How to connect my computer to my receiver

[guitarplyrstevo]

How would I connect my computer sound card to my receiver? My computers motherboard has a digital coaxial out (orange and black) and I have been using the orange one the whole time since I don't know what the black one is. What I want to do is connect it to my Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS through it's digital out but its a 3.5mm jack. What do I need to do this?

Also what is the digital output sampling frequency? When I have my receiver connected to my motherboard, my receiver says "PCM fs : 48kHz". On my Creative soundcard audio control panel, when I have the digital out activated, it gives me a choice of 48 kHz or 96 kHz. What does this all mean?

 

[bandphan]

http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/custom-audio-and-video-cables/rca-to-3-5mm-s-pdif-cables/custom-series-spdif-cable-digital-audio-3-5mm-to-rca-spidf/prodSPDIF.html you may need to tell the sound card to output digital, as some do analog and digital thru the same output.

the sample rate at 96hz is refective of dvd-a quailty, some lpcm, and bd-rom tracks, if your receiver can take them(which it propably can), set it for the highest rate on the sound card out.

basic answers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_rate

 

[Jack Hammer]

I wasn't clear what kind of output you have on your computer, dig coax or 3.5mm stereo? You can get a 3.5mm stereo to rca and use that (if you have that option). They can be found at Radio Shack or online for less. I bought a basic 6' 3.5mm stereo to rca adapter for connecting my cell phones mp3 player to my avr for ~$5 delivered from Monoprice. It works fine for my connecting my laptop too.

Jack

 

[MDS]

Also what is the digital output sampling frequency? When I have my receiver connected to my motherboard, my receiver says "PCM fs : 48kHz". On my Creative soundcard audio control panel, when I have the digital out activated, it gives me a choice of 48 kHz or 96 kHz. What does this all mean?

You need the cable in the link provided by bandphan OR a single cable with 3.5 mm mono audio plugs on both ends and an adapter to go from a single 3.5 mono plug to a single RCA plug.

The sampling frequency is the number of samples per second. When an analog signal is 'digitized' it is sampled so many times per second and a value that represents the amplitude of the signal at that point in time is calculated. 48 kHz means that there are 48,000 samples (numbers) for every second of audio. The size of the numbers is the bit depth...so 16/48 means there are 48,000 16 bit numbers for every second of audio.

As I said in your other thread about the same issue, if your receiver is showing 48 kHz PCM then the card is NOT passing the Dolby Digital bitstream. You need to enable DD pass-thru in the sound card control panel and set the sampling frequency to 48 kHz. If you set it to 96 kHz, the receiver will not recognize the bitstream as DD.

 

[Midcow2]

use mini-phillips to RCA red and white jacks

How would I connect my computer sound card to my receiver? QUOTE]

The easiest way is to take the Phillips mini audio jack and get a cable that has a red and white RCA jack output.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

As I said in your other thread about the same issue, if your receiver is showing 48 kHz PCM then the card is NOT passing the Dolby Digital bitstream. You need to enable DD pass-thru in the sound card control panel and set the sampling frequency to 48 kHz. If you set it to 96 kHz, the receiver will not recognize the bitstream as DD.

If it is showing 48 kHz then the card is not passing the Dolby Digital bitstream? What does that mean? Also how do I enable DD pass-thru because I am running coaxial out from my motherboard. Why would I want 48 kHz rather than 96 kHz? I read that 96 kHz is DVD audio so wouldn't it make this a better quality signal?

Sorry for all the simple questions, I am new to all this.

Today one of my co-workers told me this would work: http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/Lichtleiter-Toslink-Klinke-5.jpg
I connected the optical to the first input on my receiver and attached the mini plug on the other optical side and connected it to the digital output on my soundcard. I made sure the digital out on the soundcard was activated and the optical 1 was activated on the receiver. There was no red light so I was convinced that it would not work. What was I doing wrong?

 

[MDS]

If it is showing 48 kHz then the card is not passing the Dolby Digital bitstream? What does that mean? Also how do I enable DD pass-thru because I am running coaxial out from my motherboard. Why would I want 48 kHz rather than 96 kHz? I read that 96 kHz is DVD audio so wouldn't it make this a better quality signal?

DD is 16/48. If you tell the soundcard to output 96 kHz it will downmix the DD 5.1 to 2 channels and resample to 96 kHz. Your receiver will see it as 96 kHz 2 channel PCM - in other words stereo. When the receiver sees a 2 channel signal you have to use a matrix decoder like PLII to turn it into surround.

