Is my sound card compatible with this home theater system?

ryeookin · 10-04-09, 10:31 PM

Under the specs for my sound card it shows the line out as:
Line Out Front/Rear/Center/Subwoofer/Rear Center

This doesn't seem to line up with the 5.1 sound of the speakers as they are listed as front, left, right and L/R surround. I don't know a great deal about audio hookup so I was hoping someone here who knows more then I could let me know if that aspect of the Panasonic HTIB relates a compatible/incompatibility with my sound card.

My sound card is a:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
(I'd post a link to the specs but it won't let me here. If you search its name above in google you'll see a hit in newegg with its specs.)

The home theater in a box I'm thinking of getting:
Panasonic SC-PT670 5.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System

Thanks you for your time.

Servicetech571 · 10-04-09, 11:06 PM

Just turn off the unused outputs.
If you're running a home theater in a box the onboard sound is good enough.

DJWikiera · 10-05-09, 07:09 AM

No, it won't work with that system. To use your sound card you need to have 5.1 analog inputs on the receiver to get surround sound.

scorrpio · 10-05-09, 09:12 AM

Your card should have a 'flex-jack', one of its purposes is digital output. You need a mono 3.5mm to RCA S/PDIF adapter (less than $1 at monoprice). And a coax digital audio cable. Run it to a coax digital input on your receiver. If you only have an optical input available, monoprice also has coax-optical converters for about $11.

In the settings for the sound card, set the flex jack to 'digital S/PDIF output'. At this point, you should be getting stereo (2-channel) sound from the HTIB. Next step: 5.1

There is a 'DDL Pack' available from Creative for $5. You can also check out the redocneXk hack - might work for you. Either takes your card's 5.1 output and encodes to Dolby Digital for pass-through over S/PDIF. Then, your receiver decodes it and you get 5.1 surround.

ryeookin · 10-06-09, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the replies!

Scorpio:
I did notice that sound blaster makes a digital I/O Module and it states:
(still can't post a link but if you google "digital I/O Module" you'll find it)

The Sound Blaster Digital I/O Module gives you optical and coaxial digital inputs and outputs for easy connections to digital speakers or home theater systems.

Dedicated optical and coaxial digital outputs
Easy connections to your digital speakers or home theater receiver for stereo music playback and pass through of multichannel DTS™ and Dolby® Digital movie sound.

Convenient optical and coaxial digital inputs
Digital inputs for connecting to and recording from other digital audio devices.

Would this make things easier or better then using just a digital coax cable? Also would it have any effect on needing encoding?

ryeookin · 10-06-09, 10:37 PM

DJWikiera:

So I have to have analog 5.1 inputs on a receiver or I won't get my 5.1 sound?

Knucklehead90 · 10-06-09, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeookin

DJWikiera:

So I have to have analog 5.1 inputs on a receiver or I won't get my 5.1 sound?

No - you need to use the coax out from your sound card. It does not have optical out or I'd suggest that.

As someone else suggested use the 'flex' output jack of the sound card. Its the top port and is a 3.5mm jack - you'll need an adapter to plug it into your AVR. You'll also have to 'tell' the card what your intended use of this port is - for spdif output in your case.

scorrpio · 10-07-09, 11:56 AM

Hmm, actually according to XtremeGamer spec , the flexjack is optical-capablle. If so, I recommend this adapter plus a regular Toslink cable. Monoprice does sell 'Toslink to Miniplug' cables, but if you ever change to a different sound solution that either has regular optical out, or a coax that needs to be converted, a standard Toslink cable will serve you better.

I looked up your HTIB - if you want multiuchannel sound , you must use optical, since only other audio input your HTIB has is plain analog stereo.

About the I/O module: do you actually plan to record digital sound from an outside source on your PC? Or you just want to send quality sound to your HTIB? If all you want is an output, I/O module is a waste. It's a proprietary dongle that will become useless if you move from the X-Fi card to something else.

ryeookin · 10-07-09, 03:46 PM

Appreciate the replies.

Scorrpio:
Thanks for the very helpful detailed info! I'll be following your instructions in the above post (toslink to miniplug + regular toscable).

Speaking of which, I have one question though. Do I still need to purchase the DDL pack or check out that hack or does the fact that I'll be using different plugs translates to I don't need them now?

