How do I connect 5.1 to my PC

[GriffinBaxter]

Hello, I recently bought this http/www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=841427670 and I'm wondering how I can connect this to my PC and get 5.1 surround sound.

It has 3 inputs: Optical, Coaxial, Aux.

I've been told lots to get a rca cable but I can't see anywhere on the back of the sub/amp it would go.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Math Geek]

it depends on what outputs your motherboard has. that amp has an optical input, digital spidf and rca stereo input.

the spidf is normally orange (middle connector on the amp) and this is what people are telling you to use. your motherboard should have this output if it is relatively new. the cable looks like an rca jack but carries a digital signal for 5.1 sound.

if your not sure what you have on the mobo, post the model number and we can look the specs up and tell you what is what.

 

[GriffinBaxter]

it depends on what outputs your motherboard has. that amp has an optical input, digital spidf and rca stereo input.

the spidf is normally orange (middle connector on the amp) and this is what people are telling you to use. your motherboard should have this output if it is relatively new. the cable looks like an rca jack but carries a digital signal for 5.1 sound.

if your not sure what you have on the mobo, post the model number and we can look the specs up and tell you what is what.

Hi, my motherboard does include a spidf thing. My motherboard is a Asrock B85M Pro4.

This is on the back of the motherboard: http/i.imgur.com/bZ17oah.jpg

Thanks for your help!

 

[GriffinBaxter]

it depends on what outputs your motherboard has. that amp has an optical input, digital spidf and rca stereo input.

the spidf is normally orange (middle connector on the amp) and this is what people are telling you to use. your motherboard should have this output if it is relatively new. the cable looks like an rca jack but carries a digital signal for 5.1 sound.

if your not sure what you have on the mobo, post the model number and we can look the specs up and tell you what is what.

So if I connect my amp to a spdif and connect that to my pc would I get 5.1 surround sound?

 

[Math Geek]

yes, this should send the signal to the amp to spread to the speakers.

if you are using hdmi, you may have to tell the pc to output from the spidf and not the hdmi port.

in your case, the spidf is the black square output.

 

[GriffinBaxter]

yes, this should send the signal to the amp to spread to the speakers.

if you are using hdmi, you may have to tell the pc to output from the spidf and not the hdmi port.

in your case, the spidf is the black square output.

Okay well I'm confused because this http/www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-2095538/spdif-optical-support.html says that it won't output 5.1 surround

 

[Math Geek]

the audio codec on that mobo according to asrock http/www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B85M%20Pro4/?cat=Specifications is the Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec

i have no idea what that thread is saying about the output. an optical output is meant to carry the digital audio signal from dvd, blue-ray and other hd content. i don't see anything on the realtek spec page (http/www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=28&Level=4&Conn=4&&ProdID=284) saying the 7.1 audio is only through hdmi. in fact it specifies " The ALC892 also features secondary SPDIF-OUT output and converter to transport digital audio output to a High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) transmitter."

this tells me the primary output carries the same signal as the secondary for the hdmi. so not sure what thread is all about and they did not source the specs that were quoted. i have an htpc using the spidf output to my surround sound and it outputs 5.1 to my receiver during dvd, blue-ray or hd movie streaming.

if there is something different about this mobo and it's outputs, then i am not aware of what it is. sorry but this is my experience and what i know about those outputs. not sure where they got that info from or if it even applies to this audio codec or another one. this line "Compressed bitstreams up to 48Khz/16bps using AC3 (Dolby Digital) or DTS encoding mechanisms" is very different than the realtek specs of "16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate "

 

[GriffinBaxter]

the audio codec on that mobo according to asrock http/www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B85M%20Pro4/?cat=Specifications is the Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec

i have no idea what that thread is saying about the output. an optical output is meant to carry the digital audio signal from dvd, blue-ray and other hd content. i don't see anything on the realtek spec page (http/www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=28&Level=4&Conn=4&&ProdID=284) saying the 7.1 audio is only through hdmi. in fact it specifies " The ALC892 also features secondary SPDIF-OUT output and converter to transport digital audio output to a High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) transmitter."

this tells me the primary output carries the same signal as the secondary for the hdmi. so not sure what thread is all about and they did not source the specs that were quoted. i have an htpc using the spidf output to my surround sound and it outputs 5.1 to my receiver during dvd, blue-ray or hd movie streaming.

if there is something different about this mobo and it's outputs, then i am not aware of what it is. sorry but this is my experience and what i know about those outputs. not sure where they got that info from or if it even applies to this audio codec or another one. this line "Compressed bitstreams up to 48Khz/16bps using AC3 (Dolby Digital) or DTS encoding mechanisms" is very different than the realtek specs of "16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate "

You are right, works fine with the spdif thingy! Thanks sooo much for your help you are the only person that has been able to solve this problem!

 

[Math Geek]

glad i could help.

enjoy the surround sound gaming 😀