Logitech Z-5450 and Creative X-FI.

[IceT]

I just bought a Creative X-FI XtremeMusic sound card and am thinking of getting a Logitech Z-5450.

Will this be a good match? Can I make use of my sound card's digital out port or will I be still using the standard analog ports??

Thanks!

.IceT

 

[SynthDude2001]

With that card's digital out (and just about any other card's digital out, for that matter) you won't be getting multichannel sound except from pre-encoded Dolby Digital/DTS/etc sources like DVD's and HDTV (since I assume those speakers can decode those formats). SPDIF can't carry more than two channels of uncompressed digital audio, so you'll have to use the analog.

 

[erwos]

IIRC, the Z-5450 does have optical inputs, so you should be able to use your digital out. Those are slick speakers, but expensive, unfortunately.

-Erwos

 

[IceT]

OK, if the Z-5450 has optical inputs and my card has digital out, do I need to go out to buy some special audio cables to connect the two together?

Thanks again.

.Eric

 

[erwos]

You'll probably just need an optical cable. I'd be shocked if the X-Fi didn't have an optical output. They're pretty cheap if you get them online (eg, not Monster Cable or whatever).

-Erwos

 

[IceT]

The X-FI XtremeMusic has a digital out port and I don't think it's optical though.

So the sound quality decreases if I use the analog ports with the Z-5450?

.IceT

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: IceT
The X-FI XtremeMusic has a digital out port and I don't think it's optical though.

So the sound quality decreases if I use the analog ports with the Z-5450?

.IceT

Your sound quality will be much better if you use the analog outputs on your X-fi. By using the digital connection you will be bypassing the entire reason for owning an X-fi sound card.

 

[IceT]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: IceT
The X-FI XtremeMusic has a digital out port and I don't think it's optical though.

So the sound quality decreases if I use the analog ports with the Z-5450?

.IceT

Your sound quality will be much better if you use the analog outputs on your X-fi. By using the digital connection you will be bypassing the entire reason for owning an X-fi sound card.

Mind explaining why it is better to use the analog ports in my case?

.IceT

 

[Valaire]

Analog out makes use of CMSS for gaming and music and uses the X-Fi's DAC (digital to analog converter). Digital out doesn't make the sound better, it just keeps the sound digital further along the chain where it ultimately HAS to be converted back to analog. Using a digital out bypasses the DAC on your X-Fi (which is decent) in favor of a receiver usually (which can be better), as well as the "enhancements" X-Fi offers with CMSS. That said, if you are going to be using surround speakers and going to be playing games, you should absolutely use the analog out and multimedia speakers that have analog inputs.

 

[IceT]

Thank you for your explanation and help.

.IceT