optical out or in?

SD_DRACULA

this sounds like a stupiud question but i got no idea how the optical connector works on my motherboard.
heres what i'm hoping to do (and am about 99% sure it wont work, but maybe i'm wrong) i got a set of 5.1 speakers connected thru my normal phono audio connectors on the motherboard.
i would like to share the speakers with my xbox 360. is it possible hook that up to the optical port on the motherboard and be able to use the speakers with the pc and xbox at the same time? or does the optical connector only send out sound?

mathias

If theres only one optical connection then its output only.
To get surround off your Xbox your going to need an amp of some sort .

SD_DRACULA

yeah thats what i thought too.
cheers.
but if i get a proper sound card with both in and out then its ok?

bazolsen

Hi there

Of course you can do that, but there is precautions and exceptions you need to be aware of.

Your Xbox probably have a surround decoder, and the sound card you might be considering purchasing might also have a surround decoder - either SW or HW. Here is the thing: To have the surround signal properly decoded, hence you will have sound in all 5.1/6.1/7.1 speakers and not only 2 of them, you need to disable all other decoders present in your setup, so you ONLY have one surround decoder active at a time.

What you also have to consider is the right type of cabling; you need the right cable/cables and that is it.;)

_CreeD_

It might be easier to simply get an SPDIF switchbox.

SD_DRACULA

so do you think an audigy 2 box like this one might help? http://cgi.ebay.ie/Creative-Audigy-2-platnium-EX-sound-card_W0QQitemZ280037696205QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3701QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

cheers