Getting multichannel sound from games with Realtek ALC1200

[litri]

Hi there,

I recently purchased a Asus M4A79 Deluxe that includes the Realtek ALC 1200 audio chipset.
It supports DTS Ultra sensation as ASUS states in the mobo manual, no idea what it does, though.

My questions are: This mobo has 8 channel audio I/O ports plus optical/coaxial in the back, would i be able to get multi-channel sound from games through the coaxial/optical output by sending the bitstream signal? Does this audio chipset support DD live/DTS connect? If it doesn't support the above standards can i still get multi-channel sound through the analog jacks?

Cheers!!!
Ángel

[Kemo]

I have a 680i mobo using the onboard realtek sound. I have an optical cable going to my receiver from the optical out on the mobo. it supports DD Live/DTS surround, however, you need the encoder running. For instance, if i run a speaker test, all 5.1 speakers work. If I play a game i only get PCM stereo. If I play a movie that is encoded in 5.1, it comes through my receiver as 5.1. Soundblaster X-Fi has that dolby digital pack that encodes eveything you hear in 5.1, but my soundblaster was either taking juice away from the PCI-e bus or causing some other kind of instability making my PC freeze randomly.

[frenchy2k1]

The keyword here is LIVE. If your MB had Dolby Live or DTS Live, you would be able to ENCODE any sound stream to those format and feed them to a receiver through SPDIF.

However, ASUS does not advertise that feature, so it is very unlikely to be present (they usually charge a premium for it).

You should still be able to get already encoded streams (like DVD) as Dolby/DTS using pass through.
However, your best bet for 5.1/7.1 setup is with the analog output OR using a newer video card and HDMI output feeding a HDMI receiver.

[litri]

Originally Posted by frenchy2k1

The keyword here is LIVE. If your MB had Dolby Live or DTS Live, you would be able to ENCODE any sound stream to those format and feed them to a receiver through SPDIF.

However, ASUS does not advertise that feature, so it is very unlikely to be present (they usually charge a premium for it).

You should still be able to get already encoded streams (like DVD) as Dolby/DTS using pass through.
However, your best bet for 5.1/7.1 setup is with the analog output OR using a newer video card and HDMI output feeding a HDMI receiver.

I see... Now the question is, where can i get the analog cables for multi-channel with this layout (outputs from mobo to standard multichannel used on every amplifier), i remember Creative was selling some of those in their webshop years ago but i cannot find them now in Europe. Any other 3,5mm to RCA cables will do in this case, or?

Thanks all for your feedback!!

[crainger]

If you amp has RCA then yeah, any 3.5mm to RCA will do. The shorter the better, try to go for mid to high end for analogue audio. Maybe not Monster, but something ok.

[litri]

Originally Posted by crainger

If you amp has RCA then yeah, any 3.5mm to RCA will do. The shorter the better, try to go for mid to high end for analogue audio. Maybe not Monster, but something ok.

Went to buy this cables the other day but i have a question, the subwoofer one also has 2 RCA ends, since amplifiers usually have only one RCA input for the subwoofer in the multichannel plugs i can use either of both ends as the signal is mono, isn't it?

Thanks!!