x-fi on optical vs analog on z-5500

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 3, 2008, 10:00 PM

well I found an insane deal of $227 on boxing week for a Z-5500 at future shop and price matched it at best buy with a gift card on the weekend. I had the Z-5300, which were way than more sufficient, but I'd be an idiot not to play my loud bass filled rap music you all hate on this forum louder and clearer! LOL. so I bought it and hooked it up. It is so clear now, that I can hear the faults in all the audio even more clearly such as the vista start up theme, songs and games. I am not an audio expert, but I was considering hooking it up by optical but my buddy then explained to me the x-fi will no longer handle the sound processing and basically will be useless (but the reverb effects would work obviously).

So my question is, on optical would it really be a step up or down? Just to be sure.

Judas · Jan 3, 2008, 10:09 PM

While in some aspects..... yes... you'll lose... specially on the x-fi (creative card)

With an analog connection, 192khz/24 bit audio output it produced and sent.. however the z5500s are limited to 96khz/24bit audio via analog... And the computer has to do all the conversions (or the audio card) to decode and tranmit the upconverted dts/dolby audio from any movies you may play....

Where as with an optical connection (or coax, doesn't matter.. thier both digital with the same limitations) so long as your audio card supports Dolby Digital LIVE! or DTS-Connect, you can experience (and imo get better) surround sound from any format. Even the z5500 can't matrix the a form of surround better then that of dts-connect or dolby digital live.

Now i think creative has something called CMM or something... but i thought it doesn't work while outputing a digital format...

Nor does EAX work i think.... Quite a number of things won't work.... that maybe exclusive to creative.

To expereince surround sound in games you MUST have dolby digital live or dts connect.... or else you get just a PCM stereo through the speakers... which is boring.

Realtek ALC88x series + either DDL! or DTS-C = very very VERY nice...

as for the faults in the vista startup audio.... that sounds like a audio card not doing it's job nicely issue... as if it's what i've heard... it did the same thing on my creative x-fi fata1ity.... one reason i hated the pos.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 3, 2008, 10:12 PM

lol windows sounds are shit quality on every computer i heard, nor do i care. my music, movies and games sound crystal clear.

Judas · Jan 3, 2008, 10:24 PM

odd.. cause even in windows XP... the audio format and file and are normalized audio tracks.... very well balanced in any case..... are of much higher queslity then even lossless WMA or MP3's..... they are in essense..... like direct from CD audio.... 44khz/pcm 1441kbps 16bit stereo audio....

Zelig · Jan 4, 2008, 12:31 AM

I'd probably leave it. If you're really curious, borrow a cable, and hook it up temporarily (or otherwise, if you like it) to see if it sounds better/worse to you.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 4, 2008, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

I'd probably leave it. If you're really curious, borrow a cable, and hook it up temporarily (or otherwise, if you like it) to see if it sounds better/worse to you.

true but no one has the adapter to change the digital port to optical, thats how they make the money.

Judas · Jan 4, 2008, 05:02 AM

?

is the digital port NOT coax? It doesn't matter if it's optical or COAX.. it's the same digital signal.. just a different form.. trust me... there is ZERO difference between coax and optical over the same length of cable that isn't over 10 feet....

optical starts kicking ass over longer distances...

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 5, 2008, 12:42 AM

no its not the same output shape as digital coax, im messing it up. the x-fi are retards and dont color code or label their puts properly anymore, you have to attatch stickers like a homo.

check online i think it will tell you. but i do plug in my mic into it and i know there is some adapter that apparently changes or something...

Judas · Jan 5, 2008, 07:56 AM

ok so you have to plug in a mini jack analog type connector that then adapts it to a RCA type (coax) connector?

**dj_stick** · Jan 5, 2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

however the z5500s are limited to 96khz/24bit audio via analog...

what?

if it's analog audio, then it has NO bit depth/sample rate - it's just a pure audio signal

those ratings only matter when you're talking about digital audio connections or conversions, once the conversion is done by the sound card that's the end of the digital signal - i think you may be mistaken, with the speakers limited to 96khz via a digital connection

all CL soundcards that support digital out require a 3.5mm jack to RCA cable to use the digital signal, I just don't know which jack it is on the X fi

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 5, 2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

what?

if it's analog audio, then it has NO bit depth/sample rate - it's just a pure audio signal

those ratings only matter when you're talking about digital audio connections or conversions, once the conversion is done by the sound card that's the end of the digital signal - i think you may be mistaken, with the speakers limited to 96khz via a digital connection

all CL soundcards that support digital out require a 3.5mm jack to RCA cable to use the digital signal, I just don't know which jack it is on the X fi

ahhh stick, I can always trust you for audio help. its the fourth jack that works as the mic jack i believe. i gotta pull out my comp to check later.

