Azz123 said:
Hi People.
Trying to set up my HTPC that has the SB Audigy 2 ZS sound card installed.
This card doesnt have an optical out for digital, instead a 4 stage 3.5mm (?) headphone socket.
Ii want to connect it to my receiver via a digital connection - anyone have an easy solution?
Happy for either optical or a coaxial solution.
Thanks in advance.
A
Hi there,
This takes a little for those who started this stuff but then, nothing at all. I've been reading about this kind of stuff for my system endlessly on all forums. Here are what i got so far
Ok, what you have to do is to get a right cable, do some setups and then sit down and enjoy, really as good as coaxial or optical connection as in fact, it is also digital connection anyway. Ok, no need to explain much on this, just go and do it.
1. Cable: If possible, get a monster cable (Monster® iCable® for iPod®)
Plug the 1/8 mini stereo jack to the digital output on the audigy 2ZS and the left RCA to the digital coaxial in on your receiver, remeber to plug the left one only, the right one is not used.
Just to extend a little bit in case you are interested in constructing a cable your (DIY cable, probably heard this before right?) 1/8 mini stereo ------->1RCA (only 1RCA, not 2 as commercial cable, and that is DIY cable!!!). Second to none to any hi end commercial cable.
Now, what you are to do is buy 1 good RCA (monster RCA would be good, could buy a pair just in case) and 1 good 1/8 mini stereo jack
Buy 2 meters of cat 5 cable (network cable, there are 4 pairs, 8 strands in 1 cable with dielectric teflon), remove the cover (grey white cover), now you have 4 pairs with different colors, just leave them twisted in pairs, just separate 4 pairs apart, now we come to the twisting stage, dont ask why unless you dont want to enjoy good sound!
Twist it as the picture in this link
http://www.platenspeler.com/diy/cabling/uk_4play_1.html
In the above link, it is used only 4 strands, but in our case, we use 8 strands, 4 pairs. You could use 4 strands also, but quality would be somewhat different, i myself use 12 strands, i twisted 3 in to 1 twisted cable and then 4 into one as shown in the link
Lenght of cable depends on your need but recommend as short as possible (1 - 1.5m)
Once you have completed the cable (kind of tough, but you will be paid off), now you have to solder it to the jack.
Separate the cable into 2 - and + (white cable for + and color cable for -), untrip about 0.5cm of every - and + (make sure no all white and all colors), solder it to the RCA first, white goes for the pin and color goes for ground, same thing for 1/8 stereo jack. Note: 1/8 stereo jack has 2 connetors near the pin, just solder white to pin only and color to ground. Use some heat shrink tube to cover the solder and just plug in your system as told above and play. Remember to have it burnt in for sometime before it really glows, usually after couple hours. Mind you the volume at first time try.
2. Setups: you have to select digital out on your soundcard and select SPDIF pass through on the DVD software. This means all the signal will be sent to your receiver for decoding.
That's it, it took quite sometime to know how to do all these stuff and to tweak it up to get really good and natural sound guy! I bet you will suprise your friend with the sound you get if your setups is all correct.
I"m using Yamy 450RXV to connect to my audigy ZS and get myself blown up with a pair of Eltax liberty 5+ speakers, Celestion surround and yamy sub. Your 2500 would blow everything up if give it some motivations!!!!
Just contact me if any problem with DIY cable
Tuan Tran
itstuantran@yahoo.com