Analog/Optical/Coax ? Question about Z5400 speaker.

Antipika

Hi,

I just bought Z-5400 speakers yesterday, (Z-5500 price was twice expensiver :s), I'm currently owning a poor Audigy SE card (will upgrade to an X-fi XtremeMusic very soon), and I'm using analog connections (yellow/green/black cables).

I'd like to know if I would get a great sound improvement by switching to coax or optical ? Or should I simply stay with my analog cables ?

This also would enable me to have 3 free stereos plugs on the back of my logitech Z-5400 receiver, if I use optical or coax, which would be nice.

What stuff (adapter/cable) should I buy to go with my Z-5400 + X-fi XtremeMusic ?

Thanks again for answers.

Per Hansson · 01-21-2007, 12:53 | posts: 86 | Location: Sweden

You will only get 5.1 sound if you use analog out

If you use Optical/Coax you will only get Stereo sound, unless the sound source is already encoded (and you send it with S/PDIF passthrough) (example of encoded sources are DVD movies, games are not encoded...)

CTman · *Last edited by CTman; 01-21-2007 at 16:25.*

The easiest way is using the analog plugs (green, black and yellow) of the speakerset for connecting the X-fi Xtreme Music; and don't think that the soundquality will become bad because it's not via a digital connection.

By the way, the Logitech Z-5400 is one of the better 5.1 speakerset than most of the 5.1 speakerset with analog and digital inputs, and an all in one "Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS and Dolby Prologic II -decoder". And for the current price of around 180 euro in the Netherlands; around £ 199,- in the UK the Logitech Z-5400 is the best and versatile 5.1 speakerset under the 200 euro/pound.

Good luck

shodai · 01-21-2007, 16:23 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

I have the z-5500s but i'm sure they're very similar

I use coax (go optical if the cord is 10+ feet) with Digital Out and have 5.1 sound with 5.1 sources, otherwise it's in stereo. You can use the CMSS functions of your sound card to have it emulate 5.1 sound with stereo sources.

The main reason I use digital out is because my headphones (also 5.1) are analog only so I can use the three (four with microphone) analog plugs and don't have to switch anything out.

alg7_munif · 01-21-2007, 16:27 | posts: 664

I used to have the Z-5400, IMO Z-5500 sounds much better but Z-5400 is not bad. Use analogue for surround games and movies without DD/DTS sound, use digital for stereo sound and movies that have DD/DTS sound. Unless you have a X-Meridian like me, for me using digital will give a better sound than most sound cards including X-Fi.

GenClaymore · 01-21-2007, 17:37 | posts: 5,091 | Location: Michigan,usa

I wish I could even find a z5400 in my area. the only thing i see is a z5450.

Antipika · 01-21-2007, 18:19 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by alg7_munif

I used to have the Z-5400, IMO Z-5500 sounds much better but Z-5400 is not bad. .

Z-5400 are 150 euros here, whereas Z-5500 are 290 euros :X I tried Z-5500 they sure sounds better, but to me it doesn't worth to pay twice the price of Z-5400, and don't have the funds by the way :<

Quote:

use digital for stereo sound and movies that have DD/DTS sound

What cable / adapter should I buy then ? I'm kinda noob in audio domain, so I really dunno what should I get.

All I have for now is :

-My X-fi sound card
-analog cables (black/yellow/green stuff)
-Z-5400 w/ the DTS/Prologic decoder

What you call digital is either coax or optical ?

Quote:

I use coax (go optical if the cord is 10+ feet)

I only need like 3-4 feet no more, so coax is the best choice ?

Quote:

and have 5.1 sound with 5.1 sources

What you call 5.1 sources is like DVD with DTS or movie with AC3 5.1 ? Does that include games too like HL² for example ?

Thanks for answers already provided !

alg7_munif · 01-21-2007, 18:29 | posts: 664

I bought my Z-5400 for 160Eur, my friend got his Z-5500 for 250Eur. For me I would spend another 90Eur for the Z-5500. Since you are using X-Fi, the easiest way to get digital is by using coaxial, you can also use a stereo jack to 2 RCA cable with the flexijack to get the digital output.

Antipika · 01-21-2007, 20:03 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by alg7_munif

the easiest way to get digital is by using coaxial, you can also use a stereo jack to 2 RCA cable with the flexijack to get the digital output.

Any pics / links / complete description of what I should buy ?

I already have a stereo 3.5mm jack to 2 RCA, it's something like that :

So all i need is that + a coax cable and I'm done ?

Will any coax cable works ? I only got RCA cables at home (White/Red audio / yellow video).

Could I use either the white or red coax cable to link the z-5400 decoder to my soundcard ?

alg7_munif · 01-21-2007, 22:19 | posts: 664

Any rca cable should work, one of the rca output is your digital output, normally it's the left channel.

Antipika · 01-21-2007, 23:23 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by alg7_munif

Any rca cable should work, one of the rca output is your digital output, normally it's the left channel.