**kris23** · Jan 6, 2008, 01:07 AM

there are no digital outputs without that console upgrade from creative.

Lowfat · Jan 6, 2008, 01:21 AM

I don't know what Opamps and DACs your X-Fi card uses, but I do know the ones in the Logitech speakers aren't all that good. I am willing to bet that using the analog cables will sound better.

**dj_stick** · Jan 6, 2008, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

I don't know what Opamps and DACs your X-Fi card uses, but I do know the ones in the Logitech speakers aren't all that good. I am willing to bet that using the analog cables will sound better.

the same can probably be said of all consumer grade "digital" speakers

**kris23** · Jan 6, 2008, 04:17 AM

interesting..... so would it be better to run the z5500s off analog cables? with something like say..... a prelude?

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 6, 2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

there are no digital outputs without that console upgrade from creative.

i have everything working on the youpax mod to get the x-fi drivers working flawlessly on vista. and I think analog is probaby better than optical for my setup.

god its so nice and loud and clear

Lowfat · Jan 6, 2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

interesting..... so would it be better to run the z5500s off analog cables? with something like say..... a prelude?

most definitely.

ROBSCIX · Jan 11, 2008, 07:04 PM

Yeah, people have found this especially wit the newer cards with the high end DAC's and opamps. That in most cases the card actually has better DAC's then the PC speaker system and even HT receivers in alot of cases. The X-Meridian was compared to many HT receivers, Pre/Pro, DAC's etc. It was found that in most cases the card had better DAC's. This means your better off to go analog unless you have a very good HT receiver. Of course always compare the two and see if what sounds better to you.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jan 11, 2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Yeah, people have found this especially wit the newer cards with the high end DAC's and opamps. That in most cases the card actually has better DAC's then the PC speaker system and even HT receivers in alot of cases. The X-Meridian was compared to many HT receivers, Pre/Pro, DAC's etc. It was found that in most cases the card had better DAC's. This means your better off to go analog unless you have a very good HT receiver. Of course always compare the two and see if what sounds better to you.

thats exactly what i thought, end of discussion!

Jan 3, 2008, 10:00 PM	#1
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	x-fi on optical vs analog on z-5500 well I found an insane deal of $227 on boxing week for a Z-5500 at future shop and price matched it at best buy with a gift card on the weekend. I had the Z-5300, which were way than more sufficient, but I'd be an idiot not to play my loud bass filled rap music you all hate on this forum louder and clearer! LOL. so I bought it and hooked it up. It is so clear now, that I can hear the faults in all the audio even more clearly such as the vista start up theme, songs and games. I am not an audio expert, but I was considering hooking it up by optical but my buddy then explained to me the x-fi will no longer handle the sound processing and basically will be useless (but the reverb effects would work obviously). So my question is, on optical would it really be a step up or down? Just to be sure. __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jan 3, 2008, 10:12 PM	Thread Starter #3
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	lol windows sounds are shit quality on every computer i heard, nor do i care. my music, movies and games sound crystal clear. __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jan 4, 2008, 12:31 AM	#5
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	I'd probably leave it. If you're really curious, borrow a cable, and hook it up temporarily (or otherwise, if you like it) to see if it sounds better/worse to you. __________________ --

Jan 5, 2008, 12:42 AM	Thread Starter #8
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	no its not the same output shape as digital coax, im messing it up. the x-fi are retards and dont color code or label their puts properly anymore, you have to attatch stickers like a homo. check online i think it will tell you. but i do plug in my mic into it and i know there is some adapter that apparently changes or something... __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jan 6, 2008, 01:07 AM	#12
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	there are no digital outputs without that console upgrade from creative. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jan 6, 2008, 01:21 AM	#13
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	I don't know what Opamps and DACs your X-Fi card uses, but I do know the ones in the Logitech speakers aren't all that good. I am willing to bet that using the analog cables will sound better. __________________

Jan 6, 2008, 04:17 AM	#15
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	interesting..... so would it be better to run the z5500s off analog cables? with something like say..... a prelude? __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jan 11, 2008, 07:04 PM	#18
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, people have found this especially wit the newer cards with the high end DAC's and opamps. That in most cases the card actually has better DAC's then the PC speaker system and even HT receivers in alot of cases. The X-Meridian was compared to many HT receivers, Pre/Pro, DAC's etc. It was found that in most cases the card had better DAC's. This means your better off to go analog unless you have a very good HT receiver. Of course always compare the two and see if what sounds better to you.