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    Razer blade 2014 and Astro A-50 headset - how to enable dolby 7.1 ?

    Discussion in 'Razer' started by willoxxx, May 27, 2014.

  1. willoxxx

    willoxxx Newbie

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    I just bought this headset but I also realized you need a optical wire to make it work.
    I'm using the headphone jack now. Problem is I don't know how to activate dolby 7.1

    I'm pretty sure it's easy but can't find anything on google.
     
    willoxxx, May 27, 2014
    #1
  2. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

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    In reading the product page it seems you need an optical out to get 7.1, which the Blade doesn't have.

    EDIT: Actually, looking at their FAQ. You need an optical out to use the Mixamp 5.8 at all.

    You could try something like this: Creative X-Fi USB Sound Card
     
    hfm, May 27, 2014
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  3. willoxxx

    willoxxx Newbie

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    willoxxx, May 27, 2014
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  4. RazerCS

    RazerCS Company Representative

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    That's what we use here in the labs for various testing.

    Also, various HDMI TV/Monitor may have optical audio out/pass-through, but you will need the EDID File to show that a surround device is available on the HDMI. YMMV
     
    RazerCS, May 27, 2014
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  5. willoxxx

    willoxxx Newbie

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    just to be sure I understood correctly you do the tests with the Sound Blaster 5.1 ?
     
    willoxxx, May 27, 2014
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  6. RazerCS

    RazerCS Company Representative

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    The Vantec USB 7.1. It works for the Tiamat 7.1, Chimera, and all the rest.
     
    RazerCS, May 27, 2014
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  7. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

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    Can't get much better recommendation than that it's tested to work in Win 8.1 on the Blade. :)
     
    hfm, May 27, 2014
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  8. willoxxx

    willoxxx Newbie

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    I've been told that the Vantec does not do surround with the optical connection. Can somebody confirm that ?
     
    willoxxx, May 27, 2014
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  9. thetruth1983

    thetruth1983 Notebook Evangelist

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    PC games don't output surround sound the same way console games do. On the PC, you will need a sound card that outputs Dolby Digital Live. What the mixamp does it take the DDL signal and converts it to the virtual 7.1 sound AKA Dolby Headphone. I have the Asus Xonar U3 and it will do exactly what you need. it plugs into your usb port and outputs DDL over optical. Here's the link:

    Amazon.com: ASUS Xonar U3 Sound Cards (XONAR_U3/UAD/B/A): Electronics

    Here's a threads from their forum that goes into more detail about it.

    http://forums.astrogaming.com/showthread.php?29749-external-usb-7-1-dolby-digital-live

    Astro A50 Questions
     
    thetruth1983, May 28, 2014
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  10. Pu239

    Pu239 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Pu239, May 28, 2014
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  11. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

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    hfm, May 28, 2014
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  12. willoxxx

    willoxxx Newbie

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    I bought the SoundBlaster card and should receive by week's end.

    I'll test the Razer software also and will update you after on which solution works best (for me).
     
    willoxxx, May 28, 2014
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  13. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

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    I use a plantronics gamecom 780. It connects over USB and it's similar to using the Razer software as it's simulated 7.1. The only way you're going to get your mixamp 5.8 working is to get a valid optical source that's passing 5.1/7.1 though.
     
    hfm, May 28, 2014
    #13