FAQ: Connecting the Audigy 2 ZS to your receiver - Page 3

Yep. Just use the Creative Labs speaker configuration to send signals to all the speakers and play with the cables until you get it hooked up right.

For 5.1:

One jack splits into Right/Left Front.
One jack splits into Right/Left Rear.
3rd jack splits into front speaker/subwoofer.

My Audigy 2 ZS came with a chart showing which connector was which, but you can figure it out easily from trial and error.

Check your Audigy manual for a pin-out diagram. It will tell you which mini jack splits into which channels.

Yep, you need 3 - 3-pole (2-channel) 1/8" mini plug to two RCA phono plug cables. Check your soundcard manual for a diagram showing the channel assignments.

I just finished setting up my audio connections today and finally got the s/pdif passthrough working with my audigy 2 to my denon 3803. Anyways I was playing the superbit spiderman today(looks great with zoomplayer and ffdshow btw), and halfway through I realized I was only playing the DD audio track. I went and switched over to the DTS track only to find there was no sound playing.

Any obvious reason for this? As I said I am using zoom player with the Ac3 filter on s/pdif passthrough mode. I have an audigy 2 hooked up with minjack y-splitter to the coax input on my denon. As I said DD was working fine but no dts....

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I cannot disable software decoding. there is no pass thru available in the audi Hq area so I guess I will have to go with Analog connections?

Have you checked the control panel? There is a "decoder" tab that turns on and off the installed decoder. Here is a picture of it.

Thanks for the pic pepar. It confirms what I thought, I do not have those tabs available.
I have a Dell Dimension XPS and I'll bet it's like a custome version or something. My card has a digital out on the back at the top of the card but I'll bet it isn't active or something like that.

That's silly, even from Dell. Perhaps you can uninstall the software - and maybe the card as well - and then install the full suite of Audigy software.

I know. I don't understand why those tabs aren't there. I would think that is on all the audigy stuff.
I had a problem with my USB ports on this PC and expecting my replacement tower from Dell any minute now so I will check into it.

I'm wondering though, if I shouldn't just use the 3 y connectors and go with multi channel in on my receiver.

If you game, you need to use the analog outs because your receiver will not decode EAX or A3D. If you have an Audigy 2 ZS and play DVD-A's, you need to use the analog outs because the Audigy will not pass DVD-A on the digital output. Otherwise - for DVD-Videos - use the digital out and let your receiver do the decoding.

Well, I do a mix of things so I guess Analog would be the way to go but then I wouldn't get 'dolby digital' would I?

The Audigy 2 decodes DD - up to DD EX (6.1).

Right, but I was concerned if I used the Analog outputs that I would not be getting true 5.1 like i do with a DVD player.

Here's my minor dilemma. I have a projector home theater set-up in my basement. I also have my computer set-up near by so I would like to connect my PC to the projector. I don't always want to use my PC on the projector though but somehow I would like to integrate this stuff together when I do decide to use it.
Unfortunately I bought these THX Logitech speakers which sound fantastic but if I use my receiver, these speakers go to waste.

Yes, you would get the same DD 5.1 (or 6.1) with the Audigy as you would with your receiver.

Your receiver switches digital audio? Has a 5.1 (or 7.1) passthrough?

I'm not sure about a 'passthrough' but it has multi in.

OK. Here's what I'm doing. The 7.1 analog output of the Audigy goes into my pre/pro's multi-channel input, essentially "bypass"-ing everything (but the volume control), and the Audigy's coaxial digital output goes to one of my pre/pro's digital inputs. The audio from DVD-videos played on my HTPC goes through this digital connection to my pre/pro as a DD or DTS stream and is decoded by my pre/pro. Game audio, decoded by the Audigy, on the analog outputs bypasses the pre/pro's controls - except for volume - and goes to my amps/speakers. As the pre/pro's circuits are bypassed, the setup for distance and level, etc, must be done on the Audigy's control panel. DVD-Audio, decoded by the Audigy, is also outputted via analog.

Did that help?

I CAN Connect Mine like that but I don't think I will get the digital to work.
I'll stick with analog I guess

Ok.

First off, you can't get Surround for games using Digital. 2ndly If you are going to a reciever with 5.1, you will need to get a 4 pole Mini to RCA cable.

the 4 pole cable is listed at monstercable's website as a video cam 8mm to RCA adapter. It has a Mini and 3 RCA's Yellow Red and White. The Yellow plugs into Sub, and White goes into Center, or something like that.


2ndly.

Most games don't program the EAX properly for the subwoofer, Battle Field 1942 is one of those, and farcry is the same. There might be a new patch for far cry that fixes the sub signaling. Try instralling the Games that came with the card, and try the 5.1 speaker setup for that game.

Also make sure you download creaitive labs. EAX4 Patch. That should fix any issues you are having if any exist.

That about wraps it up.

I must've missed your post Dean Martin.

Why would you think that?

Could you explain your statement? I'm not sure what you mean.

It's 2 - 4-pole mini-to-RCA's and 1 - 3-pole mini-to-RCA's to do 7.1. I've found that Radio Shack has a high quality 4-pole cable. It's actually a camcorder cable meant for stereo and composite video, and not displaed in their audio cable section.

Anyone used any of the Monster cables to hook your Audidgy 2 ZS to your AV receiver? My receiver is a 5.1 system, so according to this thread I should need 3 three pole (2 RCA plug) cables.

I was thinking about using one of the following cables:

Mini to RCA 2 plug #1


Mini to RCA 2 plug #2



I think the first one listed would be the best one to use as it looks more compact on the mini jack end to plug in to the card . Any ideas or suggestions?

Also, I know most people believe Monster to be overrated, overpriced, etc., so no flames please. I get Monster cables at a discount, but once I buy I can't return.

Thanks,
JT

Yes, the center-to-center distance between the jacks is not all that large, but who would expect it to be? Lotta stuff to fit on a single slot solution. I use Radio Shacks cables, so I know they work well.

I would just like to confirm... Does none of this work on a regular Sound Blaster Audigy? The back of mine has 6 holes, and the 5.1 sound speakers that came with my Dell computer hook into the first 3 jacks and create 5.1 sound. So I'm using those three holes trying to get 5.1 in Doom 3 in my theater room, but so far only the third hole is producing any sound...any ideas?

Audigy - 5.1 sound - EAX, A3D, etc - 3 jacks, all 2 channels per jack = 6 channels (5 + 1)

Audigy 2 - 6.1 - as above with Dolby Digital 6.1 - not 100% sure of the layout, but one of the 2-chanel jacks is now a 3-channel, or "4-pole" as CL likes to call it)

Audigy 2 ZS - 7.1 - as above adding THX certification and DVD-A - 3 jacks, 2 3-channel ones and 1 2-channel.

I now know for sure I should be getting 5.1. But I'm always getting stereo. Does anyone have ANY idea where my settings are screwed up? Only one of my output jacks is working, and my Persono Aidio Control Center is only reading TWO speakers, Left and Right. I have it set to play 5.1 in Persono, but it won't. It's downright STRANGE.

Sorry, I forgot to mention... I now have it hooked up to where I have played 5.1 before. I've heard it with my own ears. Only now it plays stereo. SOMETHING is wrong...