notebook sound card

[blue934]

a friend wants to run his media center on laptop to his HT for audio/dvd/blueray. his laptop has 1/8 jack and hdmi but his denon reciever has no hdmi inputs. he could run the hdmi direct to his lcd t.v. but would rather run digital a/v to the denon. short of an hdmi to digital coax adaptor or something, i suggested a sound card with digital outs. is this a good idea and if so, options? the sound blaster X-fi has an optical out, will that work?

any ideas would help
thanks
david
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[Wolf]

a friend wants to run his media center on laptop to his HT for audio/dvd/blueray. his laptop has 1/8 jack and hdmi but his denon reciever has no hdmi inputs. he could run the hdmi direct to his lcd t.v. but would rather run digital a/v to the denon. short of an hdmi to digital coax adaptor or something, i suggested a sound card with digital outs. is this a good idea and if so, options? the sound blaster X-fi has an optical out, will that work?

any ideas would help
thanks
david

The Behringer USB-Unit (248-459) from here at PE is only $30, and gives you RCA in/outs, SP/DIF optical output, headphone jack, and all the drivers are pre-loaded. You'd then use the HDMI to the TV, and the optical to the Denon receiver.
Later,
Wolf

[vasyachkin]

i would rather get a new receiver and sell the old one

good soundcards cost a lot plus most surround sound cards are internal and external sound cards are typically designed for DJ or studio use not movie viewing

i don't know if HDMI to optical conversion boxes exist or not but that would definitely be the logical choice if they did ...

[trevorg]

The Behringer USB-Unit (248-459) from here at PE is only $30, and gives you RCA in/outs, SP/DIF optical output, headphone jack, and all the drivers are pre-loaded. You'd then use the HDMI to the TV, and the optical to the Denon receiver.
Later,
Wolf

Er, that would work yes, but im sure if his friend is using the optical output for a reason. He is wanting it so he can output surround sound to his reciver which cant be done through rca's...

[blue934]

thanks wolf, trevorg, i'm pretty sure he could use the optical to the receiver if that will carry full surround.
any cards available that have dig coax so it can be done with one cable?

thanks guys
david
________
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[vasyachkin]

thanks wolf, trevorg, i'm pretty sure he could use the optical to the receiver if that will carry full surround.
any cards available that have dig coax so it can be done with one cable?

thanks guys
david

i think i speak for everybody when i say we don't understand your question :)

[Wolf]

Er, that would work yes, but im sure if his friend is using the optical output for a reason. He is wanting it so he can output surround sound to his reciver which cant be done through rca's...

That's what the SP/DIF is for, otherwise known as an optical output.
Later,
Wolf

[blue934]

i think i speak for everybody when i say we don't understand your question

actually two questions:

will the optical out provide full surround audio? Wolf just answered this

are there any cards with digital coaxial outs so that only one cable is needed, as opposed to optical and hdmi?

add a third. does optical provide video also or just audio?

david
________
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[vasyachkin]

actually two questions:

will the optical out provide full surround audio? Wolf just answered this

are there any cards with digital coaxial outs so that only one cable is needed, as opposed to optical and hdmi?

add a third. does optical provide video also or just audio?

david

only HDMI can carry both digital video and digital audio.

this is the only way you will have one cable for both.

neither coaxial nor optical carry video.

optical does carry surround.

[blue934]

ok, thanks.
i was under the impression that coaxial carried video also.

david
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