Using PC audio card for playstation 3 sound...wow..just wow.

[crankypenguin]

I recently purchased a sound card which has digital optical in and out. Once installed, I tinkered around with the options and realized that I can input sound source from a gaming console...so off to the store I went in search of a descent optical cable. I decided on a 2 meter one since I always want some spare room in case I need it. I installed it, went into the PS3 options and picked sound output as optical. You can use HDMI cable for video only and optical cable for sound. Pretty cool huh? I sure thought so. So once all the connections were made and configured I started up a PS3 game * Gran Turismo 5 * and I was blown away by the clear and crisp sound that emerged from my speakers. Compared to the HDMI audio through tv speakers, optical + good sound card blows hdmi away I can only imagine what a good receiver and studio monitors can do. I guess it's time to start saving money

 

[Thorsen]

Thanks for the post. that is an interesting idea. I haven't found many reasons to get a good sound card as onboard now-a-days is pretty good on its own.

 

[crankypenguin]

Thanks for the post. that is an interesting idea. I haven't found many reasons to get a good sound card as onboard now-a-days is pretty good on its own.

Yeah I agree fully, onboard these days is good enough for most people. The reason I upgraded to a pcie sound card is due to my music background plus the onboard has limited connections / options and I am slowly putting together a top notch audio package PC->Sound Card->Receiver->additional peripherals. Oh, one more thing...guys, don't get fooled into buying *Monster Cables*...they are overpriced and have no real advantage over a generic cable

 

[Thorsen]

You mean like these? I thought they were worth the money... just look at the reviews

Amazon.com: AudioQuest K2 Terminated Speaker Cable - UST 2.44 m Plugs 8' Pair: Electronics

 

[indianacarnie]

You mean like these? I thought they were worth the money... just look at the reviews

Amazon.com: AudioQuest K2 Terminated Speaker Cable - UST 2.44 m Plugs 8' Pair: Electronics

:roflmao:
Man, some of those comments!

 

[MrNeeds]

tbh, it's nothing to do with your sound card, it's optical, it's just far superior, also it supports dolby decoding dependent on the hardware you use, for example, optical on my pc sounds good through a headset that supports optical (turtle beach PX5 7.1), but on the xbox, its just far better sound quality and surround is amazing. you don't need a pc, just a device that supports optical connections (most 5.1 speaker setups)

 

[Thorsen]

Good to hear. I was wondering about this for my living room as well. I wouldn't be putting sound from my TV through to the PC, so the only use for me for a sound card vs. a stereo system would be on things running on the PC or being channeled through the PC. I am guessing I would still need optical out from my PC to benefit from a good sound system...

I would like to know more about this... I originally thought HDMI would be suffecient... but looking around, I can't find any specific details. just opinions and confusing comparisons that don't really paint a true picture.

Blu-ray Audio Quality: HDMI vs. Optical | PCWorld

this is the best I could find, but looks like it is saying HDMI is better than optical as optical being a SPDIF format can't handle as many uncompressed tracks or I guess the bandwidth isn't as high, but I would think the opposite.

 

[crankypenguin]

Good to hear. I was wondering about this for my living room as well. I wouldn't be putting sound from my TV through to the PC, so the only use for me for a sound card vs. a stereo system would be on things running on the PC or being channeled through the PC. I am guessing I would still need optical out from my PC to benefit from a good sound system...

I would like to know more about this... I originally thought HDMI would be suffecient... but looking around, I can't find any specific details. just opinions and confusing comparisons that don't really paint a true picture.

Blu-ray Audio Quality: HDMI vs. Optical | PCWorld

this is the best I could find, but looks like it is saying HDMI is better than optical as optical being a SPDIF format can't handle as many uncompressed tracks or I guess the bandwidth isn't as high, but I would think the opposite.

I have always considered digital optical superior to HDMI sound when it comes to console / game play. A good setup is PS3->PC with good sound card with decoding / encoding abilities with proper speakers, or PS3-> a good powerful amplified receiver -> Speakers, while using HDMI only for visual. That's my 2 cents. I am not a lab technician or an audiophile but I go by what my ears hear, and from the different setups I have listened to, the digital optical has always come out on top especially with the little minor sound alterations, a little dink here, a little bloop there...the small things that people miss.