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    Optical (SPDIF) possible?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by wetcardboard, Jun 11, 2010.

  1. wetcardboard

    wetcardboard Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys,

    I recently purchased a TurtleBeach X41 headset for my Xbox 360 which does 5.1/7.1 sound via optical (spdif). The transmitter also has RCA inputs (it has Dolby 5.1 and Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoders built in) which would be matrixed to 7.1, but is there anyway to plug these into a Studio XPS and get the real 6-channel audio stream? I know the laptop natively only does surround audio through the hdmi port but is there any kind of expresscard or usb dongle that would give me an optical connection? These headphones are amazing and I'd like to enjoy them for PC gaming as well not just on Xbox.

    Thanks.
     
    wetcardboard, Jun 11, 2010
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  2. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    There is a creative soundblaster card which has optical outputs, however you can use the three jacks to give you 5.1 surround anyway.
     
    funky monk, Jun 11, 2010
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  3. wetcardboard

    wetcardboard Notebook Consultant

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    I can't use the 3x3.5mm jacks for 5.1 because the headset transmitter only accepts toslink and RCA cables. If I had a set of 5.1 computer speakers it would work fine. I will do some searching on that SoundBlaster card. This being a multimedia laptop and all, with the plethora of connections available you'd think they'd include either optical or digi coax outputs because a lot of people still have A/V recievers that don't accept hdmi and still watch regular DVD's with lossy 5.1 tracks.
     
    wetcardboard, Jun 11, 2010
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  4. wetcardboard

    wetcardboard Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys, check this out:

    Audio Advantage Micro II

    This will convert the USB port on your Studio XPS into an optical connection for Dolby or DTS 5.1 surround. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for, and it's also made by Turtle Beach...sweet!
     
    wetcardboard, Jun 11, 2010
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