How to connect my Logitech Z506 to digital optic on mobo?

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panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#306106 28-Jun-2023 21:20

Hey guys, so I've using Logitech Z506 speakers, and I got a new mobo (z690 aorus elite ax) not realising it has a digital optical port (S/PDIF Out) on it.

What can I get so I can use my speakers with my new mobo?

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3096002 28-Jun-2023 21:47

Does it have optical out on the back or just on the MB?

- https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-AORUS-ELITE-AX-rev-1x

Ah it has optical out but the Z506 only has 6 ch RCA In

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3096015 28-Jun-2023 23:58

You are going to need a DAC/preamp that handles 5.1 audio from S/PDIF and outputs line level 5.1 on RCA jacks. That sort of thing is usually found in a home theatre type preamp, of which there are a great many to choose from but not so many that include a DAC. There are likely also some that have a USB input (with or without also having S/PDIF or TOSLINK inputs). The USB input allows you to plug the DAC/preamp into a USB port on the motherboard and then the preamp will appear as an audio device to Windows or Linux, and you just select that audio device instead of the motherboard builtin one. I have a portable DAC that does USB, S/PDIF and TOSLINK inputs, but it only outputs stereo audio, not 5.1. You typically will not find 5.1 on the small cheap devices - so I think you are up for >$1500 or so to get 5.1 and probably more than that for a good 5.1 device. It might be cheaper to get a different motherboard that has 5.1 outputs. Or look at TradeMe for a second hand option. But if you value the sound quality, then an external DAC/preamp is likely a much better choice than using a motherboard's builtin DAC/preamp. No matter how much the motherboard manufacturers tout their latest special audio subsystems, I have yet to meet a motherboard onboard audio system that produces decent sound quality. But I am an audiophile - there are lots of people (like my mother) who simply can not hear all the audio problems present in cheap audio systems. If you are one of those, then you can get just about anything and be happy with it.

Behodar

10501 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3096123 29-Jun-2023 08:24

I'm not an audiophile, but would something like this not do the trick? [Edit: Didn't notice it was out of stock, but I'm sure something similar must exist]

[Edit 2: I thought my own set was Z506 but it's actually Z906. It seems that 506 doesn't have the coaxial connection.]

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/toslink-to-coaxial-digital-audio-converter/p/AC1598

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3096125 29-Jun-2023 08:45

You can drive 5.1 audio via the audio headers on the motherboard - you just need the correct adapters. You can see details in the motherboard manual.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#3096196 29-Jun-2023 12:42

Not an audiophile, I don't know much about this stuff in terms of the technical asepct of things.

Just looking for a quick and cheap solution to get all the speakers to work with the motherboard.

Ruphus

465 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3096199 29-Jun-2023 12:59

You should be able to use Line Out on the motherboard but you may need to change the speaker configuration with the sound software.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3096316 29-Jun-2023 18:34

Behodar:

I'm not an audiophile, but would something like this not do the trick? [Edit: Didn't notice it was out of stock, but I'm sure something similar must exist]

[Edit 2: I thought my own set was Z506 but it's actually Z906. It seems that 506 doesn't have the coaxial connection.]

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/toslink-to-coaxial-digital-audio-converter/p/AC1598

While that converter does have a single RCA output, it is outputting S/PDIF digital on it, so that does not help.

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fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3096318 29-Jun-2023 18:36

Ruphus:

You should be able to use Line Out on the motherboard but you may need to change the speaker configuration with the sound software.

Unfortunately, that motherboard does not have a line out on it - the motheboard F_AUDIO (frontpanel audio) connector only has a headphone output - no line out, let alone the extra outputs for the other 5.1 channels. I think its onboard DAC is only a 2 channel one.

Ruphus

465 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3097320 29-Jun-2023 19:11

Hmm. The rear IO appears to show a Line Out in the images and Gigabyte included a nice table on page 18 of their manual for that motherboard. I wonder what they are on about the.

Ruphus

465 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3097374 29-Jun-2023 20:09

Thinking about this some more, maybe look at getting a dedicated audio card.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3097380 29-Jun-2023 20:24

Ruphus: Hmm. The rear IO appears to show a Line Out in the images and Gigabyte included a nice table on page 18 of their manual for that motherboard. I wonder what they are on about the.

Yes, there is a line out socket. But it is 2 channel only.

In the last year or so, the cheaper motherboards seem to have been cutting costs by only supporting 2 channel audio (traditional stereo). As in this case, they normally have a digital output for the full digital signal either as S/PDIF (RCA connector on copper cable), or TOSLINK optical as this motherboard does.

My latest motherboard (far more expensive) has support for 7.1 audio. As well as TOSLINK, it has 5 audio sockets, some of which are reconfigurable for different output modes. In 7.1 mode they are:

Light blue: Side speaker out (2 channels) - This is normally the line in socket in 5.1, 4 or 2 channel modes.

Lime: Front speaker out (2 channels) - Also known as line out.

Pink: Mic in.

Orange: Centre/subwoofer (2 channels).

Black: Side speaker out (2 channels).

An arrangement of outputs like this is what the OP would have had on his previous motherboard, but perhaps only able to do up to 5.1. I am guessing that there will be quite a few people who, like the OP, missed the fact that the new motherboard they were buying did not have at least 5.1 outputs, because before this almost all motherboards did have 5.1 or 7.1 outputs. And frequently both TOSLINK and copper S/PDIF outputs, although the S/PDIF was often from a header on the motherboard rather than on the back panel. When I was buying my new motherboards over the last year, I missed the fact that there was no S/PDIF output, so I had to use TOSLINK instead. Fortunately, I had a TOSLINK cable already, and my new DAC can use either.

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3097389 29-Jun-2023 20:43

Ruphus: Thinking about this some more, maybe look at getting a dedicated audio card.

Yes, that sounds like a good option. TradeMe seems to have some. And as well as PCIe cards, you can also get external USB ones. And the multifunction USB hubs designed for ultra thin laptops often have some audio out ports also.

panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#3097714 30-Jun-2023 13:13

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I will look for a sound card but in the mean I purchased a 3.5mm to RCA cable. May not be 5.1 but all the speakers are playing sound now