Getting digital audio to analogue pc, retaining 5.1

[EllTheGamer]

I finally got my 360 a week or so ago and i intend to play it on my ol big crt with max res of 1920x1440. Only thing i need to know how to do is to get 5.1 audio onto my analogue speakers with the more common 3 jacks.

The possibilities i can see are:
1. get some sort of converter to allow me to directly change the toslink digital audio output of the official vga cable output to the more common 3 jacks, followed by manually switching the two sets of wires at the back of the speakers/ moving wires connected to speakers from back of pc to adaptor when i want to play and sorting this out properly at a later date.

2. get some sort of capture device with digital in that can be played back live, e.g. by vlc or media player classic.

All help and time is greatly appreciated thanks for looking

[shaithis]

"More common 3 jacks" for 5.1 sound???? Its either a single TOSLink/Digital Coax or its (the rather less common) 6 phono cables.

If you are refering to the 3 jacks being the yellow, white and red sockets, then that is composite video (horrid) + stereo audio.......in which case, I am not sure how you are going to do it other then plugging the toslink into an amplifier (which I presume you don't have, else you would probably have done that) or buying a set of 5.1 PC speakers.

There are probably TOSlink > Stereo converters but I would expect them to cost a bit seeing as they would be rather niche.

[charleski]

All you need is a cheap AV amp.

[EllTheGamer]

"More common 3 jacks" for 5.1 sound???? Its either a single TOSLink/Digital Coax or its (the rather less common) 6 phono cables.

If you are refering to the 3 jacks being the yellow, white and red sockets, then that is composite video (horrid) + stereo audio.......in which case, I am not sure how you are going to do it other then plugging the toslink into an amplifier (which I presume you don't have, else you would probably have done that) or buying a set of 5.1 PC speakers.

There are probably TOSlink > Stereo converters but I would expect them to cost a bit seeing as they would be rather niche.

I meant converting a toslink to toslink cable to the green yellow and black most commonly used with pcs for run of the mill 5.1 pc sound systems.

All you need is a cheap AV amp.

Any recommendations or a starting point, as it stands im not sure exactly what i should be looking for and have only found amps for about £100 upwards.

Thanks

[toolsong]

As per charleski, you need a 6 channel DAC and the cheapest way to get that would be to buy an AV amp.

To connect that to your amplified speakers, the amp will have to have line level outputs and they do not come on entry level units.

You'll be better off buying a new cheapo all-in-one system that has a digital input like the pioneer htpgs1 but that is £200 http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/inde...;pid;2471;pt;1

[charleski]

One question: what sort of speakers do you have? Are they active (i.e. need to be plugged into the power) or passive (no power connection, runs off speaker wire from an amp).

[EllTheGamer]

One question: what sort of speakers do you have? Are they active (i.e. need to be plugged into the power) or passive (no power connection, runs off speaker wire from an amp).

They run off the mains with a transformer.

I have decided to just get mysef some high spec pc speakers with digital input, currently looking to be the logitech z-5500 for about £200.

[awm]

I think people aren't understanding. What you are saying is that you have a set of PC speakers with the L/R stereo plug and a rear L/R and a Center/Sub plug, right (green, yellow, and black 3.5 mm headphone jacks). In that case you will need some sort of sound device to convert, either a new set of speakers that can convert or a way to run it through your sound card (some may have digital in).

[EllTheGamer]

I think people aren't understanding. What you are saying is that you have a set of PC speakers with the L/R stereo plug and a rear L/R and a Center/Sub plug, right (green, yellow, and black 3.5 mm headphone jacks). In that case you will need some sort of sound device to convert, either a new set of speakers that can convert or a way to run it through your sound card (some may have digital in).

See you get it exactly and you think like i do.

In that case you will need some sort of sound device to convert

I tried asking them if there were any devices to convert but ill admit i wasn't extremely clear.

In that case you will need some sort of sound device to convert

This is what i've decided, but....

or a way to run it through your sound card (some may have digital in).

I have a creative audigy gamer (ancient thing) and my onboard sound. My onboard sound has digital in and even if i open the device "Realtek HD digital input" for listening in media player classic i get no audio.

[charleski]

I understand exactly what your problem is - you need to decode a 5.1 signal into line-level analogue. You can get an A/V amp for £130 from RicherSounds, but you'd need to remove the amp from your active speakers and drive them straight from the new amp. This generally isn't too hard to do if you know what you're about, but I get the feeling you may be better-off just buying a more expensive integrated package.

You can. of course, get A/V pre-amps that just decode the 5.1 and have 6 line-level outputs, but those are higher quality and more expensive.

[EllTheGamer]

I understand exactly what your problem is - you need to decode a 5.1 signal into line-level analogue. You can get an A/V amp for £130 from RicherSounds, but you'd need to remove the amp from your active speakers and drive them straight from the new amp. This generally isn't too hard to do if you know what you're about, but I get the feeling you may be better-off just buying a more expensive integrated package.

You can. of course, get A/V pre-amps that just decode the 5.1 and have 6 line-level outputs, but those are higher quality and more expensive.

I just figure why spend so much when for a little more i can get back to a quality pair of speakers, i havve previously owned creative progamer g500 speakers and loved them to bits. Unfortunately i needed the money and had to sell them. At the moment i am on a set of 5.1 phillips speakers that are impossible to find on their website while you can find the 2.1 version. Link to purchase: here they seem to have been discontinued or at least ebuyer have stopped purchasing them, who knows.