software analog vs hardware digital decoding for dolby/DTS

Bellator · Jun 6, 2004, 08:50 PM

Hey guys,

I was wondering what your opinions are of onboard software decoding (ala Audigy series) for dobly and DTS vs hardware decoding found in some digital speakers. I currently own an Audigy 2 paired with a set of Logitech Z-680 speakers. currently when I watch movies I set the Audigy to digital out and let my speakers handle all of the decoding, instead of keeping the speakers on Analog 6 channel mode and letting the soundcard do the decoding.

In your guys's opinion is one obviously better than the other? If I do the ZS driver mod on my Audigy 2 I will have both dolby and DTS decoding available on my soundcard, and theoretically wouldnt ever have to use my speakers' decoder... is this advisable??

Bell the AuDiO n00B

Necrosis · Jun 6, 2004, 09:28 PM

Hardware is almost always better than software. Wish I had the digital decoder for my speakers.

**dj_stick** · Jun 9, 2004, 01:22 PM

sotftware decoding *can* be higher quality than hardware IF the hardware is crap, but this adds a large increase on the CPU usage

Jun 6, 2004, 08:50 PM	#1
Bellator DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 166 Rep Power: 0	software analog vs hardware digital decoding for dolby/DTS Hey guys, I was wondering what your opinions are of onboard software decoding (ala Audigy series) for dobly and DTS vs hardware decoding found in some digital speakers. I currently own an Audigy 2 paired with a set of Logitech Z-680 speakers. currently when I watch movies I set the Audigy to digital out and let my speakers handle all of the decoding, instead of keeping the speakers on Analog 6 channel mode and letting the soundcard do the decoding. In your guys's opinion is one obviously better than the other? If I do the ZS driver mod on my Audigy 2 I will have both dolby and DTS decoding available on my soundcard, and theoretically wouldnt ever have to use my speakers' decoder... is this advisable?? Bell the AuDiO n00B

Jun 6, 2004, 09:28 PM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Hardware is almost always better than software. Wish I had the digital decoder for my speakers.