Digital Audio!

Hey guys; (first post)

I currently own the ASUS W2J Notebook, and bloody hell its a brilliant computer, but an annoying one, with little information on it and hardly no updates or either their uncompatible.

Look i really need someone's help, there's nothing on the web about this issue.

Previously i've been using stereo (analog) connection from the headphone jack to my amplifier which has two RCA ports (left + right).

But what i found out a couple weeks ago was that my W2J notebook supports DIGITAL SOUND. The connection comes through the headphone jack im already using (must be a combo port/jack including digital + analog connections).

All i need to know is how do i connect my computer up to my DIGITAL AMPLIFIER. my amplifier has a digital audio connections (COXIAL + OPTICAL).

But im just confussed, theres no cords like a headphone 3.5mm jack that i usually connect to my computer.

Sorry if this is confussing!

CAN SOME1 PLEASE HELP!

this would be greatly appreciated?

 

Please Help!

 

yes. the headphone jack is a combo port. The cable you want is here...

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/RCA-mini-spdif.html

 

You will need a Toslink cable plug to miniplug.

 

liquidignition...either will work

 

I'm not sure that cable with work. Is that cable optical?

 

no...its digital coaxial

The OP mentioned that his receiver has both digital audio connections. Coax and optical

 

Thanks Guys so much for this help, really appreciate it,

Ok i've hooked a one optical jack into my amplifier and the other end (which is a mini-plug optical) into my headphone jack.

It feels really loose though!

The sound comes through and everything, but i when i put it on "DOLBY DIGITAL LIVE" through the REALTEK HD AUDIO MANAGER, my sub doesnt work now!

(i think that the loose connection is the problem!)

also, i reckon the DIGITAL COXIAL cable that FusiveREsonance mention would be a better connection, but the thing is!

I've never heard or seen one of those cords ever, only on that website, and i dont want to have to buy a cord, if i know it wont work?

Argh, i hate ASUS sometimes!

 

But Asus notebooks only output optical, so I know he would need a Toslink optical cable (that is what I use to output to my Z5500 digitally).

It all depends on the audio source and whether your receiver can expand a stereo signal to 5.1 (or whatever you have).

Along with with the Realtek HD Audio drivers, I installed FFDShow, which comes with a pretty good [AC3] audio codec. When I am watching a 5.1 DVD movie, my Z5500 outputs Dolby Digital. However, if I am listening to MP3s, I cannot output Dolby Digital because MP3s are usually in stereo; ergo, the Z5500 automatically expands the stereo signal to a 5.1 signal and the subwoofer works.

Don't get mad at Asus

 

Optical is a digital signal. Just transmitted by light instead of charged electrons. If ASUS notebooks truly ONLY output optical, then the output jack would be toslink optical too. Because the output jack is 3.5mm digital, you have the ability to use either form of digital connectors. Be it coaxial or optical.


FOR the OP:
a digital coaxial cable is nothing but a high grade mono RCA cable. if you wanna test the coaxial connection on your receiver, you can simply try connecting a 3.5mm mono (stereo might work) to RCA. Youd simply have to use a single RCA connector, and connect that to your receivers coaxial port.

 

Thanks. I did not know that. I thought it was optical only.

 

Definitely not true, it's a 3.5mm jack so you can also plug headphones into it. It may be able to do coax, but it definitely doesn't HAVE to have coax cause it's 3.5mm... The same jack outputs the headphone info and if you plug in a toslink adaptor cable it outputs that.

 

I think someone should just verify this...I really believe that if its an SPDIF output, it will properly output to either forms of plugs. Be it coax, or optical. Could someone confirm or provide a credible source please. Im very interested to obtain the answer...

 

I can confirm optical because, as I previously mentioned, I use an optical Toslink cable plug to mini-plug to connect my W3V to my Logitech Z5500 digitally.

 

Now we just need someone to confirm coaxial output.

If both work then we can conclude that when its indicated that output is SPDIF, it will output to either coax or optical.

 

On another forum, a user unsuccessfully connecting his Z71V to his home theatre receiver using a digital coax connection. He then tried a digital optical connection (using the cable I mentioned earlier) and was successful.

It appears that these SPDIF ports are in fact optical.

 

correct. and more specifically, the only digital output they are capable of is optical. I have the same speakers mentioned by an above poster (Logitech Z-5500), as well as an optical cable running to my notebook (Asus Z71V) and a coaxial (RCA) cable attached to the speakers and running to a separate receiver. The coaxial (RCA) connector does not fit correctly into my notebook's audio out / SPDIF port and no signal is processed through it.

The port outputs in 2 different formats- analog stereo and digital (up to 5.1).

For an analog stereo signal, you need a standard 1/8" connector attached to an audio cord or headphones.

For a digital signal, you need (as was already mentioned) an optical minijack adapter attached to a TOSlink optical cord. *please note that an optical minijack adapter is not the same thing as an 1/8" audio connector. the optical minijack appears to have a hole in the tip, whereas an 1/8" audio connector does not* You can tell the digital signal is getting through by looking directly at the other end of the TOSlink cable- you should see a red light. If the signal is not coming through, then you may not have the adapter plugged in all the way. You should feel a slight pop when it goes firmly into place.