A50 DTS to Dolby 5.1?

[Jamessuperfun]

Hi,
I have recently bought the Astro A50 headset. So far I'm loving it, but it seems my mobo (Asus P8Z77-V) doesn't support Dolby 5.1, only the DTS stuff. Is it possible for me to get the full 5.1/7.1 effect without buying a new sound card? Can I, if I have to, get something external to do it instead? I am connecting it via the included optical cable to my SPDIF Out port.
Thanks.

 

[mauller07]

dts will give you 5.1 and it is actually better quality compared to dolby as they are both compressed bit streams.

you also can only get 5.1 audio from your pc using dts connect or dolby live

 

[Jamessuperfun]

Sweet, but it's a little more complicated than that. I'll post screenshots.

Sorry about the second picture not all of the formats are avalible, I have to click 'new' on snipping tool then quickly click to open the dropdown or it closes (upon clicking new). However, there are only lower qualities there- all 2 channel.

The Astro A50 mixamp doesn't support DTS, only Dolby Digital. If I enable the DTS option in 'Supported Formats' and press Test, I just get a crackling noise in the left earcup. It then asks me if I heard audio, to which I press no because I don't think a crackling noise counts as audio.

 

[mauller07]

ah i see, you will need to buy a sound card the support dolby digital live output then, this should work fine http://www.quietpc.com/sb-recon3d?gclid=CO-fwZbuhrkCFU_MtAodBSoA3g

 

[Jamessuperfun]

Another 40 quid? Plus delivery, making it more like 50 quid? This headset was already £165 on eBay new, is there really no other option?
Also, not installed anything in this PC yet and I'm avoiding having to for as long as I can, I'm a bit of a pussy you see 😛 Is there any sort of external thing I can use?
*EDIT* How about this? It's less than half the price http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turtle-Beach-Advantage-Laptop-Windows/dp/B0036VO4X4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376824775&sr=8-2&keywords=dolby+digital+live+external+sound+card

 

[mauller07]

it NEEDS to support Dolby digital live which only the slightly more expensive cards do, there is another alternative on creatives website that costs 4 or 5 dollars but i have never used it so i do not know if it will work but its software that will convert the pc sounds into dolby and let you stream it out of your optical port as a bitstream.

this is the software http://software.store.creative.com/software/dolby-digital-live-and-dts-connect-pack/106-18034.aspx

 

[Jamessuperfun]

And that will give me the 5.1 option? As in, I will get the full 5.1 from the game?
Thanks for the help btw mate

Also, isn't that just for Creative cards?

 

[mauller07]

yes it should do and you can use the optical output on your pc.

it should convert your game sound in software and then bitstream dolby digital live using your optical out to your headphones receiver.

 

[Jamessuperfun]

Sweet, but since it's on Creative's website, wouldn't it only be for Creative cards?

 

[mauller07]

oh crap, it actually is for creative cards only, it does not make that initially obvious.

shall just look around a moment.

 

[Jamessuperfun]

Alright, cheers. Software would be ideal actually: Don't have to install anything inside the case, and don't have to have another box lying around (the A50 mixamp is enough!)

 

[mauller07]

i think you are most likely going to need to spend money in the end to get surround on the headphones by buying a card with dolby digital live, cant find anything that is not convoluted and free.

 

[Jamessuperfun]

I will buy if I *REALLY* have to, but I would like to avoid it. I'm pretty broke right now after spending so much on the headphones, and this is really turning into a huge investment.
Any other sort of software you know about? It's a Realtek chip btw.