite a bit better.
 
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