ROG motherboard differences

[Upgrayedd]

I have an audio question I'd like to ask . "What is the difference between the audio jacks on the ROG ATX series compared to the smaller mATX and ITX."

mATX- http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VII_GENE/gallery/

ATX - http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VII_HERO/gallery/

What im asking is what is the difference in the mATX's 3 black audio jacks and the ATX's 6 colored audio jacks?

 

[GreiverBlade]

what's the point of that question ... if it was difference between Maximus VII Hero and Maximus VII Ranger (both ATX) i would understand but mATX is obviously because : less space availiable, and for a 5.1 you only need 3 jacks, so i can safely assume the Gene can only do 5.1 without jack retasking (thanks erocker)and the Hero(Ranger) can do 7.1

 

[erocker]

Hero:
ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- ELNA premium audio capacitors
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- Sonic SoundStage
- Sonic SenseAmp
- Sonic Studio
- Sonic Radar II

Gene:
ROG SupremeFX Impact II 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC *4
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- ELNA premium audio capacitors
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- DTS Connect
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- Sonic SoundStage
- Sonic SenseAmp
- Sonic Studio
- Sonic Radar II

*4: 8-channel audio output is supported by jack-retasking using a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel. <This is the difference

 

[Upgrayedd]

GrieverBlade, I understand its a different layout due to space limitations. So..the difference is mATX is 5.1 unless you use the computer cases headphone jack in the front if the case has an HD audio module to plug into the board? Soo..I think I understand that you need more than 3 jacks for 7.1 and only 3 for 5.1 ... What I'm trying to understand is the difference in the jacks..why have multicolor and then just black? I think color is for the different channels right? What jacks would be used for 5.1 and 7.1 on the ATX boards? Sorry if my questions seem dumb and uneducated..this is just one part of the boards I don't quite understand.

 

[GreiverBlade]

*4: 8-channel audio output is supported by jack-retasking using a chassis with HD audio module in the front panel. <This is the difference

i was half sure of the front jack retasking... thanks @erocker

GrieverBlade, I understand its a different layout due to space limitations. So..the difference is mATX is 5.1 unless you use the computer cases headphone jack in the front if the case has an HD audio module to plug into the board? Soo..I think I understand that you need more than 3 jacks for 7.1 and only 3 for 5.1 ... What I'm trying to understand is the difference in the jacks..why have multicolor and then just black? I think color is for the different channels right? What jacks would be used for 5.1 and 7.1 on the ATX boards? Sorry if my questions seem dumb and uneducated..this is just one part of the boards I don't quite understand.

both can do 8 channel (7.1) as erocker said the color means no real things between the 2 board: the marking on the I/O Shield are important, the coloring is just a little add.

IE: my Ranger use light brown/black/green but even if my jack and plugs from my Z530 have coloring but i read the Rear/Front(line out)/Sub(CTR/bass) on the Shield.

see that pics for example

 

[erixx]

Although the Realtek software informs and asks about what you are plugging in, I feel that not using the color code is a screaming lack of love to detail.
And well it has been said, you can use the front panel for more speakers.

One thing that disturbs me personally is: it has autodetection of headphones. But headphones use to be 2 channel. If you have 5.1 of whatever speakers set up, does it switch to stereo with the headphones and back to 5.1 when unplugging them?

 

[Hilux SSRG]

I run Optical S/PDIF out from the back panel to my 5.1 system. If I need to use headphones, I plug them into the media console. Optical S/PDIF is the easiest and better audio solution if you can swing it.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Really? Optical is better solution? I was under the impression it was the other way around.. Now I'm all confused. I think Erixx cleared up my thoughts about how to get mATX boards 7.1 . "use the front panel for more speakers" I was planning on using headphones only, but now I hear optical is better..decisions decisions..

 

[The Von Matrices]

I run Optical S/PDIF out from the back panel to my 5.1 system. If I need to use headphones, I plug them into the media console. Optical S/PDIF is the easiest and better audio solution if you can swing it.

Really? Optical is better solution? I was under the impression it was the other way around.. Now I'm all confused. I think Erixx cleared up my thoughts about how to get mATX boards 7.1 . "use the front panel for more speakers" I was planning on using headphones only, but now I hear optical is better..decisions decisions..

You both are partially right. If you're transmitting 5.1 over optical S/PDIF, then you have to be using Dolby Digital or DTS, which means you are using lossy compression. The optical output has 0dB of noise, but the tradeoff is that you then get compression artifacts in the audio (especially with DD since it has 60% less bandwidth than DTS).

If you have a high SNR audio codec, you don't have anything near your case that generates lots of EMI, and you aren't using extremely long cables, then analog is probably better than digital optical.

The ultimate solution is HDMI, which transmits multichannel audio both digitally and losslessly.

 

[Hilux SSRG]

You both are partially right. If you're transmitting 5.1 over optical S/PDIF, then you have to be using Dolby Digital or DTS, which means you are using lossy compression. The optical output has 0dB of noise, but the tradeoff is that you then get compression artifacts in the audio (especially with DD since it has 60% less bandwidth than DTS).

If you have a high SNR audio codec, you don't have anything near your case that generates lots of EMI, and you aren't using extremely long cables, then analog is probably better than digital optical.

The ultimate solution is HDMI, which transmits multichannel audio both digitally and losslessly.

Really? Optical is better solution? I was under the impression it was the other way around.. Now I'm all confused. I think Erixx cleared up my thoughts about how to get mATX boards 7.1 . "use the front panel for more speakers" I was planning on using headphones only, but now I hear optical is better..decisions decisions..

Correct, I should have mentioned I have DD and DTS along with analog inputs that I have tested and have found Optical S/PDIF to be the best solution for me.

Perceived audio quality is sometimes very subjective and other times clear cut when using different outputs - speakers/headphones/etc.

If you can do some audio testing I'm sure you'll hear which provides a better listening experience for you.