PC to Audio Receiver?

[Rookie1986]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to hook my new PC up to my Audio Receiver and speakers, they are about 5 meters away from each other. What would be the best way to go about this? A standard 3.5mm jack to 3.5mm jack or should I be looking for something a little better then this? Also will I need a dedicated soundcard in my new build to achieve this or can it be done fine with the onboard soundcard provided on my ASRock Fatal1ty Pro Z77??

Hope you guys are able to help me
Rookie

[g8ina]

Depends if you use optical/coax, or discrete multi channel outputs. I see that your mobo does have an optical socket.

Optical would be my choice, followed by coaxial. Multichannel discrete is bottom of my list.

[scaryjim]

First question: what kind of audio receiver? What inputs you have on the receiver will largely dictate the best option here.

[AlexGTR]

I am currently running mine through optical, until i upgrade my GFX card i will then run it through hdmi.

[dfour]

The only problem I found with running through hdmi was that I couldnt use any processing modes like pro logic 2 or neo:6 to take stereo to multi channel so went back to using optical.

Stick with your onboard unless your feeling flush.

[Rookie1986]

First question: what kind of audio receiver? What inputs you have on the receiver will largely dictate the best option here.

I'm using an old-ish Yamaha RX-V365 Receiver



I've also been looking at getting a set of Astro A40's with the wired MiniAmp, so would I be better to start looking for a Dolby Digital Live sound card and take things from there?

Thanks,
Rookie

[Rookie1986]

How does something like this look to go with the Astro A40's??

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/creat...ion-sound-card

Regards,
Rookie

[kalniel]

I'm using an old-ish Yamaha RX-V365 Receiver



I've also been looking at getting a set of Astro A40's with the wired MiniAmp, so would I be better to start looking for a Dolby Digital Live sound card and take things from there?

Thanks,
Rookie

No. You have digital optical in, so just use the optical out from your onboard and don't worry about getting a separate card.

[g8ina]

yep, that exactly.

[Rookie1986]

Will my motherboard produce good enough sound?? I've got a 5 m optical cable plugged in at the moment and tbh I'm not impressed, the sound drops and then comes back constantly, faulty cable? Motherboard or Receiver perhaps??

[g8ina]

while playing music, look down the end of the optical, that *might* be good enough to check an optical intermittancy.

But yes, the onboard optical should be good enough.

[kalniel]

I've got a 5 m optical cable plugged in at the moment and tbh I'm not impressed, the sound drops and then comes back constantly, faulty cable? Motherboard or Receiver perhaps??

Yes, faulty something. That needs to be fixed before you can judge quality

[Rookie1986]

Well, I've had a play about with things but without another optical output device, another optical cable or another optical input device I guess the "testing" is on hold lol!

Unrelated to the PC to receiver issue, would I see any benefit from the dedicated soundcard in terms of sound anMicic quality when gaming or should I just stick with my standard 3.5mm jack connectors for headset use??

Thanks,
Rookie

[kalniel]

Unrelated to the PC to receiver issue, would I see any benefit from the dedicated soundcard in terms of sound anMicic quality when gaming or should I just stick with my standard 3.5mm jack connectors for headset use??

Thanks,
Rookie

Microphone quality? That's more dependent on the microphone than the sound card. There might be some differences in amplification quality or clever things for background noise compensation, but if you're just talking about speaking voice for games then you're going to be just as understandable with onboard, and the first improvement would be microphone hardware rather than sound card anyway.

If you're talking recording for professional purposes then you need a proper mic and a sound card that supports ASIO.

[Rookie1986]

Microphone quality? That's more dependent on the microphone than the sound card. There might be some differences in amplification quality or clever things for background noise compensation, but if you're just talking about speaking voice for games then you're going to be just as understandable with onboard, and the first improvement would be microphone hardware rather than sound card anyway.

If you're talking recording for professional purposes then you need a proper mic and a sound card that supports ASIO.

I'm just taking gaming, so its just down to mic quality then

[No.72]

I would only buy the Creatie X-Fi Titanium HD or the Asus Essence STX. I have the Creative card and it's MILES better than any othe card they've ever made. The New recon cards are worse quality than the older XI-Fi cards! If you have bought one send it back!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003RRY3W...SIN=B003RRY3WO

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001P9O89...SIN=B001P9O894