How does Audigy 2 Digital out work?

[fyleow]

Hey guys,

I have a Panasonic Digital Amplifier I use with my speakers and I'm having problems getting the digital out to work with my Audigy 2. I'm confused about which connectors I need. Does the digital out on the back of the soundcard only work with creative speakers?

My understanding is I need a mini plug --> RCA and an RCA cable to hook it up to the composite digital input on my receiver. Is this right?

 

[Rempert]

Yes, you would be looking for an adapter that accepts RCA and fits into an 1/8" mono jack. For any type of 2 channel sound, it will work fine. For surround sound on movies (passthrough of Dolby Digital), it will work fine.

The part that only works with Creative speakers is if you want other surround sound effects that aren't Dolby/DTS encoded (e.g. 5.1 gaming) through the digital output. So if you want to game in surround sound, you will have to use the analog outs.

Oh yeah, the protected DVD-A format is disabled from the digital outputs no matter what, but you probably knew that already.

 

[sghoughton]

I've recent read it may be more than this (google for it). Apparently, the spdif off the card directly may not meet voltage standards for spdif - apparently it only works with creative speakers or systems with a wide range of tolerance built into the input. Sorry i dont have a bit more information, but i was looking into it and just didnt bother getting that card for another box i have because of it.

Apparently though, that doesnt apply to the breakout box. If you have the higher end version of the 2 zs.

 

[fyleow]

Gotta love creative

Ugh well what should I do? Maybe I'll just get a new sound card. Since I have a digital amplifier anyway should I just get an Audiophile USB? Or maybe an Emu 1212?

 

[maarek99]

Quote:

Apparently, the spdif off the card directly may not meet voltage standards for spdif

Was it that 0404 (or 1212m?) did not meet voltage standards either? Does it really matter?

 

[Fastjack]

I wouldn't worry too much about that voltage thing. Right now I am using the digital out of my Audigy 2 ZS connected to an M-Audio SuperDAC and it works fine. Just use a stereo or mono 1/8" to RCA converter and you will have the digital signal for the first two channels (and digital passthrough) at one of the RCA connectors.

When I first tried to figure out how to access the digital out of my Audigy I was as confused as you but in the end I found that I have had the necessary cable lying around all along. All is well

 

[fyleow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastjack I wouldn't worry too much about that voltage thing. Right now I am using the digital out of my Audigy 2 ZS connected to an M-Audio SuperDAC and it works fine. Just use a stereo or mono 1/8" to RCA converter and you will have the digital signal for the first two channels (and digital passthrough) at one of the RCA connectors. When I first tried to figure out how to access the digital out of my Audigy I was as confused as you but in the end I found that I have had the necessary cable lying around all along. All is well

Thanks, I was using a MINI -> RCA for analog and thought I needed to buy another cable but I just did what you said and it works now

Should I be setting the Audigy to 48 or 96 output? I thought music is usually in 44 anyway so how does that work?

 

[KyPeN]

Do NOT use analog out to the reciever. This is not a conventional reciever, it is digital. Thus, if you send it analog, it will convert it to digital. Hence, you will do a digital-to-analog-to-digital conversion. Do yourself a favor, and spend $30 for the Chaintech AV-710 so you can get bit-perfect out, and you will love it. I went from an Audigy to AV-710 and the change was nothing short of dramatic.

 

[fyleow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyPeN Do NOT use analog out to the reciever. This is not a conventional reciever, it is digital. Thus, if you send it analog, it will convert it to digital. Hence, you will do a digital-to-analog-to-digital conversion. Do yourself a favor, and spend $30 for the Chaintech AV-710 so you can get bit-perfect out, and you will love it. I went from an Audigy to AV-710 and the change was nothing short of dramatic.

I have it running on Digital out now, I had analog before since I gave up figuring out how to get it working and the sound is a lot better. What should I set the Audigy's output as though? 96 or 48 or does it not matter?

 

[maarek99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyPeN Do yourself a favor, and spend $30 for the Chaintech AV-710 so you can get bit-perfect out, and you will love it. I went from an Audigy to AV-710 and the change was nothing short of dramatic.

If you use digital out the change will not be dramatic.

 

[mattpwill]

People are dramatic about their use of dramatic lol

 

[PITTM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fyleow Gotta love creative Ugh well what should I do? Maybe I'll just get a new sound card. Since I have a digital amplifier anyway should I just get an Audiophile USB? Or maybe an Emu 1212?

why not go for the chaintech AV710?

rj

 

[KyPeN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maarek99 If you use digital out the change will not be dramatic.

It was for me. The jump from analog out of the Audigy using 48 khz resampler to the analog out of the Chaintech was what I would call a "dramatic" change for only $30. I can't hear (much) of a difference between analog and digital on the Chaintech.

 

[maarek99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyPeN It was for me. The jump from analog out of the Audigy using 48 khz resampler to the analog out of the Chaintech was what I would call a "dramatic" change for only $30. I can't hear (much) of a difference between analog and digital on the Chaintech.

Now you are talking about analog. If you use the digital on A2 it will sound the same as the digital on AV710. There will be resampling, but that can be resolved using a software resampler. And even if it isn't the difference won't be dramatic.

If you use the analog out, it is a completely different matter. But if you only use the digital out, there is no reason to swap A2 to another card.

 

[CSMR]

The E-MU 0404 has good digital out apparently.