Today one of my co-workers told me this would work: http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/Lichtleiter-Toslink-Klinke-5.jpg
I connected the optical to the first input on my receiver and attached the mini plug on the other optical side and connected it to the digital output on my soundcard. I made sure the digital out on the soundcard was activated and the optical 1 was activated on the receiver. There was no red light so I was convinced that it would not work. What was I doing wrong?

The Audigy 2 ZS does not have an optical output so that cannot possibly work. Coax digital out is the exact same thing (they both use the s/pdif protocol) so no reason to prefer optical over coaxial.

I no longer have the original Creative control panel for the Audigy 2 ZS so I can't tell you exactly where the check box for DD pass-thru is located or even if it exists. I don't use the card for DD pass-thru so I don't remember. Maybe it can't pass the bitstream untouched; if that is the case then the best you can do is set it to 48 kHz and use PLII on the receiver to turn it into surround. IIRC you only have two speakers and a sub so what's all the hassle with DD bitstreams? If you get 2 channel PCM to the receiver using the coax digital out then you are good to go (PCM is digital).

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

DD is 16/48. If you tell the soundcard to output 96 kHz it will downmix the DD 5.1 to 2 channels and resample to 96 kHz. Your receiver will see it as 96 kHz 2 channel PCM - in other words stereo. When the receiver sees a 2 channel signal you have to use a matrix decoder like PLII to turn it into surround.



The Audigy 2 ZS does not have an optical output so that cannot possibly work. Coax digital out is the exact same thing (they both use the s/pdif protocol) so no reason to prefer optical over coaxial.

I no longer have the original Creative control panel for the Audigy 2 ZS so I can't tell you exactly where the check box for DD pass-thru is located or even if it exists. I don't use the card for DD pass-thru so I don't remember. Maybe it can't pass the bitstream untouched; if that is the case then the best you can do is set it to 48 kHz and use PLII on the receiver to turn it into surround. IIRC you only have two speakers and a sub so what's all the hassle with DD bitstreams? If you get 2 channel PCM to the receiver using the coax digital out then you are good to go (PCM is digital).

Click on the link I provided. It isn't optical to optical. The receiver has the optical and the other end has an adapter that looks like a funny looking mono 3.5mm jack. What am I doing wrong because there is no light passing through the cable.

 

[MDS]

Click on the link I provided. It isn't optical to optical. The receiver has the optical and the other end has an adapter that looks like a funny looking mono 3.5mm jack. What am I doing wrong because there is no light passing through the cable.

The link is just a picture and I can't read German on the main page. Unless there is electronics in the adapter end to convert electricity to light that cable will not work. What you are doing wrong is refusing to go to Radio Shack and spend $10 for the proper cable.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

The link is just a picture and I can't read German on the main page. Unless there is electronics in the adapter end to convert electricity to light that cable will not work. What you are doing wrong is refusing to go to Radio Shack and spend $10 for the proper cable.

I got this cable before I posted this up. So what would this cable be used for then?

So you said I need a 3.5mm to coaxial or RCA?

 

[TLS Guy]

I got this cable before I posted this up. So what would this cable be used for then?

So you said I need a 3.5mm to coaxial or RCA?

You need a cable like Bandphan picked out. A 75 ohm SPDIF cable, with the terminations you need. Look at Bandphan's link carefully.

An optical cable transmits light. So there has to be a pulsing light sender on the output, and an optical sensor on the input. A fiber optic cable only transmits light, not electricity.

You have been advised by some forum members who know what they are doing. You stated that you don't. Now having asked for their advice, take it.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

You need a cable like Bandphan picked out. A 75 ohm SPDIF cable, with the terminations you need. Look at Bandphan's link carefully.

An optical cable transmits light. So there has to be a pulsing light sender on the output, and an optical sensor on the input. A fiber optic cable only transmits light, not electricity.

You have been advised by some forum members who know what they are doing. You stated that you don't. Now having asked for their advice, take it.

Ok I am going to take the advice BUT I'm telling you guys I bought that cable BEFORE I posted this. The reason why I keep bringing up this cable is because I want to know what its actually used for so I don't have to return it and lose my employee discount. I AM going to get the cable you guys suggested to me, but why the hell would they make such a cable that does absolutely nothing?

