Connecting Pioneer 5.1 System to PC

[manopka]

So I have searched and searched for how to get 5.1 surround to my PC. But most people suggest buying 3 RCA-3.5mm splitters. But my receiver looks different in the back than the ones I've seen. It does not have the 3 different input RCAs.
http/imgur.com/Cf2or1d

This is the back of my mobo.
]http/imgur.com/JissyjN
I can see it has the proper connections for 5.1 but my receiver doesn't seem to. The way its set up right now I have the 3.5mm to RCA plugged into the input on my receiver and all 5 speakers + the sub work...just not in surround sound fashion.

So is this a lost cause or am I missing something?

 

[Cristi72]

Hello,

You have to use an optical-to-coaxial digital audio converter:

http/www.amazon.com/C2G-40019-Optical-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002GV876

Or, if your motherboard has a S/PDIF header, use this:

http/www.amazon.com/SPDIF-RCA-Plate-Cable-Bracket/dp/B0035J9Z7W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409779279&sr=8-2&keywords=spdif+bracket

 

[manopka]

Hello,

You have to use an optical-to-coaxial digital audio converter:

http/www.amazon.com/C2G-40019-Optical-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002GV876

Or, if your motherboard has a S/PDIF header, use this:

http/www.amazon.com/SPDIF-RCA-Plate-Cable-Bracket/dp/B0035J9Z7W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409779279&sr=8-2&keywords=spdif+bracket

I read somewhere that even with S/PDIF I wont be able to get full 5.1 because S/PDIF is only stereo. But after some more reading right now it seems I misunderstood some information or came across bad info.

So that converter and a S/PDIF cable is all I would need?

or what about this?
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882203092&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Toslink+Digital+Optical+Audio+Cables-_-N82E16882203092&gclid=CjwKEAjw-JqgBRCAyqjoic27nlQSJABBTpFEH2usd8Q36ogwSeOgsNK0P_OnywhwlyDyuOlq9X1r-BoCKDDw_wcB

 

[Cristi72]

So that converter and a S/PDIF cable is all I would need?

And an RCA-to-RCA cable .

The S/PDIF interface (either coaxial or optical) in its original form (uncompressed) is indeed stereo. However, nowadays pretty much all audio chipsets can compress a 5.1 signal for use with the bandwidth of S/PDIF, the problem being if the receiver can decode (uncompress) that format (DTS, PCM, AC3, etc.). The best quality setting available for your receiver's DAC is 24-bit/96kHz, but if you experience some problems (loss of audio signal, artifacts, etc) you must dial down the audio settings from the PC to 16-bit/96kHz or 24-bit/48kHz.

 

[manopka]

hmm..okay. so optical S/PDIF cable from my computer to the converter and then coaxial cable from the converter to the receiver. but where does the RCA-RCA go?

 

[Cristi72]

hmm..okay. so optical S/PDIF cable from my computer to the converter and then coaxial cable from the converter to the receiver. but where does the RCA-RCA go?

Generally speaking, a coaxial cable is a generic term for shielded signal cables (from audio cables to video/TV/RF cables or special applications) and only a handful of them employs RCA (cinch) connectors. If you already have a coaxial cable with RCA plugs at both ends, it is the same as RCA-to-RCA cable, no problem here (I was saying RCA-to-RCA for not trigger false results when searching).

EDIT: it is best to use a dedicated digital coaxial cable, such as this:

http/www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-29115-Velocity-Digital/dp/B0002J2B8I/ref=lp_597550_1_7?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1409784963&sr=1-7

 

[manopka]

got it! thank you very much.

 

[astrofix]

So I have searched and searched for how to get 5.1 surround to my PC. But most people suggest buying 3 RCA-3.5mm splitters. But my receiver looks different in the back than the ones I've seen. It does not have the 3 different input RCAs.
http/imgur.com/Cf2or1d

This is the back of my mobo.
]http/imgur.com/JissyjN
I can see it has the proper connections for 5.1 but my receiver doesn't seem to. The way its set up right now I have the 3.5mm to RCA plugged into the input on my receiver and all 5 speakers + the sub work...just not in surround sound fashion.

So is this a lost cause or am I missing something?

simple toslink cable (optical cable) goes from your system to your mobo, and has much better sound than via 3,5 mm jack...