S/PDIF "OUT" on PC Audio sound card!

[Johnny Vinyl]

My new audio card has a S/PDIF "OUT" and being the digital newb that I am, can someone tell me what this can be used for?

[Tony208]

For SPDIF In on home theater systems?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Tony208

For SPDIF In on home theater systems?

It's usually the other around though. I would have expected a S/PDIF "IN", so I could connect an external CD/SACD transport. I can't do that in this case, hence my question as to what else this is good for.

[pentatonic]

Well it's mostly for hook up to exterior decoding, receiver, dedicated DAC. Unfortunately most "consumer" cards don't have s/pdif in. You do have a solid analog in section, so you could still record that way. You usually need a "pro" card for that, like my emu. But your DVD drive would be your best transport to use if you want to use your soundcard.

But from what I read you'd want to use a digital in so you can record using a s/pdif in and your card's DAC, is that it?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Well it's mostly for hook up to exterior decoding, receiver, dedicated DAC. Unfortunately most "consumer" cards don't have s/pdif in. You do have a solid analog in section, so you could still record that way. You usually need a "pro" card for that, like my emu. But your DVD drive would be your best transport to use if you want to use your soundcard.

But from what I read you'd want to use a digital in so you can record using a s/pdif in and your card's DAC, is that it?

Hi Pat,

The only thing that I would like to have is the ability to play my NON-HYBRID SACD's thru my PC and using the soundcard. It's not a big deal, but it would be nice.

EDIT: And yes, at some point down the road I'd like to hook up one of my TT's so I could do needledrops. But I'll address that when the time comes.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Hi Pat,

The only thing that I would like to have is the ability to play my NON-HYBRID SACD's thru my PC and using the soundcard. It's not a big deal, but it would be nice.

EDIT: And yes, at some point down the road I'd like to hook up one of my TT's so I could do needledrops. But I'll address that when the time comes.

Unfortunately you'll have to go analog in and use your player's DAC for that. Should still sound ok but I get what you mean, sad that you can't get pcm in.

And for one of your TT, if I recollect properly the analog section and ADCs on your card where also top notch so you should easily be able to do nice 24/96 rips using one of your phono stages.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Unfortunately you'll have to go analog in and use your player's DAC for that. Should still sound ok but I get what you mean, sad that you can't get pcm in.

And for one of your TT, if I recollect properly the analog section and ADCs on your card where also top notch so you should easily be able to do nice 24/96 rips using one of your phono stages.

Yes they are top notch as well, so once I'm ready to move on it I'm sure I'll be pleased with the results.

Too bad about the SACD's though. Not a big deal however...I have vinyl copies.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Yes they are top notch as well, so once I'm ready to move on it I'm sure I'll be pleased with the results.

Too bad about the SACD's though. Not a big deal however...I have vinyl copies.

When you get your Sony, try out it's analog section, doubt it will have high end DACS. You could always get yourself a decent used DAC if the sound is not to your liking.It would still be way cheaper than an Oppo. Emotiva has it's XDA-1 for $200, that's if you listen on your 2 ch setup.

[prerich]

Music hall has some decent DAC's as well!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

When you get your Sony, try out it's analog section, doubt it will have high end DACS. You could always get yourself a decent used DAC if the sound is not to your liking.It would still be way cheaper than an Oppo. Emotiva has it's XDA-1 for $200, that's if you listen on your 2 ch setup.

Originally Posted by prerich

Music hall has some decent DAC's as well!

A bit confused, so bare with me. Would I connect these DAC's through my cards' S/PDIF OUT or via USB?

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

A bit confused, so bare with me. Would I connect these DAC's through my cards' S/PDIF OUT or via USB?

Actually you would still need to use your analog inputs on your Xonar, but instead of having the dacs of a $70 BD player doing the conversion you would have a dedicated and better Dac to get the most of your SACDs. So you would output digital from your BD player into the Digital in of the Dac to convert to analog. That's if you intend on using your BD player in analog mode and not by HDMI. You could probably record like this (to be honest I have no clue if there are limitations in analog recording of these sources, thinking DRM)

Unfortunately since you don't have digital inputs on your card there is no way of having your Xonar's DAC to do the conversion.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

A bit confused, so bare with me. Would I connect these DAC's through my cards' S/PDIF OUT or via USB?

When you connect a DAC to a pc, you use your pc's digital out from your sound card to the digital in of your DAC (unless you use USB - then the DAC becomes the sound card itself). You would come analog out to your preamp, integrated, whatever...in other words you're bypassing the Xonar's DAC ( bitstream to the outboard DAC).