SB Live! Value and 5.1?

[SkyCat]

Hello,

I just have a question about the Live! Value.

I just wonder what I need to get the 5.1 sound output from the card other than a set of speakers that does 5.1.

I installed an add-on bracket to the Live! so I have a couple of digital outputs.
One told me that all I need to do is plug 5.1 speakers into one of the digital outputs. But I noticed that Live! 5.1 comes with some kind of s/w 5.1 decoder.

Does this mean if I had a s/w 5.1 decoder then I'd be able to get the 5.1 sound when I hook up 5.1 speakers?

What happens if I didn't have a s/w decoder but do have 5.1 speakers hooked up? Maybe no 5.1 sound?

Well, I'm a bit confused.
Or Maybe I'm making no sense at all.

Please tell me what you know about it.

 

[DaWizeGuy]

Sorry, but...

Sorry, but...

Hello,

I just have a question about the Live! Value.

I just wonder what I need to get the 5.1 sound output from the card other than a set of speakers that does 5.1.

>snip<

Please tell me what you know about it.

The SB Live! Value doesn't support 5.1, neither analog or digital It only supports 4.1. Therefore you need to buy SBLive! 5.1 or another 5.1 compliant soundcard, like Phillpis Acoustic Edge, to get 5.1 sound!

 

[synk]

Something to note. Almost Nothing but DVD's even use the center channel (diff from 4.1 to 5.1). Unless you intend this for watching dvd's don't waste your money.

 

[Firestar_3x]

i've just looked at my old sb-live 1024 and it has a digital out, should it have??? cause i'm sure that only the more expensive sb-lives have digi out, Oh ive now got a Hercules Game Theater XP (Much better than that creative ****)

 

[DaWizeGuy]

Correction to my first post!!

Correction to my first post!!

Hello,

I just have a question about the Live! Value.

I just wonder what I need to get the 5.1 sound output from the card other than a set of speakers that does 5.1.

I installed an add-on bracket to the Live! so I have a couple of digital outputs.
One told me that all I need to do is plug 5.1 speakers into one of the digital outputs. But I noticed that Live! 5.1 comes with some kind of s/w 5.1 decoder.

Does this mean if I had a s/w 5.1 decoder then I'd be able to get the 5.1 sound when I hook up 5.1 speakers?

What happens if I didn't have a s/w decoder but do have 5.1 speakers hooked up? Maybe no 5.1 sound?

Well, I'm a bit confused.
Or Maybe I'm making no sense at all.

Please tell me what you know about it.

You CAN get 5.1 sound with your SB Live! Value if you have a 5.1 speaker set hooked up on an external stereo-surround receiver or decoder. And digital 5.1 too if the digital receiver/decoder is connected to the digital out on the Live! I've discussed this in a danish News Group and a guy claimed that it could be done if you connect your surround receiver/decoder through the front speakers output. The entire surround/stereo output goes through the front speaker out so it shouldn't be a problem as long as the soundcard can deliver 48KHz.

The only difference between the Value! 1024 and the Live! 5.1 is the extra center speaker connecter to use with a desktop 5.1 speaker set. Sorry for the wrong information in my first post!

 

[dustinyo]

i have a 5.1 system running from an external decoder, and i love it. the center channel is used for high pitches and voices in games and mp3's as well, it sounds great (IMO) but speakers and sound are definatly subjective, you should listen to each before you but it.

and does the acoustic edge give optical or coaxial out?!?

 

[DaWizeGuy]

One question

One question

i have a 5.1 system running from an external decoder, and i love it. the center channel is used for high pitches and voices in games and mp3's as well, it sounds great (IMO) but speakers and sound are definatly subjective, you should listen to each before you but it.

Do you actually get a special center speaker effect in games as well? Isn't it just a normal front speakers stereo effect? I know that a 5.1 system has better audio positioning than a quadrophonic speaker system (with a subwoofer), but as far as I know you only get real 5.1 sound (special center speaker effect) when playing DVD movies and DTS CD's.