Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio

4real*leb · 11-10-2007, 12:29 PM

Hello, I currently have a sound card (onboard) that has an output for a fiber optic connection. However, my speakers (Logitech X-540) do not have an input for fiber optics, only analog. I saw headphones which come with an external decoder, that outputs 5.1 analog connections form and optical source (TRI-GA600).The reason I do not want to use those is because they are $150,for both, and I would only ever use the G9 adapter. Is there any alternate product or method that would allow for me to achieve the same task, without wasting any money?

traveler · 11-10-2007, 05:22 PM

There are alternative products but I have not seen any for less than $100.

Assuming you have the cables to connect the speakers to the sound card, use them. The analog connection to your sound card will sound the same.

4real*leb · 11-10-2007, 06:52 PM

Well, I intend to use my speaker not only for the PC, but also for the Xbox 360.

traveler · 11-10-2007, 10:38 PM

I don't know a thing about the xbox. I passed on the xbox since they are just too limiting. And you just found one of the many limiting things about them.

4real*leb · 11-10-2007, 11:09 PM

Well its got an optical out for audio, hence my reason to use it.

traveler · 11-11-2007, 01:53 AM

You will need to find a speaker set with optical in that you like.

Or if the soundcard on your PC has an optical in, you can run the optical cable from your xbox to your PC. My PC Creative Labs soundcard does have an optical in and an optical out as well as the analog inputs and outputs.

4real*leb · 11-11-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveler

You will need to find a speaker set with optical in that you like.

Or if the soundcard on your PC has an optical in, you can run the optical cable from your xbox to your PC. My PC Creative Labs soundcard does have an optical in and an optical out as well as the analog inputs and outputs.

Sounds good, is it possible to change an input jack change into an output. I remeber being able to do so through a setting in the software on my old pc.

FightingChance · 11-11-2007, 04:58 PM

I think we need to understand a little more about what's going on, to find out what we need.

The Xbox (and Xbox360) have two options for output: Traditional stereo via red and white RCA cables, and Dolby Digital AC3 via an optional TOSlink (optical) link. When the sound information leaves the Xbox (or PC), it either leaves as analog electrical signal, which speakers understand natively, or as a digital signal, which needs decoding. A 'decoder' can be anything that decodes formatted signals, but is usually a traditional home theater receiver. Myself, I use a Panasonic SA-XR25 slim reciever for my PC sound. Optical link from my PC's onboard sound to the reciever, then decoded, then outputted to my 5.1 system (4 Klipsch quintet speakers and a Dual 6" sub.) The good part about this, is that if I had an Xbox here, I could just plug it into the reciever as well and utilize the same speakers in the same way.

What I'm getting down to, is that you're probably not going to find just speakers that have an optical in - a digital signal is passed out of a game or movie, through the sound card and out, and needs decoding. There are some PC centric speaker systems that can do this, such as the Logitech Z-5500 digital speakers (some older Logitech sets do as well.)

4real*leb · 11-11-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingChance

I think we need to understand a little more about what's going on, to find out what we need.

The Xbox (and Xbox360) have two options for output: Traditional stereo via red and white RCA cables, and Dolby Digital AC3 via an optional TOSlink (optical) link. When the sound information leaves the Xbox (or PC), it either leaves as analog electrical signal, which speakers understand natively, or as a digital signal, which needs decoding. A 'decoder' can be anything that decodes formatted signals, but is usually a traditional home theater receiver. Myself, I use a Panasonic SA-XR25 slim reciever for my PC sound. Optical link from my PC's onboard sound to the reciever, then decoded, then outputted to my 5.1 system (4 Klipsch quintet speakers and a Dual 6" sub.) The good part about this, is that if I had an Xbox here, I could just plug it into the reciever as well and utilize the same speakers in the same way.

What I'm getting down to, is that you're probably not going to find just speakers that have an optical in - a digital signal is passed out of a game or movie, through the sound card and out, and needs decoding. There are some PC centric speaker systems that can do this, such as the Logitech Z-5500 digital speakers (some older Logitech sets do as well.)

That has got to be the best breakdown I've heard. Thank you, so do you have any suggestions for which reciever I should purchase. The headsets (that include a decoder) are around $120.

FightingChance · 11-11-2007, 06:00 PM

Any reciever that at least can do Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby DTS will work fine, which is basically every receiver made in the last 5 years that's not the lowest end of the line. (Amplifiers won't do; they have no mixing or decoding capabilities.)

Newer and better receivers can also do other formats, like Dolby Prologic IIx, which is great for Gamecube and Wii games, and other 2 channel sources. Some onboard PC sound chips also support Dolby Digital Live, which can take PC games and wrap their sound in that DDL format, which the reciever can decode and make a virtual surround soundstage out of.

Here's a matrix of Dolby technologies: Link: Technologies Overview Quite confusing with a fair amount of overlap, but pay particular attention to Dolby Digital Live and Prologic IIx entries.

Check your local Craigslist and eBay for used home theater equipment; people upgrade or move all the time and need to sell their stuff. As a bonus, you also get to use more traditional speakers instead of PC speakers, which are often sub-par quality wise.

4real*leb · 11-11-2007, 06:14 PM

Well, I was planning to use my pc speakers anyway, so do most recievers include analog outputs?

FightingChance · 11-11-2007, 07:07 PM

Depends on the type of PC speakers; you'll probably need some minijack (3.5mm) to RCA connectors. From this picture:

It seems that all the satellites plug into the sub, and the sub plugs into the computer. Basically, you'll need three stereo minijack to RCA connectors; the RCA stereo pairs will plug into the reciever's outputs for that kind of connector (many recievers allow you to use either traditional copper cable speaker wire or terminated wires, usually RCA type.)

