Digital Audio for PC? Do I need a home audo receiver or just a sound card?

[EVGA]

I want Dolby digital and DTS for my computer and for home. What do I need to buy? Do I need just a sound card for my pc that does Dolby and DTS if so which one? Do I need a set top receiver? if so what would be a good one for $200 please help thanks

-E

 

[mouettus]

It really depends on what you want to achieve. You can have a 5.1 computer setup connected directly thru the analog outs of your cheapo sound card. Or you can send the Dolby/DTS signal with the integrated audio on your mobo to the Logitech Z-5500. Or you can buy a home theater receiver with 6 speakers, using the same connection as above. Every option goes up in quality. You decide what you want.

 

[Adam]

E, welcome to the forum!

Decoding those formats is one thing, and listening to them is another.

A PC sound card can decode both formats (I have a Creative Audigy card from 2004 that does them just fine) and so can most newer home theater receivers. However, you'll need speakers and some sort of amplification to drive the speakers. A receiver will give you that amplification, so you'll want one of those unless you have or plan to buy some other amp. A PC sound card, while it can decode those formats, can't power your speakers.

Can you tell us any more about your system? We could help you out better if we knew how you plan to listen to DD and DTS. Thanks.

Adam

 

[EVGA]

I have a samsung 226bw monitor I use for pc games and movies with some headphones. I want 7.1 digial audio for movies and games. I have an old 52 inch big screen next to my pc I want to get rid of and use my pc screen to watch tv and play games.. I do have an old 350 huppage tv card dunno if i need a new one


My system:

ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard



GFX Card

EVGA 768-P2-N882-AR GeForce 8800Ultra 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Monitor: Samsung 226 Bw 22''



ZALMAN ZM850-HP Continuous 850W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 Modular Heatpipe-Cooled SLI Power Supply

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1


Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

some other minor stuff but you get my specs LOL

CPU: Athlon 64 X2

The motherboard spec are:

odel
Brand ASUS
Model M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
Supported CPU
CPU Socket Type AM2
CPU Type Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64
FSB 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Chipsets
North Bridge NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
Memory
Number of Memory Slots 4×240pin
Memory Standard DDR2 800
Maximum Memory Supported 8GB
Dual Channel Supported Yes
Expansion Slots
PCI Express x16 2
PCI Express x4 1
PCI Express x1 1
PCI Slots 2
Storage Devices
PATA 1 x ATA100 2 Dev. Max
PATA RAID NV RAID 0/1/0+1 JBOD
SATA 3Gb/s 6
SATA RAID NV RAID 0/1/0+1/5 JBOD
Additional RAID Controller Sil 3132
Onboard Video
Onboard Video Chipset None
Onboard Audio
Audio Chipset ADI AD1988B
Audio Channels 8 Channels
Onboard LAN
LAN Chipset NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
Second LAN Chipset Marvell PHY
Max LAN Speed Dual 10/100/1000Mbps
Rear Panel Ports
PS/2 2
COM 1
USB 4 x USB 2.0
IEEE 1394 1 x IEEE 1394a
eSATA 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s
S/PDIF Out 1x Optical, 1x Coaxial
Audio Ports 6 Ports
Onboard USB
Onboard USB 4 x USB 2.0
Onboard 1394
Onboard 1394 1x 1394a
Physical Spec
Form Factor ATX
Dimensions 12.0" x 9.6"
Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista
Features
Power Pin 24 Pin
Features 1 x External SATA port
1 x WiFi-g antenna jack
WiFi-AP Solo USB wireless module supports IEEE802.11b/g
Packaging
Package Contents M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
User Manual
Driver Disk
Rear I/O Panel Shield
IDE/PATA Cable
FDD Cable
6 x SATA Cable
3 x Power Cable
USB Bracket
IEEE 1394 Bracket
SLI Bridge
Wireless Antenna
Optional Fan
ASUS Array Mic
ASUS Q-Connector Kit

 

[Adam]

E, I might have missed it, but I don't see any speakers listed. Is your goal to listen to 7.1 sound with headphones? I have a pair of 5.1 headphones (Medusa) that I use with them connected to the analog outputs on my Audigy soundcard - no external receiver required. I haven't looked lately, but I'm not aware of 7.1 heaphones. Also, plain DD and DTS are 5.1 formats, not 7.1.

mouettus listed some of the options regarding listening to surround sound. Do you plan on buying speakers? If so, what kind?

 

[EVGA]

i don't have speakers yet

 

[EVGA]

i have surround sound speakers... i want normal good speakers and 5.1 will be fine if i cant do 7.1 which i thought was the new standard

 

[EVGA]

ah i meant to say I have headphones that are 5.1 .. I want a full 5.1 surround sound system. whats the going price for one with dolby and DTS these days ?

 

[EVGA]

Due to the 4 post rule lol:
I liked this receiver but not sure:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103392

 

[Adam]

If you haven't seen it, Cnet reviewed that unit at this link. They seemed to like it.

Something to consider: it only has two audio inputs (and no video inputs). One input is a stereo input using two RCA jacks, the other input is an optical digital input. So, if you want 5.1 sound, you'll need your PC to output the bitstream through an optical output (not a digital coax output). You can get a USB dongle that will output the optical output for fairly cheap, so not a big deal - just something to consider.

EDIT: The USB dongle that I got for my parents is this one from Newegg.

 

[mouettus]

the Logitech Z-5500 is a surround system specially made for computers. It has an optical connection in the back. They are going cheap these days. Ebay or online retailers all around.

 

[hurtz]

I want Dolby digital and DTS for my computer and for home. What do I need to buy? Do I need just a sound card for my pc that does Dolby and DTS if so which one? Do I need a set top receiver? if so what would be a good one for $200 please help thanks

-E

Currently I have a Logitech Z5500 ($180) 5.1 speakers, paired with Auzentech XFi 7.1 Prelude ($175). This soundcard can do Dolby Digital Live, so it can convert any sound into a glorious Dolby Digital. It can also do EAX 5.0 if you are into PC gaming which make games sounds so awesome. This soundcard was connected to optical toslink cable to the speaker.
It's great also for movie.

My 2 cents .
hurtz

 

[Audiacc]

i always fail to see what is so fricking great about dolby live... It is lossy compression and introduces latency... why not just use analog? sound is analog in the end, your ears are analog...
but apparently everyone is jumping the dolby live bandwagon now. Creative have new X-Fi card (PCI express with DDL ), too:
http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7491&Itemid=1
I wonder how much this costs. Anyone knows?

 

[jinjuku]

It sounds like you will simply need a TOSLink cable. The receiver will do all the decoding.

Fairly straight forward.