Ok thanks for your help ^^

ROBSCIX · 01-21-2007, 23:30 | posts: 16,093 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

if your using one of those mini jack to twin RCA connectors with the red and white RCA ends. the white end is the digital OUT..you will NOT have digital in with this cable...
or just buy one of these and you willhave both input and output and they are really cheap.
http://www.creative.com/products/pro...6&product=1780

Antipika · 01-22-2007, 05:37 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

if your using one of those mini jack to twin RCA connectors with the red and white RCA ends. the white end is the digital OUT..you will NOT have digital in with this cable...
or just buy one of these and you willhave both input and output and they are really cheap.
http://www.creative.com/products/pro...6&product=1780

Well it's 35 euros here (45$), it's everything but cheap for me lol :<

What's the use of "digital in" ? If I just want lo listen and not to record, having just digital out is fine right ?

ROBSCIX · 01-22-2007, 14:44 | posts: 16,093 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Sure, if you just want to use the digital out. You can get a digital out by using one of those cables. -The white is the digital out.

Antipika · *Last edited by Antipika; 01-22-2007 at 16:34.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Sure, if you just want to use the digital out. You can get a digital out by using one of those cables. -The white is the digital out.

I just tried right now (still have my old Audigy SE (SB-0160), supposed to have to digital out), i plugged my 2RCA <> jack 3.5mm into the digital out port (orange one), plugged the white RCA cable into my Z-5400 receiver and the 2RCA<>jack adapter, not working :'(

Z-5400 receiver saying :

Input : Coax
No digital Data

I used a standard RCA cable like this :

Already tried both "holes" of the 2RCA<>3.5mm adapter :s

ROBSCIX · 01-22-2007, 16:33 | posts: 16,093 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Hmm. I use the 3.5mm >2RCA cables and it works fine on my Audigy 2
Check the settings on your card and verify you have the proper connector.
make sure your analog speakers are disconneted aswell. Maybe the system won't go into digital mode if it "see's" speakers on the outputs.

Antipika · 01-22-2007, 16:35 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Check the settings on your card

What settings and where ? All I got is a poor Creative Audio Console, who doesn't let me change anything :s

ROBSCIX · 01-22-2007, 16:38 | posts: 16,093 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Did you disconnect your speakers?

Antipika · *Last edited by Antipika; 01-22-2007 at 16:44.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Did you disconnect your speakers?

Yeah of course :p

Currently my installation is as following :

The 2RCA adapter, plugged into what's circled in red, on my soundcard :

Then RCA white cable from the 2RCA adapter to the Z-5400 receiver.

ROBSCIX · *Last edited by ROBSCIX; 01-22-2007 at 16:47.*

You sure you have th proper output? IT's a flexi jack by the sounds of it -
Line-in,Mic in, digital out. So it is a bit different should still work though.
THAT card is NOT a Audigy SE. they are small half height cards with no 10KX.
IF yours is the card in the pci then you do have it hooked correctly..let me check something else.

Antipika · 01-22-2007, 16:49 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

You sure you have th proper output? IT's a flexi jack by the sounds of it -
Line-in,Mic in, digital out. So it is a bit different should still work though.

I tried all of them, switching off the receiver between each try, also tried both of 2RCA<>3.5mm hole.

So all 10 possibilities :o I think I have to configure something on windows maybe ?

ROBSCIX · 01-22-2007, 16:51 | posts: 16,093 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Check your SPDIF out settings in the small control panel. Maybe the settings are incorrect and the speakers and the SPDIF is not locking on.

Antipika · 01-22-2007, 16:59 | posts: 16 | Location: Paris - France

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Check your SPDIF out settings in the small control panel. Maybe the settings are incorrect and the speakers and the SPDIF is not locking on.

Here's my SPDIF settings (already tried the 4 possibilities however :p not working :<)

Here's the translation since it's in french :

I/O SPDIF

Settings for SPDIF Input
Default

"Frequency" for the digital output (PCM)
44.1KHz / 48KHz / 96KHz

Decoder :

Direct SPDIF ( DD / DTS Digital output)
(External decoder required)

Use integrated decoder.

ROBSCIX · *Last edited by ROBSCIX; 01-22-2007 at 17:05.*

Use internal decoder. Should be set. I am not sure why this is so tricky. It was simple on this card..gotta be something simple on your to get it working.. Can you verify that jack your using to link to the soundcard is NOT just a splitter. I don't think it is but, be nice to know for sure. Do you have a 3.5 mm to dual RCA cable?

Antipika · *Last edited by Antipika; 01-22-2007 at 17:14.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Use internal decoder. Should be set. I am not sure why this is so tricky. It was simaply on this card..gotta be something simple..

Ok i got a signal, problem was just my 2RCA<>3.5mm which is a piece of crap lol :s

I tried to plug "partially" the white RCA cable, by moving it around the RCA connector, I got a signal, and a noise is coming out from my speakers.

Receiver also said : coax : stereo

Might also be my RCA cable.

Strange part is that my RCA cable is working fine with my DVD player, and the RCA<>3.5mm is working fine when using my PS2 on my computer.

Quote:

Do you have a 3.5 mm to dual RCA cable?

What I got is on the pics I posted, I'm exactly using the same stuff :p