Creative Sound Blaster Live! (CT4830) and 5.1 speaker system

 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-05
Hi to all,
I am using this sound card and it have digital out instead regular for 5.1 speaker out. Now, I want to by 5.1 speaker but it's hard to find one with digital in! So what is your sugestion for me to do, and what 5.1 speaker to by (not so expensive, max. 90 EUR )...
Thank you
 

Bronze Member
Username: Monolgoue

Post Number: 63
Registered: Feb-04
Speakers don't have digital in, receivers do. You can't connect a computer directly to speakers because a computer does not product an amplified signal, it produces a signal just like a CD player or tape deck. You plug that digital input into a receiver or amp, then connect speakers to that.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 91
Registered: Jun-05
Not sure if you have a modified card or not, but the specs on the CT4830 list it as an OEM surround card, not 5.1.

Hooks up a maximum of 4 speakers for quadrophonic surround, and has no digital output.

http://www.etech4sale.com/pda/partinfo-id-1524.html
 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 2
Registered: Jun-05
Ok, my mistake, Speakers don't have digital in, but you can see attach and there is digital out on my sound card (yellow), so what you mean when you said it can't support 5.1? I searched and find Creative Inspire GD580 and it said that can be used on my card for 5.1 sound?
Thank you
Upload
 

Bronze Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 96
Registered: Jun-05
When i look at cratives product id list:

http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-440939-10274033?url=http%3A%2F%2Fus.creative.com/support/identifyproduct/

I cant find a 4830 anywhere, which makes me think it may be an OEM or...

Maybe this is a 4832?

http://files.americas.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/789/English.pdf

Obviously it has a digital out, so what you will need to do is get a mono 3 millimeter phono to rca converter here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5 F007%5F002%5F003%5F008&product%5Fid=42%2D2444

and plug it between the coax digital in on the Creative Inspire GD580 and the output on the soundcard.
 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 3
Registered: Jun-05
sorry but I am new in this, is it better then usually 5.1 out on sound card (this one digital) and is it possible to connect standard 5.1 speakers on this sound card?
Thank you
 

Bronze Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 97
Registered: Jun-05
Some 5.1 sound cards have 5 channel speaker level outputs, most have digital 5.1 out only, like yours. so you will have to buy a 5.1 speaker system with a DTS decoder like the Creative Inspire GD580
 

Bronze Member
Username: Monolgoue

Post Number: 64
Registered: Feb-04
It can't be said any clearer...you cannot connect speakers to a sound card. Speakers connect to a receiver or amplifier and the sound card connects to that.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 99
Registered: Jun-05
Not so, Monologue. On some cards, Audigy in particular, the digital output has a switchable mode between analog or digital duty.

if you set it to analog it becomes a speaker level output for center and subwoofer. just use a stereo 3 mm plug.

http://files.americas.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/7299/Audigy.pdf

Its on manual page A-3
 

Bronze Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 100
Registered: Jun-05
Doh, my nut, was thinking line out and wrote speaker out. Yes, it must them pulg into your 5.1 system sub with integral amp
 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 4
Registered: Jun-05
Aha, Thank you, and one more question, is it better to use digital out instead 5 channel speaker level output?If you could explain it to me...(i'm new so that's why i am asking this)
 

Silver Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 103
Registered: Jun-05
no speaker level output only line level.

Your 5.1 systems subwoofer has the line level inputs and an amplifier built inside it.

The line level outputs 5.1 plug into your subwoofers Line level inputs.

The amplifier in the subwoofer then amplifies it and sends it out to the speakers.

The Line level outputs only have sufficient power to run a set of headphones

Upload

plug the stereo 3 mm to rca converter cable in as described in picture 2-2 of this manual:

http://files.americas.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/7639/Creative%20Inspire%20GD580%20Users%20Guide%20English.pdf
 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 5
Registered: Jun-05
I am not asking for GD580, I am asking that becouse i want know, is it better to by speakers with decoder like this or some standard 5.1 (wich one sound is better, speaker with decoder or analog speakers), and i know that i can't connect analog on my SB, so i am asking maybe to by new sound card.
Thank you very much
 

Silver Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 109
Registered: Jun-05
Either is fine, if your 5.1 speakers are set up to receive the line level out from the sound card then they are fine.

The digital should only be used if you need a system that has a seperate decoder/receiver to adjust levels or volumes individualy.

Either type is fine. The only reason a seperate digital decoder would help you is that you are paying more money for it so it is probably a better speaker system as well.
 

New member
Username: Luka78

Post Number: 6
Registered: Jun-05
Aha, but I have sound card that support digital out and not 5 channel speaker level output (look up), so I should by sound card that support 5 channel speaker level output out so I can by and speakers without decoder.
Is that your suggestion?
Thank you
 

Silver Member
Username: Daedilus

Post Number: 112
Registered: Jun-05
This will be my last post on this thread.

You cannot, anywhere, for any price, not if you where the Majhal of istanbul, buy a 5.1 card with speaker level output.

They are NOT made.

Bill Gates cant buy one, hes not rich enough.

Either Buy 5.1 speakers that support digital in or 5.1 speakers that use line level in.

If your current card has digital out then it makes sense to buy speakers that match it, so you dont have to replace it also.
 

Unregistered guest
can anyone suggest a 5.1 channel amplifier without decoder in Indian markets. Where can i get one?
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