creative x-fi digital output

sddriver · Feb 27, 2007, 03:52 PM

I have a creative X-FI sound card. I am not sure if it is the gamer or the audio version. But it has a digital output port.

I also have a sound receiver. Being new to this audio stuff, I tried to connect a Digital coax cable from my sound card to my sound receiver. I quickly realized that the creative port is not a digital coaxial port.

So my question is, what type of port is it? And can I buy a creative digital out to digital coaxial cable?

jiiteepee · Feb 27, 2007, 04:37 PM

Do you see light coming out through that Digital I/O port? If yes then,

- you have the XtremeGamer (the new LowProfile card) there then, if your receiver accepts coaxial intput only then you need a separate optical->coaxial converter (maybe Creative I/O Module can do this but if not then there are planty of choices available (just google after "optical to coaxial" or vice versa)) otherwise, just use optical cable

otherwise,
- you have other X-Fi model there ... if your receiver needs a coaxial connection then .. use standard stereo-mini-jack to 2xRCA cable ... the white RCA connector carries the signal

jiitee

sddriver · Feb 27, 2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiiteepee

Do you see light coming out through that Digital I/O port? If yes then,

- you have the XtremeGamer (the new LowProfile card) there then, if your receiver accepts coaxial intput only then you need a separate optical->coaxial converter (maybe Creative I/O Module can do this but if not then there are planty of choices available (just google after "optical to coaxial" or vice versa)) otherwise, just use optical cable

otherwise,
- you have other X-Fi model there ... if your receiver needs a coaxial connection then .. use standard stereo-mini-jack to 2xRCA cable ... the white RCA connector carries the signal

jiitee

Yes, I think the light is orange. This is an optical port? My receiver does accept optical input. However, the port on the sound card looks too round to be an optical port. I am a little confused. I will try an optical cable to see if it fits better. Thanks.

jiiteepee · Feb 27, 2007, 05:53 PM

You need then a "mini-TOSLINK to LOSLINK" cable

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer...ogy/CBLAOPTMT/

or converter like this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...=SEO&U=Strat15

jiitee

EDIT: You get best quality by using Bit-Matched playback w/ S/PDIF optical -> receiver.

Bit Accurate Recording and Playback

Summary:

Sound Blaster X-Fi, Sound Blaster Audio 4, and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS cards support the Bit Accurate (Bit-Matched) technology.
In the "Bit Accurate" mode, the sound card can play back or record the exact audio from external SPDIF input or CD Digital without any modification.

To enable Bit-Matched (Bit Accurate) mode,

If you have a Sound Blaster X-Fi or Sound Blaster Audigy4, open Creative Audio Console, click the Bit-Matched, and check the box next to Enable Bit-Matched Recording.Bit-Matched playback which is only available under the Audio Creation Mode of Sound Blaster X-Fi cards.
If you have a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS, open Audio HQ, click the Bit-Accurate Mode, and check the box next to Enable Bit-Matched Recording.

Note:

Bit-Matched mode during recording is only applicable if the source's sampling rate is the same as the recording sampling rate set in the application for the recording session.
The SPDIF input signal monitoring box gives you information on the various SPDIF inputs such as SPDIF In.
Adjusting the recording source's gain level when Bit-Matched Mode is enabled will not have any effect on the recording even if the gain meter changes. Disable Bit-Matched Mode before adjusting the recording source's gain level.
You can only achieve Bit-Matched when the audio data's recording source is from the SPDIF Input connector.
Some options are available only for selected audio devices, for example, the Bit-Matched playback is only available under the Audio Creation Mode of Sound Blaster X-Fi cards.
Once Bit-Matched playback starts, the digital output sampling rate is automatically set to the current playback's sampling rate regardless of the current digital output sampling rate.
When Bit-Matched mode is applied to the playback, adjusting the volume control or applying EAX effects will not have any effect on digital output signals.
Bit-Matched playback is only applicable to WAV files with the following specifications:
- stereo format
- PCM audio data
- 16-bits and above (maximum 32-bits with 24-bits resolution)
- 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz

sddriver · Feb 28, 2007, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the info. I guess I have a mini toslink port then. Too bad I bought a 25 ft digital coaxial cable already. IS there such a thing as a mini toslink to digital coaxial adapter?

