Sound card Advice.

[-Deleted-]

Hey guys i need a hand choosing a sound card and also whether i need one or not.

I have this Motherboard -

http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77V/#overview

I'm currently using an optical cable from the onboard optical to my 5.1 Panasonic surround sound - http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/SC-PT460/Specification/6248858/index.html?view=&angle=1

Now this is where my lovely setup falls flat on its face...The surround sound only picks up 2 channel, Opening the sound settings on the computer and checking the properties of the Optical output I can only select 2chnl outputs.

Will a new sound card solve this problem? I've been looking at the Asus ones as I'm a big fan of their stuff, ideally below ?40 (lower the better) Also would that give me 5.1 output to my surround sound receiver so that i can play games in 5.1/watch movies to their full potential?

Thanks

Dave.

[lnmnky]

Do you have any settings in the sound card software to "bypass" and allow the Panny to decode it for you (instead of the onboard sound outputting 2.0)

See if you can find this on your software...

DTS Connect

Expand Your PC Audio Experience

To get the most out of your audio entertainment across all formats and quality levels, DTS Connect combines two enabling technologies. DTS Neo:PC? upmixes stereo sources (CDs, MP3s, WMAs, internet radio) into as many as 7.1 channels of incredible surround sound. Consumers can then connect their PC to a home theater system.DTS Interactive is capable of performing multi-channel encoding of DTS bitstreams on personal computers, and sending encoded bitstreams out of a digital audio connection (such as S/PDIF or HDMI) designed to deliver audio to an external decoder.

[-Deleted-]

I have Realtek HD Audio manager installed, but the settings are weak, Not really sure how to use the software :s

[lnmnky]

I have Realtek HD Audio manager installed, but the settings are weak, Not really sure how to use the software :s

You might be out of luck for games / movies that don't have a true DTS source.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/290647-10-enabling-surround-sound-realtek-alc892-spdif-windows

[-Deleted-]

http://i45.tinypic.com/35mjts2.jpg

That's the settings i have...

[lnmnky]

What's the option spanner, bottom right?

[-Deleted-]

http://i48.tinypic.com/2retaol.jpg

Thats the only options it gives :s

[technician27]

If you want high quality sound for games and movies you need sound card and you will see how much is the difference. I dont know how much you want to spend but check this 2 sound cards

CREATIVE SB RECON3D PROFESSIONAL PCI-E Sound Card

ASUS SOUNDCARD XONAR DS. PCI. DTS CONNECT DS3D GX FOR GAMING Mfr part : XONAR DS/A

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

If you want high quality sound for games and movies you need sound card and you will see how much is the difference. I dont know how much you want to spend but check this 2 sound cards

CREATIVE SB RECON3D PROFESSIONAL PCI-E Sound Card

ASUS SOUNDCARD XONAR DS. PCI. DTS CONNECT DS3D GX FOR GAMING Mfr part : XONAR DS/A

Creative is releasing there new Sound Blaster Z line of cards to replace the Recon3d cards.

[remixedcat]

The best thing is DAC and good rec. and speakers or studio monitors.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Now this is where my lovely setup falls flat on its face...The surround sound only picks up 2 channel, Opening the sound settings on the computer and checking the properties of the Optical output I can only select 2chnl outputs.

This problem was my nemesis too for the longest time.

From my experience, the optical output can only pass-through an already existing multichannel sound - a stereo signal would always come out as stereo on my Pioneer Elite A/V no matter what I tried to do.

I solved the problem by installing Asus Xonar HDAV Deluxe card and by using the HDMI output specifically.

I can now play any stereo file on the PC and the Asus Xonar converts it on-the-fly to any multichannel format - DTS, Dolby, 5.1 or 7.1! - but it does so only with the HDMI output; using the optical cable, this card behaves as the others I owned before it.