Logitech g51 5.1 surround and spdif

[Ryuu]

Hi,

I have logitech g51 5.1 surround system and asus f3jr notebook with spdif out. If I use the following cable(mono spdif to rca):http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-...prodSPDIF.html

Will it give me true surround on my speakers? The g51 has no digital input, just rca connectors (red/white). So, will this cable connect to one of the rca inputs and after setting the realtek manager, can I get true surround? Or is there any other way to do that?

Pls. help!

Thanks!
Ryuu

[sangram]

If the speaker has no digital inputs it can't run off the spdif out from your laptop.

You need an outboard soundcard to get full 5.1 surround. It should hook up through USB. Creative, Zalman and m-audio all make such boxes. Not cheap, but good enough for the job. You can also use a digital decoder box like the Creative DDTS-1000 or similar to hook up the speakers to, it accepts a SPDIF input.

Lastly, you can get yourself a cheap receiver. This will offer full digital conectivity and will be able to directly drive the g51 speakers. The sub can be connected to the lfe output of the receiver. This will enable you to get full control over the speakers, better amps than are built into the Logitechs, a full suite of decoding abilities and usually a lot of options on tone control and DSP.

Here's one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1195598242555

[Ryuu]

Thanks Sangram!

How about using converter box, digital to analogue? Will it work? Know of any cheap ones?

[sangram]

Cheap, no, but the Creaive DDTS-1000 is decent and it runs off USB and (IIRC) SPDIF. I don't know if it's still available.

The Zalman one is here: http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/za...c/zmrssc_1.htm

And here's another one from Creative, a currently shipping product: http://www.soundblaster.com/products...&product=17751

And here's a coupla links from the bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-6-Channel-5-...d=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-PSC805-Aurilium-external-USB-2-0-sound-card-5-1_W0QQitemZ160287498974QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160287498974&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A1 2|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Don't fall for these ones, they offer 'virtual 5.1', which means simulated surround on stereo setups:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-USB-2-0-TO-3D-AUDIO-SOUND-CARD-FOR-PC-ADAPTER-5-1_W0QQitemZ200258582470QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200258582470&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A1 2|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

OR

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-5-1-Channel-Audio-Sound-Card-Adapter-20-193_W0QQitemZ180292560406QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180292560406&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3 A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Ryuu]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for taking time to help me Sangram!

[sangram]

No probs, welcome to the forums, and have a good stay. Sorry I missed the fact that you were new here. Do post back on what you finally did.

[Ryuu]

Thanks for the welcome Sangram. Right now, I am thinking about upgrading my speakers to Logitech z 5500. Any thoughts on that set? I heard that although its a blast for gaming but isnt that good for music.

[sangram]

It sucks big time for music, apparently. I haven't auditioned it personally, but I've been sufficiently discouraged from doing so by people whose ears I trust.

I prefer pure stereo for music. At the office I got a self-built amp and DAC running a pair of PSB bookshelves, and they sound pretty amazing for the price I paid (~150 for the speakers, and about 60 for all the DAC and amp parts) and the amount of elbow grease I put in (about 6 hours to build the whole thing).

My gaming setup is 5.1, it's a little Pioneer receiver and a basic JBL speaker setup. It's works fine for a temporary or background music setup, but it's not a patch on any of my custom setups for music (I have two, one for proper listening sessions and one for monitoring ym mixes and recordings). It cost me ~500, a fair bit more than the Z5500, but I'm sure it was well worth.

[Ryuu]

Hmm....the thing is, I can only change my current speaker set with z 5500 by paying $100 extra. I just got g51 and then realized it doesnt have digital input...should have done research first! So, is it worth it to pay $100 extra and upgrade to z 5500?

[sangram]

Not really, I'd rather spend that 100 on a decent outboard converter. You may be disappointed by the sound quality of the 5500. There's a 5.1 set with only analog - I think the 5300 - that offers better SQ but doesn't have digital in.

If you're not too picky however, you should be fine with the 5500. Can you manage an audition? that would be the best way to decide.

[Ryuu]

Audition would be difficult...I was thinking that either (as you mentioned) I can get a converter or upgrade to 5500 for 100 bucks. So, if I buy a converter, I will have the sound quality of g51 compared to z 5500. Isnt z 5500 much better than g51?

[sangram]

For some strange reason I can't spot the Z5300 on the Logitech site, those are decent speakers, no digital but better than the Z5500 (though cheaper).

The Z5500 may be better than the g51. I can't tell, since I haven't heard either of them. But the few Logitechs I have heard, are made to impress but not satisfy. Which means sparkly highs and a very tubby bottom end, which sound great in a showroom but are guaranteed to tire in home. Not enough punch in the lower mid, and not enough resolution in the upper mids (voices sound horrible, for example).

I would advise you step up to the z5500, so at least you can get some sound out of your laptop, and have a surround setup to keep you going. If you feel the need for music, it's easy to add a pure stereo setup into the system. I've not heard many setups that can manage both music and surround well, at least not below $1000 or so. If I really, really had to choose, I'd go with a non-PC stereo setup for everything, as music is much more important to me than surround.

[Ryuu]

Logitech dicontinued the z 5300 model. The only current models are x540, g51, and z5500...their new flagship. My budget is limited and z5500 would be as far as I can go. I will go with it and let you guys know how it is...and maybe later, I will upgrade to proper home theater system.

[Ryuu]

Ok...I finally got my logitech z 5500 speakers, the bass is excellent. They are pretty good for the price. I dont think you can ask for more at this budget.

But now there is another problem with my laptop, Asus z53jr (or f3jr) laptop. It is equipped with ALC660 and spdif output but it doesnt provide me an option for more than 2 channels. I am using toslink cable to connect. I can easily get 2 channel stereo digital output but not 5.1. The OS is vista home premium 32bit, and in advance tab of sound properties, there is only an option of 2 channels. Even in realtek manager, the speaker configuration just fixed to two.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ryuu

[IAmGhostDog]

Can you verify what your onboard sound is.
It might be something as simple as a driver update.
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