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SPDIF - S/PDIF Audio Information

post #1 of 27
2/8/03 at 2:31am
Thread Starter 
Okay, here's basically what I've been able to find out. The type of spdif connector that is used with the AC'97 spdif is RCA digital. If i'm not mistaken, the 'Y' splitter that comes with the Sager must be used to use spdif. You can't just plug in an 1/8" plug into the jack because there isn't any such plug that's digital. The closest thing is a Toslink mini plug but that is not what is in the Sager. Here is the cable that is used out of the 'Y' spliter:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/a...ables.html#dig

Now as for speakers there are severl that can take spdif in...this seems to be one of the more inexpensive ones:

http://www.yutron.com.hk/products/altec/acs56.htm

FYI RCA cables look like your standard red/white/yellow composite cables that come with your ps2, vcr, etc...however, they are totally different from digital RCA cables. Please remember that Well, that's what I've found out so far...when I actually implement this then we'll find out if i'm just full of it! I'll let you know.

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post #2 of 27
2/8/03 at 3:24am
This info relates to the 888x model? the 5660 has no spliter and does not need one the mic jack is seperate. Its a different connector and it gives off the red light that is an optical out. From lookin in the jack it may also support the electronic type of cable that would go to coax but I'm not sure. So far I have seen some information that proves to me that on the 888x what you are saying is right but everybody that has given a definate post has used one of those models and not the 5660 which is different.

Zaqy
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post #3 of 27
2/9/03 at 6:35am
I got the Altec Lansing ADA890s from overstock.com for about $113 w/ no tax and $3 shipping (flat rate).

They sound great, come w/ their own Y-splitter (just like the one w/ the 8886) and are THX-rated (for whatever thats worth--the are computer speakers, after all.)

Anyway, overstock is a solid vendor and I couldn't be happier w/ the speakers.
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post #4 of 27
2/9/03 at 2:44pm
Thread Starter 

ACS56

I just ordered a set of Altec Lansing ACS56 speakers. They supposedly have the SPDIF input AND they were hugely on sale over at http://www.compuplus.com for $42!!! I think they are regulary like $100-$200 so I thought they were a pretty good deal. I'll let you know for sure when I actually get them
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post #5 of 27
2/12/03 at 11:18pm
Thread Starter 

Got em!

Okay, I bought a pair of Altec Lansing ACS-56W speakers for $42 at http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?&id=1000418 and they work great!!! No more thumping noise coming from the hard drive in my 8887. All I did was enable SPDIF output in my bios and hooked up the speakers with included cord and away it went! $42 brand new!!! Can you believe it?
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post #6 of 27
2/12/03 at 11:37pm

how?

how exactly do you enable the S/PDIF output? i get nothin when i plug into it. sorry im not very computer literate yet, thanks.
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post #7 of 27
2/13/03 at 12:08am
Thread Starter 

No problemo!

If you are not very computer literate then this is the perfect place for you because there are a lot of very nice very knowledgeable people on these forums. Anyway, when the computer is first booting up you see a real quick message that says something like control-alt-s...that's the keys that you have to hold down simultaneously to get into the BIOS where you can change some of the basics of your laptop. BE VERY CAREFUL IN THE BIOS. Only change what you know is okay to change. Okay, after pressing control-alt-s you should see an option that says something like "enable SPDIF." Make sure there is a checkmark next to that option and then save the settings. The computer will reboot and then the SPDIF will be enabled. I use Windows XP Pro and didn't need to change any other settings. In the volume control panel there should be a column for SPDIF but you won't be able to change the volume. That's normal and shouldn't worry you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Oh yes, make sure you have a set of speakers with an SPDIF, digital rca, or digital coaxial input. They are all the same thing just with different names.
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post #8 of 27
2/13/03 at 1:58am

Re: Got em!

