N00Bish audio question

Sovereign · Post by **Sovereign** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:19 pm

I got my Logitech Z5500s today! Now, I know absolutely nothing about computer audio/home audio. I know to do my research, however, and for my case I found out that the Z5500s are the best fit for me.

Now, I have an X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card. What settings should I use to get the best boom for my buck? I do music, movies and games, and I don't care if I have to switch settings all the time to get the best sound for each.

Xanlamin · Post by **Xanlamin** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:48 pm

You should do fine with default settings, one thing to remember is that your not going to get surround sound from normal MP3's, DVD movies you will, and "some" music CD's you will.

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:29 pm

How are you connecting these speakers to your sound card? TOS LINK, Coax, or 5.1 analogue 1/8" minijacks?

IssE · Post by **IssE** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:18 pm

I don't get these sound cards.. they don't make music sound different I mean Britney still sounds like Britney.. why buy something that's change is nominal .. well i think it is nominal..
my sound card:High-Def Audio, 8 Speaker Configurable Integrated into the motherboard.. and it sound just fine.. except my speakers. .when i put headphones on you can hear interference in the background so I need to plug my headphones into the computer not the speakers..

Sovereign · Post by **Sovereign** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:26 pm

Same plug that you'd use with a regular speaker setup (analog I think). I don't have SPDIF or other types of cable. Also, Xanlamin you're incorrect. These speakers can turn a 2/2.1 stream into a 5.1 stream on their own, or the X-Fi can do it.

Sporg · Post by **Sporg** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:39 pm

Britney?

IssE · Post by **IssE** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:27 am

Sporg wrote: Britney?

yes someone who is bald.. dunno why i gave her as an example but mehh..

Xanlamin · Post by **Xanlamin** » Thu May 10, 2007 3:23 pm

The speakers I have and my sound blaster audigy 5.1 will not and most others that I have seen will not play MP3's in surround sound, yours are the first that I have heard of that does.

Sovereign · Post by **Sovereign** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:30 pm

Xanlamin wrote:The speakers I have and my sound blaster audigy 5.1 will not and most others that I have seen will not play MP3's in surround sound, yours are the first that I have heard of that does.

They use Dolby ProLogic II to upmix the stereo MP3 stream into 5.1. There is also a decoder for movies that does the same thing. The speakers themselves have this ability, but so does the X-Fi soundcard.

Xanlamin · Post by **Xanlamin** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:23 pm

k, I get surround with DVD movies, just not with MP3's, is there some 3rd party software I can get to do this?

Post by **DMB2000uk** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:41 pm

Think your card has to be able to support Dolby PLII so if its not an option in your current sound card program panel then I doubt you can add it on via other progs.

My mate uses CMS 3D for making music on all speakers with his xfi.

Dan

Sovereign · Post by **Sovereign** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:48 pm

My X-Fi has options under the "Decoder" tab. When the "Settings" button is clicked next to the Dolby logo, I get "Pro Logic" on or off. You can either use an external decoder or use the internal. I don't know how mine works seeing as I effectively have double decoding, the X-Fi does some and the speaker's control module also has DPLII enabled...

Xanlamin · Post by **Xanlamin** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:43 pm

I can get music to play out of all speakers but I have to unplug the secondary sound cable (black cable) and leave just the main cable (green) pluged in.