Soundcard upgrade recommendations

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wayno3579

13 posts

Geek

#32112 12-Apr-2009 23:06

Hi,

I'm after recommendations for soundcards to connect a WinXP Media Centre desktop to a Pioneer VSX-515 A/V receiver. Current I only have a stereo connection between on-board audio of PC to Composite connections on receiver. The receiver has S/PDIF optical x 2 and Coax x 2.

What is a good sound card to achieve 5.1 audio through optical/coax?

Thanks

Wayne

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206611 12-Apr-2009 23:27

What type of expansion ports have you got available on your PC? (PCI, PCI-e etc) If you want something simple Gainward make a USB -> SPDIF optical adapter, Ascent has them for about $75.

You shouldn't really need anything too high-end, it should just be a matter of the media player passing through the digital AC3 audio to the SPDIF output. There is some variation between sound cards in terms of quality of the components they use and the drivers, but personally I'd just go for a cheap card if the system is just being used as a HTPC.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#206622 13-Apr-2009 06:21

What model motherboard do you have? Most that have come out in the past few years all have SPDIF headers on the motherboard and just need a cable from the mobo to the back panel.

wayno3579

13 posts

Geek

#206629 13-Apr-2009 09:39

My PC is a NEC Powermate VL350, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 3800+, ATI Radeon Express 200, Realtek AC97 on board audio (yawn!). Not sure what the mobo is "named"

My Receiver is a pioneer VSX-515

What about this --> http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Sound-cards/auction-212728062.htm

Thanks for the responses!

W.

wayno3579

13 posts

Geek

#206630 13-Apr-2009 09:49

meesham: What type of expansion ports have you got available on your PC? (PCI, PCI-e etc) If you want something simple Gainward make a USB -> SPDIF optical adapter, Ascent has them for about $75.

I have a couple of PCI-e available. My USB is full with a host of stuff so would need to get a USB hub to expand. Plus would be nice not to have another device hanging on the outside of my PC.

Thanks

W