Right now all i have is the Z5500 hooked up to my sound card with a digital coax cable.
LFE "Output" is for your Low Frequency Effects channel - aka. the Sub. You would want to use this output on your sound card to connect that Polk sub. You will also need to make sure that your audio system can support sending a multichannel (5.1 or 7.1) signal to both the analog outputs (the LFE out) and the digital outputs that your main speakers are connected to. Otherwise, if you can only use one or the other, you will have to make a choice and stick with either all analog (simple setup, just split the LFE between subs) or all digital (which would require a secondary decoder for that analog sub).What would be the best way to add this powered subwoofer?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290130
Could i use those speaker level inputs/outputs? the R and L rca connections? and what is the LFE input used for?
Thanks for the help
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I can only chose one or the other when it comes to input, i'm thinking my only way is splitting the digital coax, have it run into a digital receiver and hook up the sub to that.
Seems a bit much
Lets not forget that a digital coax output cannot be supplying any 5.1 system with 6 separate channels of audio, you need to use the 3 mini-jack outputs from the sound card. That Xonar card looks properly shielded, so I'd have no problem making use of the analogue outputs, but I doubt it'll sound any better than if you let the z5500s do the decoding - it's only a £100 card, not a £1000 one.
As for adding subs to these 'integrated' 5.1 systems, I'm sure people have already given you possibilities better than I can - but generally speaking it's a hassle that's pretty much not worth it imo.
OK, i never knew analog would sound better than digital, iv only tried it for a while until i bought a digital coax lol.
So for optimal sound quality i should use analog? i wont receive the benefits of dts digital, or is the change miniscule?
Lets not forget that a digital coax output cannot be supplying any 5.1 system with 6 separate channels of audio...
It depends. If you have horrible analog cables, then you will definitely notice a difference. Bomberboysk also raises some good points.
Technically, since that card supports Dolby Live and DTS Connect encoding, you can use it to its full potential via digital or analog. The digital option is very convenient, as I am sure you know, in that you can get discreet surround channels through one simple connection with the proper decoder (z-5500 in your case).
Yes it can. See above.
It depends. If you have horrible analog cables, then you will definitely notice a difference. Bomberboysk also raises some good points.
Technically, since that card supports Dolby Live and DTS Connect encoding, you can use it to its full potential via digital or analog. The digital option is very convenient, as I am sure you know, in that you can get discreet surround channels through one simple connection with the proper decoder (z-5500 in your case).
Yes it can. See above.
I'm never really sure about this... There's no digital protocol that can allow more than 2 channels of digital signal down a coax line, certainly none I know of.
So I assume these coax surround systems just use clever encoding and decoding of a stereo signal - is this actually classed as proper surround? I mean, you couldn't play 5 separate songs out of the 5 speakers on the z5500s... You could by using the analogue mini-jack inputs...
And back on DACs - they're all the same under a grand. Don't believe a word of it. The dacs are MUCH better on the xonar than the z5500s? I doubt anyone could hear any difference. It's all nonsense. I've tested dozens of converters back to back over the years - most people who've stopped in for a listen didn't have a clue. 5 year old creative something dac vs benchmark 'whateverthenumberis' dac. Difference? Yes. Relevant? Not for 99.999999% of the world. I was still visually checking what I was listening to, and that's the point.
Speakers make a difference, and if you have literally the best speakers on the planet, whatever they may be, a set a big ATCs or something then, being nothing more than a consumer, you worry about it.
Excellent ramble, now where be my shoes...