Quote:
Originally posted by GaitherStephens
Okay, I bought a pair of Altec Lansing ACS-56W speakers for $42 at http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?&id=1000418 and they work great!!! No more thumping noise coming from the hard drive in my 8887. All I did was enable SPDIF output in my bios and hooked up the speakers with included cord and away it went! $42 brand new!!! Can you believe it?
Your speakes looks very nice, and ther are very cheaper, please, tell me what do you think on this speakers, they are 6.1 channel digital sound ready, from Creative, they are 120USD, but I thing 6.1 is ok, if I buy now, even 8887 is only 5.1, the Creative speakers are 5.1 and 6.1 ch ready, please tell me what do you thik ok ???


Creative 6.1 ch
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post #9 of 27
2/13/03 at 2:59am
Thread Starter 

Digital but not digital...

It's funny because those speakers are called digital but yet they do have digital inputs. I think that's rather strange...this is what it says on the webiste:

"The Creative Inspire 6.1 6600 is an analog speaker. It does not support digital input signals. For digital connection, we recommend you consider the new Creative MegaWorks series or the Creative Inspire 5.1 5500 with an added Dolby Digital decoding function."

So in other words, you will not be able to use the digital out on your Sager to go into these speakers. If I were you I'd look for digital input...if the speaker system has it then you will see it called either digital coaxial, digital rca, or SPDIF.

As far as Creative goes, I like the speaker systems that they make. My last set was Creative and they sounded very good. Hope this helps!

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post #10 of 27
2/14/03 at 1:37pm
Originally posted by GaitherStephens:
Quote:
FYI RCA cables look like your standard red/white/yellow composite cables that come with your ps2, vcr, etc...however, they are totally different from digital RCA cables. Please remember that Well, that's what I've found out so far...when I actually implement this then we'll find out if i'm just full of it! I'll let you know.
I really want to believe you, 'cuz I don't know better. But I am currently using a very cheap, cheezy RCA cable to carry my S/PDIF signal from my 8886 to my Logitech Z-680s. I'm sure there is a huge quality difference between a genuine Digital audio cable and a garden variety RCA cable, but the interfaces (plugs) are the same in either case.

Please refute me if I'm wrong.

-iNJ
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post #11 of 27
2/14/03 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 

Really?!?

A standard RCA cable works? That's really cool. The reason I didn't think that it did was because I bought a tuner that had the digital coaxial and when I tried using a standard RCA plug it didn't work. Then again, that's been a few years ago and I don't remember if I was taking digital coaxial in or out or what...so I guess it doesn't matter now.

Anyway, if you're getting a signal from standard RCA cables then I doubt that there is much difference between what you are using and $60 Monster cables. There usually isn't. I mean, if it works, it works. As long as you're not getting any kind of static or anything then I say great!

Now, your Logitech speakers have a digital input? Or is it just a standard red/white type analog connectors? I'd be interested so that we can give people difinitive answers when they ask exactly what they need to use the SPDIF output on their laptops. Thanks for your insight.

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post #12 of 27
2/14/03 at 2:00pm
I think one difference between S/PDIF speakers may be if they have an on-board AC3 decoder or if they just receive the digital signal. The ACS-56W speakers sound like a great deal at $42. Mine (ADA895) were nearly triple that price (but supposedly retail for $299, whatever) but I know that they have the decoder, are THX-rated (for whatever thats worth w/ computer speakers) and have 5.1 digital sound. I'm not sure if the price difference is due merely to the higher power and THX rating or if it has to do w/ the existence/nonexistence of the 5.1 decoder.... I looked long and hard for speakers w/ a on-board decoder and the ADA895s at $117 were the cheapest I could find--but I might not have looked hard enough.
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post #13 of 27
2/14/03 at 2:16pm
Thread Starter 

No decoder

As far as I know mine do not have an AC-3 decoder. If they do then they do not specify anywhere on the box or in the documentation. Then again, maybe if the speakers take a digital input then the AC-3 is just a given so they don't bother advertising it. I'm not sure. I do know that my speakers sound really good.

