Choosing the correct Sound Card, Help.

[inckka]

I have a 5.1 audio receiver with only SPDIF in. I'd like to connect my Laptop via an USB sound card. I'm searching for months now. Still can't find the correct one.
Already bought this: http/www.amazon.com/Optimal-Shop-Channel-External-Surround/dp/B00Q4WQ7XW
However it also seems only 2 channel trough SPDIF out.
Can anyone help?

 

[ssddx]

you might want to make sure your "receiver" actually supports 5.1 optical input in. my guess is that you have a home theater in a box type set. sometimes those do not support 5.1 from external sources.

if they do support 5.1 optical, you would need to be using compressed dolby digital sound over optical. you want a sound card which has DDL dolby digital live support. unless both devices support this, the result is 2.0 uncompressed stereo sound over optical. with only stereo, the best you can do is fake surround with pro logic.

i know http/www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455681404&sr=8-1&keywords=x+fi+external has ddl support. or you can look for any other cards which have dolby digital live or dts-connect built in.

 

[inckka]

you might want to make sure your "receiver" actually supports 5.1 optical input in. my guess is that you have a home theater in a box type set. sometimes those do not support 5.1 from external sources.

if they do support 5.1 optical, you would need to be using compressed dolby digital sound over optical. you want a sound card which has DDL dolby digital live support. unless both devices support this, the result is 2.0 uncompressed stereo sound over optical. with only stereo, the best you can do is fake surround with pro logic.

i know http/www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455681404&sr=8-1&keywords=x+fi+external has ddl support. or you can look for any other cards which have dolby digital live or dts-connect built in.

Yes, My receiver supports 5.1 audio in through optical/coax in. Its a RCA RT2770 system. And it has the Dolby Pologic ii symbol.

Also thanks for the product recommendation. However I'm looking for some cheap alternative.
What about this device : http/www.thanksbuyer.com/usb-digital-sound-card-coaxial-optical-fiber-ac3-dts-5-1-spdif-source-code-output-33594

 

[ssddx]

i am well aware you are seeking a cheap solution which is why i told you that you could look for DDL or DTS-C in their specs which would verify they should output true 5.1 over optical. as long as your receiver supports the format it should certainly work.

i can not verify if cheap no-name products will work given that they lack information regarding their capabilities. i will say that most are 2.0 stereo and some use a form of prologic. you might find some that offer more but generally the prices go up as well with features. you could certainly take a stab in the dark with one which looks to have 5.1 support on optical although it could end up like the current one you tried, hence i will not give a yes or no on them.

 

[inckka]

i am well aware you are seeking a cheap solution which is why i told you that you could look for DDL or DTS-C in their specs which would verify they should output true 5.1 over optical. as long as your receiver supports the format it should certainly work.

i can not verify if cheap no-name products will work given that they lack information regarding their capabilities. i will say that most are 2.0 stereo and some use a form of prologic. you might find some that offer more but generally the prices go up as well with features. you could certainly take a stab in the dark with one which looks to have 5.1 support on optical although it could end up like the current one you tried, hence i will not give a yes or no on them.

Thanks for the info. Also, I have noticed there's an option called S/PDIF pass trough on most players including VLC. So regardless of DDL or DTS-C, any SPDIF out device convey the digital signals to receiver without any altreation if I play a AC3 or DTS file?