 

[markw]

...why the hell would they make such a cable that does absolutely nothing?

It DOES do something. It passes a digital signal from one device to another while accomodating for the different physical connections.

If it doesn't work, check your settings on both the sound card, as someone has already sugested, and also your receiver. Make sure it knows to look for a digital signal on that input.

RACTFM on both units for more specific info.

 

[TLS Guy]

Ok I am going to take the advice BUT I'm telling you guys I bought that cable BEFORE I posted this. The reason why I keep bringing up this cable is because I want to know what its actually used for so I don't have to return it and lose my employee discount. I AM going to get the cable you guys suggested to me, but why the hell would they make such a cable that does absolutely nothing?

I think you are talking about the fiber optic cable right? The one you posted. Fiber optic cables connect pieces of equipment that send the signal between the two a pulses of light rather than electricity. As I explained there has to be a light transmitter and receiver. The cable has bundles of glass and not metal strands. Glass will not conduct electricity. A lot of equipment connects like that these days.

Your connection is apparently with 75 ohm SPDIF electric cable.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

I think you are talking about the fiber optic cable right? The one you posted. Fiber optic cables connect pieces of equipment that send the signal between the two a pulses of light rather than electricity. As I explained there has to be a light transmitter and receiver. The cable has bundles of glass and not metal strands. Glass will not conduct electricity. A lot of equipment connects like that these days.

Your connection is apparently with 75 ohm SPDIF electric cable.

Thats what I don't understand. It is a regular fiber optical cable and from what it looks like, it has an option to convert one or both ends to a mono mini jack connector. The mini jack connector fits exactly like a mini jack but I don't understand how it would take a light signal from one end and pass it through the mini jack. Any thoughts?

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

Wait, they have mini jack size optical outputs and inputs? I just looked at the adapter and it has a tiny hole in where it looks like light would pass. So it isn't what a normal mini jack does, its just the size but it does exactly what a normal optical cable does right?

 

[bandphan]

Thats what I don't understand. It is a regular fiber optical cable and from what it looks like, it has an option to convert one or both ends to a mono mini jack connector. The mini jack connector fits exactly like a mini jack but I don't understand how it would take a light signal from one end and pass it through the mini jack. Any thoughts?

why are you trying to beat a dead horse?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thats what I don't understand. It is a regular fiber optical cable and from what it looks like, it has an option to convert one or both ends to a mono mini jack connector. The mini jack connector fits exactly like a mini jack but I don't understand how it would take a light signal from one end and pass it through the mini jack. Any thoughts?

Well I confess I had to research this one a bit. There is a new boy on the block called the mini SPDIF optical connector. I have only come across the optical Toslink connector. I understand that there are a number of computer sound cards now using this termination. I have not come across it. You have a Toslink to mini optical SPDIF adapter I believe. Now you had better go to the instructions that came with your sound card, as it possible you have both 75 ohm coaxial SPDIF and and mini optical SPDIF outputs. I don't know that card so I don't know exactly what outputs it has, or how you activate the right ones. You have the instructions I don't.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

why are you trying to beat a dead horse?

I am just trying to learn more about what I am doing. If you don't want to help, don't say anything. Out of all the forums I've signed up with (guitar, muscle and car forums), the audio forum doesn't seem to like to help me much or doesn't understand the problems I have with what I am trying to do. I ask the smallest questions possible so I have a complete understanding of what I am trying to do. Should I cancel my account here and find another site? Bandphan, I do not understand what cable I bought because it doesn't seem to do anything. I came to you guys to find out what it does and what are the possible uses this cable is good for. I think I have answered my own question but I am trying to verify it with you guys.

 

[MDS]

I ask the smallest questions possible so I have a complete understanding of what I am trying to do.

People here are very willing to help, it just seems like you keep asking the same question over and over and yet will not accept the answers. First you started with a question about why your receiver is showing PCM and not Dolby Digital when connected via the digital coax output on the soundcard. I told you why and the various settings on the card and your media player to check. Instead you switched to a different cable.

The Audigy 2 ZS does not have an optical input or output. The cable you showed looks like one end is a mini plug but it is not. It is obvious that there are no active electronics anywhere to convert digital data represented as voltages (coax) to digital data represented as light pulses (optical) and I stated that last time. You cannot convert analog to digital or one form of digital to another with a cable.