Can anyone name a few PCI sound cards that have a single digital output?

smokingwheels · Nov 26, 2012, 06:49 AM

Ive got a few old SoundBlaster live 5.1 cards and I have learned that the digital output is on 3 separate wires because when I connect my pc to another pc with digital input I only get 2 of the 6 channels.

later on I want to connect my pc's to an AV Receiver and I need a single output that contains the 5.1 info.

FordGT90Concept · Nov 26, 2012, 06:55 AM

Hdmi?

THE_EGG · Nov 26, 2012, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokingwheels

Ive got a few old SoundBlaster live 5.1 cards and I have learned that the digital output is on 3 separate wires because when I connect my pc to another pc with digital input I only get 2 of the 6 channels.

later on I want to connect my pc's to an AV Receiver and I need a single output that contains the 5.1 info.

Quick list;

- Asus Essence ST
- Just about all Auzentechs

There are probably more out there but they are the ones that come to mind that are PCI and have digital output.

upintheclouds · Nov 26, 2012, 09:01 AM

Your S/PDIF connector is working properly. You will get 5.1 channel output from the digital connection when an AC3 or DTS track is played back, as that uses the same bandwidth as two uncompressed PCM channels. You can not play back 5.1 or 7.1 PCM streams over any S/PDIF connection from any PCI sound card, you must use HDMI for multichannel digital or switch to analog output.

Dent1 · Nov 26, 2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokingwheels

Ive got a few old SoundBlaster live 5.1 cards and I have learned that the digital output is on 3 separate wires because when I connect my pc to another pc with digital input I only get 2 of the 6 channels.

later on I want to connect my pc's to an AV Receiver and I need a single output that contains the 5.1 info.

What you learnt is incorrect.

3x cable is analogue.

Digital output is 1x cable. i.e. Digital fibre optical, digital coaxial and HDMI are 1x cable

You can only pass 2 channels through digital uncompressed (excluding HDMI), hence why you're only getting stereo. For 5.1 you need a amp as an intermediate and you need material that is pre-encoded and compressed i.e. a DVD recorded in Dolby Digital.

Nov 26, 2012, 06:49 AM	#1
smokingwheels Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1 (0.00/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	Can anyone name a few PCI sound cards that have a single digital output? Ive got a few old SoundBlaster live 5.1 cards and I have learned that the digital output is on 3 separate wires because when I connect my pc to another pc with digital input I only get 2 of the 6 channels. later on I want to connect my pc's to an AV Receiver and I need a single output that contains the 5.1 info.

System Name:	P4
Processor:	Intel P4 3.0 GHz
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Cooling:	Extra 100mm fan in case
Memory:	2 Gb
Video Card:	Onboard
Hard Disk:	4 SCSI 10k rpm 2* 40 gig 2* 146 gig) 1* 200 gig on adaptec SCSI 64 bit controller
Optical Drive:	4.5 gig dvd burner can no longer buy disks
CRT/LCD Model:	17 Crt
Case:	generic 5 * 3.5" 4 * 5.25
Sound Card:	Sound Blaster Live 5.1
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Nov 26, 2012, 06:55 AM	#2
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,574 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	Hdmi? __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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System Name:	Big Black Box \| The Orange Box
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Case:	Silverstone Fortress FT02-B (no window) \| Bitfenix Prodigy 'atomic orange' limited edition
Sound Card:	Asus Essence ST -Denon Receiver -5.1 B&W CMC/DM601's/DM600's also a pair of B&W P5's \| ASUS Xonar U1
PSU:	Zalman ZM-1000HP \| Corsair TX-750v2
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Nov 26, 2012, 09:01 AM	#4
upintheclouds Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 1 (0.01/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Your S/PDIF connector is working properly. You will get 5.1 channel output from the digital connection when an AC3 or DTS track is played back, as that uses the same bandwidth as two uncompressed PCM channels. You can not play back 5.1 or 7.1 PCM streams over any S/PDIF connection from any PCI sound card, you must use HDMI for multichannel digital or switch to analog output.

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