Hoping someone can help here. I've hooked up my PC to my Marantz SR8001 receiver and have utilized the HDMI connector on my video card for the sound output. However this does not allow me to control any of the Soundblaster X-Fi sound card audio properties, such as the equalizer. I purchased a 3.5mm to RCA adapter that I plugged into the Digital Out port on the sound card, and connected to the Auxillary on the receiver. In my OS sound properties, I have three choiced for Playback devices. ATI HDMI Audio, Soundblaster X-Fi Speakers, and the SPDIF connector. I tried selecting the SPDIF option however I still get no sound. I've tried a different RCA cable too. I do have 3 digital input connections on my receiver. However I don't have a cable to test if I can get one of those to work.
I understand running it through the HDMI will not allow me to control the sound card. But how I can hook this up so that I can control the sound card properties?
My sound card has a Digital Out port which is a 3.5mm jack. I have an adapter plugged into it that splits out to RCA connectors for Right and Left. I ran cable to the auxillaries, CD, and DVD ports however was not able to get any sound. I was able to hear a crackle if I plugged/unplugged the connectors, so I know there is some sort of connection taking place.
Do I need to get a 3.5mm to S/PDIF adapter that will plug into the 3.5mm Digital Out jack on the sound card and into a Digital In port on the receiver?
Is the 3.5mm jack for TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) plug? in other words, stereo? If yes, than it probably isn't digital out, which would be mono. Don't forget that Coaxial digital is just a single, RCA ended cable. You don't need a 'splitter' to get stereo from a digital output. The DAC does the splitting for you.
Apple has a 'better' idea. My apple stuff has a 3.5mm plug for headphones or you can use a splitter to a pair of RCAs. INSIDE the same jack is an OPTICAL output for which you need a Mini-Toslink. The split off RCAs are strictly analogue. Adaptors to mini-toslink are about 2$ each.
I'd say, yes, try the optical. There are also various fairly inexpensive ways to change optical to coaxial and also the other way.....
Forget the sound blaster settings and just take the straight digital feed.
I use now te same stereo cable for digital as well that the same jack output, I simply go in Realtek menu to activated the output on "digital". I use one of both RCA output.
Unfortunatly this output not work for all files, usualy it work fine on Mp3, wave, midi, AC3.
Sorry, Plym, I went Mac a while ago. couldn't take Windows and all the baggage that went with it. I was a Windows user since 3.11 / DOS days. I loved XP and Win2Kpro but vowed to escape when Vista proved such a Turkey.
The OP should check if his card outputs digitial thru the SINGLE RCA connection.
You are right about Vista I bought the big one with home theater, removed it and back with XP, then I will just wait as long that I can before install Windows 7.
I run on a Intel i3 4 core now and I like this PC which is fantastic!
