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Help with Audio Out to Logitech Z-5500 Speakers

post #1 of 15
5/20/12 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Hey everyone, I'm new to the HTPC community and just built an Ivy Bridge based HTPC. I'm a little confused about how exactly to connect it to my Logitech Z-5500 speakers. Currently I do not have an A/V receiver and run HDMI out to my TV for video but I'm not sure the best way to use the onboard audio to connect to the Z-5500.

The inputs on the Z-5500 are optical, coaxial, and 6-channel direct (I'm assuming analog). Should I just connect an optical cable from my motherboard to the speakers? Thanks so much for the help!
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post #2 of 15
5/20/12 at 5:31pm
Quote:


Should I just connect an optical cable from my motherboard to the speakers?

Optical or coaxial would be your best bet, if your motherboard has those outputs.
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post #3 of 15
5/20/12 at 6:00pm
Optical or Coaxial
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post #4 of 15
5/21/12 at 4:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Myrkul23 View Post

The inputs on the Z-5500 are optical, coaxial, and 6-channel direct (I'm assuming analog). Should I just connect an optical cable from my motherboard to the speakers? Thanks so much for the help!

Depends on which file types you wish to play.

If you wish to play only DVDs, then SPDIF (Optical or Co-Axial) is the best.
If you wish to play BDs, then you will need to use the 6-channel Analog outs from your board.

The difference:
SPDIF will carry the digital audio track directly from the file and send it to the Z-5500. However, it doesn't have enough bandwidth to carry HD audio, hence HD audio tracks will be decoded onboard the HTPC (by the software player). The analog audio tracks will be sent as separate channels over the 5.1 line outs (6-channel direct) to your 5500.
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post #5 of 15
5/21/12 at 4:16am
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Originally Posted by hirent View Post

Depends on which file types you wish to play.

If you wish to play only DVDs, then SPDIF (Optical or Co-Axial) is the best.
If you wish to play BDs, then you will need to use the 6-channel Analog outs from your board.

The difference:
SPDIF will carry the digital audio track directly from the file and send it to the Z-5500. However, it doesn't have enough bandwidth to carry HD audio, hence HD audio tracks will be decoded onboard the HTPC (by the software player). The analog audio tracks will be sent as separate channels over the 5.1 line outs (6-channel direct) to your 5500.

Sorry but those speakers you won't even be able to tell DD to TrueHD
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post #6 of 15
5/21/12 at 6:10am
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Originally Posted by TheTinkerer View Post

Sorry but those speakers you won't even be able to tell DD to TrueHD

Yes, but that's not the point.
SPDIF will only carry 2-channel PCM (stereo HD) audio track while analog allows all 6 channels.
Software can down-mix HD audio to DD or DTS.
Sound quality of course depends on speaker quality but I would rather have analog HD audio than DD/DTS even with these speakers.
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post #7 of 15
5/21/12 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hirent View Post

Yes, but that's not the point.
SPDIF will only carry 2-channel PCM (stereo HD) audio track while analog allows all 6 channels.
Sound quality of course depends on speaker quality.

SPDIF can carry DD and DTS just fine, no?

I agree that he won't be able to tell the difference with HD Audio on that setup.
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post #8 of 15
5/21/12 at 7:25am
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Originally Posted by assassin View Post

SPDIF can carry DD and DTS just fine, no?

I agree that he won't be able to tell the difference with HD Audio on that setup.

I believe that spdif would be fine for lossy DD and DTS, but spdif cannot carry multichannel HD pcm audio, e.g. 5.1 channel 24/192 streams.
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post #9 of 15
5/21/12 at 7:27am
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Originally Posted by audit13 View Post

I believe that spdif would be fine for lossy DD and DTS, but spdif cannot carry multichannel HD pcm audio, e.g. 5.1 channel 24/192 streams.

Correct.
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post #10 of 15
5/21/12 at 7:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

SPDIF can carry DD and DTS just fine, no?
I agree that he won't be able to tell the difference with HD Audio on that setup.

Yes.
However, my point was more towards obtaining the best signal possible with the resources that he has. (I was editing my post while you were posting yours).
I don't have 'audiophile' ears but (few years ago) I ran tests on my bedroom setup which comprises of Creative 7.1 speakers working with a Audigy 7.1 card.
A DVD or BD playing with SPDIF sound gave me rumblings/booming sound during some scenes (mostly action driven). Same scenes with analog HD audio sounded better & cleaner with none of the rumblings & hollow booms.
Even with computer speakers it is possible to make out subtle differences between SPDIF and analog HD audio.
For the most part, there is not a wide difference between the two connections. But if you already have the option of 6-channel analog, I would always go for that over SPDIF (for multi-channel HD audio).
Cheers!
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post #11 of 15
5/21/12 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hirent View Post

Yes.
However, my point was more towards obtaining the best signal possible with the resources that he has. (I was editing my post while you were posting yours).
I don't have 'audiophile' ears but (few years ago) I ran tests on my bedroom setup which comprises of Creative 7.1 speakers working with a Audigy 7.1 card.
A DVD or BD playing with SPDIF sound gave me rumblings/booming sound during some scenes (mostly action driven). Same scenes with analog HD audio sounded better & cleaner with none of the rumblings & hollow booms.
Even with computer speakers it is possible to make out subtle differences between SPDIF and analog HD audio.
For the most part, there is not a wide difference between the two connections. But if you already have the option of 6-channel analog, I would always go for that over SPDIF (for multi-channel HD audio).
Cheers!

I see what you are saying.

My advice if he is that concerned about sound quality would be to upgrade his speakers and AVR before he even thinks about his HTPC.
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post #12 of 15
5/21/12 at 8:32am
You need to decide whether the DAC on your motherboard is better or worse than the DAC in your speakers.

If you have the cables to do the six-channel analog (should be three 1/8"?), give it a try. Then compare it with S/PDIF and stick with that sounds better to your ears.

The posts above are correct that HD audio from blu-rays can't be sent over S/PDIF, but the discs do contain (usually) a downmixed version of the audio that can. You won't be able to hear the difference on those speakers, so don't worry about it.
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post #13 of 15
5/22/12 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much for the info. Based on what you guys said I have a couple of questions...

First, someone mentioned that the optical connection only is capable of 2.1... does that mean surround sound is out with this connection?

Also, if I'm going to use the 6-channel direct what cable would I use to connect from my PC's motherboard to the speakers? Thanks again!
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post #14 of 15
5/22/12 at 11:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Myrkul23 View Post

Thanks so much for the info. Based on what you guys said I have a couple of questions...

First, someone mentioned that the optical connection only is capable of 2.1... does that mean surround sound is out with this connection?

Also, if I'm going to use the 6-channel direct what cable would I use to connect from my PC's motherboard to the speakers? Thanks again!

Optical can only send two channel uncompressed (PCM). It can do Dolby Digital and DTS just fine, assuming your speakers can decode those.

For six-channel direct, you'll need three 3.5mm cables. Then just match those up with the correct colors on your soundcard/motherboard. They usually go green (FL/FR), black (SL/SR), and orange (C/SUB).
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post #15 of 15
5/22/12 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, that helps a lot. Out of curiosity, if I have an AVR how do I dictate where the audio is decoded (speakers vs. HTPC)?
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