Audio Delay With Optical Cable

[AlphaBravo]

I recently purchased a Sound Blaster Z sound card and ran an optical cable from it to my Pioneer AV receiver (SC-1222-K).  The audio that I hear from my speakers has a slight delay when compared to what is being shown on my monitor.  When I hook up my Creative Z906 speakers (or my older Dell 5.1 speakers) via the 3.5 mm analog connections in the sound card, there is no delay; everything seems like it should be.  I have turned all processing off in the receiver, but it doesn't change the fact that the audio is delayed.  This occurs both in games and just watching online content.  Why is the audio via the optical cable being delayed, and is this normal?

[piplupgao]

How bad is the delay?

[defunkt]

There shouldn't be a problem, if you can try a different optical cable. Make sure the optical output on the Sound Blaster Z is set up properly in the software, and if your still getting problems I'd say it was the receiver causing the delay.

There shouldn't be any problems especially knowing that light is the fastest thing known to man. 

[t0wer]

Do you have onboard optical?

It would nail down the problem to either the receiver or sound card.

[defunkt]

Do you have onboard optical?

It would nail down the problem to either the receiver or sound card.

This!

[AlphaBravo]

How bad is the delay?

This is tough to quantify.  I will say that it is just bad enough that it is noticeable, especially when playing a game like Battlefield 3.

 

Do you have onboard optical?

It would nail down the problem to either the receiver or sound card.

 

I have a Rampage IV Extreme with onboard optical.  I did some testing and comparisons and here is what I have found.

 

1)  onboard optical - Rampage IV Extreme will only allow stereo via the optical connection (Realtek Audio) = no audio delay.

2)  Soundblaster Z optical - stereo with no Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

3)  Soundblaster Z analog - stereo with no Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

4)  Soundblaster Z analog - Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

5)  Soundblaster Z optical - Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = audio delay

 

So the only setup that has a delay is the when the sound card encodes the audio and sends it via the optical cable.

 

I have tried a different length/brand optical cable (a shorter one), but it does not change the audio delay.

 

 

[ShearMe]

This is tough to quantify.  I will say that it is just bad enough that it is noticeable, especially when playing a game like Battlefield 3.

 

 

I have a Rampage IV Extreme with onboard optical.  I did some testing and comparisons and here is what I have found.

 

1)  onboard optical - Rampage IV Extreme will only allow stereo via the optical connection (Realtek Audio) = no audio delay.

2)  Soundblaster Z optical - stereo with no Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

3)  Soundblaster Z analog - stereo with no Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

4)  Soundblaster Z analog - Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = no audio delay

5)  Soundblaster Z optical - Dolby or DTS encoding from the sound card = audio delay

 

So the only setup that has a delay is the when the sound card encodes the audio and sends it via the optical cable.

 

I have tried a different length/brand optical cable (a shorter one), but it does not change the audio delay.

 

Sounds lik you need to have a stern talkin' to with Creative tech support.

[AlphaBravo]

Looks like I'm not the only one who noticed this.  No solution to the issue yet.

 

http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=699603