A soundcard with a toslink/optical output??

[latrosicarius]

Hello, is there such a soundcard that has a 5.1 channel toslink output so I can hook it to a receiver?

The only one I found was the X-Fi card with the 5.25-in bay upgrade that has an optical output but THERE IS NO SITE THAT SAYS HOW MANY CHANNELS IT CARRIES??? Does anyone know if this is 7.1 or 5.1 or just stereo?

Thanks!

 

[evilkat]

I think I saw some forum postings around the web where it says that the creative cards carry only 2 channels over optical. Do a google search on google groups or something to get some forum hits.

 

[latrosicarius]

O wait, check this out -- the "Auzentech X-Plosion" 7.1 soundcard:
http://www.xoxide.com/auzentech-hda-xplosion-71dts-connect.html

It has a Toslink output right on the card itself (no 5.25 bay thing) and it says it DOES do surround sound.

Here's a review of it:
http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/hda_xplosion/index.shtml

And here's the home page for it:
http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-plosion.php

Here it is for $81.99 at Newegg with a 4-star rating by 59-some customer reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829156001

 

[latrosicarius]

Apparently they came out with a newer card than the X-Plosion called the "X-Meridian".:
http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-meridian.php#specifications

Here's a review:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/23/review_auzentech_x-meridian/

However, I'm not sure about this b/c it doesn't look like it has normal Toslink plugs:

It has something called "Toslink-to-mini-optical" plugs... Do you know what these are? Will these work with standard Toslink cables?

Thanks!

 

[evilkat]

I'm assuming you want the opticals for pass through to allow the receiver to do the decoding yes?

If so, does your motherboard have optical outs..but I guess that would be too easy

Because I've never heard of the card you've linked above, I propose another option; this Turtle Beach card. It's only $29.00 on PriceGrabber and if all you need is S/PDIF, then you've got it (and THEN some!). I haven't personally used this card, but I've seen the name pop-up a lot as a popular alternative for the Creative cards.

Note that the S/PDIF is only 44/48Khz not 96.

 

[latrosicarius]

Yes, I want it to send a digital 5.1 channel surround-sound signal from the soundcard through a Toslink cable to a A/V receiver. From there, the receiver will hook to the speakers.

Thanks for the alternative choice, I'll look at it.

 

[mint]

Hello, is there such a soundcard that has a 5.1 channel toslink output so I can hook it to a receiver?

The only one I found was the X-Fi card with the 5.25-in bay upgrade that has an optical output but THERE IS NO SITE THAT SAYS HOW MANY CHANNELS IT CARRIES??? Does anyone know if this is 7.1 or 5.1 or just stereo?

Thanks!

An optional digital I/O module is available for the X-Fi soundcard for about $15 U.S.:

Here's the link to the product page:

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=1780

In the description it states that the device: "Pass through encoded multichannel soundtracks from your PC-DVD software to external decoders or Home Cinema receiver."

 

[AVno0b]

I have the X-fi, it has optical, but from what i understand, ifyour planning on gaming in surround, your going to have to use 3 analog lines to run a mock 5.1 system, due to the fact many video games arent encoded in THX/Dolby etc, most are EAX, making it impossible for your reciever to decode

I havent hooked my comp up to my systems yet, i have a HK AVR 145 reciever, ill post again, once ive dug deep into the sound card side of it

 

[Seth=L]

Cool thing about those optical mini jacks is most are multipurpose, having both optical and electrical interfaces in the same SPDIF jack. The optical emitter is inside the jack and the metal conacts serve as a electrical coax.