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Audio noob needs connectivity help

post #1 of 3
2/13/12 at 8:33am
Thread Starter 

Aloha,

 

I'm about to upgrade my equipment for gaming and music.

I'm currently using a Plantronics Gamecom 777 USB headset, which isn't going to last very long till it's cracked next to the headband.

I'm using a Toshiba Satellite L6xx (gonna check that when I'm home) Laptop.

 

I was about to buy a Steelseries 7H USB when i thought about doing it right and getting a proper Stereo-Headphone.

Because I'm using a Laptop the soundquality wouldn't be that great especially for FPS gaming.

 

Then i was thinking of getting an external soundcard or mixamp.

 

At the moment I am considering getting either the Audio Technica ATH AD700 or the Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO (plus the Zalman Mic that seems to be everyones choice. I think it was something like ZM1)

 

I'm going to test them in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

My biggest question now is what to get as an external soundcard or mixamp.

 

I was considering the following:

 

Creative Soundblaster X-Fi: Go! Pro; Surround 5.1 Pro; HD (looks like all of them don't seem to fit my needs properly)

 

Fiio E10 (no Surround sound)

____________________________

Astro Mixamp Pro or 5.8 --> these seem to fit my needs but I have a problem with the connectivity.

 

Can I connect them to my Laptop and enjoy all of their features?

 

I don't have a Toslink jack on my Laptop.

 

From what I have read I would need to use the optical cable for it to be able to use the game/voice sound balance knob.

I don't even have a problem if I couldn't use that because I'm rarely using Teamspeak or the like. I just need the external Mic because my Laptop Mic picks up everything that is going on in my room when I'm skyping.

 

From what I have read there is an adapter from toslink to 3,5mm audio jack. Can I use that to get the full surround feature of the Astro Mixamps?

I think there are different 3,5mm audio jacks. Some support optical signals and some don't. Because I'm not at home at this moment I can't exactly say if my Laptop does support optical signals.

_____________________________

 

So, considering that I will be able to sort out if my Laptop does support this, can someone tell me if I can use the Astro Mixamp on my Laptop with either one of the two Headphones (AD700 or DT770 Pro) and the external Mic.

I want good stereo sound for music and the full surround features of the Astro Mixamp.

If the only problem using the USB connection instead of the optical connection is that I wouldn't be able to use the game/voice balance knob (I think on the 5.8) I could live with that. I was want the complete sound experience. I that is still the case via USB I'm fine.

 

 

If there are any communication problems please ask as I'm a total noob in this field and I'm German so there could be a language problem here and there. If you would also consider different hardware feel free to express your opinion. I started at about 8 different headphones.

 

Thanks in advance if you take some of your valuable time to help me.


Edited by torpedoPhil - 2/13/12 at 8:40am
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post #2 of 3
2/13/12 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 

So, as it turns out I have the Toshiba Satellite L500-164 with the following specifications:

http://de.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/jsp/SUPPORTSECTION/discontinuedProductPage.do?service=DE&toshibaShop=false&BV_UseBVCookie=yes&PRODUCT_ID=1072417&BV_Script=/jsp/fixup/productPage

 

It's in German, but I think you can figure out what you need to know to help me. Or just ask and I'll translate.

 

Thanks

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post #3 of 3
2/13/12 at 10:03pm

I think you should try to prioritize.

Is gaming all your care about?  I doubt the Astro Mixamp works well for music.  The DT770 Pro isn't easy to drive- I have the DT990 Pro which has the same impedance. 

 

I'm skeptical of Dolby surround, but I suggest you read some reviews- it may be better than I think.  For gaming you may be better off with a surround headset and a USB surround card.  Pretty much any surround card will have a mic input.  Any gaming headset will have mic built in.

 

If you want good sound with something that can drive a DT770 Pro, I suggest getting a USB headphone amp.  I don't think that stereo gaming is going to be much of a problem- but it depends on what you want.  Another route is just getting a decent external sound card that supports Dolby headphone and has ability to drive headphones well.  You could get that Zalman and attach it to your headset.  Then just plug the thing into the mic input on the audio card.

 

As far as good external sound cards that can drive headphones well and support Dolby headphone, you may need to start a thread.  I think there are some out there, but I can say I have been less than impressed with most external sound cards.

 

If you still want to go the Astro Mixamp route, consider the following:

There are digital coax 3.5mm to RCA monopole cables (purely electrical digital.)

There are optical TOSLINK to 3.5mm cables (purely optical digital.)

I don't know of any TOSLINK optical to 3.5mm analog "cables" (these would either have a DAC or an ADC in them depending on usage) that aren't actually DACs or ADCs or an interface with a DAC or ADC inside...  There are a multitude of sound interfaces that convert analog into optical and vice versa.

 

 

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