Problem with ZS2 and Digital Cable Box

usfishin · Jan 15, 2006, 12:21 AM

Alright here is what I am trying to do...

I have a HTPC with an audigy zs2 in it. I am not using a receiver for my home theater just amplifiers. The audigy outputs via its analog outputs to the amplifiers which feed the speakers. So the only thing that needs sound going into the computer is the cable box. I have a s/pdif cable going from the cable box to the digital input on the zs2, but here is where my problem comes in...

I have done the mod with jumpering pins 25 and 35 together to fake it into having the front panel connected. Then I connected the digital coax from the cable box to pins 5 and 6 (the digital inputs on the board). I don't get any sound at all. The after doing some more research and experimenting I found that I get sound when I connect my digital coax from the cable box on to the cd_spdif header on the zs2. But here's where another problem occurs...

Not all the chanels have sound, but not only that, when I change the channel from a channel that has sound to one that doesn't have sound and then back again I have lost the sound completely. Then if I unplug the coax cable and plug it back in the sound comes back on.

I have also read about the AC3 encoding and decoding. Does this have something to do with that? I don't really know much about that. What can I do to accomplish my goal of having the digital sound go from the cable box and into my computer and then out (analog) to my amplifiers?

Any comments or suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated. I am getting really frustrated with this!
Thanks

**dj_stick** · Jan 15, 2006, 01:31 AM

connecting directly may not work, as the inputs on the AD_EXT require ttl levels, the cable box is probably standard spdif leves, so use the CD_SPDIF input

usfishin · Jan 15, 2006, 10:06 AM

Right, but when I use th cd_spdif input it works on some of the channels. But when I flip to a channel where the sound doesn't work and then back to one that does work it no longer works. The only way to get it to work again is to unplug the spdif cable for a second and then plug it back in. Then it works. What might be causing this and why do only some of the channels have sound? Does any of this have to do with AC3 encoding/decoding?

**dj_stick** · Jan 15, 2006, 05:39 PM

possibly, if at all possible, disable ac3/dolby digital output from your cable box (usually somewhere in the audio settings menu), as kX doesn't decode AC3 from the CD_SPDIF input

usfishin · Jan 16, 2006, 08:28 AM

Well on the cable box I can select either digital out or Dolby Pro Logic. Right now it's set on pro logic and going into the cd_spdif input. (I'll try the straight digital when I get home) When I connect the digital coax from the cable box into the normal digital input on the card I don't get anything. How can I hook up the cable box to the Audigy ZS2 digitally and all the channels work and don't cut out? Has anyone hooked up a cable box to a ZS2 via a digital coax cable?

chunkt · Feb 28, 2007, 02:54 PM

i've the same problem

A2 ZS, kx 3538m, Digital Sat Box connected via cd_spdif
just one channel works probably and it takes 10 sec until sound ist clear, before i hear strange noise.

Now trying YouP-PAX-A4v3.5.1. What about you?

edt: YouP-PAX-A4v3.5.1: no noise, both channels working but atm no real DD movie on tv. seems good

but i want to use KX...

BadBoy_GT · Jul 17, 2008, 08:57 PM

bringin' it back from the dead!

has anybody found a solution to this? i am also trying to accomplish this, but no success so far... any new ideas would be welcome!!!

thanks-

BadBoy