SPDIF, AC3, Home Theater, X-Fi

[Dante_Caligari]

I have been contemplating upping my audio setup from my Logitech Z5300e's to a Home Theater system to complement my new setup and large widescreen monitor, but I am a little confused as to the audio connections.

To my understanding, SPDIF does not transmit a 5.1 or 7.1 surround signal, unless it is compressed as AC3 format. Movies are in this format, but I also would like to use this Home Theater setup for games as well, and I only think that a few games have AC3 audio. Maybe I am wrong?

If I did decide to get this Home Theater system, how would I connect it to my X-Fi? Would I want to go with SPDIF, or would I want to use something like Creative's DTS-connect? What kind of Home Theater system would you recommend?

 

[EricB]

when you use the sdpif, you set the signal to passthrough which bypass the card dsp. this way you will get Ac-3 OR dts, but the source (dvd) determines the signal

 

[Dante_Caligari]

What about games? Thanks for your help, by the way. I appreciate your willingness to help me after your previous incident with that kid.

 

[EricB]

with games, you will use the sound card's built in DSP to get the effects. and thank you

 

[Dante_Caligari]

Very nice. Have you ever used any conventional home theater setups Eric? (I assmue you construct your own audio setups; amps, players, speakers, boxes, etc.) What would you recommend?

 

[EricB]

I get a little exotic sometimes.

http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?threadid=115938&perpage=15&pagenumber=5

http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?threadid=115938&perpage=15&pagenumber=6

 

[Dante_Caligari]

Yeah, I have drooled over pictures of your setups before. You make your own enclosures; buy your own speakers, woofers, amps and wire them all together, right? You must pour a lot of your income into your audio.

Unfortunately I can't afford audiophile-quality equipment. I was looking for something along the lines of this:
YHT-470

...but I am not sure what is a good manufacturer, and what I am looking for as far as getting the best overall sound quality for movies and games.

 

[Crysalis]

"I see I'm not needed here"

 

[EricB]

Yeah, I have drooled over pictures of your setups before. You make your own enclosures; buy your own speakers, woofers, amps and wire them all together, right? You must pour a lot of your income into your audio.

Unfortunately I can't afford audiophille-quality equipment. I was looking for something along the lines of this:
YHT-470

...but I am not sure what is a good manufacturer, and what I am looking for as far as getting the best overall sound quality for movies and games.

I don't invest in audio like I use to. I invest in computers now.

that's a good all in one system. make sure that it has spdif.
before you buy it, browse to Parts Express Home - Subwoofers, Speaker Building, Car Audio, Home Audio / Video, Pro Sound. they have high end equipment for cheap prices

 

[EricB]

"I see I'm not needed here"

you are silly

here is some decent stuff, especially on the second link

Search Results Page

Search Results Page

all in one
Parts ExpressIONEER HTP-3800 5.1 HOME THEATER SYSTEM

edit: I see you change systems. yamaha makes really nice equipment