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Integrating Sound Blaster X-Fi with home theater audio system

post #1 of 8
Thread Starter 
Here's what I'm trying to do. I hope I can make it clear enough to make sense.

On the simplest front, I'm trying to integrate a computer with a home theater system (or something like that). Here's the basic layout. But I think I'm missing at least one piece to make it all work.

Computer with Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card (has the green orange black blue outputs). I used to run this sound through a Klipsche 5.1 system until it died a month ago. Now I am planning on upgrading my television and getting a new 5.1 audio system and want to know how to get the computer's sound card output to connect with the home thewater's 5.1 system.

Will I need special adapters to go from whichever is the correct output of those green orange black blue outputs? I haven't seen any systems that have an input that will accept what my sound card is using for output, thus making me think I'm missing something.

So, before I buy, please advise.

Did I leave anything else out? Please ask. I'm a newbie at this, so please use appropriate language so I can undersand all the help you can give me.

--John/Ymir20Mil
post #2 of 8
Assuming the X-Fi will be connected to an AV receiver via analog, you will need three stereo 3.5mm mini-to-RCA cables. They look like the product in this link.

The mini ends go into the sound card, and the RCA ends go into the receiver's multichannel analog input.

Your X-Fi should also be able to bitstream DD and DTS signals via digital connectivity, as well as encode general purpose audio into 5.1 DD and/or DTS. However, I need to know the exact model of the card to know what it is capable of.
post #3 of 8
Does your PC have HDMI output? If so, you can also use that to connect to an Audio/Video Receiver (AVR) and have that power your new speakers.
post #4 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by amirm View Post
Does your PC have HDMI output? If so, you can also use that to connect to an Audio/Video Receiver (AVR) and have that power your new speakers.
post #5 of 8
Thread Starter 
Someone off the list suggested I try the optical out port. Since I've never used optical in/out for anything, I didn't even think of the optical out on the front panel of this sound card.

Whaddaya think, folks? Is this the solution? Is optical a valid and workable solution?

Or...would optical only output the CD/DVD? (I'm hoping to output ANY sound coming *from within* this computer *to* the 5.1 home theater system--not just the CD/DVD.)

--John
post #6 of 8
It is a good suggestion. But be sure to go in the control panel for the card to be sure you know how to turn it on. Many times the port is off by default.

Optical will output all of your sound, not just CD/DVD.

For best music fidelity, got to the Advanced properties of your sound card and change the sampling rate from 48 to 44.1.
post #7 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ymir20Mil View Post

Someone off the list suggested I try the optical out port. Since I've never used optical in/out for anything, I didn't even think of the optical out on the front panel of this sound card.

Whaddaya think, folks? Is this the solution? Is optical a valid and workable solution?

Or...would optical only output the CD/DVD? (I'm hoping to output ANY sound coming *from within* this computer *to* the 5.1 home theater system--not just the CD/DVD.)

--John

It is a good solution. You'll get audio for everything, but multichannel gaming audio will require Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive. These are real-time encoding solutions for SPDIF output that are ideal for multichannel sources that are not pre-encoded in DD or DTS. X-Fi cards typically have these encoders in their software suite out-of-the-box, but some Creative models require a separate purchase.

Your card should also support ASIO and/or WASAPI Exclusive for bit-perfect output of two-channel music with a player like foobar2000.
post #8 of 8
Thread Starter 
Thank you to everyone who offered up something to chew on. I think the optical out is the way to go for me. I'm not a gamer, so no need to bother that "multichannel gaming audio will require Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive" (though I'll keep that in mind if my tendencies shift toward that realm).

I feel comfortable and excited moving forward and putting this system together.

Thank you all!

--John
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