Speakers

[tkhue3296]

Hi,
I just got my new Z906 yesterday and looking way  to get its best quality of sound.
Because the PC's motherboard has neither optical nor coaxial interface，
it is connecting to my PC by 3.5mm cable. (only one cable)

So, i'm considering to get a sound card which has optical or coaxial interface.
i have two model in the list but need your advice to get the proper one or others better choices.
（I'm also using 5.1 system for gaming so the DDL support is required）

1. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro （USB External sound card） RM230++

2. Asus Xonar D2X (Internal PCI-E Sound Card) RM 500++

My friend told me that PCI-E is better than USB external sound card all the time.
No matter you are using Optical or Coaxial.
Is that true? 

Thank for advice

[Zaim · Accepted solution]

Hi there, I would take the Asus Xonar D2X over any other current sound card available for under £120, Best card you can buy imho. I've had mine for a while and i've had no problems at all. I'm currently using a Coax cable going to my Z5500. using DTS Interactive. 

[jaycee86]

---

Zaim wrote:

Hi there, I would take the Asus Xonar D2X over any other current sound card available for under £120, Best card you can buy imho. I've had mine for a while and i've had no problems at all. I'm currently using a Coax cable going to my Z5500. using DTS Interactive. 

---

Hello

I am not the OP but I was wondering if your "DECODE" light comes on your 906 control pod when your speakers are playing sound with your set up since you said you use DTS, I have a coax set up also, however the sound card is rather old- Sound Blaster Audigy (gamer). I'm trying to get the most out of these speakers as well. My decode light is not on...not sure if that has to do with anything. I have my speakers connected via coax also to an RCA to coax mini jack to plug into the digital out on my Audigy.

I am not impressed at all with the way the 906s sound...not sure if its my current set up or what..the 5500s sounded awesome as did the 906s....just not feeling that thick full digital like sound from the 906s

[jaycee86]

---

Zaim wrote:

Hi there, I would take the Asus Xonar D2X over any other current sound card available for under £120, Best card you can buy imho. I've had mine for a while and i've had no problems at all. I'm currently using a Coax cable going to my Z5500. using DTS Interactive. 

---

Hello

I am not the OP but I was wondering if your "DECODE" light comes on your 906 control pod when your speakers are playing sound with your set up since you said you use DTS, I have a coax set up also, however the sound card is rather old- Sound Blaster Audigy (gamer). I'm trying to get the most out of these speakers as well. My decode light is not on...not sure if that has to do with anything. I have my speakers connected via coax also to an RCA to coax mini jack to plug into the digital out on my Audigy.

I am not impressed at all with the way the 906s sound...not sure if its my current set up or what..the 5500s sounded awesome as did the 906s....just not feeling that thick full digital like sound from the 906s

[Zaim]

---

jaycee86 wrote:

---

Zaim wrote:

Hi there, I would take the Asus Xonar D2X over any other current sound card available for under £120, Best card you can buy imho. I've had mine for a while and i've had no problems at all. I'm currently using a Coax cable going to my Z5500. using DTS Interactive. 

---

Hello

I am not the OP but I was wondering if your "DECODE" light comes on your 906 control pod when your speakers are playing sound with your set up since you said you use DTS, I have a coax set up also, however the sound card is rather old- Sound Blaster Audigy (gamer). I'm trying to get the most out of these speakers as well. My decode light is not on...not sure if that has to do with anything. I have my speakers connected via coax also to an RCA to coax mini jack to plug into the digital out on my Audigy.

I am not impressed at all with the way the 906s sound...not sure if its my current set up or what..the 5500s sounded awesome as did the 906s....just not feeling that thick full digital like sound from the 906s

---

Hi mate, the decode light is on once I set spdif out to Dolby digital live or DTS Interactive, since your card is a bit old im not sure if it supports that option, You can buy the dolby digital live pack but im not sure it'll work

http://buy.soundblaster.com/_creativelabsstore/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?page=product_detail&category=Software&...

is yours a X-FI xtreme gamer ?

Try setting the speakers in the creative panel to 5.1, switch off upmixing, cmss or something like that, then on your speakers set the effect to 3D which will upmix to 5.1. 

[Zaim]

---

Zaim wrote:

Hi there, I would take the Asus Xonar D2X over any other current sound card available for under £120, Best card you can buy imho. I've had mine for a while and i've had no problems at all. I'm currently using a Coax cable going to my Z5500. using DTS Interactive. 

---

Hello

I am not the OP but I was wondering if your "DECODE" light comes on your 906 control pod when your speakers are playing sound with your set up since you said you use DTS, I have a coax set up also, however the sound card is rather old- Sound Blaster Audigy (gamer). I'm trying to get the most out of these speakers as well. My decode light is not on...not sure if that has to do with anything. I have my speakers connected via coax also to an RCA to coax mini jack to plug into the digital out on my Audigy.

I am not impressed at all with the way the 906s sound...not sure if its my current set up or what..the 5500s sounded awesome as did the 906s....just not feeling that thick full digital like sound from the 906s

[tkhue3296]

Ya, D2X has all features that i need and needn't to worry about how to choose the optical cable.
After survying, It should be the best solution for me, i think.
Thanks alot for your advices Zaim ^^

[tkhue3296]

Zaim is right,
If you need surrond sound effect like EAX in the game,
It required the DDL support.
Of course you have to ensure that the game is having this function and the setting is correct.

When watching movies with DTS,
the decord light will on automatically.