does soundcard has effect using SPDIF (digital output)

miks

hi,
im woundering if soundcards has any effect on audio quality if its used in passthrough SPDIF (connected to 5.1 digital amplifier via digital SPDIF cable) ?
i mean if its important for me to get good/expencive soundcard or i can go with cheap one if i connect it to my 5.1 digital amplifer(sony STR-DG500) using SPDIF ?

8T8

Well in theory it shouldn't matter (though I'm no audio expert so I could be wrong) however the only area of contention would be in the drivers in that they are generally bug free and it does what it's supposed to.

There isn't a whole lot in the sound card market these days anyway as long as you stay away from the no-name bottom of the barrel stuff you should be fine. This Terratec card has the optical SPDIF connection you need for the Sony STR-DG500.

Be sure to use the latest drivers as well for the card if you decide to get it.

Or get one of the X-Fi Premium packs for the breakout box with the optical SPDIF connections.

SouperComputer

There is definately a difference in the sound even across SPDIF with different brands of card.

Personally, I've used the original Creative Audigy to good effect. You could pick one up on ebay for about 15e

miks

yesterday i finaly got to work my onborad soundcard SPDIF output. its realtek `97. the problem is, it outputs only 2 channels through SPDIF, even if media is pure 5.1 dolby digital, receivers shows PCM stream and it feels like its been decoded on PC not on reveiver. im using winDVD. how do i can get true dolby digital to my receiver (without decoding it in PCM on PC) ??? is it even possible with my old onboard card? the mainboard is http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=1607&ModelName=GA-8PE667%20Ultra%202

so far i have set:
soundcard: output- digital only. speaker settinggs- stereo
winDVD: SPDIF out.

thanks for the response. btw im not so rich to pay 100+EUR for soundcard, my receiver cost me under 200EUR.

SouperComputer:
please state the exact card you `ve been using (Creative Audigy). and please describe if it works fine for
1) carrieng pure dolby digital 5.1 to receiver through coax for movies?
2) carrieng stereo PCM sound through coax to receiver for music?
an what should i canger in settings for swiching thos 2 modes?
thanks

8T8

Does that board have the optical SPDIF connection I assume it does as when I googled the receiver you have it showed that it had optical SPDIF connections.

Try installing AC3 filter & enable SPDIF support, then set it to pass through AC3/DTS content to the receiver or at least I think that's how it works.

In the config program "enable SPDIF" is on the main tab allow with the speaker config, on the system tab is the settings for the pass-through.

Latest driver for the Realtek sound chip can be gotten from this link.

Don't know if that will do the job or not but that's my best guess. Try using Media Player Classic (it plays DVD's) instead of WinDVD as well. Go to view->options->Internal filters under the "Transform Filters" double click on AC3 or DTS to configure them to use SPDIF or untick them so AC3 filter will handle those streams instead.

miks

8T8: big thanks to you mate.
now it works lika a charm

i uninstalled all audio stuff, then installed that new realtek ac97 codec, then AC3filter, set SPDIF out at filter properties and now media player plays it all correct. when movie has ac3 it passthroughs pure 5.1 to receiver and reveiver decodes it, when playing stereo it passes PCM stereo