connect x-fi PC sound card to A/V receiver

twanto
twanto Posts: 18
edited January 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect my creative x-fi xtrememusic soundcard from my PC to my Onkyo SR806 in order to get the best quality sound from the mp3's on my computer to my speakers on the receiver. The PC and receiver are in different rooms, so the cable length, whatever type it will be, will be about 35 feet long, give or take. There are the outputs for the card:

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=10635

As far as I can tell, I have 3 options:

1) Connect analogue from the line outs 1, 2, and 3 to the receiver for 5.1-7.1 sound.

2) Connect (analogue?) line out 1 to the receiver.

3) Connect digital from "FlexiJack" for "external digital audio devices that accept stereo PCM or compressed Dolby Digital/DTS Bitstream from the S/PDIF output."

All the jacks are 3.5mm. From what I have read on various forums, option 3 with the digital signal can only be stereo, not 5.1 or better. But since I will be listening to music, is this a big deal? My other concern of course is the length. I do not know if that is an issue. Please help!
Post edited by twanto on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2009
    I would go with #3, sorta. BlueJeanCables carries a digital coax cable with a 1/8" plug on the end, which would bypass the POS flexyjack thing. But if you want to use optical, you're stuck with the flexyjack.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • twanto
    twanto Posts: 18
    edited January 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I would go with #3, sorta. BlueJeanCables carries a digital coax cable with a 1/8" plug on the end, which would bypass the POS flexyjack thing. But if you want to use optical, you're stuck with the flexyjack.

    If I want to use digital, I'm stuck with the FlexiJack. Why do you say it is a POS?

    Also, why do you recommend digital? What advantages does it confer?

    Thanks!
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2009
    You could also look into a squeezebox.There are a few options if you do it this way also.Check it out and I would recomend getting a DAC too.Here is a link for info on a classic version. http://slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html
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  • twanto
    twanto Posts: 18
    edited January 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    You could also look into a squeezebox.There are a few options if you do it this way also.Check it out and I would recomend getting a DAC too.Here is a link for info on a classic version. http://slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html

    That looks like it might be an option, but $300 compared to $10 for some cables is a big difference. Also, the squeezebox has a DAC and so does my receiver, so why would I need another one?
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  • twanto
    twanto Posts: 18
    edited January 2009
    I just had a thought. If I stream music to my xbox 360 and then to the receiver (w/ hdmi connection) will I be getting the same quality if I ported straight from the computer (or with a squeezebox) to the receiver? Maybe that makes the most sense... thoughts?
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2009
    Sorry about the mixup there on the DACs. I have just hear in a-lot of forums about people using the squeezebox to play music in there stereo gear.Some people say they run it into an outboard DAC and get better results.I have an Xfi fatality pro and have thought about doing what your thinking of doing.I tried to hook it up once and it sounded bad.That was using the analog outs though.Im going to try the digital out to my dac soon to see if thats any better. You should really try to talk to heiney9 about this as he knows a-lot about this and can tell you the best way to do it.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
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    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited January 2009
    twanto wrote: »
    I just had a thought. If I stream music to my xbox 360 and then to the receiver (w/ hdmi connection) will I be getting the same quality if I ported straight from the computer (or with a squeezebox) to the receiver?

    Yes, if you're talking about digital to the receiver all three ways, same quality. Except for the background noise of the 360's turbine...
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited January 2009
    twanto wrote: »
    I just had a thought. If I stream music to my xbox 360 and then to the receiver (w/ hdmi connection) will I be getting the same quality if I ported straight from the computer (or with a squeezebox) to the receiver? Maybe that makes the most sense... thoughts?

    I'm pretty sure anything streamed to the 360 has to be transcoded so its another step-For example, you'd be able to play FLAC encoded files, but you'd need some kind of front-end for it, such as TVersity, and it will have to transcode the audio to something the 360 understands. I'm not sure if any extra steps are required for mp3s though (such as via the standard support or via Media Center.).

    What level of sound quality are you looking for? As close to CD as possible? Or just a way to have some background/party music going. That will make a big difference on which path you take and how much money you spend.
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  • twanto
    twanto Posts: 18
    edited January 2009
    mmadden28 wrote: »
    What level of sound quality are you looking for? As close to CD as possible? Or just a way to have some background/party music going. That will make a big difference on which path you take and how much money you spend.

    Well I suppose that is yet to be determined. I'm making my first foray into audio with a new pair of RtiA5's and a Onkyo SR806 receiver. I have most of my collection stored as "lossless" wma files. Are they as good as flac, I don't know. It's not going to be for background/party music, although that would be one application. I really enjoy my music and am really looking forward to hearing my stuff on some good speakers. If good speakers really expose the flaws of some of my music files, then I will strive to get better quality.

    If it is going from the xbox to the onkyo, is it the onkyo doing the DAC because it's hooked up through an hdmi connection? In the case of a squeezebox that can be digitally connected to the receiver, would the built in DAC be necessary since it can send a digital signal?

    If I wanted the best quality from my computer's lossless wma or even flac files, what would be the best way to get them to my receiver? What would I need to buy?

    Many thanks for all of your help!
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited January 2009
    twanto wrote: »
    I have most of my collection stored as "lossless" wma files. Are they as good as flac, I don't know.

    Lossless is lossless.
    If it is going from the xbox to the onkyo, is it the onkyo doing the DAC because it's hooked up through an hdmi connection?

    Yes.
    In the case of a squeezebox that can be digitally connected to the receiver, would the built in DAC be necessary since it can send a digital signal?

    No.
    If I wanted the best quality from my computer's lossless wma or even flac files, what would be the best way to get them to my receiver?

    Anything that keeps them digital to the receiver. The Squeezebox and 360 can both handle WMA lossless, some other devices don't.
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  • twanto
    twanto Posts: 18
    edited January 2009
    SEH wrote: »
    Anything that keeps them digital to the receiver. The Squeezebox and 360 can both handle WMA lossless, some other devices don't.

    Well then it sounds like as long as I don't mind the xbox360, my computer and receiver running at the same time, I don't need to worry about connecting my sound card to the receiver. That's good news! Now to make that 360 a little quieter.....

    Thanks everyone!
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