PS- Also I don't need an input on my sound card except for at times in the past I hooked up my guitar to my pc to mess around doing some recordings but I haven't used it in awhile so I don't really care. To answer your question nope, I just need digital out so I'll follow your instructions.

10-04-09, 10:31 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
ryeookin New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Is my sound card compatible with this home theater system? Under the specs for my sound card it shows the line out as: Line Out Front/Rear/Center/Subwoofer/Rear Center This doesn't seem to line up with the 5.1 sound of the speakers as they are listed as front, left, right and L/R surround. I don't know a great deal about audio hookup so I was hoping someone here who knows more then I could let me know if that aspect of the Panasonic HTIB relates a compatible/incompatibility with my sound card. My sound card is a: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail (I'd post a link to the specs but it won't let me here. If you search its name above in google you'll see a hit in newegg with its specs.) The home theater in a box I'm thinking of getting: Panasonic SC-PT670 5.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System Thanks you for your time.

10-06-09, 10:34 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
ryeookin New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Thanks for the replies! Scorpio: I did notice that sound blaster makes a digital I/O Module and it states: (still can't post a link but if you google "digital I/O Module" you'll find it) The Sound Blaster Digital I/O Module gives you optical and coaxial digital inputs and outputs for easy connections to digital speakers or home theater systems. Dedicated optical and coaxial digital outputs Easy connections to your digital speakers or home theater receiver for stereo music playback and pass through of multichannel DTS™ and Dolby® Digital movie sound. Convenient optical and coaxial digital inputs Digital inputs for connecting to and recording from other digital audio devices. Would this make things easier or better then using just a digital coax cable? Also would it have any effect on needing encoding?

10-04-09, 11:06 PM	#2 \| Link
Servicetech571 OTA only Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,920	Just turn off the unused outputs. If you're running a home theater in a box the onboard sound is good enough.

10-05-09, 07:09 AM	#3 \| Link
DJWikiera Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kissimmee, FL. Posts: 989	No, it won't work with that system. To use your sound card you need to have 5.1 analog inputs on the receiver to get surround sound.

10-05-09, 09:12 AM	#4 \| Link
scorrpio Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 173	Your card should have a 'flex-jack', one of its purposes is digital output. You need a mono 3.5mm to RCA S/PDIF adapter (less than $1 at monoprice). And a coax digital audio cable. Run it to a coax digital input on your receiver. If you only have an optical input available, monoprice also has coax-optical converters for about $11. In the settings for the sound card, set the flex jack to 'digital S/PDIF output'. At this point, you should be getting stereo (2-channel) sound from the HTIB. Next step: 5.1 There is a 'DDL Pack' available from Creative for $5. You can also check out the redocneXk hack - might work for you. Either takes your card's 5.1 output and encodes to Dolby Digital for pass-through over S/PDIF. Then, your receiver decodes it and you get 5.1 surround.

10-06-09, 10:37 PM	#6 \| Link
ryeookin New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	DJWikiera: So I have to have analog 5.1 inputs on a receiver or I won't get my 5.1 sound?

10-07-09, 11:56 AM	#8 \| Link
scorrpio Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 173	Hmm, actually according to XtremeGamer spec , the flexjack is optical-capablle. If so, I recommend this adapter plus a regular Toslink cable. Monoprice does sell 'Toslink to Miniplug' cables, but if you ever change to a different sound solution that either has regular optical out, or a coax that needs to be converted, a standard Toslink cable will serve you better. I looked up your HTIB - if you want multiuchannel sound , you must use optical, since only other audio input your HTIB has is plain analog stereo. About the I/O module: do you actually plan to record digital sound from an outside source on your PC? Or you just want to send quality sound to your HTIB? If all you want is an output, I/O module is a waste. It's a proprietary dongle that will become useless if you move from the X-Fi card to something else.

10-07-09, 03:46 PM	#9 \| Link
ryeookin New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Appreciate the replies. Scorrpio: Thanks for the very helpful detailed info! I'll be following your instructions in the above post (toslink to miniplug + regular toscable). Speaking of which, I have one question though. Do I still need to purchase the DDL pack or check out that hack or does the fact that I'll be using different plugs translates to I don't need them now? PS- Also I don't need an input on my sound card except for at times in the past I hooked up my guitar to my pc to mess around doing some recordings but I haven't used it in awhile so I don't really care. To answer your question nope, I just need digital out so I'll follow your instructions.