As far as the price, you're speakers are more powerful than mine and that equals cost. It's also possible that the have a wider frequency range giving them a richer sound...? That would be my guess. So, in other words, I don't think you got ripped off or anything, I just think that you paid more so you got more
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post #14 of 27
2/14/03 at 2:44pm
The Logitech Z-680 5.1 speaker set are THX certified and have a Dolby Ditigal 5.1, DTS, and Pro-Logic II decoder built into the subwoofer cabinet. Retail is around $300. The Z-680s have a control panel device about the size of a VHS tape, and has inputs for 6 channel analog (3x3.5mm miniplugs), 1 digital optical in (TosLink), and 1 digital coax in (RCA connector).

I like them a lot, except they hiss
(I've read other comments on various forums from other Z-680 owners, they all report the hiss).

-iNJ
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post #15 of 27
2/14/03 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 

They hiss?

Wow, those sound like some awesome speakers. Having a toslink connector is handy. I use it out of my PS2. That sucks that they hiss. Do they hiss only when you turn the volume way up or all the time? My ACS-56 don't seem to have any ambient noise whatsoever. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell unless you have the speaker systems set up side by side to tell if one has a hiss and the other doesn't...but I don't seem to notice anything unless I turn my speakers up to the highest volume and there isn't any sound coming through.
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post #16 of 27
2/14/03 at 3:01pm
The hiss is a little strange. When I first power-on the speakers, I can just barely make out the hiss. After some actual sound has come through, the hiss is more pronouced and constant. It does not interfere with the sound output, just annoying when soft dialog is coming through the center channel and you hear the hiss from the rear channels. The hiss does not seem to be volume dependent... just constant.

-iNJ
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post #17 of 27
2/14/03 at 3:12pm
Gaither's speakers are NOT 5.1 surround, they are 4.1 surround, which may account for the difference in price. Also, they'd only work with those separate channels if they had an AC-3 decoder... The best way to test this would be to load up a game like Half-Life, enabled EAX in the sound options, walk up to someone who is talking in the game, and use the mouse to turn around... If the sound changes where it's coming from (ie: if you are facing the person speaking and the sound comes from the front speakers, then you turn around in the game and the sound starts coming from the back speakers, then you've got 4.1 separate channels (or 5.1 if you have the z680s).
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post #18 of 27
2/14/03 at 3:14pm
iNet... if it is coming from the center channel, have you tried adjusting the gain on each individual speaker? You need to set each one so it sounds like it has the same volume from where you're sitting... Usually, speaker systems of that quality have a function where each speaker/channel goes through and plays a tone and you can adjust the gain on each as they cycle through.
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post #19 of 27
2/14/03 at 3:29pm
Beebster,
Yes, there is a built-in setup function that plays static on each channel so you can adjust the volume seperately for each one.
The hiss sound is constant on all the channels, regardless of volume. I hear the hiss more from the rear channels because of the way I have my speakers physically arranged. I sit closer to the rear speakers when watching movies, so when there is little or no sound in the movie, I hear the hiss.

Note: This hiss is coming from the speakers themselves, not because I have them hooked up to my 8886 (just so no-one is confused about that... the speakers would hiss no matter what they are plugged into... its a flaw in Logitech's engineering/construction of this set of speakers).

-iNJ
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post #20 of 27
2/14/03 at 3:37pm
Well that's gimp... I really liked the z680s... If I had the money they'd be my first choice. I read somewhere (I think tomshardware) that the covers on the speakers are meant to reduce that hissing and if you take them off you get better/louder sound... I wonder how much of a difference they make.

Also, are you using just a generic RCA cable to get from the splitter to the back of the z680s? Or did the come with a cable? Or did you buy a monster cable? Reason I ask is that sometimes bad cables can cause such problems (which is why optical is really cool... except of course if you get a spec of dust in them)
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