I googled it and only found toslink to digital coaxial. Not mini toslink. It was also big and required to be pluged into a power outlet? Is it cheaper just to buy a new 25 ft mini toslink to toslink cable?

GreenHill · Feb 28, 2007, 09:33 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiiteepee

- you have other X-Fi model there ... if your receiver needs a coaxial connection then .. use standard stereo-mini-jack to 2xRCA cable ... the white RCA connector carries the signal
jiitee

I have X-Fi XtremeMusic and wanna connect to external D/A converter's S/PDIF Input jack.

ie. PC -> X-Fi [FlexiJack port] -(S/PDIF via Coaxicial)-> DAC -> PowerAmp -> LoudSpeaker

I know Creative Digital I/O module thing works for this purpse but I won't use it for sound quality and wireing reason.

Since I bought 75ohm coax digital cable (audio grade one, 1m length), I won't extend cable length via I/O module. (and it has cheap cable & connector even)

So I'm thinking use of below mini plug/RCA adapter instead of Creative I/O module.

Mono mini plug <-> RCA Jack adapter
Stereo mini plug <-> RCA Jack adapter (white = Left channel goes to coax output, right?)

I saw several post on creative forum that mono-mini plug works fine for coax output.
And as you said, it seems Stereo mini plug also works.

So question is, which one is recommended for mini plug/coax connection? [COLOR=red]Stereo or Mono ?[/COLOR]
I'm worrying about such as Voltage Level(S/PDIF standard 0.5V), Impedance, and Sound Quality so on.

Or am I too anxious and both mini-plug and stereo plug send S/PDIF correctly and no signal/sound difference?

(I'm not sure about X-Fi's FlexiJack specification)

Anyway If you have any information or suggestion, help me please.

Regards,

jiiteepee · Feb 28, 2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sddriver

Thanks for the info. I guess I have a mini toslink port then. Too bad I bought a 25 ft digital coaxial cable already. IS there such a thing as a mini toslink to digital coaxial adapter?

I googled it and only found toslink to digital coaxial. Not mini toslink. It was also big and required to be pluged into a power outlet? Is it cheaper just to buy a new 25 ft mini toslink to toslink cable?

There are those optical->coaxial converter devices available (you still need to get the MiniTOSLINK->stdTOSLINK adapter) but, those normally costs more than the new cable (Creative Digital I/O maybe can do this conversion (~$15 + S&H) but, since I have never read on this --> no quarantee promised from here).

jiitee

jiiteepee · Feb 28, 2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenHill

Hi,

I have X-Fi XtremeMusic and wanna connect to external D/A converter's S/PDIF Input jack.

ie. PC -> X-Fi [FlexiJack port] -(S/PDIF via Coaxicial)-> DAC -> PowerAmp -> LoudSpeaker

I know Creative Digital I/O module thing works for this purpse but I won't use it for sound quality and wireing reason.

Since I bought 75ohm coax digital cable (audio grade one, 1m length), I won't extend cable length via I/O module. (and it has cheap cable & connector even)

So I'm thinking use of below mini plug/RCA adapter instead of Creative I/O module.

Mono mini plug <-> RCA Jack adapter
Stereo mini plug <-> RCA Jack adapter (white = Left channel goes to coax output, right?)

I saw several post on creative forum that mono-mini plug works fine for coax output.
And as you said, it seems Stereo mini plug also works.

So question is, which one is recommended for mini plug/coax connection? [COLOR=red]Stereo or Mono ?[/COLOR]
I'm worrying about such as Voltage Level(S/PDIF standard 0.5V), Impedance, and Sound Quality so on.

Or am I too anxious and both mini-plug and stereo plug send S/PDIF correctly and no signal/sound difference?

(I'm not sure about X-Fi's FlexiJack specification)

Anyway If you have any information or suggestion, help me please.

Regards,

There shouldn't be much quality difference between these two but, when coax is compared to optical ... what I've read, there is huge difference (optical is better) --> the coaxial output is not very well implemented in SB cards (maybe there are some differences between "Digital out" and "S/PDIF out" in Creative cards? Least Creative mentions those separately).

jiitee