Hey there guys! I'm in the process of putting together a HTPC, but am having issues with what sound card to use.
What I need:
Card with digital output, preferably Toslink
I bought a Sound Blaster Audigy XGamer, cause it supports 5.1 and was super cheap ($18 at Fry's). However, the digital output is a 3.5mm jack... and I'd have to use a mono plug converter to use an optical Coax cable. From what I understand, this would be a very bad thing. Even if it wasn't I'd still need to get a converter to convert the digital coax to Toslink.
I looked at other SB cards, including the higher end X-fi ones... nearly all of them have this same type of output jack. I guess not many people use Sound Blaster cards for their HTPCs?
So the thing is, I have to do this on the cheap for now.. until the wife is totally on board with it. But sound is quite important :|.
Any suggestions for how to proceed?
I am considering returning the Audigy and getting a Turtle Beach Riviera, but the reviews on it don't leave me confident of the sound quality.
Also, I don't quite understand how I will be able to capture the digital audio coming from my digital cable tuner. The cable box has digital coax output, but the Haup 150 PVR capture card only has a 3.5 jack for input... Do I need to use the sound card for audio recording as well if I want better than stereo? If so, that would definately play into my sound card choice.
Thanks alot!
What I need:
Card with digital output, preferably Toslink
I bought a Sound Blaster Audigy XGamer, cause it supports 5.1 and was super cheap ($18 at Fry's). However, the digital output is a 3.5mm jack... and I'd have to use a mono plug converter to use an optical Coax cable. From what I understand, this would be a very bad thing. Even if it wasn't I'd still need to get a converter to convert the digital coax to Toslink.
I looked at other SB cards, including the higher end X-fi ones... nearly all of them have this same type of output jack. I guess not many people use Sound Blaster cards for their HTPCs?
So the thing is, I have to do this on the cheap for now.. until the wife is totally on board with it. But sound is quite important :|.
Any suggestions for how to proceed?
I am considering returning the Audigy and getting a Turtle Beach Riviera, but the reviews on it don't leave me confident of the sound quality.
Also, I don't quite understand how I will be able to capture the digital audio coming from my digital cable tuner. The cable box has digital coax output, but the Haup 150 PVR capture card only has a 3.5 jack for input... Do I need to use the sound card for audio recording as well if I want better than stereo? If so, that would definately play into my sound card choice.
Thanks alot!