Is 5.1 Decoder DTS/AC3 Dolby SPDIF Input to 5.1-channel Digital Audio Converter any good?

[Sabbir Hassan]

I have logitech Z506 and  SOUND BLASTER Z (which has Dolby & DTS). I was thinking  5.1 Decoder DTS/AC3 Dolby SPDIF Input to 5.1-channel Digital Audio Converter will be useful? Will it be any useful in gaming and watching movies ?

 

 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-1-Decoder-DTS-AC3-Dolby-SPDIF-Input-to-5-1-channel-Digital-Audio-Converter-HOT-/162660144407?hash=item25df4cd517:g:tBQAAOSwNf1ZqPN3

[GamerDude]

Aren't you using the Z506 speakers in your setup? Aren't they good enough for gaming and movies in 5.1? I have the older Z5500, gaming and movies in 5.1 is pretty damn good, your Z506 should be able to do pretty well with such scenarios as well.

[Sabbir Hassan]

2 minutes ago, GamerDude said:

Aren't you using the Z506 speakers in your setup? Aren't they good enough for gaming and movies in 5.1? I have the older Z5500, gaming and movies in 5.1 is pretty damn good, your Z506 should be able to do pretty well with such scenarios as well.

cant enable Dolby & DTS without SPDIF 

[GamerDude]

5 minutes ago, Sabbir Hassan said:

cant enable Dolby & DTS without SPDIF 

*snip*

Oh, but doesn't your mobo or soundcard have SPDIF out? I've always had my Z5500 controller box hooked up to my card via SPDIF, so I'd not thought about that.

[Sabbir Hassan]

1 minute ago, GamerDude said:

Oh, but doesn't your mobo or soundcard have SPDIF out?

yes but my speaker dont have SPDIF input 

[GamerDude]

20 minutes ago, Sabbir Hassan said:

yes but my speaker dont have SPDIF input 

I've been looking at pics of the back of the Z506 sub and there appears to be three minijack inputs (green, grey, orange, under '6 CH' tab) which you can use to hook up your Z506 to your mobo/soundcard (most modern mobo and soundcard support at least 5.1 output anyway). Just took a look at my Z5500 controller box/pad and I'd replaced SPDIF with three minijack (3.5mm headphone jacks/plugs) from my soundcard. Hopefully, someone who's more savvy with surround setups would come along and help you out as I feel I'm a tad outta my depth here....

[Valkyrie Lenneth]

31 minutes ago, Sabbir Hassan said:

cant enable Dolby & DTS without SPDIF 

the spdif out only works on supported software , quite a few movies or applications that dont have it wont have sound :v

 

its not worth the hassle really, just go to ur soundcard options and set it to the highest sample rates instead   ( 5.1 = 96khz   and 2.1 is 192khz ) , standard its set to 48khz

[Sabbir Hassan]

3 minutes ago, GamerDude said:

I've been looking at pics of the back of the Z506 sub and there appears to be three minijack inputs (green, grey, orange, under '6 CH' tab) which you can use to hook up your Z506 to your mobo/soundcard (most modern mobo and soundcard support at least 5.1 output anyway). Just took a look at my Z5500 controller box/pad and I'd replaced SPDIF with three minijack (3.5mm headphone jacks/plugs) from my soundcard. 

that the issue for z506 doesn't have any option for SPDIF input . with out SPDIF I cant enable  Dolby & DTS

[Sabbir Hassan]

5 minutes ago, Valkyrie Lenneth said:

the spdif out only works on supported software , quite a few movies or applications that dont have it wont have sound :v

 

its not worth the hassle really, just go to ur soundcard options and set it to the highest sample rates instead   ( 5.1 = 96khz   and 2.1 is 192khz ) , standard its set to 48khz

so there is no use for Dolby & DTS?

[Valkyrie Lenneth]

1 minute ago, Sabbir Hassan said:

so there is no use for Dolby & DTS?

well there is but it is rather limited, thus not really recommended unless ur a dolby/dts enthusiast

[Sabbir Hassan]

Confused should I spend AUD 41 for 5.1 Decoder DTS/AC3 Dolby SPDIF Input to 5.1-channel Digital Audio Converter for limited felicities ....

[GamerDude]

Oh, on further reading, it seems your Z506 does not have a DTS/Dolby decoder built-in, thus it falls on the mobo or soundcard to act as the decoder. I suppose that converter would work, but you'll have to get three sets of dual RCA to stereo minijack (3.5mm plugs) so that you can connect the six RCA audio output ports to the three minijack '6 CH' inputs on the sub (wait for more audio savvy guys to confirm this). What mobo do you have? I do believe newer mobos might even have support for Dolby and/or DTS 5.1. Another solution is to get a cheap soundcard with DTS/Dolby 5.1 support, but since you're down under, there's no such thing as a cheap soundcard.

 

Do wait for more replies before deciding......

[spwath]

11 hours ago, GamerDude said:

Oh, on further reading, it seems your Z506 does not have a DTS/Dolby decoder built-in, thus it falls on the mobo or soundcard to act as the decoder. I suppose that converter would work, but you'll have to get three sets of dual RCA to stereo minijack (3.5mm plugs) so that you can connect the six RCA audio output ports to the three minijack '6 CH' inputs on the sub (wait for more audio savvy guys to confirm this). What mobo do you have? I do believe newer mobos might even have support for Dolby and/or DTS 5.1. Another solution is to get a cheap soundcard with DTS/Dolby 5.1 support, but since you're down under, there's no such thing as a cheap soundcard.

 

Do wait for more replies before deciding......

Based on my knowledge, I say you are right.