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sp-dif and analog questions

J

jrg70

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 23, 2004
Messages
84
I've got my new system together using an Asus P4C800-e deluxe mainboard. I'm not using good speakers right now, just some el-cheapo ones. I'd like to invest in a nice system and utilize the 6 channel audio the mainboard offers. If I hook up speakers dierectly to the 3 audio jacks on the I/O panel I can get 2 front/2 rear/center and sub woofer but I loose the line in and mic in jacks. There is a sp-dif output on the I/O panel also.
The questions I have are:
If I get a receiver and I run out of the sp-dif into the receiver are the other audio jacks (line in, out, mic) disabled?
Will the sp-dif jack handle all the audio for the system or do I need to have both that and the analog jacks in use?

I'm a total rookie when it comes to this. Before I can even look at what receiver or speakers to get I need to understand how and what I really need. Thanks
 
First off, you won't get 5.1 for games out of an SPDIF, just for movies. The reason is that the receiver can only play back 5.1 data that is encoded as Dolby Digital, or DTS [there's other formats that certain receivers can play back also, but almost all can do those two]

Basically, if you want to hook up your system for multi-channel gaming, you'll need analog hookups for that, as the sound card cannot encode Dolby digital, or DTS. SPDIF works just fine for 2 channel stuff though.

Most likely, if you run SPDIF, you'll be able to connect the analog outs at the same time, but it depends mostly on your motherboard, and how it decides to do it.

Make sure you get a receiver with at least 5.1 channel analog input, if you plan on using surround sound gaming.
 
how do you go about doing this? i bought minijack to stereo adapters at radioshck and connected them via RCA cables to the "6 channel direct input" on my receiver, yet it wont play anything when set to that option. any ideas why?
 
BO(V)BZ said:
Basically, if you want to hook up your system for multi-channel gaming, you'll need analog hookups for that, as the sound card cannot encode Dolby digital, or DTS. SPDIF works just fine for 2 channel stuff though.

Most likely, if you run SPDIF, you'll be able to connect the analog outs at the same time, but it depends mostly on your motherboard, and how it decides to do it.

Make sure you get a receiver with at least 5.1 channel analog input, if you plan on using surround sound gaming.
Click to expand...

So, to cover all the bases, I need to use both? If the output is Dolby Digital / DTS the spdif will be used. For everything else the analog jacks will be used? Does the receiver "sense" what the output is and "use" the right source or do I have to manually select the mode?

I do use the PC for gaming and mp3 playing and movies. So I gues I need to cover all of those bases.
 
jrg70 said:
So, to cover all the bases, I need to use both? If the output is Dolby Digital / DTS the spdif will be used. For everything else the analog jacks will be used? Does the receiver "sense" what the output is and "use" the right source or do I have to manually select the mode?

I do use the PC for gaming and mp3 playing and movies. So I gues I need to cover all of those bases.
Click to expand...

You have a couple of options here. You could actually use the analog outputs for everything including Dolby Digital and DTS but you would then have to be using a software DVD player that will decode those formats. The receiver will most likely have to be switched between the digital and analog sources too.
 
Most speakers come with a headphone output to replace the one in use by the speakers.These would commonly be located on the volume control pod, or wired remote the line input/mic inputs are not used for connecting speakers so you will not have to worry about losing those.
 
I'd just run analog, and find a decent DVD player software to handle the decoding, like aug suggested. It saves you the trouble of constantly changing which input you want the receiver to use.
 
the sony dts 5.1 i use auto detects... optical or coax... stereo, 5.1, you can force virtual 5.1 from 2 on the receiver with good results.
 
CSx-2011 said:
the sony dts 5.1 i use auto detects... optical or coax... stereo, 5.1, you can force virtual 5.1 from 2 on the receiver with good results.
Click to expand...

Yea, some receivers do that, my Marantz SR8200 included. However, it's by no means a standard feature, especially on lower-end gear.
 
ncantador said:
Most speakers come with a headphone output to replace the one in use by the speakers.These would commonly be located on the volume control pod, or wired remote the line input/mic inputs are not used for connecting speakers so you will not have to worry about losing those.
Click to expand...

I'm not really worried about losing the speaker out connection. I really don't want to loose the line or mic input. But I guess if I'm going to use the integrated audio on the motherboard I'm not going to get everything.
 
how do you guys connect the analog from the sound card to the 6 channel difrect analog on the receiver?
 
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