Quick Question

CrMo4130 · Feb 5, 2009, 03:08 PM

Hello,

I am in need of a sound card that can provide me with a specific need. I am running a home theater PC and my setup consists of the following:

Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 (Analog 5.1 in via 3 3.5MM headphone jacks)
Newly built HTPC (currently using onboard audio)
xBox 360
Soundblaster Extigy

My setup has been that I used the Extigy to control volume and the Klipsch speakers being ran from the 3 3.5MM jacks from the back of it. The xBox 360 ran optical to the Extigy, which decoded the DD 5.1, and my PC was only able to run a single 3.5MM (front L/R) to the line in on the Extigy. I want to get full 5.1 from my PC as well, but the Extigy doesn't support Vista, and its outdated anyways.

I tried running a mono 3.5MM Headphone jack to mono RCA converter, then a RCA style SPDIF cable from that to the RCA SPDIF input to the Extigy, however when the Extigy notices that the RCA is plugged in it disables the Optical input from the xBox, and switching back and forth has been a pain in the butt

I want a better solution!

And better sound from my PC, and pretty much would love to bypass the Extigy all together. I'm intending on purchasing a Blu-Ray player for my new HTPC as well, so I'd love to get great lossless sound from it as well, if possible.

I took a look at the new Creative X-Fi Platinum card, and I took notice that is has an optical input! What I'm curious to know is this:

Can I plug my xBox 360 to the optical input to the X-Fi and have it decode DD 5.1/DTS and output that through the 3 3.5MM analog outputs on the card to my Klipsch set?

This would be optimal for me as it would eliminate the Extigy all together, allow me to control volume from one point (my PC). It would also allow my PC to output any decoded AC3 stuff from my video files, as well as from DVD's and Blu-Rays.

Please let me know if this is possible! I appreciate it!

~~scurvy~~ · Feb 5, 2009, 05:29 PM

I don't think the x-fi has a hardware DD/DTS decoder built-in, cos for playing movies it uses the software decoder in PowerDVD.

Now if u had a Logitech Z-5500 system u could plug the Xbox straight into that.

If ur gonna get a blu ray player and want lossless master audio using ur Klipschs without a separate amplifier ur gonna have to settle for PDVD software decoding iam afraid.

**dj_stick** · Feb 5, 2009, 11:42 PM

i'm not aware of any soundcards that actually have hardware decoding... the Extigy decoding was done by the driver software, not the hardware

CrMo4130 · Feb 6, 2009, 11:26 PM

Actually, the Extigy does hardware decoding as it can decode without being plugged into the Pc....

Feb 5, 2009, 03:08 PM	#1
CrMo4130 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: US Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Quick Question Hello, I am in need of a sound card that can provide me with a specific need. I am running a home theater PC and my setup consists of the following: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 (Analog 5.1 in via 3 3.5MM headphone jacks) Newly built HTPC (currently using onboard audio) xBox 360 Soundblaster Extigy My setup has been that I used the Extigy to control volume and the Klipsch speakers being ran from the 3 3.5MM jacks from the back of it. The xBox 360 ran optical to the Extigy, which decoded the DD 5.1, and my PC was only able to run a single 3.5MM (front L/R) to the line in on the Extigy. I want to get full 5.1 from my PC as well, but the Extigy doesn't support Vista, and its outdated anyways. I tried running a mono 3.5MM Headphone jack to mono RCA converter, then a RCA style SPDIF cable from that to the RCA SPDIF input to the Extigy, however when the Extigy notices that the RCA is plugged in it disables the Optical input from the xBox, and switching back and forth has been a pain in the butt I want a better solution! And better sound from my PC, and pretty much would love to bypass the Extigy all together. I'm intending on purchasing a Blu-Ray player for my new HTPC as well, so I'd love to get great lossless sound from it as well, if possible. I took a look at the new Creative X-Fi Platinum card, and I took notice that is has an optical input! What I'm curious to know is this: Can I plug my xBox 360 to the optical input to the X-Fi and have it decode DD 5.1/DTS and output that through the 3 3.5MM analog outputs on the card to my Klipsch set? This would be optimal for me as it would eliminate the Extigy all together, allow me to control volume from one point (my PC). It would also allow my PC to output any decoded AC3 stuff from my video files, as well as from DVD's and Blu-Rays. Please let me know if this is possible! I appreciate it! __________________ AMD Phenom 9550 Jetway JHA07 Ultra 2x2GB G.Skill DDR2 1066 BFG Tech 260 GTX

Feb 5, 2009, 05:29 PM	#2
~~scurvy~~ So Cutesy Wootsy Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 241 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Quick Question I don't think the x-fi has a hardware DD/DTS decoder built-in, cos for playing movies it uses the software decoder in PowerDVD. Now if u had a Logitech Z-5500 system u could plug the Xbox straight into that. If ur gonna get a blu ray player and want lossless master audio using ur Klipschs without a separate amplifier ur gonna have to settle for PDVD software decoding iam afraid. Last edited by scurvy; Feb 5, 2009 at 05:36 PM.

Feb 6, 2009, 11:26 PM	Thread Starter #4
CrMo4130 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: US Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Quick Question Actually, the Extigy does hardware decoding as it can decode without being plugged into the Pc.... __________________ AMD Phenom 9550 Jetway JHA07 Ultra 2x2GB G.Skill DDR2 1066 BFG Tech 260 GTX