4real*leb · 11-11-2007, 07:13 PM

That's perfect since I have received three RCA to minijack plugs with the last three speakers I have purchased. So all I need is a receiver, what do you think of the Pioneer 5.1 Channel A/V Receiver VSX-517-K? (I Cannot post link)

FightingChance · 11-11-2007, 07:36 PM

It has 2 Coax and 1 optical input, which could be an issue depending on your PC's digital out; the Xbox I know uses optical. You would be forced to get an optical to coax converter, which is fine but needlessly expensive. Everything else seems okay.

4real*leb · 11-11-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingChance

It has 2 Coax and 1 optical input, which could be an issue depending on your PC's digital out; the Xbox I know uses optical. You would be forced to get an optical to coax converter, which is fine but needlessly expensive. Everything else seems okay.

Hmm, I just noticed that. I decide I am just going to go with the
Sony 5.1-Channel HDMI Receiver STRDG510. It has HDMI and supports many types of Dolby Digital.

11-10-2007, 12:29 PM	#1
4real*leb Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Hello, I currently have a sound card (onboard) that has an output for a fiber optic connection. However, my speakers (Logitech X-540) do not have an input for fiber optics, only analog. I saw headphones which come with an external decoder, that outputs 5.1 analog connections form and optical source (TRI-GA600).The reason I do not want to use those is because they are $150,for both, and I would only ever use the G9 adapter. Is there any alternate product or method that would allow for me to achieve the same task, without wasting any money?
(Offline)

11-10-2007, 05:22 PM	#2
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,177	There are alternative products but I have not seen any for less than $100. Assuming you have the cables to connect the speakers to the sound card, use them. The analog connection to your sound card will sound the same.
(Offline)

11-10-2007, 06:52 PM	#3
4real*leb Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Well, I intend to use my speaker not only for the PC, but also for the Xbox 360.
(Offline)

11-10-2007, 10:38 PM	#4
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,177	I don't know a thing about the xbox. I passed on the xbox since they are just too limiting. And you just found one of the many limiting things about them.
(Offline)

11-10-2007, 11:09 PM	#5
4real*leb Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Well its got an optical out for audio, hence my reason to use it.
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 01:53 AM	#6
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,177	You will need to find a speaker set with optical in that you like. Or if the soundcard on your PC has an optical in, you can run the optical cable from your xbox to your PC. My PC Creative Labs soundcard does have an optical in and an optical out as well as the analog inputs and outputs.
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 04:58 PM	#8
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio I think we need to understand a little more about what's going on, to find out what we need. The Xbox (and Xbox360) have two options for output: Traditional stereo via red and white RCA cables, and Dolby Digital AC3 via an optional TOSlink (optical) link. When the sound information leaves the Xbox (or PC), it either leaves as analog electrical signal, which speakers understand natively, or as a digital signal, which needs decoding. A 'decoder' can be anything that decodes formatted signals, but is usually a traditional home theater receiver. Myself, I use a Panasonic SA-XR25 slim reciever for my PC sound. Optical link from my PC's onboard sound to the reciever, then decoded, then outputted to my 5.1 system (4 Klipsch quintet speakers and a Dual 6" sub.) The good part about this, is that if I had an Xbox here, I could just plug it into the reciever as well and utilize the same speakers in the same way. What I'm getting down to, is that you're probably not going to find just speakers that have an optical in - a digital signal is passed out of a game or movie, through the sound card and out, and needs decoding. There are some PC centric speaker systems that can do this, such as the Logitech Z-5500 digital speakers (some older Logitech sets do as well.)
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 06:00 PM	#10
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Any reciever that at least can do Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby DTS will work fine, which is basically every receiver made in the last 5 years that's not the lowest end of the line. (Amplifiers won't do; they have no mixing or decoding capabilities.) Newer and better receivers can also do other formats, like Dolby Prologic IIx, which is great for Gamecube and Wii games, and other 2 channel sources. Some onboard PC sound chips also support Dolby Digital Live, which can take PC games and wrap their sound in that DDL format, which the reciever can decode and make a virtual surround soundstage out of. Here's a matrix of Dolby technologies: Link: Technologies Overview Quite confusing with a fair amount of overlap, but pay particular attention to Dolby Digital Live and Prologic IIx entries. Check your local Craigslist and eBay for used home theater equipment; people upgrade or move all the time and need to sell their stuff. As a bonus, you also get to use more traditional speakers instead of PC speakers, which are often sub-par quality wise.
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 06:14 PM	#11
4real*leb Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Well, I was planning to use my pc speakers anyway, so do most recievers include analog outputs?
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 07:07 PM	#12
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio Depends on the type of PC speakers; you'll probably need some minijack (3.5mm) to RCA connectors. From this picture: It seems that all the satellites plug into the sub, and the sub plugs into the computer. Basically, you'll need three stereo minijack to RCA connectors; the RCA stereo pairs will plug into the reciever's outputs for that kind of connector (many recievers allow you to use either traditional copper cable speaker wire or terminated wires, usually RCA type.)
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 07:13 PM	#13
4real*leb Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio That's perfect since I have received three RCA to minijack plugs with the last three speakers I have purchased. So all I need is a receiver, what do you think of the Pioneer 5.1 Channel A/V Receiver VSX-517-K? (I Cannot post link)
(Offline)

11-11-2007, 07:36 PM	#14
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Re: Fiber Optic To 5.1 Analog Audio It has 2 Coax and 1 optical input, which could be an issue depending on your PC's digital out; the Xbox I know uses optical. You would be forced to get an optical to coax converter, which is fine but needlessly expensive. Everything else seems okay.
(Offline)

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