K
KryptoNyte
New member
A few months ago I was basically looking for a soundcard/unit that would allow me to play a DTS DVD movie directly from the computer's DVD drive (using PowerDVD or WinDVD or something to that effect). I wanted to plug a digital coax into the output of the soundcard/unit, and plug the other end into my DTS receiver's digital coax input - resulting in 5.1 channel DTS Digital playback. I am by no means a power user with regards to professional audio recording and what I was looking for just didn't seem all that difficult to me.
Well, I fell for the marketing hype without a few weeks of research and purchased the USB SoundBlaster 2NX. After reading the features of the card (specifically the digital coax output), I can't express my dismay upon realizing that Creative Labs marketing talked completely around this issue. As many of you probably already know, when you check the "digital output only" box and connect the digi coax to the output of the unit and the input of the digital amplifier, Creative Labs only gives you one option with regards to speakers - 2 speakers. The 5.1 (or any other selection for that matter) is simply not available for digital output. What a disappointment.
I should mention that I am aware that the PowerDVD and/or WinDVD software has limitations regarding the audio output during DVD playback, but most of these limitations are overcome by taking out your wallet and giving them some more money to "activate" more than just a 2-speaker system.
Can anyone, please, please, tell me what it is I need for hardware/software to accomplish what seems like a rather simple task? Specifically:
1) Which sound card/unit do I need to purchase to allow for digital coax out to my digital ready amplifier for 5.1 channel DTS surround?
2) Which sound card is *capable* of actually decoding the DTS or AC3 internally without any external amp capable of decoding?
3) Which software is most economical, or more importantly, most effective for simply playing back my DTS DVD movie in full 5.1 channel surround?
Thanks for helping the newbie.
Well, I fell for the marketing hype without a few weeks of research and purchased the USB SoundBlaster 2NX. After reading the features of the card (specifically the digital coax output), I can't express my dismay upon realizing that Creative Labs marketing talked completely around this issue. As many of you probably already know, when you check the "digital output only" box and connect the digi coax to the output of the unit and the input of the digital amplifier, Creative Labs only gives you one option with regards to speakers - 2 speakers. The 5.1 (or any other selection for that matter) is simply not available for digital output. What a disappointment.
I should mention that I am aware that the PowerDVD and/or WinDVD software has limitations regarding the audio output during DVD playback, but most of these limitations are overcome by taking out your wallet and giving them some more money to "activate" more than just a 2-speaker system.
Can anyone, please, please, tell me what it is I need for hardware/software to accomplish what seems like a rather simple task? Specifically:
1) Which sound card/unit do I need to purchase to allow for digital coax out to my digital ready amplifier for 5.1 channel DTS surround?
2) Which sound card is *capable* of actually decoding the DTS or AC3 internally without any external amp capable of decoding?
3) Which software is most economical, or more importantly, most effective for simply playing back my DTS DVD movie in full 5.1 channel surround?
Thanks for helping the newbie.